5 Interviewing in Social Casework---II · PDF file5 Interviewing in Social Casework---II ... about a happy adjustment between the client and her ... During the interview process,

98 Social Work Intervention with Individuals and Groups

5

Interviewing in SocialCasework--- II

* Ranjana Sehgal

Introduction

The interviewing process, as we have already seen, hasits main objective of gathering information and bringingabout a happy adjustment between the client and hersituation. The interviewer has to employ interventionsthat help the interviewee to extend the range and depthof the interview. She has to employ and manifesteffective communication of attitudes that help to developpositive relationship. The client casework relationshiphas to be fostered and nurtured through the interviewingprocess. Many problems from inside and outside thisrelationship can impede the smooth flow of theinterviewing process and need to be handled deftly.

Once the interviewing is over the next step is to recordsystematically what has transpired between the clientand the caseworker. As a caseworker you have theobligation to keep records through all the phases ofpractice. It is not enough for the caseworker to knowwhat she is doing but reporting well what one has doneis of equal importance. Recording is an integral part ofsocial casework practice as it aids in stimulating thinkingabout the client and helps in developing the skillsrequired for providing effective help. As students youshould first develop a logical way of thinking aboutproblems followed by record writing that reflect thisorderly way of thinking.

* Dr. Ranjana Sehgal, Indore School of Social Work, Indore

Interviewing In Social Casework--- II 99

The Relationship of the Interviewer andthe Interviewee

All human beings form relationships with other humanbeings but the relationship formed by a caseworker withthe client is special and unique. This relationshipfacilitates the whole interviewing process.

For many a client, talking with someone who listenswith a non-judgmental understanding instead ofcriticizing or admonishing is a unique experience. Thisrelationship with a person who does not ask anythingfor himself personally but focuses his/her interestentirely on the client and yet refrains from advice orcontrol is a very satisfying one (Garret).

The establishment of a relationship between the clientand the caseworker serves as a prerequisite to asuccessful interviewing process.

Establishing Rapport

Establishing rapport, especially in the Indian contextbecomes easy when the caseworker is well aware ofthe client’s total environment as well as the socio-cultural processes, which influence his/her thinkingand behaviour. The worker can also work through thenetwork of family members, close friends, elders etc.Home visits, talking over a cup of tea, knowing theinterests, likes and dislikes of the client facilitate thisprocess. The caseworker’s own background,environment and behaviour are of crucial importancein establishing rapport.

Once a positive relationship is in place between theworker and the client, the client is ready to open his/her heart to the caseworker. Homogeneity of languageand socio-culture background further facilitates the


process. The caseworker with his/her comments andquestions continuously stimulates this process. As the‘more important’ is distinguished from the ‘lessimportant’, crucial issues are center of focus. Supportedby the relationship, the client feels free to communicatebetter with the worker. Even though the problem maystill be unresolved, some significant changes may occurin the attitude of the client towards it. Consequently,his/her feelings of anxiety and frustration may also goundergoes change and become less intense.

During the interviewing process, the caseworker andthe client have to keep in focus the professional natureof their relationship. A professional relationship ispursued for a purpose, which should be recognized byboth participants, and it is over once that purpose isachieved.

In casework, the problem of the client is the mutualconcern of the client and the caseworker and thecaseworker has the requisite knowledge and competenceto help the client. The caseworker presents herself inthe same warm and receptive ways to all clients duringthe interview; however the clients may respond andreact differently. Some clients may bring forthinappropriate reactions and a caseworker should beskilled in managing the problematic responses.

Transference

The most frequently encountered necessity to “ work”a relationship occurs with the phenomena called“transference”. To any emotionally charged relationshipeach of us brings conscious and unconscious feelingsand attitudes that originally arose in or still belong toother earlier important relationships. This is readilyunderstandable for none of us comes newborn to newrelationships ---- we are drawn to or repelled by persons


