Objectives and Characteristics of Social Case work

Objectives of Social Case work

§  Enable the client to enjoy with some degree of permanency, more satisfying, effective and acceptable experiences in the social situations in which he find himself. To achieve this goal efforts are made to bring effective changes in the client’s environment or social living situations.

§  Helping people to mobilize their capacities for the solution of the problems that brought them to the attention of social agencies. 

§  To bring about an adjustment between the individual client and his situation or environment.

§  Better adjustment in the social relationships of the individual and the development of individual personality.

§  To help him to achieve his previous level of functioning of which he is capable of this time.

§  To help an individual client to solve his psycho social problems in such a way so that he find himself capable of dealings with these problems at present and also may solve in future if such problems arise

§  To understand and solve the psycho-social problems of the individual.

§  To strengthen the personal efficiency of individuals to handle problem situations.

§  To remedy and prevent the problems in social functioning.

§  To develop skills and resources to enhance social functioning.

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Objectives of social case work as mentioned by P.D. Mishra

§  To understand and solve the internal problems of the individuals

§  To strengthen his ego power

§  Remediation of problems in social functioning

§  Prevention of problems in social functioning

§  Development of resources to enhance social functioning.

During the casework sessions, clients talk about their problems and related past, present and future. Caseworkers pick up points where problems have arisen because of lack of information, knowledge and misperception of the situation. The experiences (misperceptions, feelings and reactions) are corrected in and through the discussions.

Emphasis should be given on the discussion of day-to-day behavior of the client in relation to his problem and in doing so, correct his misperceptions which may be unrealistic because of emotions, past incidents, unrealistic future expectations or unsuitable lifestyle etc. Once the therapist starts taking care of these points in day-to-day life of the client, he slowly starts perceiving and changing his ways of behaving.

Apart from this, talking alone helps in many ways. It helps in ventilating one’s feelings and thus frees one from the pressure of these feelings. Talking to an expert is in itself quite reassuring. Talking by itself in many cases, results in insight into one’s behavior, thus equipping one with better ways or managing the life affairs.

It is through these processes only that the client substitutes his unrealistic and irrational beliefs and definitions by realistic and correct ones, straightens his attitudes, develops self-control over his feelings, and changes his lifestyle necessary to achieve what he desires to achieve in life. Material resources are used as tools to effect desirable changes in his situation and functioning.

Characteristics of Social Case Work

§  It helps individuals to solve their psycho-social problems.

§  It helps individuals to make better adjustment with the environment.

§  It is a progressive process which involves study, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, etc.

§  It requires the knowledge and skill in establishing professional relationship.

§  It mobilizes the capacities in individuals and resources in the environment.

§  It ensures personality development. 

(Note: Materials collected from various PDF files, websites and blogs to support social work students)