Journal Report Outline

Field Experience:

The field experience, in this case, involves a home visit to a client called C, who is blind and has multiple medical issues. The social worker conducted an assessment of the client to evaluate his medical conditions, physical challenges, and the assistance he needs in his daily tasks. Based on these activities, the social worker acted as an assessor, observer, and advocate to ensure that C’s needs were met through the right support (Rothman, 2018): Journal Report Outline.

Significant Information:

C is single and shares a home. He has a private bedroom and bathroom but has to share the kitchen. His medical conditions include kidney disease, and thus requires dialysis; he is blind, has proliferative diabetes, and a history of blood clotting. C also has low balance, fluid retention in his left leg, and limited ambulation. Even with these medical conditions, C is mentally alert and can advocate for his needs.

Relevant Factors:

The client, C, faces daily challenges due to blindness and mobility limitations, relying on an in-home provider for assistance. He also requires continuous medical assistance due to dialysis, which he needs frequently. While he needs help in his daily tasks he also needs his privacy. He is still learning to adapt to his new living space.

Economic and social factors also play a role, as C requires ongoing medical care, including dialysis three times a week. His medical needs necessitate the use of transportation services (Rothman, 2018). Despite his challenges, he demonstrates strengths such as problem-solving skills, self-advocacy, and the ability to recall information and manage aspects of his care with minimal assistance.

Integration of Theory & Practice:

The case of C aligns with the social systems paradigm since the environment determines and shapes the well-being and support systems of the client. The environment also determines access to resources. The intervention process involves information gathering, engagement and coordination of healthcare (Corey et al., 2018). The assessment employed the strength-based approach; thus, C’s capabilities were first highlighted, but at the same time, his appropriate needs and support were given priority.

Problem-Solving:

There are a number of stages that were involved in this case as the social worker interacted with C. The first stage was creating rapport with the client, which took place during the first visit to his home (van Wormer & Link, 2018). The other stage was information gathering about the client’s physical and general health conditions.

Other information gathered were lifestyle challenges and general medical history (van Wormer & Link, 2018). The third stage was the assessment of the case to identify the type of support he needs. Finally, the last stage was connecting the client with the necessary resources and interventions.

Relevant the Paradigm(s):

Medical: C’s condition is primarily influenced by his physical health issues, requiring ongoing medical interventions such as dialysis, insulin injections, and medication management (van Wormer & Link, 2018).

Social Systems: The client’s ability to function independently is shaped by his living arrangements, support system, and access to healthcare services.

Humanistic: C’s ability to advocate for himself and maintain independence where possible reflects the humanistic approach of fostering self-determination and personal growth.

Paradigm		Medical	Social Systems	Psychoanalytic	Humanistic	Behavioristic
Past/ Present Emphasis		History/symptoms used to diagnose	Here & now solutions sought	Strong historical emphasis, intergenerational	Here & now emphasized	Present relearning
Assumed Cause of Condition		Physical, bodily malfunctions	Unmet human needs	Internal conflicts, defenses, instincts vs. morals	Experiences that block self-actualization	Determined by previous conditioning
Therapeutic Approach		Medication, surgery, physical treatments & education	Connect person with source of need satisfaction	Make conflict conscious	Create climate for growth, self-exploration	Change specific behaviors, habits, & thoughts
Length of Treatment		Varies depending on diagnosis	Short term preferred	Long term (years)	Short to intermediate (months)	Usually short term

Social Work Values Involved:

Several social work values were involved in this case. Competence was involved, where the social worker undertook a thorough assessment of the needs of the client and ensured his needs were met effectively (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.). Another value was demonstrating the significance of human relationships that involve the relationship between the client and his IP.

This is important for meeting the daily needs of the client (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.). Dignity and worth of the person are other values that the social worker employed, and here, the social worker recognized C’s ability to advocate for himself and maintain independence where possible.

Personal Reactions:

This experience highlighted the importance of balancing assistance with empowerment. I felt satisfied and relieved to see that C retained his independence in several areas despite his limitations. However, it was challenging to witness the barriers he faces due to his blindness and physical limitations. In this experience, I needed to navigate the fine line between advocating for more support while respecting C’s autonomy.

