Generalist Social Work Practice Framework Prepared By: Marietta M. Lingvall

GENERALIST SOCIAL
WORK PRACTICE
FRAMEWORK
Generalist Social Work Practice Framework
Prepared by:
Marietta M. Lingvall
CONCEPTS OF GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Generalist practice encompasses a wide array of theories and
approaches but contains the following common elements
(Compton, et al. 2005).
1. It involves the problem-solving process, which was originally

devised by Helen Perlman.
Defined in slightly different ways by various writers, problem

solving basically involves the phases of the helping process:
engagement, assessment, goal setting and intervention planning,
implementation of the plan, and evaluation and termination. Social
work practitioners are encouraged to use an eclectic theory basis
in this process.
2. It involves the general ability to work across systems (individuals,
families, groups, agencies, and communities) using the problem-
solving process.
3. It involves assessment of the person in the environment or PIE

(also called “person-in-situation”) within a systems or ecological
framework (bio-psychosocial assessment) and the requirement that
the practitioner have awareness of and the ability to integrate into his
or her work with clients a personal self-awareness, the values and
ethics of the profession, and sensitivity in working with diversity and
culture to bring about social justice.
DEFINITION OF GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK
The use of a range of skills as needed to intervene in a variety
of client life situations. The generalist practitioner’s function
is to have as wide a skill repertoire as possible in order to
facilitate the interactions between people and the social
institutions and situations in which they live.
The use of practice in which the client and the worker
together assess the need in all of its complexity and develop a
plan for responding to that need. A strategy is chosen from a
repertoire appropriate for work: with individuals, families,
groups, agencies and communities. The unit of attention is
chosen by considering the system needing to be changed. The
plan is carried out and evaluated.
“Generalist “ Social Workers are professionals who work with
clients on an individual, group, or community level depending
on what is needed and appropriate, utilizing the basic
competence for practice which are: Philosophical Based
Foundation and Knowledge Foundation
Social Work has a basic Philosophical and Scientific
Foundation applicable to all types of client systems
RELATED CONCEPTS OF GENERALIST/INTEGRATED METHOD OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
1. The concept of one client system as point of entry for working

with other client systems. (i.e. Individual client as point of entry-
group - community);
2. The concept of Total Problem-Solving - the client is part of a
social system; The Total Problem-Solving Framework allows the
SWer to help the client as a system, and to deal with the other
systems of which the client is a part and which are affecting him;
3. The concept of the client’s problem or situation as the basis for
the choice of the worker’s helping approach or intervention- the
SWer always considers what is best suited to the client’s situation
DIRECT SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Work with individuals, couples, families, groups and
communities
Interventions include therapeutic, support, advocacy, and
educational
Often used synonymous with clinical practice but it is not
necessarily mental health related
Roles of Social Workers
SYSTEM LINKAGE ROLES
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER
•Broker
•Individual problem solving
•Marital or family therapy •Case manager/ coordinator
•Group work services •Mediator/ arbitrator/ advocate
•Educator/ disseminator of
information Social
Worker
SYSTEM DEVELOPER
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ROLES
•Program developer
•Organizational assessor
•Planner RESEARCHER/ •Facilitator/ expediter
•Policy and procedure developer
RESEARCH •Team member
•Advocate CONSUMER •Consultant/ consultee
COMPONENTS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE (4PS)
1. The Person
2. The Problem
3. The Place
4. The Process
PERSON (CLIENT)
The person is a man, woman or child or anyone who finds
himself/herself, or is found to be, in need of help in some
aspect of his social-emotional living, whether the need be
for tangible provisions or counsel.
As he/she begins to receive help, he/she is called a
“client”.
A client is one who seeks professional help, one who
employs the help of another or one who is served by a
social agency or an institution.
Client System - refers to all entities, person, family, group,
organisation or community that receive or command
attention of the social worker
CATEGORIES OF CLIENTS
1. Walk-in
2. Referred
3. Reach Out
PROBLEM
is a “question or situation that presents
uncertainty, perplexity or difficulty”
Problem arises when a need has not been met or

there are obstacles to its fulfillment
PROBLEM TYPOLOGY/TYPES OF PROBLEMS
I. Economic, Intellectual and Physical Problems
1. Lack of economic and social resources
2. Lack of education and skills, knowledge and experience
3. Lack of love, care and protection
4. Illness and disability
5. Lack of opportunities and access to resources
II. Psycho-social Problems
1. Emotional reaction to stress: Developmental and Situational Stress
2. Loss of relationship
3. Interpersonal conflict
4. Culture conflict
5. Maladaptive group functioning
PLACE (AGENCY)
The place is a social service agency or a social service department
of another kind of human welfare agency.
The place to which the client system comes for help with his/her
problem is known as a social agency.
three major factors that determine the classification of agencies:
1. Their source of support- tax or voluntary contribution

2. Their source of professional authority – Primary Agencies carry full
authority and responsibility for their social functions and Secondary
Agencies derive their authority and responsibility from the host
agency
3. Their special function and area of concern- Primary Agencies both
public and private, may define certain areas of social need as the
particular fielding in which they give services. Secondary Agencies,
is related to the work of some other profession, such as medicine,
education or law and to its specific knowledge and purpose.
HELPING PROCESS
It is a means through which an agency’s purpose is achieved
A phase through which treatment is applied to:
1. Attain changes in behaviour
2. Changes in the environment
3. A problem is alleviated or resolved
This stage is very important and significant - WHY? Because
it introduces the scientific Social Work process of helping
people
GOALS OF THE HELPING PROCESS
1. Helps the client to cope with problems they find difficulty in
solving in such a way that they will make maximum use of
their conscious efforts, choices and competencies
2. Engage the client in ways of coping that maybe of use to him
in dealing with new or other problems that he may encounter
as he lives
Objectives of the Social Work Helping Process:
1. To help people improve the quality of their lives
2. To assist them to cope more effectively with the problems of
living so that they will gain or regain their equilibrium and
achieve growth and their coping capacity
Helping Process aim to to achieve the following:
1. To help the client so that he may meet his need or solve his problem
2. To provide the client with a fruitful coping experiences which he
may use later in meeting other needs and solving difficulties as he
goes through life
Problem Solving Process (PSP)/Helping Process (Different authors use
different terms):
3 Major Phases by Hepworth & Larssen
Phase I: Exploration, Assessment and Planning
Phase II: Implementation and Goal Attainment
Phase III: Termination and Evaluation
STANDARD PSP FOR BEGINNERS
Identification of the Problem/Intake Data Gathering
Continuation or Assessment
Termination
Evaluation Planning the Intervention
Implementation of Plan
INTAKE
The start of the helping process, whether the client is a walk-in, referred or reach out
Major Purposes of the Intake Process:
1. Record the identifying data about the client
2. Identify the presenting problem - it is the one causing difficulty to the client and the
reason why the client asked for help or has been referred
3. Determine the client’s presumptive eligibility and motivation to use a service. If his need
cannot be met then he is referred to another agency which can help him
The Intake Sheet is composed of the following:
1. Personal Information about the client
2. Problem presented by the client
3. Social Worker’s initial impression as to the nature of the presenting problem
4. Initial assessment of the situation
5. Recommendation as to what actions should be taken
THE HELPING
RELATIONSHIP

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GENERALIST SOCIAL

1. It involves the problem-solving process, which was originally

Defined in slightly different ways by various writers, problem

3. It involves assessment of the person in the environment or PIE

1. The concept of one client system as point of entry for working

•Group work services •Mediator/ arbitrator/ advocate

Problem arises when a need has not been met or

1. Their source of support- tax or voluntary contribution

Evaluation Planning the Intervention

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