CASE STUDY 1: SWOT Analysis (20 points)

Health and Social Care Worker Essay

The first category of factors affecting my work is the presence of particular strengths related to its specificities. The
principal quality contributing to my promotion is enthusiasm, which explains my interest in this sphere. It is
complemented by my trustworthiness since I demonstrate a serious attitude towards any task delegated to me and,
therefore, always fulfill the expectations of others. Meanwhile, I tend to use a creative approach to find solutions to
problems, which increases the correspondence of decisions to the identified issues. These qualities are accompanied by
my discipline and patience in communicating with both colleagues and clients.

Another aspect of my personality that seems to be extremely beneficial for my future career is the respect I demonstrate
to other people regardless of their position. From my point of view, everyone has specific needs which should be
addressed, and this stance allows me to avoid conflicts by showing my understanding of situations. Moreover, I am
determined to do my best when performing work tasks, and my dedication adds to the list of characteristics facilitating
the promotion. What is more important, I can work in a team, which helps me make decisions with consideration of all
opinions and not my only personal vision.

The identified strengths are complemented by several weaknesses which can hinder my professional growth in the
future. First, I sometimes struggle with flexibility in the decision-making process, and it affects my overall performance as
a worker (see Appendix A). In situations when I do not have enough time to thoroughly analyze a case and have to act
immediately, I might face difficulty regarding the appropriateness of my choices of care for patients. The influence of this
factor can be explicitly seen in the conditions of multitasking when there is no division of time for each task. Thus, I tend
to be unable to improvise when needed and I might fail to assist clients, which will adversely affect my progress.

Another circumstance related to my weaknesses is the lack of experience. However, it is only a temporary issue, which
will be resolved as soon as I start working full-time. The critical concern, in this case, is not the absence of practice but
my inability to be assertive enough to claim a leadership position in an organization. This quality can also be developed
over time, but the problem is in my initial reputation as a worker, which would be hard to change. Therefore, I should put
my efforts into the acquisition of leadership skills.

The opportunities for my success in the workplace as an employee in the field of health and social care are connected to
the education corresponding to this goal. Since I am currently studying to become a qualified specialist in this sphere, a
clear orientation on the promotion complemented by certifications in the future will be advantageous. Moreover, my
actions will not be limited by the university courses as I am willing to attend extra classes in the future depending on the
specialization of my work. This measure will allow me to address the gaps in knowledge, which will be revealed at the
time of my employment.

Presently, being a student without the proper experience, I still aim at using every opportunity to put the learned
theories into practice and consult with other people engaged in this field. Therefore, the opportunities for my career
promotion are conditional upon my current study, my desire to continue my education after graduating from the
university, and the actions intended to gain more practical knowledge at the moment.

The threats related to my professional development as a social worker primarily include the presence of numerous
qualified specialists with extensive experience in the field. Nevertheless, this factor plays a significant role only in the
early stages of my career, and its influence will be mitigated in the process of practicing. The situation is added by the
lack of trustworthy new workers and the corresponding attitude of employers towards them.

Therefore, I will have to work on the creation of an appropriate image to compensate for my lack of experience and
enhance promotion in the workplace. In this case, the remaining barrier will be the weaknesses identified above. This
fact allows concluding on the necessity to eliminate them by working on the personality traits identified as undesirable.
In other words, the principal threats will be addressed if I acquire the necessary leadership skills, become more assertive,
learn to multitask, and thereby improve my flexibility and improvisation. In this case, the significant number of more
qualified workers and the perception of new employees by the organizations will not present an obstacle to my
professional development.
Instruction. Complete the SWOT analysis table by reading the essay above.

STRENGHTS WEAKNESS

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
CASE STUDY 2: SELF ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE (20 points)

Instruction: Suppose that you are a clientele of Social Work, use the Self-Assessment Template and complete the
required information so that the social worker may know you better.
CASE STUDY 3: CULTURAGRAM (20 points)

Instruction: Based on the information from the assessment, complete the intervention plan that may be used of the
Social Worker to help the Mendoza Family.

The Mendoza Family

Background: The Mendoza family has recently immigrated from the Philippines to the United States. The family consists
of two parents, Carlos (45) and Maria (42), and their two children, Angelo (16) and Sophia (12). They are struggling with
adapting to the new culture, and their social worker is using the Culturagram to assess their situation.