who unconsciously remind us of others…. Thesetransferred elements of attraction or repulsion, yearningor defensiveness, liking or dislike occurs spontaneouslyand they may emerge at any point in a relationship ----at the beginning or any time along the way. In caseworkthey present no particular problem if the client is notso heavily subject to them that he sees and reacts tothe caseworker as though he were some person with afunction other than that of a professional helper. Whenthe client reacts inappropriately, with excessive ordistraught feeling, to what is called forth, we say, thata “transference” or a “transference reaction” has takenplace. Transference may occur after an interview thathas been deeply satisfying and has called up echoes ofsubmerged wishes to be more fully and continuouslysatisfied then the client suddenly feels a surge ofoverwhelming gratitude or helpless frustration andreacts “childishly”. “Why can’t we drop all thisprofessional stuff and just be friends?” pleads the womanwho wants the caseworker’s affection but not his/herhelp in work on her problems. Transference may alsomanifest not in spoken expression at all but rather inthe way a client momentarily or consistently reactstowards the caseworker. They may be consideredtransference reactions when on their examination inthe light of the actual role and operations of thecaseworker they have not actually been provoked.Transference manifestations need to be recognized,identified and dealt with as they occur, but the effort isto so manage the relationship and the problem solvingwork so as to give minimum excitation to transference.Primarily the caseworker avoids the rousing oftransference or deals with its spontaneous emergenceby maintaining hisher clarity of direction, role andpurpose. (Perlman 1957)


Counter Transference

The caseworker is also human who has had his/hershare of satisfying and frustrating relationships in his/her personal life. He/she too may have “relationshipreactions” and should have the requisite professionalskill to manage them. She may at times unconsciouslytransfer into his/her relationship with the client certainpositive and negative reactions or strong feelings ofattachment which are not realistically called for. Thisphenomenon is called counter transference. Anypersonal and subjective involvement with the client maybe a part of counter transference. The caseworkerthrough practice will have to recognize and separatethe personal from the professional and consciouslycontrol his/her subjective responses. The countertransference may otherwise hamper the smooth processof interviewing and derail the interviewing process.

Transference and counter transference are dynamicfactors that operate in casework interview and have tobe dealt with maturity and competence.

Specific Interviewing Problems

During the interview process, the interviewer and theinterviewee may at times face a variety of problems orblocks those prevent or impede the interviewing process.The most obvious of these is physical and the mostcomplex is psychological. However, many a time theymay appear in combination. For effective interviewingone must be alert to such barriers and take remedialsteps. Some of the specific interviewing problems areexplained here which could be due to any of the followingfactors.

� Environmental factors

� Socio-cultural factors


� Psychological factors

� Factors related to the client/caseworker

Environmental Factors

� Physical setting and seating arrangement: Thepurpose at the beginning of the interview is toestablish a setting, mood and pace which will beconducive to a productive conversation. The physicalsetting and the seating arrangement maysometimes serve as a barrier. If the client is madeto sit too far or too close, it may put him ill at ease.The physical setting should be one that leads tocomfort and helps him relax. The client and thecaseworker should not sit sideways but face-to-faceso as to establish eye contact, else, the worker willnot be able to note all facial expressions. Seating ofchairs should not be such so as to lead to physicalinconvenience which could be distracting.Insufficient light and excess temperature cannegatively affect the interviewee’s initial responseto the interviewer. Any physical barriers to non-verbal communication where the interviewee’s bodyis non-verbal can make the client inaccessible toconversation.

� Noise: The place of interview should be free of anydisturbance or distraction. Noise can be a sourceof distraction for both the client and the interviewerand it should be minimal. During caseworkinterviewing, the environment should be noisefree, so that nothing is unheard.

For example : If the interview is disturbed by loudtraffic noise, the worker may have to ask the clientto repeat which may lead to irritability and loss ofvital information.


� Lack of privacy and frequent interruptions: Lackof privacy is a common barrier especially in anIndian setting. More than often the whole familywants to be a part and parcel of the interviewingprocess. Though privacy is desirable, in certaincases, if the interviewer and interviewee belongto the opposite sex, family may not permit them tomeet in isolation. Frequent telephone calls,walking in and out of the room can fail to createan atmosphere wherein the clients feel free toreveal their innermost thoughts and feelings.Further during home visits one may fail to get totalprivacy.

Socio-cultural Factors

� Biases: Keeping ones biases from intruding into theinterview is a major task at times. Many a times itis difficult to keep one’s personal likes and dislikes,preferences and predispositions from affecting theinteraction. Biases and prejudices lead tostereotype thinking and categorization ofinterviewee in terms of predeterminedpresumptions.

� Socio-cultural differences: Class, colour, age,customs, beliefs and sexual preference are someof the important socio-cultural differences that attimes separate the interviewer from theinterviewee. We generally have the tendency tostereotype a person by his/her age, race, class orethnicity. These factors tend to intrude at timesinto the interviewer-interviewee relationshipdespite the worker’s vigilance.

Knowledge of the client’s cultural milieu isnecessary in understanding the client as well asin solving his/her problem. The interviewing


process will be totally hampered if the interviewerfails to vary the communication patterns toaccommodate differences in age, race, culture andclass.

