Day 20 @ Care Corner Case #1, session #1

Hmm, was still a little nervous before this even though I had a first session with another client last week. I was pretty prepared though. Anyway, I wanted to focus on her financial situation. However, it became obvious that $$ wasn't her concern anymore. She obviously wanted to focus on her son. I felt that this time round, I was more prepared to track her and connect with her. Shall watch the recording again. Ok, more details would be included in the case recording.

In the end, after I went in the second time, I asked about her she felt. She did not say much and went back to focus on her son. I was just wondering, was it because my question did not manage to draw her emotions out or was it because like what Lydia said, she's the irrelevant type according to Satir.

Sit-in with FL's session
Interesting ideas that came up...

- Women's Charter.. breaking families or reconciling families? Inherently biased against men? Why isn't there a Men's Charter then? Women are naturally predisposed to being in a disadvantaged position, therefore the need for a Women's Charter?

- Use dominant/prevalent cultural norms to challenge clients.

- What is the impact of a PPO on the male?

- After client talks about a whole string of events, it's appropriate to bring the focus back to the client and ask how he feels.

- Worker can be open to share about what has been saddening for her etc.

- Client complained about wife etc... but were there instances when she did not do ...?

- Basic Duty vs Love - is taking care of the child a basic duty of a wife or an act of love that deserves to be affirmed esp by the husband? What do Singaporeans think about this? Interesting research topic.. since families are very much in flux now.

- There' re times when worker needs to be a little more directive... "the child is not the best messenger".. "what about coming to an agreement on who spends time with child?"

- Given that there seems to be an increasing number of middle-aged males who go for foreign brides, what are some things they should give close attention to before choosing one or deciding to go ahead? Hmm.. perhaps there should be some form of educational or support program for such men. So many unmet needs.
- On the flip side, what is happening to the group of highly-educated females who do not get married or are getting married late? It's so interesting to study the family in Sg.

Day 20 @ Care Corner 30 May '06

Show some face la!

WELL DONE, Ai Ling! Centre manager thinks you show face! I tell you, you are unbeatable in this. No one can beat you in showing face. The day she's gonna cook for people, you're fasting. How apt. Oops, really not on purpose.

Haha, her sharp observation has somehow gained my respect. Oh well, but it really doesn't take an Einstein to realise I show face. No no, on a more serious note, I'm really beginning to respect her interest and painstaking efforts to look into details.

Details determine destiny.

On an even more serious note, it's time I find new ways to express/manage frustration in a more functional way. How... let me ponder some more.

I also wonder how much of a compliment it is when one sup said I have the making of a supervisor. Hmm, that means I'm not easy to get along with. Oh that I don't deny. So if I'm nice, it's really not by my own merit, it's really the grace of God. Then it also makes me wonder why I want to be a social worker. But then again, are social workers necessarily nice people? Perhaps it meets the need in me to want to be a nicer person.

Ok, I'm really tired now.. shall continue the case experience and the sit-in experience later in the day.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES. I'll keep going!

Day 19 @ Care Corner Field Seminar #2

Field seminar was GOOODDD!!!! Let's call the field tutor FT. I appreciate FT's candid response and strong opinions. That is refreshing in a time when everything about values seem so relative - no right, no wrong. I always believe that in certain issues, standards should and must exist.

I also appreciate the way he asked questions.. most of which I couldn't answer.
At one point, he got us to indicate where we are in our goal achievement on a scale of 1-10. I placed myself at 3/10. 2 others placed themselves there. The rest were at 1 or 2 or 5. It was comforting to have 2 others. I don't think 3/10 at this point is bad. The journey has just begun (gonna end equally soon though). I'll move one point per week. That'd nice. Then he got us to share why we placed ourselves at whichever point and got students to listen and provide solutions. Afterwhich, he asked us how it felt to hear solutions from someone else.

I responded and said I felt uneasy and hearing solutions felt a little unnecessary. Because (at the risk of sounding overly self-sufficient and pompous), I believe that I have the answer to my own problem. Translate it to a client, I believe the client has the answers - the role of a worker isn't to provide solutions. That would grossly undermine their capacity. FT replied and said "Isn't exploring alternatives equivalent to providing solutions? Are SWers really agents of empowerment or advocates of social control?". I have no answer to that. Perhaps, the difference lies in the way in which we approach exploring alternatives with the clients? What do you think?

