The Role of a Social Worker in Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence

by | Nov 27, 2023 | social work

Create a client scenario of your choice(e.g., Victim of domestic violence coming into a safe house for shelter; Son of an elderly man who has just been admitted to hospice, etc.). Please write a brief description of the client’s presenting issue and the social worker’s role.
You are the social worker. You may choose to write
The initial session should be the time when the social worker introduces him/herself and describes his/her role. The client describes the presenting problem. You may choose to explain the limits of confidentiality in this session, describe services available, etc. This is an opportunity for you – the social worker to model your active listening skills. Be sure to use engagement skills like warmth, empathy, reflection, acknowledgment, etc.
At the end of the session, you should discuss next steps (e.g., “I would like to see if you can come in next week to conduct a more thorough assessment of your strengths and needs…”) Remember this is the first session, you should not be intervening.
Conduct a Self-Evaluation
Complete the attached document and incorporate into your assignment document.
Write an Assessment paper Your paper should be organized using the following headings. You should include 5 scholarly references, integrated as in-text citations to demonstrate support from the literature

 

Identifying Client Information
Brief description of the client
Summary of findings from the initial session
Cultural and Ethical Considerations
Relevant cultural factors and/or knowledge the social worker needs
Identify social work values to be applied
Describe any ethical dilemmas or possible ethical concerns
Engagement strategies
Describe engagement strategies the client seemed to respond well to
Discuss other engagement strategies that should be used in working with this client
Identify any potential barriers to engaging the client
Assessment Approach
Identify a theoretical approach to assessment and describe the process of decision-making (what factors were considered in selecting this approach, what other theoretical approaches were considered, why were those eliminated, how does this theory best support your client)
What assessment strategies will be used?
What tools and/or measures will be used?
Planning for Intervention
Describe how the findings of the assessment will be used in planning for intervention
Describe the integrated practice approached of the intervention at micro, mezzo and macro levels.

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

The Role of a Social Worker in Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence

Identifying Client Information

Brief description of the client

The client, Sarah, is a 35-year-old woman who recently sought shelter at a safe house for victims of domestic violence. She is currently separated from her abusive partner and is seeking help to rebuild her life and ensure the safety of herself and her two young children. Sarah has experienced physical, emotional, and financial abuse throughout her relationship, and she is now determined to break free from the cycle of violence and create a better future for herself and her children.

Summary of findings from the initial session

During the initial session, Sarah expressed her fear and anxiety regarding her current situation, as well as her determination to create a safe and stable environment for herself and her children. She shared details about the abuse she experienced, including the frequency, severity, and specific incidents. Sarah also expressed concerns about her financial stability and lack of social support. It was evident that she was motivated to make positive changes in her life and break free from the cycle of abuse.

Cultural and Ethical Considerations

Relevant cultural factors and/or knowledge the social worker needs

As a social worker working with victims of domestic violence, it is crucial to have an understanding of the cultural factors that may impact Sarah’s experience. This includes being sensitive to issues such as cultural norms around gender roles, family dynamics, and community support systems. Additionally, it is important to recognize that domestic violence can occur in any cultural or socioeconomic context, and not make assumptions based on stereotypes.

Identify social work values to be applied

Social work values such as respect for individual autonomy, promoting social justice, and advocating for the well-being of vulnerable populations are essential in working with victims of domestic violence. It is important to empower clients like Sarah by providing them with information, resources, and support to make informed decisions about their own lives.

Describe any ethical dilemmas or possible ethical concerns

An ethical concern in this scenario is ensuring the safety and confidentiality of the client. The social worker must prioritize Sarah’s safety by ensuring that her information is kept confidential and that appropriate measures are in place to protect her from further harm. The social worker must also navigate any potential conflicts of interest that may arise if there are complex legal or child custody issues involved.

Engagement strategies

Describe engagement strategies the client seemed to respond well to

During the initial session, Sarah responded positively to engagement strategies such as active listening, empathy, and validation of her experiences. The social worker demonstrated warmth and genuine interest in Sarah’s story, which helped build trust and rapport. Reflective listening techniques were used to ensure that Sarah felt heard and understood.

Discuss other engagement strategies that should be used in working with this client

In working with Sarah, it will be important to continue building a strong therapeutic alliance by maintaining a non-judgmental attitude and creating a safe space for open communication. The social worker should continue using active listening skills, empathy, and validation to foster trust and encourage Sarah’s active participation in her own healing process. Additionally, providing psychoeducation about the dynamics of domestic violence and available resources will empower Sarah to make informed decisions.

Identify any potential barriers to engaging the client

Some potential barriers to engaging Sarah may include fear of retaliation from her abusive partner, feelings of shame or guilt, or concerns about the impact of seeking help on her children. The social worker must address these barriers by providing reassurance, emphasizing confidentiality, and connecting Sarah with appropriate support services to address her concerns.

Assessment Approach

Identify a theoretical approach to assessment and describe the process of decision-making

The theoretical approach to assessment for Sarah’s case will be the Ecological Systems Theory. This theory considers how various systems (micro, mezzo, and macro) interact to influence an individual’s experiences. By using this approach, the social worker will consider Sarah’s immediate environment (micro), including her relationships with her children, friends, and community resources. The mezzo level assessment will focus on the dynamics of her relationship with her abusive partner and any familial or social influences contributing to the abuse. Finally, the macro level assessment will explore larger societal factors such as cultural norms, legal systems, and available support services.

What assessment strategies will be used?

To assess Sarah’s situation comprehensively, the social worker will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative assessment strategies. This will include conducting interviews with Sarah to gather detailed information about her experiences of abuse, assessing her strengths and resources through a strengths-based approach, and utilizing validated measures to evaluate the impact of abuse on her mental health and well-being.

What tools and/or measures will be used?

Some tools that may be used include standardized measures such as the Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) to assess the severity and frequency of abuse experienced by Sarah. Additionally, mental health screening tools such as the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) may be utilized to assess for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These assessments will help inform treatment planning and ensure that appropriate interventions are implemented.

Planning for Intervention

Describe how the findings of the assessment will be used in planning for intervention

The findings of the assessment will guide the development of a comprehensive intervention plan tailored to Sarah’s specific needs. The assessment will provide insights into the severity of abuse experienced by Sarah, potential trauma symptoms she may be experiencing, and any additional support systems or resources that can be mobilized. This information will help determine appropriate therapeutic modalities, safety planning strategies, and referrals to community resources that can support Sarah’s journey towards healing and independence.

Describe the integrated practice approached of the intervention at micro, mezzo, and macro levels

At the micro level, interventions will focus on providing individual counseling to address trauma symptoms, develop coping skills, enhance self-esteem, and promote emotional healing. Mezzo level interventions will involve engaging Sarah’s support system (e.g., family members, friends) in safety planning and providing psychoeducation about domestic violence dynamics. Macro level interventions will involve advocating for policy changes related to domestic violence prevention and increasing access to resources for victims in the community.

In conclusion, working with victims of domestic violence requires a comprehensive understanding of their unique challenges and strengths. By employing engagement strategies, utilizing appropriate assessment approaches, considering cultural factors, and planning integrated interventions across micro, mezzo, and macro levels, social workers can effectively support individuals like Sarah in breaking free from abusive relationships and rebuilding their lives.

 

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