Culturagram Assessment:

1. Reasons for Immigration:

o Carlos and Maria moved to the U.S. in search of better job opportunities and a safer environment for
their children. They faced financial hardships and political instability in their hometown, which prompted
the move.
2. Legal and Economic Status:
o The family has a pending status for permanent residency. Carlos works as a delivery driver, while Maria is
currently unemployed but has previous experience as a teacher in the Philippines. They are struggling
financially, as Maria’s qualifications are not recognized in the U.S.
3. Time in the Community:
o The Mendozas have been in the U.S. for six months and are still trying to build social connections. The
children are adjusting to their new schools, but both parents feel isolated from the larger Filipino
community.
4. Language and Communication:
o Carlos and Maria speak Filipino and basic English. The children are fluent in English, which sometimes
leads to communication gaps between the parents and children, especially regarding school-related
matters.
5. Health Beliefs and Practices:
o The family follows traditional Filipino health practices, such as the use of herbal remedies. They are
hesitant to seek medical help unless absolutely necessary, which poses challenges in accessing
healthcare services in their new environment.
6. Impact of Trauma and Crisis:
o Carlos and Maria experienced stress during their migration journey, including financial struggles and the
loss of their social support system back home. The family is also coping with feelings of guilt for leaving
elderly relatives in the Philippines.
7. Values about Family Structure:
o The Mendoza family holds traditional Filipino family values, with Carlos being the primary breadwinner
and Maria caring for the children. They emphasize respect for elders and close-knit family ties. However,
they are noticing some challenges as the children are adopting more independent behaviors influenced
by their peers in the U.S.
8. Cultural Practices and Holidays:
o The family continues to celebrate Filipino holidays such as Christmas and Independence Day. However,
they struggle to maintain these traditions due to their financial constraints and the lack of a Filipino
community nearby.
9. Impact of Discrimination:
o Carlos has experienced racial discrimination at his workplace and feels that it is harder to advance in his
career because of his ethnicity. Angelo has also reported feeling excluded at school because of his
accent.
10. Education and Employment:
o Angelo and Sophia are adjusting to the U.S. school system, but Angelo feels pressure to excel
academically as he wants to attend college. Maria is frustrated that her qualifications as a teacher are
not recognized, and she is considering further education to re-enter the workforce.

Intervention Plan:

 Language Support:
 Community Connection:
 Healthcare Access:
 Education for Maria:
 School Support:
CASE STUDY 4: ECOMAPS (20 points)

Case Study: Jenna’s Story

Jenna is a 35-year-old single mother of two children (ages 5 and 9). She works full-time as a nursing assistant, but
recently, her hours have been reduced. Jenna’s mother, who used to help with childcare, has fallen ill and can no longer
provide support. Jenna’s children are struggling in school, and she is feeling overwhelmed by the financial and emotional
stress. Jenna has limited contact with her children’s father and struggles to balance her job and family responsibilities.

 Place the client (e.g., Jenna) in the center.

 Identify and draw circles for key people, systems, or organizations (e.g., her children, workplace, school,
extended family, etc.).
 Use solid, dotted, or jagged lines to indicate the type of relationship Jenna has with each system.

After completing the diagram, answer the following questions:

 Who are the positive support systems in the client’s life?

 What are the sources of stress or conflict?
 How do these relationships and systems impact the client’s overall well-being?
CASE STUDY 5: SOCIOGRAMS (20 points)

The Jackson family consists of six members: Sarah (mother, 40), John (father, 42), their children Lisa (16), Paul (14), and
Amy (10), and the grandmother, Evelyn (72). Sarah and John have been arguing frequently, and their relationship is
strained. Lisa is close with her grandmother, Evelyn, but frequently argues with her parents. Paul feels isolated from the
family and spends most of his time alone, while Amy often mediates between her siblings and parents. The social worker
is helping the family improve communication and address underlying conflicts.

Instruction: Create a Sociogram for the family.

 Place each individual from the case study as a circle or node on the Sociogram.
 Draw lines to represent relationships between individuals (e.g., strong relationships, weak relationships, or
conflicts).
 Use arrows to indicate one-way relationships if necessary (e.g., Lisa feels connected to her grandmother, but her
grandmother does not reciprocate as strongly).
 Consider using colors or symbols to represent different types of relationships (e.g., red lines for conflicts, green
for supportive relationships).

