Social Work Theory And Practice

Part A: The Importance of Theories in Social Work Practice

Theories are core to social work practice. Firstly, theories provide the framework for analyzing and responding to the diverse problems that social workers face (Brekke & Anastas, 2019). Secondly, theories offer a clear framework that enables social workers to understand patterns, determine appropriate actions, and promote change at the organizational level. 

Thirdly, by preventing practitioners from being influenced by subjective opinions and promoting the use of evidence-based practices, theories provide a scientific foundation for social work, For example, Systems Theory views people as systems of relationships with family, community, as well as societal systems (Cabrera & Cabrera, 2023). It enables the social workers to understand how these systems affect the behaviors and results of individuals, putting them in a position to develop interventions that take into account the context in which the clients are living, thus coming up with more effective and holistic solutions. 

Moreover, theories such as Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory are very important in the understanding of the different stages of development and the conflicts involved (Maree, 2022) This knowledge is particularly useful when dealing with clients at various stages of their lives. For instance, social workers working with adolescents can use this theory to explain identity versus role confusion to young clients. Any such developmental understanding assists the social workers in anticipating issues and how they can be handled. 

Apart from enhancing the understanding of the content studied, theories also enhance the effectiveness of social work practice (Healy, 2022). For instance, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) entails a process of developing new ways of thinking to address behavior and emotions (Palmieri et al., 2022). Thus, social workers can offer clients a logically constructed plan with a sequence of actions that has been proven to help treat anxiety, depression, and stress. This theory-based approach ensures that the interventions are not only specific, but also grounded in theory and practice. 

Furthermore, theories are also very important in the empowering of clients. For instance, Empowerment Theory, which is concerned with the strengthening of personal, interpersonal, and political power, is fundamental for clients’ choice and power (Brekke & Anastas, 2019). This theory helps the social worker to enable their clients and help them make choices that would bring change into their lives. 

Part B: Understanding Critical Realism and Structural Theory

Critical Realism

Critical realism with roots in the work of Roy Bhaskar, is a form of ontological realism that can be used to link empirical reality with the depths of the structures that form social realities (Brekke & Anastas, 2019). This philosophical stance postulates that there is an objective world out there that one can study and acquire knowledge of through experimentation and logical reasoning (Mirzaei Rafe et al., 2021).

For instance, when studying a topic such as poverty, critical realism enables the social worker to go deeper than the mere phenomenon of poverty, to what is hidden beneath it – social, economic and political relations (Brekke & Anastas, 2019).

Such a framework assists a social worker not only to address the current problem of the client that led them to seek help, but also address the systemic issue of poverty. This duality enables practitioners to develop immediate and sustainable fix solutions for the manifestation as well as the societal issues underlying the problem. 

Critical realism is most valuable in social work research and practice since it provides an understanding of causation and connections between various elements of social actuality (Lawani, 2021). It challenges practitioners to look at the effects and the causes that lead to these effects in a given setting. This approach helps in developing interventions that seek to bring about sustainable change in society while at the same time responding to present day challenges. 

Structural Theory

Structural theory in social work is concerned with how different structures in society including economic, political and social systems influence individuals and societies (Payne, 2020). This theory stresses that most individual issues stem from the systemic factors, hence the need to address the systems to bring a positive change in the lives of individuals. 

For instance, when addressing the issue of homelessness, structural theory makes the social workers consider other factors that may be causing the problem. They would take into account more general aspects like housing policies, economic climate, and social care services.

Through recognizing these systematic factors, social workers can design methods to not only meet the needs of homeless persons but also to change policies that do not allow homelessness to happen (Soon, 2021). This holistic approach means that the interventions are not just stop-gap measures but seek to address the root causes of social injustice.

One of the best examples of the use of structural theory can be identified in the attempts to eliminate racism in the healthcare system (Healy, 2022). Social workers employing this theory would look at how racism in organizations, economic disparities, and policies lead to disparities in health among the races. They would then champion for policy reform on health, support community health initiatives and push for equal health status between women and men. 

