Principles of Social Casework

The principles of social casework are applied in

establishing close relationship between social

caseworker and the client. Relationship is the medium

through which changes are brought in the behaviour

and personality of the client. The term relationship in

social casework was used for the first time by Miss

Virginia Robinson in her book, “A Changing Psychology

in Social Case Work” in 1939. The social casework

relationship is the dynamic interaction of attitudes and

emotions between the social caseworker and the client

with the purpose of helping the client to achieve a better

adjustment between himself and his/her environment.

Thus the purpose of establishing relationship is to help

the client with his/her psycho-social needs and

problems. The relationship between caseworker and

client may be more strengthened by using certain

principles. These principles are:

1) Principle of individualization

2) Principle of meaningful relationship

3) Principle of acceptance

4) Principle of communication

5) Principle of expression of feelings

6) Principle of controlled emotional involvement

7) Principle of non-judgmental attitude

8) Principle of client’s self-determination

9) Principle of worker’s self-awareness

10) Principle of social functioning

11) Principle of tuning behaviour

12) Principle of social learning

13) Principle of confidentiality

1) Principle of individualization

No two persons are alike in all qualities and traits. Their

problems may be the same but the cause of the problem,

the perception towards the problem and ego strength

differs in every individual. Therefore, each individual

client should be treated as a separate entity and

complete information is required to establish close

relations in order to solve his/her problem from root.

2) Principle of meaningful relationship

The purpose of establishing relationship in social

casework is to change the behaviour of the client or to

achieve adjustment in maladjusted situation.

Meaningful relationship is developed in social casework

by demonstrating the interests in client. He/she is

convinced of the caseworker’s warmth as an individual

and conveys respect and caring for him/her. In return,

the caseworker helps the client to trust in his/her

objectivity and feel secured as worthwhile individual.

3) Principle of acceptance

Social caseworker accepts the client as he is and with

all his/her limitations. He/she believes that acceptance

is the crux of all help. It embraces two basic ideas ---

one negative and one positive. He/she does not condemn

or feel hostile towards a client because his/her

behaviour differs from the approved one. Later on, he/

she tries to modify his/her behaviour step by step.

4) Principle of communication

Communication is a two-way process. There must be

proper communication between caseworker and the

client, which helps, in proper understanding of each

other. It is the road to the identification of the client’s

problem. The function of social caseworker is primarily

to create an environment in which the client will feel

comfortable in giving expression to his/her feelings. It

depends on a proper communication.

5) Principle of expression of feelings

Purposeful expression of feelings is the recognition of

the client’s need to express his/her feelings freely,

especially his/her negative feelings. The caseworker

listens purposefully, neither discouraging nor

condemning the expression of those feelings. Sometimes

he/she even stimulates and encourages them when

the expression is of therapeutic nature.

6) The Principle of controlled emotional involvement

The social caseworker tries to understand the client’s

feelings and emotions but he/she himself/herself does

not involved emotionally in his/her problems.

7) Principle of non-judgmental attitude

The non-judgmental attitude is a quality of the casework

relationship. The caseworker does not blame the client

for his/her problem nor he assigns any responsibility

for his/her miseries. He/she only evaluates the

attitudes, standards or action of the client.

8) Principle of client self-determination

The client’s self-determination is the practical

recognition of the right and need of clients to freedom

in making his/her own choices and decisions. But this

right is limited by the client’s capacity for positive and

constructive decision making.

9) Principle of self-awareness

It means that caseworker should known his/her own

strengths and limitations in dealing with client’s

problems. If he/she feels that the problems of the client

is beyond his/her capacity, the client should be

transferred to the appropriate authority.

10) Principle of social functioning

Social functioning means the functioning of the

individual in his/her social roles and relationships, with

emphasis on his/her relation to the environment. The

caseworker tries to assess the roles of the client and

his/her capacity to perform these roles.

11) Principle of tuning behaviour

Man has body, mind and intellect as three instruments

of experiences through which life constantly pulsates.

These three instruments have their own distinct

characteristics in each person. Hence each person has

unique personality. There is need of tuning three

instruments for right perception and thinking. The social

caseworker does it.

12) Principle of social learning

Social learning is a pre-requisite to the changes that

are inevitably involved in problem- solving. The social

learning processes involves (1) arousing and focusing

attention and concern, (2) organising and evaluating

the problem and planning future action, (3) searching

for and acquiring new information, (4) providing

opportunities to the client for new experience.

13) Principle of confidentiality

Confidentiality is the preservation of the secret

information concerning the client, which is disclosed

in the professional relationship only.