Guidelines for Interviewing a Social Worker
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Deadline - 30/11/2003
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The Interview
Find a practicing social worker you know and conduct an interview using the following guidelines. In the paper, describe who the social worker is, the agency that s/he is working in and some relevant background useful to understand who the social worker is and the work that s/he is doing.
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The Framework :
The figure on the left described the various systems that the social worker has to interact in his professional activities. To understand the roles of a social worker, we can examine how the social worker interacts with these systems. Some sample questions are listed below.
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Client
Who are the clients?
What are their needs or problems?
Does the social worker reach out for the clients? If yes, how does the social worker reach out for the clients?
To help the clients, what kinds of activities does the social worker carry out?
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Agency
Are there any meetings within the agency that the worker has to attend? How are these meetings related to the work of the social worker?
Are there any other administrative tasks that the social worker has to perform? How much percentage of time will they occupy?
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Profession
How do they equip themselves in doing the job?
To what extent, the training they received prepares them for the job?
Has the social worker attended any on-the-job training offered by the agency or from outside bodies (such as Hong Kong Social Workers Association, Social Welfare Department, Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union, Extra Mural Studies, etc.) ?
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Social Welfare System
Does the social worker have to attend any meetings outside the agency (such as Hong Kong Council of Social Service, district coordination committee, etc.) ? What are the purposes of such meetings and how are they related to the work of the social worker?
Has the social worker participated within the agency or outside the agency in activities which aim at influencing the formulation or modification of current social welfare policies?
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Social System
Has the social worker participated in other social, cultural, and political activities at the district or territory level?
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A typical working day
When does the social work start working in a typical working day?
What does s/he do after that? .
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Note: Roles of a social worker: Advocate, Broker, Mediator, Enabler, Controller, etc.