What is Case Taking in Social Work Field Practicum?
We know that the students of Social Work have to attend an Internship programme for sixty days at Hons and Masters level, and primarily they have to take and solve cases of the patients or clients or beneficiaries coming to the agency. In this case, they have to play the role of social workers and use problem-solving methods, including psycho-social study, diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and evaluation. There are different forms and formats of case taking in social work.
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Demo Guideline for a Case (Study)
a) Case Introduction
b) Case Introduction in Agency
c) Referral and Rationale of taking a case.
d) Rapport [using rapport principles]
e) Psychosocial study [using techniques of data collection such as interviews, home visits, case records, correspondence, and consultation]
f) Psychosocial Assessment or Diagnosis [Maximum 4 or 5 causes depending on psych social problem which will be solvable and changeable] It includes i.family condition ii. physical condition iii. mental condition iv. social condition v.cultural condition vi. economic condition.
g) Psychosocial Intervention or Treatment [Intervention will be based upon psycho-social assessment]
h) Evaluation of the case and overall.
i) Termination. and
j.Follow Up
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Example of a Case (Study) in Social Work Field Practicum
Background of the Case
For taking a case, I select a
patient named 'Md. Habibur Rahman'. His educational qualification is 5th
class, and he has been living in Dhaka for 30 years. In his early life, he
worked as a house caretaker at Lalbagh, Dhaka, and also doing it now. In the middle
stage of their life, he went to Dubai as a construction labourer and returned four
years ago. He also faced an accident there and got a spinal cord injury as well
as an operation there. The matter of sorrow that his wife left him causes his
vulnerability. After all, he is physically and mentally so much weak now. Now,
he has to do a kidney operation from BIREM, and that's why he got admitted to
BIRDEM General Hospital on 03/11/19.
Patient's Profile
|
Name |
Md.
Habibur Rahman |
|
Reference
No |
533305 |
|
Social
Welfare no |
67909 |
|
Age
|
35 |
|
Sex
|
Male |
|
Marital
Status |
Divorced |
|
Father's
Name |
Late
Abdul Hakim |
|
Mother's
name |
Mrs
Hasina Begum |
|
Education
|
5th
Class |
|
Profession
|
House
Caretaker |
|
Address
|
Lalbagh,
Dhaka (Home: Manikganj) |
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Treatment-Related Information
|
Problem
Diagnosis |
DM,
HTN, Kidney Disease, Spinal Cord, Eye Diseases |
|
Bed
No |
1139 |
|
Ward
No |
113 |
|
Admission
Date |
03/11/19 |
|
Case
Recording Date |
03/11/19 |
|
Supervisory
Doctor |
Dr
Ashraf Uddin Ahmed |
Family Related Information
|
SL No |
Name |
Age |
Education |
Profession |
Relation |
|
1. |
Hasina Begum |
60 |
Illiterate |
Housewife |
Mother |
|
2. |
Romana Akhter |
18 |
HSC |
Student |
Niece |
History of Illness
When Md. Habibur Rahman was in
Dubai as a worker six years ago, he faced an accident (fell down from a three-storied building) there and got a spinal cord injury as well as an operation
there. Then he was identified as a diabetic patient and had to leave Dubai
later. During this time, his wife left him, keeping him helpless, and now he's been living with his mother and a niece in
Lalbagh, Dhaka. Moreover, they have no land in Manikganj as the Padma had taken
away, and his family is a victim of river erosion. So, after returning home, it
was hard to continue his DM and Spinal Cord treatment as well as his family. Thus,
he became attacked with kidney disease alongside DM. Since his accident, he has had to take 'underarm crutches support stick' to walk. Gradually his physical
condition becomes worse. So, he came to BIRDEM General Hospital for further
treatment and a kidney operation.
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The Rationale for Taking the Case
When I went indoors and investigated the client's condition, I saw him lying on the bed alone.
I knew about Md. Habibur Rahman as well as his family. He is the most helpless in
my definition now as he's the only earning member of his family including his mother and a niece. Moreover, his most lovely life partner left him seeing his
vulnerability. So, what I actually observed is that he is more frustrated and
weaker for the sake of family crisis and his treatment cost, so I took him as a
case.
Rapport Buildup
The rapport (professional
relationship) build-up is so much important before starting a planned treatment
because collecting in-depth information and giving an effective problem-solving
process to the client is absolutely impossible without establishing rapport.
So, at first, I met him and tried to build up a friendly relationship with him.
Then I followed him for four or five days and helped him to get services and
provided him with information, and also motivated him to take a kidney operation as
well as reducing his frustration and anxiety about family and his life. In this
way, I built up a professional relationship with the client. I used the
following techniques for establishing rapport.
§
Acceptance: I accepted him by giving him full
dignity and respect. I gave assurance to solve his problem. As a result, he
also accepted the giving importance of taking his treatment properly.
§
Communication: I maintained regular
communication with Md. Habibur Rahman tried to understand his need and
information about the problem.
§
Participation: Establishing rapport is
impossible without ensuring the client's participation is the
problem-solving process. So, I ensured the participation of Md. Habibur Rahman
in every step of the problem-solving process.
§
Confidentiality: I assured Md. Habibur
Rahman hid his all information; as a result, he believed me fully, and he
promised that he didn't hide any information in his life.
§
Individuality: I knew all clients are
individual. Their problem, patterns of problems, cases of the problem, solution
process, expectation, etc. are iterant from others. So, I applied the
individuality principle for establishing rapport with Md. Habibur Rahman. I
tried to solve his problem according to real findings and his needs.
§
The self-confidentiality: Every client has his own view and wants to ensure those needs. So, I tried to ensure Md. Habibur
Rahman in helping me to establish rapport.
