Components of Social Casework by Imran Ahmad Sajid

Imran Ahmad Sajid [ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK, LECTURE NOTES]

COMPONENTS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK
ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK
IMRAN AHMAD SAJID
Lecturer, Social Work,
University of Peshawar
st
BS 1 Semester, Social Work, Sociology, Fall 2012

Social Case Work is the process to help the individual. Help is to be given to him to
make him (i) Self Sufficient, (ii) Confidant, and (iii) Independent. The nucleus of
social case work is given by HH Pearlman as this; A Person with a Problem comes
to a Place where a Professional Representative helps him by a given
Process. According to this statement, the helping process of social casework has
got five (5) different elements or components;
1. PERSON
2. PROBLEM
3. PLACE
4. PROCESS/ PROCEDURE
5. PROFASSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

1. PERSON
The person is known as Client in the professional language of SCW. The person can
be a man, woman, a young, child or aged or anyone who finds himself, or is found to
be in need of help in some aspect of his social emotional living. Here client means
the special person who has some problem.
Every person in this world faces problems. Like common people the client is also a
human being having likes and dislikes. These likes and dislikes creates strengths
and weaknesses in the personality of the client. So he got the problem due to the
weaknesses. Or in a psychoanalytical perspective when his ego is unable to make
the decisions between right and wrong, good and bad so then he becomes under
stresses and got the problem.

BS 1st semester, Social Work/Sociology, University of Peshawar, Fall 2012 Page 1


The first effort is to solve the problem by his own efforts. But when the problems do
not seem to be solved by his personal efforts then he needs external support for its
solution. This external support is given to him professionally by the social worker.
The caseworker should be so polite & patient that he should listen to the full
comments of the client. Whatever he is saying about his self, his family, friends,
work-mates his environment, every comment should very carefully be listened. In
professional language a problematic person is called “problem suffering person”.
When a workers deals with the client, his attitude should be so polite and friendly
that the client considers him as his best friend in the society.

2. PROBLEM
The problem is the situation which disturbs the normal social functioning of any
individual from the approved culturally set norms. A problem is a situation which is
the outcome of the circumstances. A problem is a situation, event, or anything which
impairs the normal functioning of the individual and makes him handicapped.
Problem arises from some need or accumulation of frustrations or maladjustment,
and sometimes all of these together. Paul B. Horton says that a problem is a
situation which exists anywhere anytime and affects any person. It creates Hurdles
in the life of a person. When these hurdles are there, the individuals become
conscious of it and try to find out a solution. Sometimes the problem is solved by
one’s own efforts but sometime he needs External Help. That external help is given
to him/her by social worker at individual, group and community level.

The problem has two kinds “Intra Personal Problem” and “Inter Personal Problem”.

Intrapersonal: The dictionary meaning of intrapersonal is “in mind, or relating to
internal aspects of a person, especially the emotions.” Intrapersonal is that problem
which is related to one’s own personality or self.It is the problem which does not
affect other people but the concerned person himself alone. For example if a client
has only one kidney, s/he is blind from a single eye etc, or if s/he is depressed and
this depression is disturbing him/her, it means that s/he is having an intrapersonal
problem. Likewise, a very simple example is that if a student has to write down the



lecture in the class but he has no pen to write, it is his problem and it is affecting him
only.
Interpersonal: The dictionary meaning of interpersonalis “between persons, or
something concerning or involving the relationship between people.” Interpersonal is
that problem which affects more than one person. It affects others as well. For
example if a person is addicted to drugs, it not only affects him but other people
around him as well, or if somebody discriminates between people, or if a child is
hated and bullied by his peers. These are examples of interpersonal problems.
Similarly, crime, theft, burglary, and delinquency are a few more examples of
interpersonal problems. More simply if in the class room during the lecture,
someone’s mobile ring raises then the attention of all the students is diverted to that
ring. The person whose ring was raised is also affected and disturbed by this and all
other class fellows and their teacher too. Jealousy is an intrapersonal problem, but
when responded, it becomes an interpersonal problem.