� Complexes that affect people due to religiousaffiliations: Problems may be encountered whendealing with specific concerns which are impactedby religious differences. Eaxmple--a Muslimcaseworker may be uncomfortable discussinggender discrimination with a Hindu female client.

� Class and status differences: Problems may cropup if the interviewer is from a lower class andgoes to interview people who have high status. Thehigh status person is faced with the problem ofmaintaining appropriate distance without becomingunapproachable. The lower status interviewer hasthe problem of assuring the interviewee of herexpertise and knowledge in her own area. In theIndian context a higher caste client may find itdifficult to talk freely with the low caste worker.

Psychological Factors

� Differences of age, intelligence and attitudes: Ifthe interview content is not according to the ageof the client then distortion is likely to occur intheir interaction. Aspects like age differences mayat times operate as barrier to effective interviewingespecially if the client is too young or much olderto the interviewer. A generation gap is inevitable.The interviewer may have special problems withher own feelings when working with intervieweesfrom different age groups.

The interaction should be channelized accordingto the client’s level of intelligence. The interviewer


must keep a check on client’s attitude. Theinterview must always be adapted to the client,emotionally and intellectually. Always theinterview must start where the client is and moveahead as fast as the client can move.

� Personal inadequacies and personalitycomplexes: The interviewer as a human may havepersonality complexes or his/her own personalinadequacies. He may be introvert or of shy nature.One’s personal complexes and limitations couldalso act as a barrier at times.

Factors Related to Client and the Caseworker

� Lying and fabrication: Lying and fabrications bythe interviewee present a difficult problem for thesocial work interviewer. A relationship built on liesand maintained through lies (one lies leading toothers) involves a complex mixture of feelings, noneof which can lead to easy communication. Clientslie because they want to be accorded respect andacceptance; they want to present a sociallydesirable façade, hiding the imperfections. If yoususpect lying, ask yourself what prompts thisbehaviour--- what purpose does it serve?

Our effort should be to act in a manner whichwould deny the client, all reason for lying.

� Boredom and frustration: Repeated caseworkinterviews with the same general problemincrease boredom and it becomes hard tomaintain the same level of interest. The clientsmay become bored and somewhat calloused,having listened repeatedly to a long series ofdifficult sessions with many similar elements


� Hiding back vital information: Clients hide backvital information because they have the feeling ofinsecurity and they want to be accorded respectand acceptance. The interviewer should assure theclient for confidentiality and assuring for thebetterment.

� Non-cooperative client: At the onset of thecasework interaction, clients show no interesttowards sharing their problem and try to avoid theinteraction by maintaining a long spell of silence.Many a times the clients may refuse to cooperate,hampering the interviewing process.

� Misunderstanding the message: The language usedduring interview should be simple andunderstandable to the client so that client may notmislead the interview interaction.

� Transference reaction on the part of the client canalso obstruct the smooth flow of the interviews

Factors Related to Case-worker

� Inability to vary the pattern of interviewing toaccommodate the differences in race, class, culture

� Exploiting position and power to dominateinterviewee

� Selective attention and listening

� Stereotyped thinking and categorization of clienton the basis of preconceived assumptions

� Overemphasizing personal need gratification andrewards

� Priority to own needs over the needs of the client


� Professional failure, self-control in case of theclient’s hostility, rejection and abusive behaviour

� Coming unprepared for the interview

� Bureaucratic approach with more inclinationtowards procedural details and strict interpretationof rules. Task-oriented approach rather than person-oriented approach

� Too active or too passive

� Counter-transference reactions

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Success in theinterview would depend on the joint efforts of the clientand the caseworker to overcome these problems.

Case Recording: Concept

After the interviewing process is over the caseworkerhas the obligation to record the interview. The languageof interview now has to be translated into the languageof the record (file, forms, computer).

According to Kadushin recording can be seen as a partof the interview process. Through the act of recordingthe interview continues in the mind of the interviewerafter it is terminated. It is a retrospective living of theencounter. As a consequence the interviewer ofnecessity, has to selectively decide which aspects ofthe interview were more significant. She has tosystematically organise a somewhat chaotic experience.

What is a Case Record?

A record literally means ‘a formal writing of any fact orproceeding’ and when used as a verb means ‘to set downin writing or other permanent form’.


Taking cue from this we can define case record as awritten account of the casework proceedings.