Topics covered included supervision, supervisor-supervisee r/s and how we should do our best to tap into this r/s, as well as theory utilization.

What has been helpful for me in supervision thus far..
- the regular sessions.. the regularity of it. Hahaha I'm a quality time person.
- sups' understanding stance.
- that I'm given the space to explore and make mistakes.
- the honesty.. in confronting tricky issues.
- not spoon-feeding me.

What would improve supervision
- ask me more questions? Especially for counseling case.. qns like "Why do you think I asked that question?"
- show me where theory is being utilized and what theory. Sometimes I really cannot see theory being used and I don't know what is being used.

FT also went through what he thinks are perspectives, theories and models..

Perspectives... systems perspective, ecological perspective, strengths perspective, feminist perspective. Perspectives do not explain why certain things happen.

Theories.. Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, cognitive theory.. Theories must explain things.

Models... Satir model, Bowen's Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention Model... Models are kinda like put together combining theory and perspective.

Practice frameworks.. when you put all the above together.

Most of all, it was good to hear that I'm not alone in the uncertainty I'm facing.. other students have it worse.. sharing the same sup with another student.. I think comparison then becomes almost so legitimately inevitable and necessary. Scary. And those female students who have male sups.. makes it difficult to share feelings. Oh my.. that's bad, cos I think social work can be emotionally draining. A friend was sharing about office dynamics and how she was frustrated about not being able to deal with it. My take is that social work itself isn't so scary, it's probably office dynamics that make it scary/tricky.

Day 18 @ Care Corner 28 May '06

Family Day! Woohoo!

Before the actual day, I had doubts about the turn-up figure. It seemed like many people bought tickets but may not turn up. But I was wrong!! For about the first one and a half hours, the flow at my game stall was almost non-stop! Thank God for the YW@P volunteers who came later to help. And I found out that one of them is studying at NJC. NJC life will always be very special to me. =)

Right, you know, when I saw the parents how to balance cards at my station, I felt like almost all the frustration faded away. I wonder if parents consistently guide their children in that loving way I witnessed that day. If they do not, then that day must have been a very special one for the kids. And I think, Santha might be right in alluding to the fact that richer kids might not appreciate such mini-funfairs. Just a sense that I get, I don't know how to explain that. Anyway, since I'm a very quality time person, I think a child who speaks this love language would feel very loved! Like you know, my dad actually spent time playing games and catching fish with me. I think that would do alot for their identity and self-esteem as a child.

I'm supremely happy that all the game stalls are pretty well-liked! Esp the communication game which WP and I thought of! Hooray! And ya, the fish game was so smelly!!! But the kids loved the game.

Learning points:
- It is absolutely necessary to be very detailed in the planning stage of events. Who would be doing what and when? Where would the money be kept? Would receipts be printed? When one needs to leave his designated post, who does he inform? Who takes over? Who should I ask instructions from? Are the elderly rehearsed for their performance? Who fills the gap when the DJ leaves early? (Having said that, I think the DJ that day was pretty charismatic. Just his voice la. Oh well, that's why he's a DJ).

- Expect much frustration and last-minute bombs in planning events like that. They're not fun to experience, but inevitable.
- Never belittle the ability of a group. Wow! It's team work that made things happen in this Family Day event!
- I must learn to separate personal feelings from work. Again, this is based on the assumption that work and personal life are two separate, distinct spheres, with no possible spill-over. But it's tough. Yea.. must find a way to work around that.
- Be all things to all men.

I'm superbly thankful for the sups' effort in processing the process with us on Mon! THANK YOU! It helped in that I felt that I can open up a little on the negative things I felt. It's just scary to share negative feelings with people I hardly know. For me, I felt like it put me in a very vulnerable position. But I think it did alot in helping me put things into perspective. This whole experience cannot be learnt through classroom tutorials.

Agency planning module did not teach me how to manage conflicting expectations and ideas. It did la, but sometimes textbook stuff seems so sterile and oversimplified. But application is so difficult. Agency planning can't teach me how to pick up my boss' mood within a short span of 2 weeks. No wonder Dr TS said the beautiful thing about social work is that some things cannot be taught. I agree with that! No lecturer can teach you how to/not to show face!!

