Social Workers Competence in Psychosocial Therapy:A Case Study at the Social Rehabilitation Center for People with Mental Disabilities Phala Martha Sukabumi, West Java

Abstract

This study reports the social worker's competency in psychosocial therapy for people with mental disabilities at the Social Rehabilitation Center for People with Mental Disabilities (BRSPDM) Phala Martha, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia. The objective of this study is to describe and analyse the competency of social workers in psychosocial therapy dealing with people with mental disabilities. Social workers’ competency is described into three components of social work competency, which include; knowledge, values and skills in carrying out the psychosocial therapy with clients. Six social workers working in the rehabilitation centre were studied. The results of the study show that the competency of social workers in terms of knowledge includes knowledge about people with a mental problem, psychiatric problem, psychotic cause-and-effect, the risk of drugs, and knowledge regarding types of therapy, which include cognitive therapy (reality therapy, rational emotive therapy, counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy), behaviour therapy (social skills training, relaxation, modelling, positive and negative reinforcement, economic tokens, assertiveness, rewards, and punishments), emotive therapy (catharsis technique, emotional freedom technique, etc.). In terms of values, social workers are competence in the principles and ethics ofthe social work profession, including confidentiality, acceptance, individualization, and participation.  The said values are related to the culture and norms inherent in the informant and the ones developed by the institution.  The entire study shows that social workers have a variety of skills that support the implementation of therapy, such as communication, empathy, and assessment. Their skills are tailored to the stages of the intervention. The implications of these findings also discussed in the context of strengthening and developing social workers’ competence through further education, training, seminar, workshop, attachment or internship in the field of micro social work.

Keywords: social workers’ competency, psychosocial therapy, social rehabilitation.