Part C: Applying Theories to Practice

Practicing as a social worker, using critical realism in the case of the family described in the scenario, there are several interventions that would be required in order to address both the current situation and the structural factors. 

The first step that would have to be taken would be to evaluate the apparent problems, which are the state of the property and the unpaid rent (Lawani, 2021).  Consultation with Kaylie on the development of an achievable cleaning plan and involvement of community services that provide cleaning assistance would be necessary. On the financial front, assistance to the family in negotiating with the housing provider concerning the payment plan and also seeking a grant from charitable organizations or government would be required.

Besides these more concrete issues, Critical Realism prompts an examination of the mechanisms that have produced the family’s circumstances (Lawani, 2021). The poor financial situation in the family, the lack of support for the extra children, and Rua's irregular earnings from casual cash-only jobs are the main sources of stress. In addition, the psychological pressure that the characters of Kaylie and Rua go through requires consideration as well. In a comprehensive evaluation, understanding how these factors affect their everyday experiences and contribute to their difficulties would be crucial.

Understanding the interrelatedness of these problems, an integrated support plan would be suggested (Soon, 2021). This would entail referring the family to other relevant services, including counseling services for both Kaylie and Rua to assist them in coping with stress. Additionally, educational assistance would be provided to Brayden, who has a learning disability in reading and would rather not leave home. Collaboration with the school would ensure that the child gets special tutoring or programs that address such learning needs.

Critical Realism also emphasizes the systems approach to tackling the causes of social issues (Elder-Vass, 2022). Thus, it would be recommended that the following policies be implemented: financial assistance to families with an increased number of children should be provided on time, and parents experiencing stress should have easy access to mental health services. By cooperating with policymakers and community leaders, efforts can be made to improve the situation for families in similar circumstances.

Last but not least, critical realism can be applied by focusing on the construction of enduring strategies (Mirzaei Rafe et al., 2021). This entails not only meeting the family’s current requirements but also striving to enhance their living standards for the long term. In this way, contributions can be made to improve the housing situation of this family and others in similar situations by ensuring their housing stability, providing necessary support services, and promoting systemic changes for the better.

Integrating Structural Theory in practice with the family in the scenario would entail a broad perspective that examines the structural factors affecting the family. First, the system-level causes of the family’s struggles would be analyzed. Rental arrears and poor living conditions are indicative of deeper structural factors such as a lack of social support for kinship caregivers and inadequate financial support programs (Mullaly, 1993). Understanding these systemic factors would allow for the design of a better intervention plan that addresses not only the symptoms but also the causes.

One of the key components of this practice would be to ensure that the family has economic backing (Soon, 2021). Kaylie and Rua would be helped to apply for available scholarship programs, and policy changes would be lobbied to provide timely and sufficient support to families in such situations. This might involve advocating for policies that ensure kinship caregivers receive financial support for themselves and their families and seeking stable employment for Rua to offer a more reliable source of income and thus reduce financial strain.

Regarding housing, coordination with the state-funded housing NGO and other relevant organizations would be undertaken to find better housing options (Soon, 2021). The current three-bedroom house is not suitable for a family of their size, so efforts would be made to find a home that is bigger or more appropriate. Moreover, coordination with social services would ensure the family gets all the support they need, such as counseling for the parents, help with education for the children, and assistance with household chores.

Brayden’s reluctance to attend school due to reading problems indicates that children require special educational attention. Structural Theory affirms that the achievement gap can only be closed through structural reforms (Taylor et al., 2021). Brayden should be given an educational evaluation and academic accommodations, including tutoring and special education classes. By fulfilling his educational requirements, his future opportunities can be enhanced, thereby minimizing the possibility of future socio-economic difficulties for Brayden.

