What is Principle of Individualization in Social Case Work
Principle of Individualization in Social Case Work-The previous article we understood about the relationship in social casework lets learn about the principle of individualization in social case work. Individualization is the recognition and understanding of each client's unique features, as well as the application of diverse concepts and approaches to assist each of them in reaching a better adjustment. Individualization is predicated on the right of humans to be 'people,' to be recognized not just as humans, but as individuals with unique characteristics (Biestek1957). Individualization stems from the fundamental realization of each person as a distinct entity. Individualization is one of the key elements in the concept of a person, which Boethius defines as "an individual essence of rational nature." Each person is unique because of his or her ancestors, environment, intrinsic intellectual potential, talents, and limits. From birth, each person encounters unique life situations and develops various inter-personal relationships. Each individual's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and capacities are distinct and distinct from one another.
As a result, their challenges and the assistance they require differ. Casework assistance must therefore be differentiated in order to address the specific needs of individual clients and to assist clients in using their abilities and resources for self-help in order to work toward problem resolution and better adjustment. Everyone is aware of their individuality (Biestek: 1957). This realization is especially poignant when the client arrives at the agency in a state of social maladjustment. To disclose his or her problem, the client requires the worker's complete and specialized attention. The client feels understood when the worker respects him or her as an individual with rights and wants. The success of a helping relationship is dependent on the worker's individualization of each case, addressing each person as a unique individual with distinct difficulties rather than as a 'case/category/patient.' Clients are frequently noticed at agencies.
Application of Principle of Individualization
- An open and unbiased attitude: It is essential for the caseworker to be aware of personal biases and prejudices and not to let them have an influence in establishing casework relationships. Accurate assessment of the client’s problem, his/her life situation requires the worker to be objective and free from pre-conceived notions and prejudices if any. The prejudices can pertain to diverse categories or groups like low caste, class or gender distinctions, destitute, drug abuser, alcoholics, criminal, sex worker, unwed mother or people indulging in pre or extra-marital relationships etc. A worker while handling cases must be honest and aware of personal feelings, needs and countertransference tendencies.
- Human behaviour knowledge: Caseworkers frequently deal with complex human behaviours of persons with varied personalities. The caseworker must have inter-disciplinary knowledge and understanding acquired from psychology, sociology, psychiatry, and other disciplines.
- Listening and Observing: Paying close attention to the client's problem narration helps the caseworker comprehend the problem. As the client discusses his or her ties with family and community, the caseworker gains a comprehensive view of the client. Listening competently and professionally entails not only paying attention to the client's words but also studying and analyzing body gestures, physical indicators of reluctance, emotions, and facial expressions. The ability to interpret nonverbal communication can provide the caseworker with a wealth of information that can aid in providing future direction.
- Moving at the client's pace: When a caseworker meets with a client, he or she must start where the client is and work at the client's pace. Correct pacing is the key to time at every level of the casework process—study, diagnosis, and treatment—when applying the principle of individualization. A caseworker dealing with an HIV-positive person, for example, may be interested in promptly acquiring information on how the client caught the virus or in filling out all of the personal facts on the case sheet performa. However, this type of haste may jeopardize/delay the development of trust between the worker and the client. Hastening the client's disclosure of material, particularly intimate facts, before he or she is ready might stymie the assisting process and jeopardize the casework relationship. The caseworker must move at the client's pace and give the client time to develop trust in the caseworker.
- Ability to enter into people's feelings: The client's feelings are his or her most personal traits. Recognizing each person's uniqueness entails acknowledging that each person's coping mechanisms differ and that each person responds to his or her life challenges in a unique way. Failure in board examinations, for example, may motivate one youngster to commit suicide, whereas another may endeavor to work harder the next time to pass the examination. Another case in point is a woman engaged in sex work. While one sex worker may like her employment because of the money she is paid, another sex worker may have feelings of guilt and humiliation. As a result, the same life experiences may elicit diverse responses from different people. Each everyone is unique and has their own unique reactions to situations. Individualization necessitates sensitivity and a response to these feelings. The primary quality of the reaction is warmth, as well as the ability to enter into the client's 'feeling' experience and grasp the client's perspective.
- Ability to maintain perspective: The caseworker's emotional engagement should be regulated and directed to the wider scenario. This allows the worker to maintain a holistic view of the issue and advance in the helping relationship. For example, while recounting a sexual assault occurs, the client is likely to go into great detail, disclosing intricate sentiments about the painful experience. In such a circumstance, the worker must sympathize with the client on her current sensations while still keeping the bigger picture in mind. The worker would be expected to investigate and assess the impact of the abuse occurrences on the client's relationship with her mind, relationships with significant others, stress management abilities, and so on. Having a holistic approach allows the caseworker to focus on the client as a whole and assess the interplay of psychosocial, physical, and social factors.
- Consideration and understanding: Consideration in working out minor aspects aids in exhibiting personalized attention to the client. For example, a casework meeting with a street and working child may necessitate the child missing work for the appointment, costing him a day's pay. Similarly, setting an appointment with a professional who is unable to arrive on time would be impolite. Appointments should be scheduled as closely as feasible to the client's convenience
- Providing Privacy When Conducting Interviews: Casework interviews are often held in an open office area at many agencies. This interferes with the client's privacy because he or she is not comfortable discussing the situation openly. This is a significant impediment to casework confidentially. The noise may also create a communication barrier because the caseworker is unable to provide the client with undivided and specialized attention. Separate cabins should be assigned to different caseworkers as much as possible.
- Appointments must be kept with care: As previously stated, appointments must be convenient for both the client and the caseworker. Caseworkers must keep a diary and keep appointments on time. If meetings must be postponed due to an emergency, the client must be notified in advance. A timely appointment provides the client with a sense of security and importance.
- Preparation for interview: Reviewing previously written case records is one of the best instant preparations for individualizing the client. This helps to refresh the specifics of previous sessions and allows the caseworker to plan forward for the next encounter with purpose.
- Engaging the client: Demonstrating the principle of individualization entails engaging the client in the casework process, i.e. in the research, assessment, and treatment, based on his or her capacity. Casework with a woman in a troubled marriage, for example, would entail urging her to honestly examine her position, assessing the likely possibilities ahead of time in case she wants to leave the marriage. Before making a decision, she may be assisted in conducting a cost-benefit analysis of each of her alternatives. Allowing the client to choose the treatment goals and encouraging the person to make a decision increases the client's motivation.
- Flexibility: The caseworker must be open-minded and willing to adapt treatment goals based on the client's needs, as well as have understanding of the client's living situations and difficulties. The ability to modify goals and approaches necessitates mature judgement, objectivity, and skill on the side of the caseworker. Flexibility is a unique means of personalising the client..
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