After completing the Sociogram, answer the following questions:

 Who is central to the group, and who is on the periphery?

 What patterns or dynamics did they observe?
 How do these social relationships impact the overall functioning of the group?
 Who in the family/group seems most supported, and who is isolated? How might this affect their well-being?
 What relationships are sources of conflict or stress?
 How can the social worker use this information to intervene and improve group dynamics?
CASE STUDY 6: CLIENT FEEDBACK (20 Points)

Case Study: Sarah's Employment and Housing Struggles

Background:
Sarah is a 29-year-old single mother with two children, ages 5 and 7. After fleeing an abusive relationship, she became
homeless and was referred to a local social service agency for assistance. Over the past six months, Sarah has worked
closely with a social worker, Anne, to stabilize her situation. Anne helped Sarah secure temporary housing in a shelter,
access food assistance, and enroll in a job training program to improve her employment prospects. Sarah has expressed
stress about balancing the job training, her children’s needs, and her continued uncertainty about permanent housing.
Recently, Sarah has become frustrated with the lack of progress in securing stable housing and feels that the job training
program might not align with her long-term career goals. Anne, noticing Sarah’s growing frustration, wants to gather
feedback on how Sarah feels about the services provided to date and the quality of their working relationship.

Services Provided:
 Temporary housing placement
 Job training and employment services
 Referral to a domestic violence support group
 Enrollment in government assistance programs (e.g., food stamps)

Issues Identified by Sarah:

 Sarah feels she is not getting closer to securing permanent housing.
 She is concerned that the job training program doesn't align with her actual career interests.
 Sarah feels overwhelmed by balancing parenting, job training, and dealing with ongoing legal issues related to
her previous relationship.
 She sometimes feels that her concerns about long-term stability are not fully addressed.

Use of Client Feedback Survey Form:

 Anne decides to provide Sarah with a Client Feedback Survey Form to gather more structured feedback on
Sarah’s experience. The survey includes questions about the effectiveness of the services provided, Anne's
communication and professionalism, and areas where Sarah believes improvements could be made.
 By collecting this feedback, Anne hopes to gain insight into Sarah's concerns, improve her approach in working
with Sarah, and potentially adjust the services to better align with Sarah’s long-term goals and needs.

Instruction: If you are Sarah, how are you going to complete the Client Feedback Survey Form. Use the details above.

Client Feedback Survey Form for Social Work

This survey form is designed to gather feedback on the services you received. Your input is valuable in helping us improve
the quality of our work and ensuring that your needs are met effectively. All responses are confidential.

Client Information:
(You may leave this section blank if you prefer to remain anonymous.)
Name: __________________________________________
Age: ___________________
Gender: ___________________
Service Provided: ______________________________________
Date of Service: ___________________

Feedback Questions:
1. Overall Satisfaction
Please rate your overall satisfaction with the services you received.
☐ Very satisfied
☐ Satisfied
☐ Neutral
☐ Dissatisfied
☐ Very dissatisfied
2. Effectiveness of Services
To what extent did the services help you achieve your goals or address your needs?
☐ Very effective
☐ Somewhat effective
☐ Neutral
☐ Somewhat ineffective
☐ Very ineffective
3. Communication and Professionalism
Please rate the communication and professionalism of your social worker:
Listened to your concerns:
☐ Strongly agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neutral
☐ Disagree
☐ Strongly disagree
Provided clear information:
☐ Strongly agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neutral
☐ Disagree
☐ Strongly disagree
Showed empathy and respect:
☐ Strongly agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neutral
☐ Disagree
☐ Strongly disagree
4. Timeliness of Services
How would you rate the timeliness of the services provided?
☐ Very timely
☐ Somewhat timely
☐ Neutral
☐ Somewhat delayed
☐ Very delayed
5. Client Involvement
Did you feel involved in the decision-making process regarding your case?
☐ Yes, fully involved
☐ Somewhat involved
☐ Neutral
☐ Not very involved
☐ Not involved at all
6. Areas of Improvement
Do you feel there are any areas where the services you received could be improved?
☐ Yes
☐ No
If yes, please specify:

7. Additional Comments or Suggestions

Please provide any additional feedback or suggestions that can help improve our services:

Thank You for Your Feedback!

