Social Work for Sociologists: Theory and Practice

Key Social Work Frameworks for Sociologists ● 41

and her wider network would be offered a Māori social worker. Using either a
bicultural or kaupapa Māori framework, Aleena’s difficulties would be viewed
as resulting partly from the legacy of the decades of oppression and disadvan-
tage that Māori people have experienced. Furthermore, a Māori social worker
would use a broad range of Māori-based services and encourage members of
Aleena’s extended networks to offer resources and support. Finally, a Māori
social worker could help Aleena and her network identify areas in which
Aleena would appreciate help to restore or strengthen links to her Māori
identity and heritage.

Task-Centered Framework

Task-centered social work, using analysis and intervention that is “structured,
focused and time limited” (Healy 2005, 112), has been influential in social
work since the 1970s. It is a useful framework for problem-solving in the
areas of interpersonal conflict, role performance, emotional distress, social
transitions, and problems that can be easily identified as resolvable within
short time frames (Epstein 1980; Healy 2005; Marsh and Doel 2005). A
task-centered framework is underpinned by elements of behavioral and
cognitive-behavioral theory, notably beliefs about the links between thought
processes and behavior and the way new behavior can be learned to replace
unacceptable or faulty behavior (Connolly and Healy 2013; Payne 2005).
More recently, ecosystems and strengths approaches have been influencing
task-centered work, enabling the broader context of problems to be acknowl-
edged and facilitating the building of the client’s capacity to deal with his or
her problems.
Connolly and Healy (2013), Healy (2005), Marsh and Doel (2005), and
Payne (2005) have expressed the key tenets of a task-centered framework for
practice:

● (^) The framework is oriented toward the achievement of goals, along the
lines of things have gone wrong for people, they experience problems, and
these problems might be fixed by setting a goal to change things.
● (^) Actions or interventions are focused on problem-solving but take the
client’s definitions of problems and the client’s priorities. Intervention
draws on client strengths to set achievable tasks, based on agreed goals
to overcome problems.
● (^) Clients and practitioners agree to work collaboratively and in partnership.
● (^) Interventions have a change orientation, with a focus on easily identi-
fied practical tasks and the empowerment of clients as they accomplish
these tasks.