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Psycho-social Study
In social casework, the psycho-social
study is a very important phase. As an apprentice social worker, to know details
information about Md. Habibur Rahman. I completed the psycho-social study. In
this stage, I had to apply some techniques. These techniques are given below: -
v Interview: The interview is the main way to collect the client's information. In my case,
I met him five times and took an interview with him. These are including in
below:
§
1st interview: After receiving the case, I met with him on the first day. I wanted to know about him, his family, personal
information, etc. I also asked the nurse about his illness. I found out
the background of his illness and mental stress.
§
2nd interview: On the second day, I
observed his physical and mental condition. And I tried to provide him with
counseling. Besides, I wanted to know about his background and observe him. I
wanted to know if he got proper treatment or faced any problems. I discussed a
nurse for his better treatment.
§
3rd interview: On the third day, I mainly
tried to motivate him for his kidney operation and talked with his niece to
take proper care of him. Then I also motivated him so that he felt more
relaxed
§
4th interview: On the fourth day, I
followed him. He was more anxious and weaker as well as seldom talked. Again,
I also talked with his niece to take proper care of him as well as other nurses.
§
5th interview: On this day, Md. Habibur
Rahman's physical and mental condition was fine. I provided him with different kinds of information related to his treatment. I advised him to follow the rules and
regulations which were given by the assigned doctor.
§
6th interview: On this day, Md. Habibur
Rahman was almost well. I arranged all the necessary help for him. At last,
he gave me thanks for helping him, and he promised me to take all of his
medicine regularly.
v
Observation: It is a very important
technique at the interview stage. I carefully observed my client's personality, behavior, body language, and mental condition.
v
Listening: As an apprentice social worker, I had to listen to my client Md. Habibur Rahman's physical and mental problems
and also social, financial, and family-related problems with deep concentration.
v
Questioning: In the interview stage, I
questioned my client with simple language.
v
Answering: When my client asked me any
questions, I replied to his questions logically.
v Case
Recording: I reviewed the previous and present files of Md. Habibur Rahman was so helpful in knowing his actual overall condition.
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Socio-Economic Condition
Md. Habibur Rahman's family's economic condition is not so good. He is dependent now, and his elder son is the only earning person in his family. His economic status is given below.
Profession | House Caretaker |
Family Monthly Income | 12,000Taka |
Personal Property | Poor |
Family property | Poor |
Helping Relatives | Absent |
Besides, my client's social status is good. He and his family are living in Dhaka, and they do have not enough land in the rural area of Manikganj. His family is mainly a victim of the Padma river erosion, and his neighbour doesn't have good behavior with his family. His social status is given below-
Education | Primary |
Resident | Urban Area in Dhaka |
Composition | Tin Shed House |
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Psycho-social Information
My patient was very mentally upset
and worried about his present problems and his economic condition.
As he was the only earning member of his family, his wife left him after his
physical injury. So, he's in a distressed mind and always do tension about the
family and treatment costs.
v
Problem identification
From my interview, as well as the
hospital's documents. I got some problems with my client. I also talked to the
duty doctor, and he told me the whole problem, and I noted down that problem in the
following.
Ü
Dynamic Diagnosis: Dynamic diagnosis
process involves examining the part of a psychosocial problem for their
particular nature and organization, the interrelationships among them, the relation between them, and the means to their solution. I observed my
cliental present problems and how to remove these problem
§
He is 35 years old person suffering from
various diseases.
§
He needed to test some pathological tests.
§
The family is economically insolvent because the
cost of treatment is very high.
Ü
Clinical diagnosis: Clinical diagnosis
means fault and inconsistency in behaviour and causes of social malfunctioning.
I found out the problem of clinical diagnosis of Md. Habibur Rahman, such as
§
High blood pressure;
§
High sugar;
§
Spinal Cord Injury;
§
Kidney disease;
§
Eye Disease;
§ Can't/don't get treatment proper time; and
§ Can't take medicine and test report.
q Etiological
diagnosis: It is a psycho-social related problem without a clinical
problem. It has happened after disease. Such as
§
Family disorganization;
§
Frustration;
§
Mental depression; and
§ Financial crisis etc.
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Treatment
According to Hamilton, "Treatment
is the sum total of all activities and services directed towards helping an
individual with a problem. The focus is relieving of the immediate problem and,
if feasible, modifies any basic difficulties which precipitated it." So, in the
light of supportive treatment and motivating treatment. The activities are-
v
Supportive treatment
§
Helping him to get medicine from the hospital social
welfare department;
§
Free supplying of medicine;
§
Providing correct information about disease and
treatment; and
§
Establishing regular communication and
counselling.
v
Modifying treatment
§
Building a professional relationship and becoming
reliable to him and collecting information;
§
Making him understand the real world and
removing frustration due to family crises;
§
Motivating to take his kidney operation;
§
Inspiring him on how to cope with society; and
§ Helping him to take medicine regularly.
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Follow-Up/Evaluation
Evaluation is a continuous process of attaching value to the social work practice. It is the method of knowing what the outcomes are and the purpose of an evaluation is to see if the efforts of the caseworker are yielding any result or not, if the techniques used are serving the purpose, and if the goals are being achieved. Moreover, In the end, i.e., termination, the worker should discuss the original as well as revised goals and objectives, achievements during the helping period, factors helpful or obstructive in achieving the objectives, and the efforts needed to maintain the level of achievement and the feelings aroused by disengagement. In this case, every day, I took the information about my client's physical and mental condition and helped him as an apprentice social worker as much as possible with the help of my agency. I tried to always keep him in my touch as well as stating his possible developments and corrections. Finally, I terminated our regular relationship or the problem-solving process by providing him with some positive medications and instructions to follow. He also wished me a thanksgiving goodbye and committed to following my advice.