Outcome:

The intervention confirmed C’s support and independence, identifying areas for minimal assistance and additional help. The social worker will continue monitoring C’s needs and advocating for resources, emphasizing a person-centered approach (Rothman, 2018). The outcomes are that C can manage his medical conditions effectively, access the necessary care and, most importantly, gain independence and dignity.

References

Corey, M.S., Corey, G. & Corey, C. (2018). Groups: Process and practice. Thomson/Brooks/Cole.

National Association of Social Workers (n.d.). NASW Code of Ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Rothman, J. (2018). Advocacy and social work practice. Pearson.

van Wormer, K., & Link, R. J. (2018). Social work and social welfare: A human rights foundation. Oxford University Press.

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Select a field experience and use this outline for your journal report. Be concise and protect the confidentiality and privacy of clients, groups, providers, supervisors, field instructors and staff. Submit a copy of your journal report to your Field Liaison through Blackboard.  

Final version should be filed in the field portfolio. This is a professional report, you are to use third person in all areas except your personal reactions section.  You will be graded on grammar and professionalism.

Field experience:   Select a key experience with a client, client group, community, agency, supervisor, other field students, or staff.  Describe what happened and your role(s) in the situation e.g. (mediator, planner, enabler, observer, counselor, manager, broker/advocate, facilitator, catalyst, activist, teacher, trainer, mentor, outreach worker, monitor, or researcher).

Significant information:  Provide some brief background information such as, client data, presenting problem, or referral information.

Relevant Factors: Include assessment information gathered that helped you understand the situation or plan your intervention.  What individual, family, community, social, cultural, spiritual, medical, physical, developmental, psychological, and/or mental health factors influenced the situation. Explain the life cycle stage, group development stage, community program development stage, or research process step that applies.

Describe any of the following factors that are relevant: economic, political, environmental, discrimination, or oppression.  What strengths and needs were identified?  What additional information is needed?

Integration of Theory & Practice:  What have you learned in your courses that helped you understand the situation or plan your intervention?  What theory, practice model, approach, strategy, method, technique, intervention, or research method was used? Consult textbooks, course materials, journal articles, and/or instructors and provide citation of materials referenced.

What stage(s) of the problem solving process were involved in this key experience? (engagement, gathering information, assessment/diagnostics, intervention and review, evaluation, termination, aftercare/referral). Explain.

Choose the paradigm(s) that helps you understand human behavior in this key experience:

___Medical     ___Social Systems      ___Psychoanalytic     ___Humanistic      ___Behavioristic

Explain your choices by discussing how behavior in this key experiences is viewed or understood.

Paradigm	Medical	Social Systems	Psychoanalytic	Humanistic	Behavioristic
Past/ Present Emphasis	History/symptoms used to diagnose	Here & now solutions sought	Strong historical emphasis, intergenerational	Here & now emphasized	Present relearning
Assumed Cause of Condition	Physical, bodily malfunctions	Unmet human needs	Internal conflicts, defenses, instincts vs. morals	Experiences that block self-actualization	Determined by previous conditioning
Therapeutic Approach	Medication, surgery, physical treatments & education	Connect person with source of need satisfaction	Make conflict conscious	Create climate for growth, self-exploration	Change specific behaviors, habits, & thoughts
Length of Treatment	Varies depending on diagnosis	Short term preferred	Long term (years)	Short to intermediate (months)	Usually short term

Social work values involved:  Describe core social work values, ethical principles, or ethical standards that were applied in this situation.  Indicate from the NASW Code of Ethics which value or ethic you chose and how it applies to the situation.

Personal reactions:  Write about your reactions.  How comfortable were you with your actions; what was surprising; what emotions did you experience; or how did you deal with your reactions?

Outcome:  How effective was the intervention? How will you use what you learned? What will you do differently in the future? What will your next actions be? What practice behaviors from your Learning Contract did this key experience help you develop?