Introducing Generalist Practice Flashcards
What is Generalist Practice
Problem solving/planned change approach
ethical principals and values
wide range of roles
select most effective strategies possible
“The application of an eclectic knowledge base, professional values and ethics, and a wide range of skills to target systems of any size for change”
i) Three primary principles:
▪ Emphasis on client empowerment, strengths and resiliency
▪ Importance of human diversity and difference
▪ Advocacy for human rights and advancement of social, economic, and environmental justice
ii) Four major processes:
▪ Wide range of professional roles
▪ Critical thinking skills
▪ Research-informed practice
▪ Planned change process
Empowerment:
“the process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individuals can take action to improve their life situations”
Strength Perspective
“An orientation focusing on client resources, capabilities, knowledge, abilities, motivations, experience, intelligence, and other positive qualities that can be put to use to solve problems and pursue positive changes.”
Resiliency
▪ Seeking strength amid adversity
▪ “the ability of an individual, family, group, community, or organization to recover from adversity and resume functioning even when suffering serious trouble, confusion, or hardship”
Cultural competency:
“the set of knowledge and skills that a social worker must develop in order to be effective with multicultural clients.”
“the set of knowledge and skills that a social worker must develop in order to be effective with multicultural clients.” (p. 32)
consistent with social work values and an anti-oppressive approach
Triple A Approach to Critical Thinking stands for ______
- Ask questions [e.g., about situation, statement]
- Assess the established facts and issues involved
- Assert a concluding opinion
Value 1 ____
Respect for the Inherent Dignity and Worth of Persons
▪ Diversity
▪ Self-Determination (with limits)
▪ Informed consent
Value 2 is ____
Pursuit of Social Justice
▪ Fair and equitable distribution of resources
▪ Equal treatment and protection
▪ Social development and environmental management
Value 3 is ____
Service to Humanity
▪ Needs of others above self-interest (in professional practice)
▪ Responsible use of power and authority
▪ Promote individual and social development
Value 4 is ___
Integrity in Professional Practice
▪ Honest, reliable, impartial…
▪ Respect professional values and ethical principles
▪ Maintain appropriate boundaries
▪ Avoid conflict of interests
Value 5 is ____
Confidentiality in Professional Practice
▪ Respect trust and confidence
▪ Respect client’s right to confidentiality (with limits)
▪ Informed consent
Value 6 is ____
Competence in Professional Practice
▪ Client’s right to highest quality of service possible
▪ Maintain/Increase professional knowledge and skill
▪ Limit professional practice to areas of competence
iii) And an _____
iii) And an organizational structure
Micro skills
used with individuals (one-on-one)
Mezzo skills
used to work with small groups and communities (AA meetings, women shelters, etc.)
Macro skills
used to work with large systems such as organizations and communities (law, government, policies)
Understanding organizational structure involves knowing…
▪ channels of communication
▪ lines of authority and how decisions are made
▪ procedures regulating services to clients
▪ your job description in context of larger organizational mandate (agency personnel tasks and responsibilities)
Critical thinking is:
“(1) the careful scrutiny of what is stated as true or what appears to be true [e.g., questioning of beliefs, statements, lines of reasoning] and the resulting expression of an opinion or conclusion based on that scrutiny”
“(2) the creative formulation of an opinion or conclusion when presented with a question, problem, or issue” (p. 35)
Some Pitfalls of Critical Thinking are ___
- Outward appearance of science
- Absence of skeptical peer review
- Reliance on personal experience and testimonials
- Wishful thinking
- The “ancient wisdom” fallacy
- The popularity fallacy
Planned Change is ____
▪The development and implementation of a strategy for assisting clients in addressing issues affecting social functioning or well-being.
▪A problem-solving process can be viewed as a process of planned change.
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 1:
Step 1. Recognize the Problem
need to recognize the problem and that indeed an ethical dilemma actually exists
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 2:
Step 2. Investigate the Variables Involved
collect all relevant information
Problem (What is the issue?)