However, from the above statement one should notconclude that case recording is an easy, routine andsimple task, far from it, its a highly skilled and complextask. Recording is an important and integral part ofcasework procedure and is an output of the activity ofthe casework. The importance of recording lies both inthe process as well as the product.

For, an individual who is planning to become acaseworker, the art of record writing is worth strivingto develop and perfect, not only because case recordingis an essential part of good casework and is becoming amore important factor with the increasing complexityof social treatment, but also because the case recordis fortunately or unfortunately often used as one ofthe important indexes of the caseworkers ability.

A question often asked is, why do we need to writerecords? Do they really serve any purpose? Theimportance of case records can be ascertained whenwe look at their functions and the varied purposes theyserve.

Purpose of Recording

According to experts, recording in social caseworkserves the following purposes:

It aids practice

It aids administration

It aids teaching and supervision

It aids research


As an aid to practice

The fact that recording has improved/the practice ofsocial casework is now well accepted and is consideredas the most important device to develop one’s skills inthis area. Records help in diagnosis and treatment. Itenables the caseworker to analytically reflect upon andimprove his or her practice thus enabling efficientinterviewing and intervention. As the caseworker givesthe information collected, an organised and structuredform, analysis and critical thinking becomes easier.Case records are essential for refreshing the memory,especially when cases stretch for too long and theworker may lose track of detail. They also enable betterplanning for the next interview and provide theopportunity to rectify previous mistakes. This knowledgewhen passed on to a new worker ensures that the samemistakes are not repeated.

As an aid to administration

Records, also serve as important tools of administration.They serve as an index for the correction of policiesand practices. Further they also give an insight intothe caseworker’s ability and ensure continuity if thecaseworker is transferred, or resigns. They help theagency in not only evaluating the caseworker but alsoin the evaluation and reappraisal of the existing and aswell as future services. Records are also of greatimportance when client is referred from one agency toanother for specialized services, as they ensurecontinuity. Further they allow sharing of informationbetween agencies.

As an aid to teaching and supervision

Recording as a teaching and supervision device isindispensable. Records aid teaching and supervision in


that they add to the body of knowledge of social workand make this knowledge communicable. They providean opportunity to the students to organise and presentinformation and observations, reflection and action ina systematic manner. It is useful for reflecting on one’srole and reactions in an interaction. Recording servesas a tool for supervision and evaluation whereby ateacher can encourage students to analyze andinterpret data, expressing their individuality throughit. Supervision encourages the cultivation of betterrecording skills and better casework as a result. It canbe used in systematically training the students and isan important device to introduce students to practice.

As an aid to research

Records can be used for social research and planningthey are the chief source of material for research doneon such important subjects as the effectiveness ofcasework as a social work method. Records containaccumulated experience of social workers which canbe translated into statistical form and thereby help infinding solution to social problems.

Purposes of recording in casework

� helps in diagnosis andtreatment

� enables more effectiveinterviewing and intervention

As an aid to practice � contributes to analyticalreflection and improvement incasework practice

� useful for organising andstructuring of information/aids orderly thinking


� refreshes the memory of theworker/increasesretrospective understanding

� enables better planning forsubsequent interview

� useful as a guide to newworker in correcting pastmistakes

� useful as an index forcorrection of polices

� ensure continuity if anycaseworker discontinues acase

As an aid to � ability of caseworker can begauged

Administration � useful for future reference

� useful in evaluation of agency

� Allows sharing of informationbetween agencies

� helps in supervision andtraining of students

As an aid to teaching l adds to body of knowledge ofsocial work, which is

and supervision made communicable

� enables students to developanalytical and interpretativeskills

� easy method of introducing


students to practice

As an aid to research l useful for social research andplanning

� contains accumulatedexperience

� can help in providingstatistical data on socialproblems

Types of Recording

From the literature available on casework recording noclear cut classification of records on the basis of theirtypes is available. However, for our understanding wecan give the following classification of recording.

(a) Process (b) Summary (c) Verbatim (d) Non-Verbatim

Process Recording

Process recording is a form of recording used frequentlyby the caseworker. In this type, the process of interviewis reported and is a rather detailed description of whattranspired with considerable paraphrasing. It preservesa sequence in which the various matters werediscussed. It includes not only what both the workerand the client said but also significant reaction of theclient and changes in mood and response. In this theinterview and observation go hand-in-hand. It may beverbatim or non-verbatim reproduction.