Types of problems
There is probably no problem in human living that has not been brought to social
workers in social agencies. Problem of hunger for food and hunger for love, of
seeking shelter and of wanting to run away, of getting to married and of staying to
married, of needing money and of wasting money, of not wanting to live and of not
wanting to die, of making enemies and of needing friends, of wanting and not
wanting medications. In the heave of the so many problems, it seems to me
important to differentiate or categorize the different problems, so to understand them
easily.

i. Physiological Problem: Physiological problems are related to the physiqueof the
person, i.e. the bodily impaired functioning problems. e.g. all the disabilities of the
body, problem of weak eyesight, hearing impairment, speech impairment, organically
handicapped both internal—heart, kidney, lung, intestine, appetite, nausea etc— or
external—no leg or one leg, hand, blind, deaf, dumb etc.



ii. Economic problems: Every individual in this world is facing economic problems.
Economically the society is divided into three groups. Each of them is further divided
into three sub-groups; Upper Class, Middle Class, Lower Class
 Upper Upper-Upper Middle-Upper Lower-Upper
 Middle Upper-Middle Middle-Middle Lower-Middle
 Lowe Upper-Lower Middle-Lower Lower-Lower
But we divide them into two groups only, namely; “Haves” and “Have-Nots”. Haves
mean those people who have chances for development or getting to be developed.
Have--nots mean those people who are deprived of having the chances for
developing themselves or who have not found the chances for development.
Now all these groups have the economic problems. The haves will try to get more
and more financial rewards to buy a new BMW car or other latest model which no
other person has as a property. The have-nots simply want more and more money
because they really need economic assistance. They are in the want of money, so
that they can fulfill their needs.
Economic problems are related to the management of needs and resources a
person have. If a person has managed his needs to his resource, then he will be
facing no economic problem.

iii. Psychological Problems: Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. It is the
study of what we think and what we do. Psychological problems occur when a
person is disturbed by some external circumstances. Psychological problem is the
outcome of environment and circumstances. For example, a lecturer is starved and
he has to deliver the lecture right now after a few minutes. Because of this situation
his lecture would not be as good as if he has eaten something and then comes to the
lecture. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, frustration, and anger are the examples
of the psychological problems.

iv. Relationship problems: Human being is a bio-psycho-social entity. Man lives in the
society. He is engaged in different interpersonal relationships, e.g. relationship
between a buyer and seller, teacher and student, parent and sibling, brother and
sister, husband and wife etc. Sometimes there comes some problem in maintaining
these relations, e.g. anger between husband and wife which leads to divorce, or



problem of a person who cannot face the peoples, i.e. a phobic person. When a
person encounters these problems he then comes to an agency where he is given
helped by social worker or other professionals.

3. PLACE
In Social Casework context, a place is any agency which offers social services. Or, it
is the department of any agency which is built for social services. It is a particular
kind of social services agency in that it does not deal with social problems at large
but the individual level problems, i.e. the individuals who are facing the management
problems of their lives. Its purpose is to help those individuals whose normal
functioning in daily life is disturbed i.e. his person-to-person, person-to-family,
person-to-group and person-to-situation relationships. There are three (3) kind of
agencies;
a. The social services agencies are of three kinds;
b. Government agency or organization
c. Non-Governmental Agency or organization
Governmental Agency:Government agencies are fully financially supported by the
government. It does not take aid from any other source. Its source of funds is the
government itself. Secondly its programs are planned and implemented by the
professionals of social services i.e. by the government experts. Thirdly it has an
accountability system. Government agencies are held accountable for their
expenditures. Fourthly its staff is totally paid staff and professionally skilled persons
are given jobs in government agencies. The example of the government agencies in
Peshawar are DATC in Lady Reading Hospital, Artificial Limb Centre KTH, Provincial
Directorate of social welfare etc.

Non-Governmental Organizations: Non-governmental Organizations(NGOs) are
fully financially supported by the public donations. Secondly, its programs are
planned and implemented by the people who have established that NGO. The
programs may be planned by professional or non-professionals. Thirdly, it has no
accountability for its funds expenditures i.e. no check and balance. No one is
authorized; even government cannot check their accounts. Fourthly, its staff includes



more volunteers and less paid employees. Volunteers are the main force of NGOs.
The examples of NOGs in Peshawar are Horizon NGO, Dost Foundation, Hamza
Foundation, Friends of Mind, KhuendoKor, CISSDE etc.
Semi-Government Organizations: Semi-governmental Organizationsare those which
are started by the people. Firstly, the people realize a need for an organizational
effort to lead a campaign against a social problem. Secondly, the government gives
them a little financial support in the shape of grants, i.e. 30% government and 70%
the organization itself. Thirdly, it has an accountability system. It is accountable to
the government. Fourthly, its staff includes more paid employees and less
volunteers. The examples of Semi-Government agencies in Peshawar are Child
Protection and Welfare Units.
The case work services are offered in all the three kinds of agencies.