People involved (Who does this all involve?)
Your role
Agency involvement (What are the agency’s responsibilities?)
Any other variables
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 3:
Step 3. Get Feedback from Others
discuss situation and concerns with others (e.g., supervisor, colleague, professional association)
bounce ideas off them to firmly establish objectivity
brainstorm, looking for different ways of viewing and eventually handling the dilemma
look to persons who have more experience
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 4:
Step 4. Appraise What Values and Ethical Standards Apply to the Dilemma
identify what principles or standards are involved (refer to Code of Ethics)
perhaps an ethical dilemma doesn’t exist, only an ethical problem
an ethical problem may be more straightforward versus an ethical dilemma that has competing imperfect solutions
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 5:
Step 5. Evaluate the Dilemma on the Basis of Established Ethical Principles
perhaps able to establish some of the principles involved as being more important than others
remember, by nature of a dilemma there is no perfect solution—each dilemma involves some conflict among ethical principles so abiding by them all is impossible
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 6:
Step 6. Identify and Think about Possible Alternatives to Pursue
what can you do to solve the dilemma
what creative ideas can you come up with
what other people might help you with their consultation, support or action
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 7:
Step 7. Weigh the Pros and Cons of Each Alternative
examine each alternative in the context of social work practice and in terms of what is best for client
what course of action is best for the client?
what alternative is most likely to succeed?
how might you best proceed?
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 8:
Step 8. Make Your Decision
make a decision about what is best route to take
the main thing is that you have done some serious thinking about the circumstances in order to proceed from an informed position
Guides for Ethical Dillema Decision Making Step 9:
A suggested Step 9.
Evaluation and follow-up
Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice means
▪ The concept of anti-oppression implies both the existence of oppression and an opposition to oppression. Similarly, an anti-oppressive approach to social work recognizes that individuals and groups experience oppression and adopts practices aimed at confronting oppression.
Oppression means ___
“Oppression is generally understood as the domination of subordinate groups in society by a powerful (politically, economically, socially, and culturally) group. It entails the various ways that this domination occurs, including how both structural arrangements and a ruling culture (i.e., the culture of the dominant group) favour the dominant over the subordinate group.”
Oppression is evident when a person…
▪ is blocked from opportunities to self-development,
▪ is excluded from full participation in society,
▪ does not have certain rights that the dominant group takes for granted, or is assigned a second class citizenship
…because of his or her membership in a particular group or category of people.
Oppression occurs at three levels of society:
Oppression occurs at three levels of society:
▪ Personal
▪ Cultural
▪ Structural
Personal level is ____
Oppression at the personal level “comprises the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours that depict a negative pre-judgement of a particular subordinate social group. It is usually based on stereotypes and may be overt or covert.”
Cultural level is ___
“Oppression at the cultural level consists of the values, norms, and shared patterns of seeing, thinking, and acting, along with an assumed consensus about what is right and normal, that taken together endorse the belief in a superior culture.”
Structural level is ___
Oppression “at the structural level refers to the means by which oppression is institutionalized in society. It consists of the ways that social institutions, laws, policies, social processes and practices, the economic and political systems all work together primarily in favour of the dominant group at the expense of subordinate groups.”
Principles
Principle 1: People have the right to exist with their basic needs met.
(includes basic right to life; sustaining life takes precedence)
Principle 2: People have the right to treatment that is fair and equal
Principle 3: People have the right to have free choice and freedom (self-determination)
Principle 4: People have the right to experience no harm, or injury that is minimal
Principle 5: People have the right to cultivate a good quality of life
Principle 6: People have the right to secure their privacy and confidentiality
Principle 7: People have the right to understand the truth and all available information.
Anti-oppressive approach
▪ The concept of anti-oppression implies both the existence of oppression and an opposition to oppression. Similarly, an anti-oppressive approach to social work recognizes that individuals and groups experience oppression and adopts practices aimed at confronting oppression.
