2.1.

7 Respond to contexts that shape practice

Practice Behaviors:
Continuously discover, appraise, and attend to changing locales, populations,
scientific and technological developments, and emerging societal trends to
provide relevant services; provide leadership in promoting sustainable
changes in service delivery and practice to improve the quality of social
service
Process Recording 12
SW4443
This is a process recording that I experienced and wrote about during my internship at
South Oakland shelter. While I was a social work intern at SOS I worked closely with the
program director Jessie. Jessie and I worked together thirty-two hours each week this allowed me
to develop a strong educational and hand on experience with a social worker and the clients.
South Oakland Shelter is a homeless shelter that provides not only shelter but other services for
their client short and long term. As a social work intern there I was able to provide case
management services for a small case load of clients. My goal for my clients was always firstly
to find them safe and affordable long term housing solutions. In this particular process recording
it was one of my last meetings with this client before her time expired at our shelter.
This process recording displays the involvement that this client and I had. This was a
typical conversation between the client and myself. I would inquire about how the week had
went, she would explain the negatives or positives. Next I would jump right into how her
housing search was going and learn about the progress or lack of that she had made in this area. I
would also discuss the clients other goals, in this clients case it was her health. It was important
for me to always be evolving as my client did. To keep in mind that if my client had little to no
progress for the past week that it may be time to try a new approach at achieving their goals.
Writing these process recordings each week would help me to recognize the interventions that I
had with my clients and how well that they were implemented and if they were effective.
During this time at my field placement I was always learning and growing in my
interventions, style and knowledge of how to help clients and also how to conduct myself as a
professional social worker. My active learning as well as hand on experience with co-workers
and clients helped me to process my learning and actions as I practiced as a social worker.

Process recording 12
Clients name is Mary Bluebutton (not clients real name). Mary is 48 years old. Mary
is a single woman who has been divorced for many years. Mary has two children
which are gown and live on their own. Mary has a good relationship with her sons
and her deceased father, but maintains distance from the rest of her family for
personal reasons. Mary is currently unemployed and is on Disability due to a
medical emergency that left her physically unable to care for herself. Mary earned
her Bachelors degree in medical systems management but has not used her
degree thus far. This is a current client of SOS, and has been in our program for
almost three months. I meet with Mary weekly to measure her progress in achieving
her goals. Over the course of her time here at SOS Mary and I have addressed
various barriers of hers, as well as accomplished many of her goals. During our last
meeting Mary and I discussed her plan to locate apartments in her price range, that
have availability and to apply for an apartment. For this session I had asked Mary to
follow up with her applications until she received an approval, the goal for this
session will be to see the progress that Mary has made.
Mary: Hi, BRR its cold out there.
Kayli: Hi Mary, Yeah I know I thought it was spring?!
Mary: (Laughs) I know, me too.
Kayli: How has your week been?
Mary: (sighs) its been good, I just finished my last physical therapy today!
Kayli: Thats great! How do you feel?
Mary: I feel Great, I cant believe how much better I feel now, then when I started.
Kayli: I am so happy to hear that. You worked very hard Mary you should be very
proud.
Mary: Thank you!
Kayli: And what else have we gotten accomplished this week?
Mary: Well I looked at this place (pulls out a stack of papers), theyre waiting list is
closed but the lady told me to call each month. This other place was perfect but
their waiting list is a year out, so I put my name on that waiting list. And this place
Ive been looking at all along, but they say that I dont make enough, they want me
to make three times the rent.
Kayli: alright so these are great places but it looks like they wont be good options
for you at this time. Have you found anything with sooner availabilities?
Mary: (shuffling through papers) ummmm well I applied for the Farmington Place.
Kayli: thats right but they did not have any available now, correct?
Mary: No.

Kayli: Did you hear back from the other place that you applied for?
Mary: Yes, they send me and email that said I was denied because I do not have
enough income. I know I could afford that though.
Kayli: I understand, and unfortunately they wont just take your word for it. So we
need to start looking for places with a little lower rent huh? Did you call the location
in Auburn Hills that I gave you?
Mary: I lost it, and I dont want to live in Auburn Hills, that is too far.
Kayli: alright I understand that, you have spent a lot of time looking in Novi and
Walled Lake, and I think it might be a good idea for you stretch your search a little.
Maybe start looking in some other locations.
Mary: okay, but I just dont know where.
Kayli: So I have a few things to share with you. Today I did some research and
compiled a list of available apartments with rent in your price range that are also
available. These are all in Southern Oakland County.
Mary: (begins to look over list and stars next to one in particular) I have looked at
this one before.
Kayli: Okay great! So hopefully this will help you.
Mary: okay okay.
Kayli: So as we have talked about you exit date is near, and I would like to create a
plan for you when you leave. My goal is to still help you locate housing, but we are
running out of time. So here is also a list of other shelters that I recommend.
Mary: (Sighes)
Kayli: what is it?
Mary: I just dont want to go to another shelter. I would rather just pack up my
things and go to a hotel.
Kayli: I understand that Mary, but do not think of it as a step back, it is more of a
lateral move. With all the things that you have accomplished while you are here,
you can continue that at another shelter. This would just be a way for you to
continue to searching for housing without spending your own money as well.
Mary: Alright, youre right.
Kayli: I just want to be sure that we have a plan for you when you exit. You are going
to still work on your housing goals. Another shelter can be temporary if we get an
approval and move in date.
Mary: Okay I understand.
Kayli: so use these resources, and for next week you and I can finalize an exit plan.
Mary: okay.