Day 17 @ Care Corner 27 May '06 - Prep work for Family Day

What a week it had been! The frustrations, the thinking, the talking, the laughter and the work. Won't say I enjoyed every single minute of it, but it was a good learning opportunity.

Let's see..

What I was frustrated about..
At certain points, it seemed like whatever WP and I could think of would never match up to expectations and our ideas would never be used and what we did would just be nullified into non-existence. Ok, the last part is an exaggeration.

Anyway, while I'm aware that this is the real world, I'm just as thankful that this is only placement - it's ok to make mistakes - we don't bear the brunt of it. Oops. Having said that, I'm thankful both WP and I are responsible and we do try to think through before we do/propose ideas and I'm extremely thankful for gracious supervisors as well.

At certain points, I was also worried about not being able to work well with WP. But that was pretty unfounded - we are actually quite complementary to each other! She's like the nice, patient and gentle one and I'm the one who can be caustic at times. So I just decided to shut up. (Note to self: a cool head and a warm heart go well together, not the other way round.) She conceptualizes and I try to put it down on paper.

I was also frustrated about budget constraints - I believe in "yi fen qian, yi fen huo". Spend good money on good stuff. A social worker who earns $2000 a month on a 5-day week, 8-hour day basis, is worth $12.50 every hour. Every hour wasted is money wasted.

Like WP, I realised I can be individualistic at times. I love working alone or working with a team that has got synergy.. you know, when there's a certain team spirit, everything clicks. But of course, not every team is like that. That's idealistic or perhaps naive thinking. Anyhow, I do appreciate that CC has got a strong team going! I could see that at the last moments of preparation, everyone really came together to make things happen. This cannot be taken for granted or overlooked! I agree with SK that everyone worked very hard to make things happen. From sending brochures to schools, to selling tics, to making posters, designing banners, conceptualising games, layout etc. I must say I respect boss for getting involved in mundane stuff like cutting paper.. I don't think everyone in her position would do that. Back to my point, I had to remind myself to expect changes and flow.. to remember that my way ain't necessarily the best way and to humble myself and learn!

In the end, after all the frustration, I remember Ms Sudha Nair saying a true social worker is a community worker. Hmm.. I wondered if I'm at all suited to do community work.. I think it comes with some fun and more frustration. Dr Maliki said it's very hard work but "satisfaction guaranteed". I shall see.

Also, tagged to the "community worker" label, comes a few other portfolios - salesperson, administrator, finance manager, accountant, marketing executive, art director, supervisor, public relations officer, events manager, human resource manager, banner-designer-cum-painter-cum-poster-maker. In other words.. to quote what Paul says.. "be all things to all men".

Woohoo, can I make the cut?

What I loved...
The logistics!! And the thinking through for what we need. I thoroughly enjoyed the packing process and putting things down into concrete balck and white stuff and to have each item accounted for.

I think this whole Family Day prep also helped WP and I to work closer together and to count our blessings (and frustration) together. She's really even-tempered and patient. Amazing.

The selling of tics at the primary schools!! The kids are adorable like crazy. The cutest boy I saw must be the one from KC, this little guy with curly, afro hair who claims he's American. He might be African-American. He's reallllyyy cute!!

It just really showed me that networking is important. Having good relations with organisations in the community is so important - facilitates so many things, and in a way, makes things happen.

And ya, expect last minute bombs.. people who say they'll turn up but never turn up, people who promise but cannot deliver etc. But also expect to meet the nicest people who try to realise your vision. The CC people were really incredible! The advice they dispensed.. the help they rendered. During that one short meeting, I really felt that they involved themselves in this thing with us.
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Got my results! Thankful that my cap didn't drop. I can still confidently say I'd continue with honours. Got A for agency planning, B+ for mental health and B for urban youth.. the grades really reflect the amount of effort I put in. It's really comforting. To see that whatever I sow, I'd always reap. Yes, I'm on my way to a master's. Ya I'll be a siao za bo with a master's deg. Don't know how the money part will materialise yet though.
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(More about the actual Family Day.. To be continued..)

Day 12 @ Care Corner 22 May 06

First real session with client!

