Case Study in Assessment and Planning – Social Work Practice Theory

Purpose of the enquiry

To enable you to apply social work practice theory and field specific knowledge to analyse a selected case scenario, undertake a problem formulation and develop an intervention plan.

This enquiry will enable you to apply your knowledge of social work theory and practice about working with individuals and families that you have developed from other subjects, to this field of practice. It should enable you to demonstrate the capacity to use general social work theory and field specific knowledge. It will help you to recognize the transferability of skills across fields as well as the need for specialist knowledge of a client group and policy context.

The case studies are complex and will require analysis using concepts covered over the whole subject. The assessment is individual but students are also encouraged to discuss their ideas with other students.  

From the stance of a support coordinator or social worker in a hospital or another agency you will analyse a case scenario and prepare a case formulation and intervention plan, using identified theoretical perspectives. You will discuss the steps you would take in preparing the assessment and the particular ethical or other challenges you are likely to encounter in working with this client and their family. Your assessment will demonstrate that it is informed by a range of different types of knowledge, social work practice theory, empirical and theoretical knowledge about life course stages or particular issues facing the client and their family. You will also demonstrate an understanding of the principles for practice that underpin working with adults with intellectual disability and knowledge about the policy and service context in which you are working.

What you are expected to do in this enquiry

In this enquiry you will:

Read the case scenarios and consider the following points:

• In what ways might the assessment be more complex than for other client groups?
• How would you go about finding out the strengths and aspirations of the person with intellectual disability? What is particularly challenging for this group?
• What are different types of knowledge you might need to draw on?
• What strategies might you use to map the person’s social network?
• In what sorts of circumstance might you consider the need for an independent advocate, apart from those who already know the person?
• How can you be sure the person with mild intellectually disability is making their own informed choices?
• If a person has no friends, what strategies might you think about in order to extend their social networks?
• What principles should inform an assessment and plan with a person with intellectual disability?
• What are the hidden processes or tasks that must occur in making plans with people with intellectual disability?
• What may compromise a person’s rights and choices when you are working on a plan for support?

You will then use an identified framework or theoretical perspective to:

• Identify the presenting problem/s
• Describe your case formulation
• Develop an intervention plan
• Analyse the empirical and theoretical knowledge about the client’s situation. You might draw on the particular ethical or other tensions you will have to consider in this scenario.

Assessment

What you need to submit

An individual paper of 2500 words (excluding the case scenario). In this paper you will approach the task from the perspective of the role identified with the case scenario you have chosen, and you will:

• Identify the presenting problem and describe a case formulation and intervention plan.
• Discuss the rationale for using the theoretical perspectives you have chosen and consider a possible alternative approach you could have adopted.
• Discuss the sources of empirical and theoretical knowledge you have drawn on in your assessment of this case.
• Discuss the particular ethical or other challenges you may encounter in working with this client and their family.

Case Scenarios

1. James

James is 40 years old, and is assessed as having a moderate intellectual disability. He has always lived at home with his mother and had little contact with anyone else in the family. James spent most of his time in the company of his mother but once a week went to a dance club specifically for people with intellectual disability. On Saturday mornings he has been attending a (disability specific) art group and on Sundays, with his mother, goes to the same church he has been attending since his childhood days. James receives a disability support pension and his mother a carer’s pension.  Last week his mother died suddenly and James was there with her. He had called for help from his neighbours and police had made contact with an aunt of James who had not seen him for three years. In consultation with her a place is short term respite care was found for James in a local disability support service. James had gone with his aunt to his mother’s funeral service but does not appear to understand what has happened. His is usually an out-going and friendly man but is now very anxious and missing his mother. The aunt is willing to take some legal responsibility for James as far as being identified as his next of kin but appears unwilling to have any regular contact with him. The respite facility is unable to offer any ongoing accommodation for James and suggest that he needs long term accommodation support either in the family home that he has inherited from his mother or in a group home.

Your role: You work as a social worker/case manager in the disability support service that manages the respite care facility where James has been staying. You have sought an appointment with the NDIA for a review of his plan and have the task of working with James to prepare for this meeting.

2. Joe

Joe has intellectual disability and has been living alone in his parents’ home since his mother died several years ago. He continues to attend a supported employment service he has been going to for many years. He is an NDIS participant and receives a small amount of funding for drop in support with daily living tasks to enable him to manage his household. This is coordinated by a disability organisation. His brother, who lives interstate rings regularly to make sure everything is ok. Joe’s brother was horrified to learn that a friend of Joe’s from work, who is much younger and less intellectually impaired than he, has moved in to share with him. Joe is talking about getting married. His brother rang the Office of the Public Advocate and the supported employment service and asked them to put a stop this situation, as he thinks Joe is being sexually exploited and his substantial inheritance may be in danger from this woman.

Your role: You are a social worker with the Office of Public Advocate and have been asked to follow up this referral and determine what action if any should be taken.