Part D: Reflecting on Personal Alignment with Theory

Among the theories discussed, the one that aligns with my personal and professional beliefs is Critical Realism (CR). In my capacity as a social work student, I have a passion for comprehending the various and subtle processes that underlie social problems. Thus, the focus on both individual actors’ agency and structural conditions allows for the adequate understanding of social processes, which is essential for the practice of social work (Healy, 2022). 

Critical Realism is an approach that seeks to overcome the Positivist/Interpretivist divide by accepting the existence of structures while at the same time recognizing the role of individuals (Elder-Vass, 2022). This dual focus is especially significant in social work since it is critical to understand how personal and structural factors interact. For instance, in my volunteering at a community center, I have seen first-hand how poverty and discrimination affect people’s lives. That is why using CR helps me not only to respond to the needs but also think about the roots of the problem. 

A real-life example of having used CR in social work is when I participated in a program that seeks to address homelessness among the youths. Initially, the primary focus was to provide a temporary shelter and sustenance base or fundamental needs.

Nonetheless, applying a CR perspective shifted the emphasis of the analysis toward the fact that homelessness is not a personal choice but is caused by the lack of housing, the loss of employment, and the breakdown of the family. It led to more comprehensive activities including advocating for policy changes and providing support for employment training. 

On the other hand, while the Structural theory is very helpful in explaining the impacts of structures on society, it has a tendency to overlook individual cases (Brekke & Anastas, 2019). For example, in my field placement, I interacted with a young woman who was an alcohol and substance user. Whereas a purely structural approach may focus on factors like the availability of drugs or socio-economic status of an individual. However, with the assistance of CR, I was able to find out about her past history such as trauma and family history, which are important in developing an intervention plan. 

While engaging in the practice of social work, there is potential for the CR to transcend the tenets of social constructionism by including deeper causal explanations (Lawani, 2021). It allows practitioners like myself to understand and intervene in social issues like poverty, discrimination, and inequality by making sense of processes that undergird these issues. Moreover, the CR approach is compatible with my personal values of empathy and justice since it focuses on the transformation of the individual and society at large.

 

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References

Brekke, J. S., & Anastas, J. W. (Eds.). (2019). Shaping a science of social work: Professional knowledge and identity. Oxford University Press, USA.
Cabrera, D., & Cabrera, L. (2023). What is systems thinking?. In Learning, design, and technology: An international compendium of theory, research, practice, and policy (pp. 1495-1522). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17461-7_100 
Elder-Vass, D. (2022). Pragmatism, critical realism and the study of value. Journal of Critical Realism, 21(3), 261-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-08-2020-0101 
Fook, J. (2022). Social work: A critical approach to practice.
Healy, K. (2022). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Lawani, A. (2021). Critical realism: what you should know and how to apply it. Qualitative research journal, 21(3), 320-333. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-08-2020-0101 
Maree, J. G. (2022). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: critical overview. The Influence of Theorists and Pioneers on Early Childhood Education, 119-133. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003120216-11 
Mirzaei Rafe, M., Noaparast, K. B., Hosseini, A. S., & Sajadieh, N. (2021). An examination of Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism as a basis for educational practice. Journal of Critical Realism, 20(1), 56-71. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14767430.2020.1807799 
Mullaly, R. P. (1993). Structural social work: Ideology, theory, and practice. https://philpapers.org/rec/MULSSW-2 
Palmieri, A., Fernandez, K. C., Cariolato, Y., Kleinbub, J. R., Salvatore, S., & Gross, J. J. (2022). Emotion regulation in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural therapy: An integrative perspective. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 19(2), 103. https://doi.org/10.36131%2Fcnfioritieditore20220204 
Payne, M. (2020). Modern social work theory. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Soon, V. (2021). Social structural explanation. Philosophy Compass, 16(10), e12782. https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12782 
Taylor, J., Kyere, E., & King, Ѐ. (2021). A gardening metaphor: A framework for closing racial achievement gaps in American public education system. Urban Education, 56(9), 1547-1575. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085918770721