Planned Change in Casework (Social Work)

WHAT IS PLANNED CHANGE?

-involves the development and implementation of a strategy for improving or altering some specified condition, patterns of behavior or set of circumstances in an effort to improve a client’s social functioning or well- being (Sheafor & Horesji, 2009).

- also termed an intervention when related to social work practice is a deliberate action intended to alter situation or interfere with an expected or usual course of events (Pincus & Minahan, 1973)

Important Terminologies in Planned Change

• Process- it is the awareness of & attention to process that usually separates the professional from the well- intentioned but often ineffective layperson.
• Conflict- the unavoidable part of the change process.
• Resistance- to change is a characteristic of all human and social system. Resistance can be expected even when the client has demonstrated a strong desire to change.

Actors in Planned Change

• Change Agent System- the change agent and the people who are part of agency or employing organization.
•  Client System- people who sanction or ask for the change agent’s services, who are the expected beneficiaries of services, and who have a working agreement or contract with the change agent
•  Target System- people who need to be changed to accomplish the goals of the change agent
•  Action System- the change agent and the people he/she works with & through goals and influence the target system.

Planned Change Steps in Generalist Social Work Practice

Step 1: Engagement

-The initial period when practitioners orient themselves to the problem at hand and begin to establish communication & a relationship with others also addressing the problem.

Step 2: Assessment

-This is the process occurring between practitioner and client, in which information is gathered, analyzed and synthesized to provide a concise picture of the client and his/her needs and strengths.

Step 3: Planning

-Specifies what should be done.

Step 4: Implementation

-The process whereby client and worker follow their plan to achieve their goals.

Step 5: Evaluation

-The process of determining whether a given change effort was worthwhile.

Step 6:  Termination
-The end of the professional social worker- client relationship.

Basic Types of Termination

• Natural- goals have been achieved and it is time for clients to take what they have learned and go out on their own.
• Unplanned- other aspects of the client’s life take precedence over the problem he/she originally came to the social worker to help solve.
• Forced- the client might leave the agency or the client might leave an institution for some reason or lose eligibility to receive services.

Elements of Planned Change

Motivation

-Viewed as what people want and how much they want it.

Capacities

-can be thought as the resources that people or clients bring to the change process

Opportunity

-refers to the conditions of the environment that invite and support change.

Three Strategies in Planned Change

Empirical- Rational

-proposed b a person or a group

Normative- Educative

-Change existing norms; develop communities into a new norm

Power- Coercive

- Resistant to change