Theoretical Assumptions

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Explain the theoretical assumptions in the readings.

Most of the theoretical bases encountered in both readings involve a conventional approach, as the individual (elder or mental health client) is the centre of the problem, so the social worker pursues to bring change in the client/family to cope with the social issue. Theories such as psychodynamic, psychosocial, problem solving, cognitive behavioural theories, clinical, and casework, are presumably implemented by social workers in these specific contexts.
Therefore, the interaction between the worker and the client is merely conducted to an individual level, where the unit of attention is centred on the person and the surrounded contexts. The social worker seeks to support the client
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Obviously, professionals who act according to the ecological or structural approach will face the same dilemmas, but the intervention will be managed differently. For instance, a social worker is aware of an elder abuse, but the client refuses to accept social services because of his/her “self-determination”, and the social worker knows that the client is at risk. Therefore, the social worker faces an ethical dilemma of protecting the client´s wellbeing or adhering to Code of Ethics principles (confidentiality). Thus, as an assumption, the practitioner that focus her/his intervention based on the ecological approach will tend to maintain his/her criteria adjusted to the norm and rules dictated, of course having in mind that confidentiality and client´s right to make choices, both are contained in the Code of Ethics (2005). However, to have an outcome where the client may have effective functioning into the society and may enjoy personal growth and development within the system, the social worker might go for the wellbeing of the client.

On the other hand, the professional that works with the structural approach might be inclined to raise awareness of the issues presented in the actual abuse, empowering the client to make a decision based on her/his own criteria, but providing knowledge of the tools and resources available. The professional might educate the client
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An 18 years lady came in and recounted the following situation: She was raped by her birth father in repeatedly times, and became pregnant. Her mother was not aware of the situation and she did not believe her anyways. She has 3 sisters and did not know if they were raped as well. She was in tears, very stressed and anxious, besides nobody knew she was there, so she was afraid to be discovered. We followed the case procedure, filling forms and typing her story, but she refused to give her name, address, and telephone number. Sometimes, she shook her head as a sign of regretting her presence there. We listened to her carefully, and she did not want to stop talking, it seemed she did not want to listen to us. Suddenly she stopped and stood up, then run away. We did not know anything about her personal information, and as much as we tried to find her in the neighbourhood, it was impossible. Her case file was opened for several weeks until one day was closed. After few months an anonymous call reported a similar case, this anonymous person identified herself as a neighbour. We conducted a home visit to investigate the abuse reported, and effectively it was the same girl, but when she opened the door she said the person who called was a liar and everything was normal in her

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