Summary Recording

Summary is a good device for organising and analyzingfacts. Summary points into meaning and relativeimportance of material gathered. A careful summary


made at appropriate intervals reduces bulk, clarifiesdirection and saves the workers, time. Summary iscommonly assumed to be a review or recapitulation ofmaterial that has already appeared in the record. Itmay be either topically arranged or may appear ascondensed chronological narrative.

Mrs. Sheffield has defined summary in social caseworkrecording as “A digest of significant facts in the client’shistory which has previously been recorded”. Summarycould be a diagnostic summary, periodic summary orclosing summary.

The closing summary is a summary made at the timethe case is closed. To be most effective it should bewritten by the worker who was responsible for the caseat the time of closing.

The periodic summary is simply the summary of materialpreviously recorded and is made at more or less regularintervals or at the end of more or less definite episodesin the family history.

Verbatim Recording

It is reproduction of factual data in the individual’s ownwords. It is commonly used in casework because of itsaccuracy and objectivity. However, it should not becomea mechanical reproduction of information becausecasework as an art requires an intelligent selectionand rearrangement of material. As a part of training ofthe worker, verbatim recording may be of value indeveloping objectivity.

Non-verbatim /narrative recording

Narrative recording has been and still is a predominantstyle of recording. It is the style found in newspapersand magazines. It is the way we speak of the day’s


events, it is the way we write letters, and it is the wayswe keep diaries. Narrative form of recording is preferredfor reporting acts of practical helpfulness, events andmost collateral visits or conferences. It may be used forthe contents of the interview in all instances exceptwhen the process itself and use of relationship havespecial significance.

Principles of Recording

How we wish, especially in the initial stages of practicethat there were some fixed rules and perfect procedures,which could guide us in writing case records. Howeverthere is no such thing as an ideal or model record.Record is a flexible instrument, which should be adaptedto the needs of the case.

Each case is different, the conditions of work holdmarked differences and the recording therefore, restsnot on following an outline, but in the mastery of certaincomponent processes. Given below, are the attributesone looks for in a good case records whereby we canjudge it to its merits. They can be termed as principlesof casework recording as they serve as guidelines forwriting records.

1) Accuracy, objectivity, simplicity, clarity and brevityshould be observed in writing records.

2) Facts and their interpretation should bedistinguished as it leads to objectivity. Inferencesshould be drawn in an impartial manner withoutattempting to influence the judgment of the reader(e.g., frequent fights between the husband and wifemight lead the caseworker to interpret that shedislikes or hates her husband).


3) Record must be orderly in its arrangement and itis not possible unless the writer has thought out inadvance what should be included and then has setout the material in a logical sequence.

4) A long record is not necessarily a good record.Records should neither be too long nor too short.

5) The casework records are not meant to be literarymasterpieces, therefore they should be written insimple language and simple style.

6) A telling verbatim quote can sometimes depict asituation much better than a narrative description,therefore, wherever possible reaction of the clientsshould be recorded in their own words.

7) There should be certain degree of uniformity andstandardization as to the form of observation.

8) A record should have readability and visibility andshould contain a clear and concise presentation ofthe material.(E.g. content can be organised undertopical heading such as interviews, home visits,contact with collaterals. Letters, medical reportsetc filed at appropriate place.)

9) To maintain clarity and accuracy avoid using wordswhich are vague, ambiguous and likely to bemisinterpreted by the readers. (e.g. “middle aged,perhaps etc.) Note taking as far as possible shouldbe done immediately after the interview is over. Ifdone during the course of interview it may not onlyhamper the full participation of caseworker in theprocess but may make the client feel that she isnot getting the full attention of the caseworker.

10) It should always be made clear who are involved inthe situation, which is addressing whom and whatare the sources of information.


11) The details of every significant subject or situationshould be given.

12) One should not record the self-evident, theinsignificant, the familiar, and the repetitive.

14) Any record should show clearly the nature of theproblem presented or the request made; what theworker thinks about the situation; what the workerand client know about it; what relevant family groupand community factors are involved; what thechange or movement of outcome are.

Guidelines for Casework Recording

Record is a dynamic and flexible instrument hence nohard and fast rules can be prescribed. The caseworkrecord should reflect an orderly way of thinking whichcan be done through a flexible use of process,summarized and condensed recording so that therecorded material becomes a positive aid to the workerin his/her practice.