Your responses will help us enhance the quality of services we provide. If you would like to discuss your feedback further,
please feel free to contact us.
CASE STUDY 7: PSYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATION (20 Points)

Instructions: Select a partner. One student will take on the role of the social worker, and the other will play the role of
the client (Michael in the case study). The "social worker" will conduct a psychosocial evaluation of the client, using the
Psychosocial Evaluation Template provided below. The "client" will respond based on the details from the case study, but
may also improvise to add depth to the conversation. Write down the details on the space provided.

Client: Michael, a 45-year-old male, has been referred to social services after being laid off from his job. He is struggling
with depression, has a history of alcohol abuse, and is currently living in a rented room after separating from his wife.
Michael reports feeling isolated and overwhelmed, with little support from family and friends. He is seeking help to
manage his emotions and find stable employment.

Psychosocial Evaluation Template:

1. Identifying Information

o Name: Michael

o Age: 45

o Occupation: Unemployed

o Marital Status: Separated

o Living Situation: Rented room

2. Presenting Problem

o Why are you seeking help?

o How long have you been dealing with these issues?

3. Family Background

o Tell me about your family.

o How has your family supported you during this time?

4. Social and Support Networks

o Who do you rely on for support?

o Do you feel isolated?

5. Mental Health History

o Have you struggled with mental health issues before?

o Have you ever received counseling or therapy?

6. Substance Use History

o Have you used alcohol or other substances to cope?

o Do you feel that this is a problem?

7. Cultural and Spiritual Background

o Do you follow any cultural practices or have any spiritual beliefs that guide you?

8. Current Living Situation and Employment

o Tell me about your current living situation.

o How are you managing financially?

9. Strengths and Coping Strategies

o What do you consider your strengths?

o How do you cope with stress?

o
 10. Summary and Intervention Plan

o What is your biggest goal right now?

o What kind of support would you like moving forward?

Reflection:

 After the activity, fill out a Reflection Worksheet, answer the following questions:

1. What was the most challenging aspect of conducting the psychosocial evaluation?

2. How did the client’s responses influence your understanding of the situation?

3. What strengths and coping mechanisms did you identify, and how might these inform an intervention
plan?

4. How can you improve your approach in future evaluations?

CASE STUDY 8: GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING (20 Points)

Example Case Study:

 Client: Jane, a 32-year-old woman, has been receiving services to address her anxiety and improve her social
functioning. Jane has been struggling with severe anxiety that impacts her ability to attend work regularly and
engage in social activities. She is also experiencing difficulties with maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

 Current Concerns: Jane has identified that she wants to improve her anxiety management strategies, increase
her social interactions, and achieve a better work-life balance.

GAS Template Example:

Goal 1: Improve Anxiety Management

 Goal Description: Jane aims to reduce her anxiety symptoms to a manageable level.

 GAS Scale:

o +2: Jane reports feeling significantly less anxious and is able to manage anxiety without medication.

o +1: Jane reports a noticeable reduction in anxiety symptoms and is using coping strategies effectively.

o 0: Jane experiences manageable anxiety levels with occasional symptoms but is able to function as
expected.

o -1: Jane reports slight improvement but continues to struggle with anxiety that affects her daily life.

o -2: Jane’s anxiety symptoms have worsened or remain unchanged, impacting her daily functioning.

Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) Template

Client Name: ____________________

Date: ____________________
Social Worker: ____________________

Goal 1: [Define the specific goal here]

 Goal Description:
[Briefly describe the goal in specific, measurable terms.]

 GAS Scale:

o +2: Much better than expected

[Describe what would constitute a significant improvement beyond the initial expectations.]

o +1: Somewhat better than expected

[Describe a noticeable improvement that is better than the expected level but not ideal.]

o 0: Expected level of attainment

[Describe the level of achievement that is considered satisfactory or as expected.]

o -1: Somewhat less than expected

[Describe a level of achievement that is less than the expected outcome but still shows some progress.]

o -2: Much less than expected

[Describe what would indicate a significant shortfall from the expected outcome.]