Hehe it was exciting. Let's see.. After supervision with Lydia yesterday, I realised that I tend to avert the emotional aspects.. and in my thinking-through before the session, I tend to separate emotional issues from the financial and caregiving responsibilities. But of course, it's never this neat in reality.

It was so funny! I didn't think that I'd want to separate the emtional aspect from the investigative part, but I just did it anyway. She went like "Ya it's getting harder for me.." And I'd say, "So how are you managing your finances?". Perhaps that something I want to work on.. I think I tend to be more task-oriented.. As I reflect on the way I do things.. I tend to want to get the job done before talking emotions.

And then I told her to sell herself! After I asked if she thought of going back to being a karoke hostess, in my mind I went like "Man, that must be the silliest question. Hello? What were you thinking?!".

(to be continued)

Back track to the suicidal caller, what do you think of this.
When she says, "I don't know if counseling helps."

Me: Hmm, I see that you have some doubts about it. So what were your expectations when you called this number then?"

My rationale being, she must have harboured some hope though she was doubtful, so this could lead her to talk what she thinks might be a little source of light for her. Makes sense?
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Day 08 @ Care Corner 17 May 2006

Took an intake case today. Interesting. I was quite calm, yep thank God. Actually, it's not that scary afterall.

It was also interesting to see dynamics between supervisor and staff - not between Lydia and myself, of course.

I guess the colleagues a person has in the workplace makes a huge difference. Hmmm.. still pondering over this. Oh well. What I envision may not be what's presented on the plate for me. Let me just rattle on. It's about managing expectations. Good learning point. Oh well.

Gotta find time to read! Need regular academic food.
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Day 07 @ Care Corner 16 May 2006

Watched Weiping in her first session. Woohoo! She was so calm! Solid.

First session:
Hmm what the sups taught us is really quite in line with the stuff in Anthony Yeo's book.

- Arrange chairs beforehand if more than one client comes.
- Introduce myself if need, introduce the room, explain the video cam, colleagues and sups watching. [Was reading those notes I wrote in Ms Sudha Nair's class. Sth like "My supervisor is observing from another room, she's like the extra pair of eyes helping us in this session."]
- Talk about sup calling in when necessary.
- Ask what they understand about coming down for the first session. "What is your understanding of you coming down today?" "What brings you here today?"
- Anthony Yeo talked about building rapport. Yea I shall ask my client about chicken pox. Gosh she was infected when I saw her the last time. Goodness. Pray I don't get it. Don't think so la, the last time my mum and bro got it, I was still unaffected even though I shared food with them. Yay.
- Ask what her concern is.
- Be very specific in getting financial information. I find this a very intrusive process. Differential power relations - it just puts them down on the other end. Is this an issue? What implications does this have on the working relationship?
- When they ask if they can get $ help for sure, don't commit! Many factors involved.. who else is helping out? What level of savings do they have?
- We need time, darling.
- Can also explore what they would do differently to survive if they can't get $ help.
- Again, know the policies and resources... CPF, Shaw Foundation.. what's available there?
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Day 06 @ Care Corner 15 May 2006

Went back to school for tutorial. Erm, it was a waste of my time. Future tutorials should be more interesting. But it was good going back. Kinda miss school during placement. One thing that stood out was that people said they hoped to find out if they're suited for social work thru this placement. Implicit assumption is that there's an ideal kind of social worker they'd imagine exist. But really, I don't think there's an ideal. It amazes me that there're so many different types of personalities who appear to do well in social work. So if there's ever an ideal, I guess the ideal one would be the one willing to work hard and apply his/her brains coupled with good networking skills to get things done. And yes, someone who can derive satisfaction from this work.

Lots of readings to be done! Yes, I'll try to get the readings done next tutorial and engage Kumar more meaningfully.

Working life ain't easy. The work sphere assumes you have no other life than work. The lady that came up with this dual-sphere ideology is Helen Lopata, a sociologist. I think she's so smart. Let me continue. The work sphere assumes you are primarily a worker and nothing else. It doesn't consider the fact that you might be a Christian who has to honor your commitments to God or that you're a mother who occasionally needs to take time off to visit your son perform in school. Ya! That's how I feel. I feel so hard-pressed for time. Basically, after work, I don't really have time to call up the cg members. Argh. Will have to find a way and some time.