4. PROCESS
The dictionary meaning of process is “A series of actions directed toward a specific
aim, or gradual change that leads toward a particular result.” The process of the
casework is like the process of a medical doctor (MD). Process in casework means
an organized (systematic and step-by-step) method of helping people to let them out
of trouble.
The idea of casework process stems from a natural process in human being, i.e.
problem-solving-process. It is a natural process through which
individualscontinuously try to adjust themselves to the environment or adapt the
environment to them, so as to achieve maximum satisfaction.
This process is concerned with two kinds of problems; replacing discomfort or
dissatisfaction with comfort or satisfaction, or/and seeking to achieve greater or more
satisfaction.
The case work process always requires the full involvement and participation of the
client himself. The caseworker stimulates and encourages the person as a feeling,
thinking and doing person. To stimulate a person to feel and think about his problem,
a professional must have a clear idea of the overall process of doing so.
The process of casework as given by H.H. Pearlman has three phases;
a. Study
b. Diagnoses



c. Treatment
Some people have given five phases of casework which includes the
following; Study, Assessment, Intervention, Treatment, Follow-up.
Nonetheless, I will process here with the simple process given by Ms. Pearlman.

i. Study: - the dictionary meaning of study is “to learn about a particular subject by
reading and researching.”
Study in social casework refers to the process of collecting information regarding the
client and his problem. The information is mostly collected through the interviews.
The first source of the information is the client himself, but when the client is unable
to give the information then the caseworker turns over to the secondary resources,
which can be his family, friends or relatives.
The focus of the initial interview is to collect the information about the identification of
the client (e.g. name, age, gender, marital status, occupation, DOB, and religion etc),
current complaints of the client and the view about the complaint, the facts about the
problem, previous mental problems, medical history, personality (e.g. reaction
pattern, diseases, sickness, emotional problems, eating sleeping habits, his
behavior, etc.), family information, environment of the family, friends, workplace
etc. It means that a complete sketch of the history and the present situation of the
client, his strengths and weaknesses, potentials and capabilities, i.e. his internal and
external environment are made in the study phase of the problem-solving-process.

ii. Diagnosis: - the dictionary meaning of diagnosis is “the identifying of the nature or
cause of something, especially a problem or fault.” e.g. the doctor’s diagnoses flue.
After a complete and thorough study of the client and his problem, the worker then
diagnose and asses the problem. How the problems which have been identified by
the client and his family are affecting the client or his family, what is the problem and
what the client needs to do?
The worker find out the extent of the problem i.e. whether it is an intra-personal or
inter-personal problem. He also tries to find out the major factors operating in this
situation. When the assessment is completed, the worker reaches to the actual fact.
That is, what is the actual problem? And how all of them are looking upon it. Then
the worker tells the client and his family or friends that this is their real problem.



iii. Treatment: - dictionary meaning of treatment is “the techniques or actions
customarily applied in a specified situation.”
Now that we have completed the study and we also have found the actual problem,
there is a need of the client to solve this problem. The worker, in this phase of the
process of social casework, finds out different solutions of the problem and provides
the alternative ways to the client. On the basis of the study and assessment, the
caseworker makes an action plan for the client. The focus of the plan is to enable the
client himself to solve the problem, to feel the actual problem, to think about it and
choose an alternative or solution for it.

5. Professional Representative
The professional representative in casework is the person whose services are hired
by the social services agency. He is the person who has the scientific skills and
knowledge about human behavior and human psychology. He has the knowledge
about the social problems of the individuals. He is there in the agency to help the
individuals, using his skills and experiences, out of the problem. Professional
representative is called “caseworker”. In Pakistan and other countries of the world, a
Master in Social work degree is required for the professional level worker.

RECAP
Social Casework involves five components, which are also called elements of social casework. These
are, person, problem, place, process, and professional representative.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Can casework proceed without a person?
2. How many sections of the society are there in economic terms?
3. Can you differentiate between intrapersonal problem and interpersonal problem? Give some
examples as well.
4. How many types of casework agencies are there?
5. Elaborate various phases of casework process?
6. Who is a professional representative? Who can be a professional social worker?


Components of Social Casework by Imran Ahmad Sajid

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