SCK3701 - SOCIAL CASE WORK SUMMARY.

SCK3701 - SOCIAL CASE WORK SUMMARY. Describe the facilitation process from beginning to end? The facilitation process can be described as what happens between a facilitator and their client from the beginning to the end of their relationship. As the process involves both facilitator and client it follows that the process also includes what is happening inside both the client and facilitator. The facilitator uses what is inside them (theory, values, and professional skills) to enable the client to explore what is inside them. The process can be described as a road on which the facilitator walks with a client, accompanying them on their journey of self discovery. The process makes it possible for the client to explore questions such as ‘who am i’ ‘what do I want for myself’ and ‘what is holding me back’? The facilitator cannot answer these questions or walk the road for the client. Only the client can know where they are going or wants to go. Only the client can decide when they cannot continue or when they have had enough. The journey of self discovery is not predictable. It has many twists and turns and no two journeys are the same. In spite of the unpredictability this journey can be divided into four broad phases. The beginning phase where the facilitator tries to make sure that everything is in place for a safe journey, including establishing a relationship that is conducive to mutual trust during the rest of the journey. The second phase, during which the travellers (facilitator and client) explore what hampers the client’s self-discovery. The third phase, in which the travellers work together to sort through the issues that were uncovered in the previous phase And the fourth and final phase, where the travellers near the end of their journey together and are ready to go their separate ways. Study unit 1: Constructivism: Creating knowledge Positivism approach  Believes there is a real reality outside us  Implies we absorb knowledge from the environment / get to know the environment in an objective way  Objective knowledge, getting to know it as it ‘really is’ without allowing our personal thoughts to interfere / influence  We know the truth of an object as it really is, which allows us to judge it to be true or false  Knowledge about health / pathology must also be absorbed from the outside.  Thus the outsider is seen as the expert who knows what is wrong and how to fix it Constructivism  All humans construct / create their own reality, in interaction with their environment  Links with:  Proposition 1: Human experiences at a conscious and unconscious level  Proposition 2: Human perceptions  Proposition 9: Significant others and the self  Constructivism does not deny that there is a real reality outside of us, but maintains we can never know it as it really is, because we cannot encounter the environment without our own senses  Our knowledge is created from our experiences – therefore there can be no objective knowledge – it’s all subjective  The brain creates an image/idea/ perception of what we observe  Our images are unique to us  We must also decide if image is old/new/familiar to us – create a mental system  The knowledge we create is never the same as another person’s knowledge - therefore we use knowledge and ideas from the environment which FIT with the images we create – they might not fit with someone else.  We view people as constructors, who know themselves and their reality better than anyone else – therefore each person constructs their own idea of what constitutes a problem to them.  During the process of facilitation, there are at least 2 people in the room who can be viewed as constructors. There is no question about who is right and who is wrong.  Client is respected as constructor – we can only access their constructions through our own senses – so we have to check our understanding with them  If there is no one, objective true reality – there is no solid basis for truth. Everything we know /observe about our client is our own construction, from our frame of reference. It’s the truth as WE SEE IT.  There is no objective standard for what is right/wrong/good/bad  Agreed upon realities (laws) POSITIVISM CONSTRUCTIVISM Differences (oct/nov 2010, jan/feb 2011) This approach believes that there is a ‘real’ reality outside us, which we absorb and thus get to know from the environment, and get to know the environment in an objective way. It believes that all our knowledge is absorbed from the environment. This approach holds that all human beings construct or create their own reality, in interaction with their environment. It links in with PCA as Props 1 & 2 state that every person creates their own reality and this reality is only known to that person, and prop 9 states that we create our sense of self in interaction with our environment, including significant others. It does not deny that there is a real reality outside of us but maintains that we can never know it as it really is, in itself because we cannot get to know it without encountering it through our own senses. Truth (jan/feb 2011, oct/nov 2011, jan/feb 2012 If we can know the world outside us as it really is, then it follows that we can know the truth about an object as it really is, in a final or positive way. If I can know the final truth, then I can judge something to be true or false in terms of what is really real and right and what is wrong, as measured against an objective reality which exist outside people. Thus we use materials and ideas which fit with the images we create and the things we experience and want to express. If we cannot know what is really true in an objective way we cannot judge anything in terms of it’s truth. We can however , decide for ourselves whether an idea, or some material from the environment fits with what we have in mind. If there is no one objective true reality, then there is no solid basis for truth. So we can no longer say that a client is lying. Whatever they say is their construction, created in interaction with their environment. We can no longer claim to know the truth about our clients as they really are because whatever we say or think about them is our construction from our own frame of reference. Knowledge (oct/nov 2011, oct/nov 2012) This approach believes that there is a ‘real’ reality outside us, which we absorb and thus get to know from the environment, and get to know