The following guidelines however may be observed:

1) Maintain a field work diary

While in the field you must carry with you a fieldwork diary. This diary is used for writing, eventsand incidences as they happen during the day. Theymay cover such things as names, addresses, dates,and details of interviews with the client andcollaterals, observations, inferences and any othersuch relevant information. From this jumbled updata you are then expected to organisesystematically the available information into aformal case record. The daily process record maycomprise the following:


a) Conduct the interview, write in narrative stylethe questions asked and the way they wereanswered or in other words write about theinterview as it took place. The observationshould be suitable recorded such as themannerisms, expressions, gestures, hesitation,silence, resistance, discomfort, emotionsexpressed, refusal to answer, certain questionsetc. The record should also reflect significantreactions of the client such as changes in moodand responses, body language, the subjects fromwhich the client tends to shy away or findsdifficult to discuss.

b) Extra information on environmental factors,relationships with those around gathered withhome visits or any other source could bementioned. Letters or other such documentscould be attached. At the end of report youshould give your inferences and interpretation.You should indicate the meaning you derivedfrom the events and incidents and reasons forit. You should conclude by briefly outlining yourplans for the next meeting or the next stepsyou propose to take, in other words your futureplan with respect to that case. This mayinclude:

1) areas to be covered in the next interview

2) collaterals to be contacted

3) information to be obtained for the nextmeeting

How to Collect and Organise Data

The caseworker can use the following tools and devicesfor collecting data:


1) Face sheet/Intake sheet

2) Eco-map

3) Genogram

Face Sheet/Intake Sheet

Face sheet or intake sheet as some prefer to call it isgenerally filled in at the initial phase of the caseworkprocess. Most of the social work agencies have a moreor less standardized proforma which has blanks forentries to be made by the worker related to theidentification data such as name, age, occupation, familyprofile and other such information. The purpose of theface sheet is to give in a convenient form the objectivesocial facts or situation of the client of a permanentcharacter to particularize the case.

Genogram

A family genogram is the graphic representation of one’sfamily tree. It gives a pictorial representation of themembers along with a chronological statement ofsignificant events. It helps in assessing a person’spsychosocial characteristics or the interactionalpatterns of the family. The caseworker organising theinformation can make it brief or extensive dependingon the purpose it is to serve.

Eco-map

Though family experiences are significant, people arealso greatly affected by the social context in which theylive. Our record will not be complete if we do not depictthis social context. An eco-map is an effective tool forthis purpose.


According to Hartman (1978) an ecomap is an extremelyuseful tool for portraying the social context, because itprovides a diagrammatic representation of a person’ssocial world. In addition to presenting an overview of aperson, family or household in context, the eco-mapreadily identifies the energy-enhancing and energy-depleting relationships between members of a primarysocial system (e.g. family or household) and the outsideworld. The graphic nature of the eco-map highlightssocial strengths and social deficiencies and helps toidentify areas of conflict and compatibility. It oftenindicates areas where change may be needed. The eco-map is a natural adjunct to the genogram.

Conclusion

In this chapter we have further studied some importantaspects of the interviewing process namely therelationship of the interviewer and the interviewee andsome specific interviewing problems. The establishmentof a relationship between the client and the caseworkerserves as a pre-requisite to successful interviewing andfacilitates the whole interviewing process. Once apositive relationship is established, the client becomesready to open his/her heart to caseworker. Thecaseworker presents himself/herself in the same warmand receptive ways to all clients during the interview,however the client may respond and react differently.‘Transference’ and ‘Counter Transference’ are dynamicfactors that operate in casework interview and have tobe dealt with maturity and competence. Some specificproblems, which can be due to social, psychologicalfactors or which can be specifically caseworker or clientcentered are sometimes likely to impede the caseworkinterviewing such as biases, prejudices, lying, holdingback information etc. The caseworker has to be sensitiveto these problems and consciously make efforts to


overcome them when they intrude into the caseworkinterview.

Once the purpose is accomplished the interviewingprocess is dissolved. Having conducted and completedthe interview, the caseworker is now faced with theimportant task of recording, the interview and has toselectively decide which aspect of the interview wasmost significant and record it. The case record shouldcontain a clear, concise, accurate and objectivepresentation of the material. It should be properlyorganised and should not be too long or too short andshould be readable. Caseworkers should not only be“consumer of the practice of others” but “strive to befurther creators of practice”.

References

Hamilton, Gordon (1951), Principles of Social CaseRecording, New York, Columbia University Press.

Timms, Noel (1972), Recording in Social Work, London andBoston, Routledge & Kegan Paul.

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5 Interviewing in Social Casework---II · PDF file5 Interviewing in Social Casework---II ... about a happy adjustment between the client and her ... During the interview process,