Kayli: anything else you would like to talk about today? How are your doctors
appointments going? How are you feelings?
Mary: Im feelings good this week. My doctors appointments as usual, just happy to
be done with physical therapy.
Kayli: Great! So you have your therapy today after we are done?
Mary: Yes.
Kayli: Okay good. So anything else you want to talk about today?
Mary: No Im good, just going to get started on this list you gave me.
Kayli: Sounds Good Mary, Let me know anything you need help with too.

FEELINGS:
I feel that during this session with my client that she was trying to find housing with
some unrealistic expectations. My client has a desire to live in a particular city that
tends to have higher costs of living. This client has at this point proved unsuccessful
in securing stable housing with her searches. It is my feeling that the client is
having a difficult time realizing her barriers, and her financial capabilities to sustain
long term stable housing. I feel that my client is beginning to feel the pressure of
her impending exit from SOS. I feel that my client still has sufficient time to secure a
housing option, but may need to move to another shelter until her move in.

1. Identify your understanding of what is going on with your consumer.

2. Identify the skill you are using in a particular response.
3. Explain the reason for selecting that skill or intervention at that point.
4. Explain where you are heading with this client.
5. Self-evaluate the effectiveness of the skill or intervention used.
6. Identify what might work better in the future, if the current intervention did not work.
7. Include anything else you think might be relevant to your consumer or your skill
development.
It is my understanding that my client is working hard on her goals of her health,
the client has been working over the last three months to complete her physical
therapy, and attend all of her doctors appointments. The client still has long lasting
health issues, but has worked very hard to work through her physical health barriers
and better herself. It is also my understanding that this client is in need of stable
housing, and have been working to search for the perfect home for her. It is

understanding that my client has not had clear understanding of the realities of her
situation and had been searching for properties that she cannot afford. The client
has ignored several attempts I have made to provide with lists of properties that
may be more suitable for her long term stability. It is my understanding that the
client understands at this point as her time is winding down that she will have to
create an exit plan for her time after SOS.
In this intervention with my client I use a variety of skills but most of all I am
providing information to my client. I demonstrate to my client the importance of
their accomplishing their goals, and help my client by showing them that I have
here to help. I have done research for them to help them find stable housing, as well
as other options for them after they leave SOS. By providing my client with this
information, I am able to equip them with the tools that they need to achieve their
goals of finding stable and affordable housing. Then by providing the client with
information about other shelters and community resources I am able to inform the
client of all of her options after she leaves SOS.
This client has been at SOS for almost their full ninety day maximum, at this
point the client and I will create an exit plan for her. The client at this point still does
not have a secured housing option, but will be continuing to look until her exit from
SOS until she finds this. This client and I will continue to communicate and, work to
find her stable housing before the time that she leaves SOS. If we are unsuccessful
in this we will work on a plan of another shelter for her to go to, as this client does
not have family she can stay with.
I believe that my skills and intervention techniques with this client were
effective. I feel that I was able to convey the importance to the client about their
time ending here at SOS. I feel that I was able to empathize with the client to
demonstrate to her that I care, and that it is my goal for her to have a safe plan as
she exits SOS. I believe that I was effective to provide my client with appropriate
information that can help her in locating stable housing or shelter for her after she
leaves SOS.
In the future I would implement a more direct approach with the client. This
client has great potential to find stable housing, and until this point has spent a
great deal of her time looking for housing that was either out of her price range or
unavailable. I believe that a more direct approach with this client to relay to her the
importance of keeping her expectations and, limitations maybe could have helped
my client to have located housing at this point.
Provide an evaluation of your overall skill during the session
During this session I believe that my skill was productive in helping
my client. I was able to convey to my client my concerns for her as well as
my passion to provide her help. I was about to provide my client with all
necessary information and resources to help my client create their exit
plan. I believe that my skill of being empathic with my client was
important to help my client feel that I am still on her side although her
maximum time is approaching.

How do you see yourself as being effective during the session? What skills
would you like to improve?
I did see myself as being effective in this session, I was able to
provide my client is information and resources to support her in her exit
plan for her approaching exit date. I saw myself as being effective by
supporting my client and providing her with information. I would like to
improve my skills of being more direct with the client. In this case the
client was working on some of her goals, but her housing goals was not
her main focus. Now as her time at SOS is ending she may not have stable
housing to move into. I feel that if I have used a more direct approach with
this client that they may have remained more focused on their housing.
What questions do you have for the reader so you can receive feedback on
your skills? (Note: General questions are not acceptable they must be
specific questions and they must have depth).
For the reader I would ask if they had any suggestions for
approaches to take with clients who appear to be unfocused on their
goals. I was noticing this in this intervention that my clients expectations
of what her housing would look like. I attempted to help the client realize
the severity of the situation to help them refocus. I would like some advice
of techniques to try with clients that pose this as an issue.
Please identify the theory/theoretical perspective(s) or intervention model
that you used in your work with this client/client system. In order to
demonstrate your understanding of the application of theory to social
work practice, please identify and explain the specific theory-based
interventions you used with the client/client system. Discuss why you used
each intervention.
During this session with my client I used the rational choice theory. I was able to
demonstrate to my client her options, and she then can make the choice about her
actions. The client has set up goals for herself to accomplish, and has spent time
over the last ninety days to accomplish these goals or not. I also used a practice
model of problem solving with this client. I showed the client what her options
where for her exit at SOS, and provided her with resources to help decided how she
would like to proceed after she leaves SOS.