Problem:
In this activity, you will read about the importance of evaluating your practice as a future social worker, with an emphasis on improving your skills, knowledge, values, and overall capacity to serve clients, organizations, and communities. You will review a hypothetical case in which a social worker struggles with a difficult young client and then is approached to have an evaluative meeting with their supervisor. You will consider how you would respond to this scenario and reflect on feedback from your supervisor that may help you to improve your practice. You will discuss your reactions and reflections with your classmates. Resources Textbook: The Social Work Practicum: A Guide and Workbook for Students File: Informal Evaluation.pdf
Background Information Social workers are encouraged to have an open mind and welcoming attitude towards evaluation and feedback from their supervisors. We know we can never have one hundred percent of the knowledge, skills, and values needed to provide everything for our clients, so we need to rely on each other for support and feedback that may improve our practice. To foster this receptive attitude, all social workers are encouraged to participate in evaluation processes, both formal and informal, in both their entry-level and their seasoned years in the profession. Instructions Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade. In your textbook, The Social Work Practicum: A Guide and Workbook for Students, read Chapter 15, "Evaluating Your Practice." Read the case study document, Informal Evaluation.pdf. Review the ethical values and standards as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics. Focus on identifying the areas of the ethical code that highlight evaluation. Respond to the following questions: Based on the case study, what evaluation and feedback might you receive from your supervisor, and how might you choose to respond? How might you seek feedback from your supervisor to improve your practice with William? Describe your approach and three specific questions you can ask. What can you and your supervisor do to optimize the opportunities for you to benefit and improve from the feedback you receive at your agency on an ongoing basis? Describe two strategies you can use or agree upon with your supervisor that would help. Review the list of social worker contributors to ineffective intervention described in Chapter 15 of the textbook. For one or more of the levels of practice (individual, family, group, organization, or community), identify a total of three contributors to ineffective intervention that you need to improve to ensure your effectiveness at your practicum site. Identify and discuss also one client contributor to ineffectiveness you have seen and what you might do to address it. 5.3 Case Study: Informal Evaluation Each student participates in formal and informal evaluation through the practicum experience. The purpose is to give you feedback to improve upon your skills, values, and knowledge as a social worker. In this hypothetical case study, you have been working with special needs kids. You have struggled to grasp how to approach the children's needs. There are so many new terms, ideas, and expected practice behaviors that it seems impossible to comprehend what your role is. Last week, a new student named William was assigned to you. William is disruptive in class, creates distractions, and does not complete his schoolwork. The teacher describes William as "one of those kids that will be out on the streets." William has a lot working against him in his personal life. His parents are not committed to being involved with his schooling. He has failed the 4th grade and is not showing signs of academic improvement. William is hard to understand and has difficulty expressing himself. He does not want to play or interact with other kids in an acceptable way. Maybe William's teacher is right; She has worked with a lot of kids like William, and you know very little about special needs kids. All factors seem to fit right in with what you have heard from the school staff. During the past few weeks, your field instructor has taken the time to observe your work with William. She requests an unscheduled meeting with you. It will be an informal discussion, but it creates anxiety for you. You see yourself as trying hard in a very challenging situation with William. Answer the questions using subheadings. Need Assignment Help?