Social case work:Meaning,concept and definition
Social Casework: Definition, Concept, Analysis, and Insights
Social casework is a fundamental method in social work that has evolved significantly over time. Despite various attempts by scholars to define it, professionals often grapple with articulating its meaning with clarity. Social casework is a dynamic and complex process aimed at helping individuals address challenges in social functioning. According to H.H. Perlman, it involves aiding individuals through human welfare agencies to manage their problems effectively. It focuses on the individual's adjustment and development, which depend heavily on their social environment and available resources. The cornerstone of social casework lies in human relationships and the resolution of psychosocial challenges.
Concept of Social Casework
Social casework serves as a primary method of social work, characterized by its scientific and clinical approach. Its foundations are rooted in the contributions of the Charity Organization Society and various schools of thought. At its core, social casework involves the practice of social workers assisting individuals with advocacy, support, and solutions for psychosocial problems. Whether employed by governmental or non-governmental organizations, social workers enable individuals to overcome challenges and achieve better social functioning.
Let’s explore how social casework is defined by eminent thinkers.
Definitions of Social Casework
Richmond (1915):
“Social casework may be defined as the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve their own and society’s betterment.”Jarrett (1919):
“Social casework is the art of bringing an individual in a condition of social disorder into the best possible relationship with all parts of his environment.”Taft (1920):
“Social casework means social treatment of maladjusted individuals involving an attempt to understand their personality, behavior, and social relationships to assist them in achieving better social and personal adjustment.”Watson (1922):
“Social casework is the art of untangling and reconstructing a twisted personality to enable better environmental adjustment.”Lee (1923):
“Social casework is the art of changing human attitudes.”Bowers (1949):
“Social casework is an art using the science of human relationships to mobilize individual capacity and community resources for better adjustment between the client and their environment.”Hollies (1957):
“Social casework is a method employed by a social worker to help individuals solve problems of social adjustment that they cannot resolve on their own.”
Analysis and Meaning
1. Social Casework as an Art (Richmond):
Social casework is not merely a treatment process; it is the art of addressing individual problems. This art requires continuous learning, skill refinement, and cooperation to achieve societal and personal betterment.
2. Social Casework as a Technical Method (Klen, 1938):
Casework is a systematic, technical method of social work. It encompasses structured procedures, a robust knowledge base, and organized processes to solve client problems effectively.
3. Social Casework as a Process (Deschweinitz, 1939):
Deschweinitz highlights casework as a service-oriented process, providing financial aid, counseling, and other resources under organizational policies to assist individuals in overcoming their challenges.
4. Social Casework as the Science of Human Relationships (Bowers, 1949):
Bowers emphasizes the scientific knowledge and relational skills integral to social casework. These enable individuals to enhance their capacity and address problems effectively through mobilized community resources.
Conclusion
Social casework is a versatile and scientific method aimed at resolving individual challenges within the context of their environment. Perlman encapsulates this process as involving four interconnected components: the individual (person), their problem, the setting (place), and the methodical intervention (process). At its heart, social casework seeks to empower individuals to navigate their social functioning effectively while contributing to personal and societal growth.
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