Social Casework Methodology A Skills Handbook For The Caribbean Human Services Worker

This brief is a practical reference contextualizing social casework methodology in a specifically Caribbean cultural and historical context. It emerged from the experiences of human services workers and educators working in the Caribbean. The concepts of social welfare policy and programs are relatively new to the Caribbean as historically Christian-based organizations and local communities took the responsibility of caring for those in need. As social problems grew more complicated and threatened the security of the nation (e.g., gang violence), it became clear that governments of these small island states needed to provide a systematic approach in dealing with these social problems to help their citizens have a better quality of life. Social Casework Methodology: A Skills Handbook for the Caribbean Human Services Worker outlines a systematic approach that human services workers will find useful while working with clients in the Caribbean. It also is an easy-to-use text that defines social casework methodology, components of the methods, case histories, and exercises for social work students interested in working in the human services sector in the Caribbean.

Integrating social development with social work education, this book meets a crucial need for social work educators, scholars, and students. Unlike theory works which list out the skills required for the practice of social work methods but do not enable development of these skills, this manual discusses concrete exercises for the development of method-linked skills. The book carries a continuous thread of discourse on how to develop interactive work ability in individuals to ensure holistic professional development. It facilitates the inculcation of professional and global competencies essential for a social worker in a student.

Social work with children and families is constantly in the headlines and social workers' decisions are subject to ever increasing scrutiny at all levels. This book supports students and newly qualified social workers by suggesting practical ways in which they might thrive, rather than just survive, in practice.

Written for case managers working in health and human services, this practical guide addresses the need for more progressive and compassionate ways of working with others. Introducing innovative strategies for working with people that challenge the status quo, the book reconsiders old forms of social casework in favour of empowerment approaches that incorporate individual systemic advocacy. Patricia Spindel covers the history of case management, traditional approaches and their critiques, barriers to an empowerment approach, the ethical issues of labelling, stereotyping, stigmatization and pathologizing, and key empowerment philosophies and the research that supports them. This guide provides concrete methods that will help readers put principles of empowerment philosophy into practice. With practical case studies and questions for reflection featured throughout the chapters, it is well suited for human services, social services, and social work programs in colleges and universities in Canada. FEATURES: - Offers a practical "how to" for developing an empowerment plan and deals with common issues in practice, such as projection, countertransference, and transference - Includes core concepts of empowerment and methodology for building individual and community capacity and competence - Provides students with case studies from the field and questions to encourage reflection