Let me take it further. How is this affecting me? I don't want to be a student on attachment who's seen as a slacker or someone who puts in less than what is necessay. If that's the case, then I'm shortchanging myself. And I refuse to be mediocre. I also do not want to be a cg member who cannot be there for the cg members. Then I'm not effective on both ends. Yes I shall find a way.. God's grace is sufficient for me! Should be ok once the FASS open day is over. Oh yes, and there's time-off to claim. Thank you Jesus.

As Frances put it very aptly, I am the one who decides where to draw the line.
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Day 05 @ Care Corner 14 May 2006 SML

Whoa. Yea.. read about teenage pregnancy... it's different meeting them in real life. They don't seem as deviant as textbooks make them out to be. I mean, once on the street, they look like any other teenager. Still, I wonder if they know what they're getting themselves into.

But one thing, I can see family context plays a big role. A couple seemed overly-involved in their son's life and eager to save their own 'face', one didn't seem to know what was going on, one appeared helpless and resigned.

The only pity about this SML thing is that we don't get to follow up on them. I wonder how it affects the participant who's still in secondary school and is also the father of a 3-month-old baby. We can say that he's mature to take up responsibility. But really, how much of his identity has already been established before he took up the identity of a father. I wonder which stage he is in - identity achieved, identity diffused, identity moratorium or identity foreclosure? What kind of implications does imposed fatherhood have on him?

SML only provides the basic start-up knowledge for the start. How far would this go in helping them? Frances has also emphasized to the parents that the problems come up later. Would they seek help later? Without a follow-up program, we can only hope so.

What kind of follow-up programs can we come up with?
Support group for young parents? Hmm, also what is the level of need like?
What kind of needs would warrant a follow-up program to be necessary? I guess this would depend on agency goals and resources (funding) as well + needs assessment and sufficient staff to run programs. Anything else?
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Day 04 @ Care Corner 11 May 2006

Had the opportunity to sit in during Lawrence's supervision time with Frances. Anyway, the interesting point was what Frances said after that which would make for a nice discussion topic.

The aim of supervision is not to produce a mini-Frances or a mini-Lydia. Discuss.

Let me respond to that. I think in terms of style - yes, the aim of supervision is not to produce a mini-Lydia. But I guess, in terms of principle and work ethics - no, I think supervision time is a good chance to 'impart' (for the lack of a better word) these. This sounds so vague. Let me ponder further.

Learning points:
- When you ask a certain question, what is your purpose?
- When you feel heartless to tell the client the truth, whose needs are you looking at? The client's needs or yours?
- When client shares, what is his/her purpose? [In Ms Sudha Nair's own words, it's always important to "listen to what is not said".]
- Help client cut the problem into small parts. Don't ask "What is your problem now?". How about sth like "What is giving you stress now? How is it affecting you now?" Be very SPECIFIC and CONCRETE.

Day 03 @ Care Corner 10 May 06

Devotion in the morning.

Mainly took phone calls. Did intake form for my first case.

Had one suicidal caller. She said, "I also don't know if counselling can help". I could't answer that cos I was too stunned. (Stop being stunned!!! What can you not expect in social work!?)

Lydia suggested:
"Hmm.. since you've tried so many other ways, why don't you give counselling a try?"

My suggestion: "Counselling has proven to be effective for people..... (But tricky.. what groups of people may not benefit from counselling... people with mental illness.. people who are not ready for change?) --> Do a bit of research on this..

Gotta also rem to ask for her name, I just let her talk and forgot to ask for her name. Since she sounded suicidal, I should also ask who she lives with etc -- find out her support network.

Questions to ask, areas to explore (hypothetical and based on systems theory - find out interactional patterns):
- Who do you live with?
- What is your relationship with your family like?
- When you have suicidal thoughts, do you think of sharing that with anyone?
- How do you react when your husband says that?

But then again, on further thought as I am typing this.. would systems theory be appropriate for a lady like the one mentioned above. Assuming she's pretty isolated, not many friends and even less whom she can trust, no close contact with family, can systemic viewpoint still be applicable for her? Or perhaps, systemic viewpoint can be used.. to identify areas in which she can try and rebuild contact and relationship(s) with. Can or not?

