SOWK915 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families

Assessment 3 – Case Study

This assessment aims to develop key knowledge, awareness, and skills required for social work assessment and intervention planning with individuals and families. Students are asked to write a formal assessment report based on a provided case study.

Please select one of the cases:

Case Study 1

Sam is a 74-year old man, living alone in a rental apartment complex. Sam and his wife, Maria, owned and operated a small, local grocery store for 44 years. They sold the business to their son Dominic when Sam turned 70. The plan was to enjoy travel and retired life together. However, shortly after retiring, Maria was diagnosed with an aggressive leukemia, and she died within 4 months. Sam has been living alone for over 3 years. Because Sam and Maria spent most of their time working and involved with family activities, there are few close friends in his life. Dominic’s family has Sam to dinner every Sunday, but has little time during the week because of competing demands. Sam’s other children include a daughter Lucy living in the Dubbo who calls daily (but seldom visits because of the cost), a daughter in the UK, and a son with Down’s syndrome who lives in a group home about an hour away. Sam indicates that he was a “hard drinker” during his 20s and 30s, when he developed stomach problems and high blood pressure. At that point, he limited his use of alcohol to his Friday night poker club and to Sunday dinner with the family. Since Maria’s death, Sam has regularly consumed 3 to 4 drinks a day. He says it alleviates some of the pain, stress, and loneliness. It also helps him sleep, along with the over-the-counter medications that he takes for arthritis pain and as sleep aides. You are a social worker in a family support agency. You have been asked to see Sam because of a phone call from Sam’s son who is concerned that his father is withdrawing from family activities and has been drinking more than usual. When you ask Sam how he is doing, he says, “Oh, I guess I’m okay for an old widower. I don’t think it really matters how I feel or what I do anymore at my age.”

Case Study 2

Fatima is a 45-year-old woman living in Macquarie Fields in Sydney. She presented to the Emergency department in Liverpool hospital on the weekend with a high fever, swelling of the legs and abdominal pain. After examination and tests, she was diagnosed by the medical team as suffering from congestive heart failure and kidney problems. She needs further tests to assess her condition and was admitted over the weekend to the medical ward of the hospital. Fatima is unwilling to stay in hospital any longer and wants to be discharged. She came to

Australia as a refugee from Iraq in 2002 and spent four years with her husband and their three children (now aged 16, 14 and 12 years) in Villawood Detention Centre. The family follows Islam and is very religious. Fatima is mistrusting of the hospital staff and is unwilling to disclose personal information. She has some English skills. You are the ward social worker and have been asked by the doctors to assess her situation. The doctors are very concerned about releasing her with her new diagnosis.

Case Study 3

Robert is a 16-year-old, year 10 student at Good Shepherd’s High School in Cooma, a small town with a population of approximately 10,000 people. Robert’s family migrated from Croatia 8 years ago and bought a small farm in the area. Robert has an older sister Maria who has recently moved to Canberra to attend University. Robert’s parents, Paul and Dreena supplement their farm income by working in a small grocery store in town.

For the past 6 months Robert has been experiencing difficulties in school. His teachers have noticed that he is quite isolated, not interacting easily with his peers. He has one close friend, Jerrod who is a new student in the school. Jerrod is a talented sportsman and now represents the school in athletics. Robert is quite musically gifted and his music teacher has also expressed concern that Robert is no longer as committed to his band practice as he used to.

You are the school counsellor and you have been informed by Robert’s Math teacher (Mrs. Clement) that more recently Robert has been seen with a group of older boys (not in his school) before and after school. Mrs. Clement has heard from other teachers that these boys are rumored to be using and selling drugs. You have sent a note to Robert requesting that he come and see you today during lunch.

Case Study 4

Jason is a 35-year-old man who has recently been released from prison. He has been living in accommodation provided by the prisoner release supported accommodation program but was recently “exited” and is now living temporarily in a guest house. Jason has a mental illness and had a Mental Health Case Manager and was attending Anger Management workshops. Since his recent move he has been referred to a new mental health service with a new caseworker.

When you see Jason, he appears fed up. He tells you that someone punched a hole in his motorbike tyre the other day. He also talks about why he was asked to leave his previous accommodation, saying he was doing his washing late at night and it bothered the other residents and when the worker confronted him about it he argued back and was exited from the program. He says he is paying about $450 a month to rent a room that is small but ok. He tells you he was working as a shelf packer but his boss wasn’t paying him so he left. He feels better about this because he took a few tools to make up for the way he was treated. Jason says he has only had one phone call from his new caseworker, in which he was asked if he takes any drugs or alcohol. He said “no” but he tells you he smokes pot every now and then. Jason has come to your non-government organisation to apply for financial assistance because he has some fines he needs to pay off.

Acknowledgement of the contribution of Lecturer Nandini Ray (UOW) who provided the case studies.

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