Social work assessment in mental health
Scenario
Evie Young (not her real name) is a 30-year-old single, unemployed woman in receipt of a Disability Support Pension who resides in a rooming house in inner Melbourne. She recently entered the residential recovery programme, where you work, with hopes of becoming fully independent, moving into a flat of her own, finding employment and returning to “the life I used to lead”. You are a social worker who has the role of being
Evie’s key worker or case manager. You have been provided with the following information:
Evie has been given psychiatric diagnoses of Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use Disorder. She has had many long periods in hospitals which have often been precipitated by acts of violence towards others, including many years ago towards her family. These days she is extremely fearful of both what she has done and her potential to do something again.
Evie hears persistent negative voices with themes of self-sabotage (e.g. telling her she is not worth caring for) and suggestions of self-harm. She identifies the voices as those of her parents who she describes as very critical of her. At times she also hears contradictory, more positive, voices telling her she is a chosen person who will succeed in the music industry.
She smokes marijuana daily, doesn’t use other drugs but occasionally drinks alcohol. Evie realises that marijuana has a negative impact on her mental health and has considered giving it up.
Evie is socially isolated and estranged from her family. Her family have all been successful in their chosen professions. Evie has never been in an intimate relationship.
Evie has never held down a job for more than a few months. Any employment she has had has been in retail. Evie has an Arts degree with a major in sociology.
As a teenager (and in to her 20’s), Evie harboured a strong desire to become a musician however this did not fit with her family’s expectations. She learned piano as a child and into her teens, and has a small keyboard and a violin which she plays on a daily basis.
Evie has often considered studying music with a view to becoming a music therapist working with the elderly. She writes her own songs and sings ‘covers’ and hopes one day to have a gig in a hotel – something she did with a band many years ago.
Evie is generally quite house proud however she has great difficulty motivating herself to keep her room tidy. She likes to take care of her appearance and often purchases cheap clothing that she then hand sews into a unique style.
Evie is on medication to keep her symptoms (such as voices and paranoia) under control, but she says the medication contributes to tiredness, lethargy and the difficulty motivating herself. She is aware that her thoughts are not ‘right’ and is working to develop strategies to overcome the voices she hears.
Evie is overweight and because of the money she spends on drugs and cigarettes has little left over for food. She cannot watch TV, listen to the radio or CDs because of the interference from voices and problems concentrating. She has a small library of spiritual books and seeks a deeper understanding of life.
Evie is mostly warm, friendly, polite and grateful for any support she receives.
REPORT CRITERIA AND QUESTION:
AUSTRALIA BASED
Criteria 1: ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Articulate the principles and values of social work practice as they apply to this person and his/her family; describe strategies for engaging respectfully.
In this section:
Demonstrate familiarity with the key values, ethics and principles of social work as described in the AASW (2010) Code of Ethics
Discuss how these values and principles might influence your work with the client, including your engagement with the client, the client’s family, and extended networks
Criteria 2:
Identify challenges to respectful work and strategies to overcome – noting the impact of service systems on social work interventions.
In this section:
Consider your responses to working with the client – what are some of the challenges you might experience and what might make these things challenging for you?
Think here too about some of the structural challenges – societal attitudes, service structures, etc.
You need to include some recommendations at the end of your summary – the recommendations do not need to be based on organisations but e.g., referral to appropriate service sectors.