Day 02 @ Care Corner 09 May 06

Took my first intake case, which came pretty suddenly to me.
I was told it'd be a financial case and I just had to do the intake first and arrange for another session.

Client is pretty open to talk about her financial difficulties, can tell that she's resourceful because she has been to a number of other agencies for help. She seems to have settled on divorcing her husband who has alcohol addiction. She probably made up her mind some time ago already. In addition, she also asked if we could talk to her son - she feels her son does not respect her and does not want him to end up like his dad.

Sh jumped from topic to topic. As my mind was fixed that it would be a financial case, I was not prepared/flexible to track her as she talked. I was taken aback, my mind was spinning (What should I say next? What theory should I use? How can I show empathy even though I am not really where she is?). As a result, thank goodness, Lydia stepped in and took over from there.

How I felt: fearful of not knowing how to respond especially when she went on to talk about her family issues, self-conscious - does she know I'm a student? I could have introduced myself more specifcally?

Learning points:
- Be prepared mentally for different issues to come up.
- Important to know government policies, HDB, Town Council , PUB.
- Gotta be where the client is and track her as she talks. Connect with her and flow. Interuppt her at suitable intervals and clarify/summarize/affirm/reframe.
- Actually, if I really believe that client is the expert of her own situation, then I don't have to be so concerned about what I don't know in terms of life experience.
- It's important to have a few theories in mind so that I can use them when issues come up and I can ask questions that are guided by theory --> more systematic.

Day 01 @ Care Corner

House visit #1 - check if a client has died at home.
Venue: 1-room flat in a rental block at Lor 1 Toa Payoh.

What struck me about the block:
Why isn't there lifts on every floor? Doesn't it make sense to install lifts on every floor? The block has mainly elderly living in it. Is it that there aren't enough elderly living in the block who has difficulty climbing stairs? (Are there actually such statistics around? When the appeal was made to Town Council, what were the reasons presented?)

Also, can I be so bold to see it as an issue of politics? Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC is a walkover GRC. Toa Payoh has a substantial proportion of elderly living in it. Could it be that the voices of the elderly are not heard? What avenues are there for their voices to be heard? How are the elderly engaged meaningfully within the community? (Note to self: find out about svcs for the elderly in TPY and find readings about elderly-related stuff.)

The house:
The house smelled of urine. Minimally furnished with a bed and a chair. Religion seems to play some role - existence of an altar in his house. Both clocks in his house are out of sync with time which might be symbolic of how out-of-touch he may be/feel given that he has been unable to get out of the house for some time.

Client looked unkempt - long, untrimmed hair, beard, long fingernails. Has a swollen-looking right knee. Complained of leg pain.

Upon coming back, I learnt from Lydia that the logistics and financial aspect of planning a seemingly simple program like meal delivery are important considerations - which was why the program was scrapped.

Elderly issues - Important considerations and things to know when working with them.:
their personal hygience,
their health, bills/financies,
their support networks or the possible lack of it. Coming from the ecological systems viewpoint, elderly who live alone in one-room flats may be isolated and lack social support, it is thus important to help them achieve a better 'fit' with their environment by increasing their awareness of community resources and helping them build social networks - interpersonal systems (Hepworth et al., p. 18). --> then how can we help this client to build social support networks? In the first place, is this a concern to him? I think a more immediate need might be his leg problem.
their daily needs, structural issues (are they oppressed? are their voices heard?)
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House visit #2 with Siew Kuan: possible termination or to help client apply for SPMF if applicable. (to be continued).

Was just looking at the CDC website on Comcare. Actually this client can be referred to the Work Assistance Programme right? CDC can help her to find work or take up programs to pick up skills. But this is given that her leg gets better and she is certified to be medically fit for work and she is already eligible cos she earns less than $1500 per month. Cos SPMF can only provide her $80 ($30 for pri sch kid, $50 for sec sch kid) per month for her 2 children. How much can a person do with $80/month?
This house visit allowed me to see that not all clients who need some form of financial assistance are necessarily pessimistic about their situation. For her religion plays a big part, she prays twice daily and decides not to think too much. Plus, she believes her late husband comes back to visit her during times of crisis. So in that sense, this memory of her late husband becomes a crutch for her.