the environment in an objective way. It believes that all our knowledge is absorbed from the environment Just like no two people are alike so no knowledge we create is exactly the same. We build our reality, our own knowledge, and we have to remember that what we experience of our environment has been experienced through our senses and it is only our own perceptions or experiences that we know, not the thing itself. Health/Healing (jan/feb 2011, jan/feb 2012) If we absorb knowledge from the outside, from the environment, then knowledge about health and pathology must also be absorbed from the outside. Patients must be The idea of health will have different meanings for different people. We view people as constructors, who know themselves and their reality better than anyone else, given something from the outside to make them better. Also, the decision as to what is happening with the person is also made from the outside, by way of a diagnosis. The outsider is seen as the expert who knows what is wrong and what must be done to make it right. and clearly each person constructs their own idea of what does and does not constitute a problem. As people create their own ideas of what a problem is, so they will also generate their ideas of when a problem is no longer a problem. People are able to make new constructions about themselves, each other, and their relationships. (prop 9) Study Unit 2: Why use theory A theory provides assumptions or constructions which guide our thinking in a specific way Pressure on social workers: 1. Pressure from yourself (identity) – You may feel that if you don not solve problem / give advice on how to solve problem, then you are a failure as a facilitator and as a kind caring human being. This could created stress – which you would relieve by reverting to problem solving You may feel helpless on how to respond and to maintain our helpful self, we would offer solutions to our clients 2. Pressure from clients People come to a facilitator when they have a problem they believe they can’t solve on their own – they expect the facilitator to come up with solutions 3. Pressure through using PCA You might feel that if you do not solve the problem as the client asked you to, you are not working in a PC way 4. Pressure from the community Study Unit 3: The centrality of the self in PCA Proposition 1: Human experiences at a conscious and unconscious level For every person their experiential world is central, unique and personal and continually changing. Experiences can be conscious or unconscious. Proposition 2: Human perception Perception of the world is an individual experience. Every individual is unique and their perception of a concept / word will be unique. Proposition 3: Wholeness Fundamental human needs form a whole. Touch one need and you’ll touch all the needs. If you want to bring about change, you need to attend to all needs (The wheel of fundamental human needs) 1. Creation 2. Affection 3. Understanding 4. Protection 5. Participation 6. Subsistence 7. Rest/reflection 8. Freedom 9. Identity 10. (Transcendence) You cannot separate values, behaviour, culture and experiences; no single one level interventions Proposition 4: Self-Determination A human being has one basic striving: to actualise, maintain and develop the self. As a group, members should decide on the objectives and programme for the group. Participation, respect and individualisation. Proposition 5: Needs and behaviour Behaviour essentially consists of purposeful endeavours by individuals to satisfy their needs as experienced in their life world. Proposition 6: Emotions Emotion accompanies and facilitates purposeful behaviour. Intensity of the emotion correlates with the importance attached to the behaviour. Verbal and non-verbal expression of feelings. Freire – “generative themes” – exploring the experiences that the community feels strongly about. Direct link between emotion and motivation to act. (will only act if have strong emotion about it) Proposition 7: Frames of reference The best way to understand behaviour is to view it in terms of the individual’s frame of reference. (Monkey and fish in water) Proposition 8: The Self The self is derived from all experiences we have. “An organised, fluid, but consistent conceptual pattern of perceptions of characteristics and relationships of the “I” or the “me”. Proposition 9: The Self and significant others No person lives in isolation. Networking. Building a strong resource and support network is important for the sustainability of the community and the change process Proposition 10: Values (own and adopted from other people) No group can exist in isolation, but continually interacts with other groups, who have their own, perhaps different, values. Values give an indication of the self of the people. If an ‘outsider’ you cannot impose your ideas on the community. Can only sit, listen, learn. Proposition 11 (a & b) : Dealing with experiences on a conscious level Experiences are symbolized and perceived and organised into some relationship to the self. The community will make decisions congruent with the self-perception. Proposition 11 (c & d) : Dealing with experiences on an unconscious level Experiences that do not fit with the self. Experience is not conscious therefore cannot have symbol attached “I don’t know what is happening to me”. Community – helper needs to facilitate the process of symbolisation of un-symbolised experiences – the process of conscientization (Freire) Proposition 12: Self and behaviour The community decides for itself what suits the self and the values of the community Symbolised behaviour is usually consistent with the individual’s self-concept. We behave in ways that fit our sense of who we are. A programme what works for one group, might not work for the next Proposition 13: Behaviour and unconscious experiences Un-symbolised experiences and needs may motivate behaviour. If the behaviour does not correspond with the self-concept or community’s self, individual (community) will deny behaviour. “we are not violent, we protect ourselves” Proposition 14: Psychological tension Un-symbolised experiences / distorted symbolization that cannot be incorporated into the self creates tension. Community – forced to wearing specific clothes which goes against their customs. Their anger at this, feeling of not being respected – were un-symbolised = psychological tension. “culture of silence.