Generalist Practice Social

Work

What is Social Work?

• ?? Why do you want to be a social worker?• !! Baby-snatcher!

5 agreed upon dimensions:

1. Importance of multiple level interventions– Individuals ---- micro– Families ---- micro/mezzo– Groups --- mezzo– Organizations --- mezzo/macro– Communities --- macro*Each is viewed as a system withinits environment

macro

mezzo

micro

5 agreed upon dimensions:

2. Practitioners use a problem-solving, planned-change approach to resolve issues

encountered by any of these systems.

•Generalist Intervention Model (GIM)

Engagement

Assessment

Planning

Follow-up

Termination

Evaluation

Implementation

5 agreed upon dimensions:

3. Ethical principles and social work values.*Include a focus on private issues of human

well-being, social and economic justice, and appreciation of human diversity.

5 agreed upon dimensions:

4. Practitioners assume a wide range of roles:•Counselor Educator•Broker Case Manager•Mobilizer Mediator•Facilitator Integrator/Coordinator•Manager Initiator•Negotiator Spokesperson•Organizer Consultant•Advocate

5 agreed upon dimensions:5. Generalist social workers must have infinite flexibility, a solid knowledge-base about many things, and a wide range of skills at their disposal:

- Select effective strategies- Evaluate results of practice- Professional competence

Knowledge base chosen from a range of theories:- Systems- Ecological- Structural functionalism- Role theory- Psycho-dynamic- Learning Theory- Erickson’s Psychosocial Development- many more

Generalist Practice Definition

• Generalist Practice is the application of an eclectic knowledge-base, professional values, and a wide range of skills to target systems of any size for planned change within the context of three primary principles, a context, and four major processes

Cultural competency

Principles/Values Emphasizing client empowerment

Human Diversity Advocacy/Social and Economic

Justice

Organizational structure

YOU AS GP

1.Knowledge2. Values3. Skills

Supervision

Macro System

Mezzo System

Micro System

Application

TARGET SYSTEM

Processes

Assuming a wide range of

roles

Using critical thinking

Following a planned-change

process

MSUM School of Social Work’s Definition of Generalist Practice Social Work

• Generalist practice is the critical application of an eclectic knowledge base, professional values, and a wide range of culturally competent skills to a planned-changed process at any system level.

Generalist Intervention Model• Substantively and effectively prepare for action with

IFGOC• Use empathy and other interpersonal skills• Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and

desired outcomes

• Collect, organize, and interpret client data• Assess client strengths and limitations• Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and

objectives• Select appropriate intervention strategies

• Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals• Implement prevention interventions that enhance client

capacities• Help clients resolve problems• Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients• Facilitate transitions and endings

• Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions

Engagement

Assessment

Intervention

Evaluation

Engagement

Assessment

Planning

Implementation

Evaluation

Termination

Follow-up

Systems Theory

Definition of Systems Theory

• System – a set of elements that are orderly and interrelated to make a functional whole.

• Systems theory:– Targets multiple systems of different size– Focus on boundaries WITHIN a system

System DynamicInteract Homeostasis (equilibrium)

Input OutputEquifinality

Ecological Theory

• Refers only to living dynamic interactions• Focuses on transactions BETWEEN the

individual and environment at the interface point.

Social Environment Person in Environment

Energy (input/output) InterfaceAdaptation CopingInterdepedence

Ecological Theory

School

Dance Team

Individual