Summary Report

Four social work interventions have been attended by the social worker in her study period. In
this report social work intervention attended by the social worker based on a girl called Samudra
(a fictitious name) and her states have been explained briefly.

Samudra is eight years old and living in Negombo area. This girl didn’t come forward
voluntarily to get assistance during the social workers training period on school social work. The
school social worker met her on 2nd July 2014 and observed that this girl needs assistance of a
social worker. This was confirmed after having a discussion with her.

According to the observations made in the class room by the social worker this girl always
shown a sleepy behavior. She was not active and prefers to keep her head on the desk and lined
on it. She did not concern about what teacher told her and did not have any interest in sports and
other extra activities. A sleepy mood was shown in her eyes too. Even studying in the class room
she keeps her head on the desk. Due to this nature of her she was frequently blamed and
punished by her class teacher.

According to the above observation of the social worker, the social worker was compelled to
intervene Samudra’s problem. It was further observed that this girl takes down all the notes of
different subjects in one exercise book. When inquired why she do not write in the relevant
exercise books she said she has lost those books used by her. But sometimes she could find those
books in her bag itself. It was observed that she was lazy even to find out the relevant book.
When Samudra’s problem was realized, the social worker felt that action should be taken to
reduce the sleepiness of her. Under these circumstances Samudra was not in a position to attend
her school educational work, didn’t have enthusiasm or correct understanding and subjected to
the blame and punishment of the class teacher. Further she was weak in sport activities and other
extracurricular activities. Her external appearance was also untidy. All these problems were
realized by the social worker after intervention to the Samudra’s problem.

The family background of Samudra was identified by the social worker as one of her strengths.
The ability to get the assistance of her mother father and two elder sisters to solve the problem
were observed as strength. According to the medical recommendations the main need s of
Samudra was identified as nutrition food, vitamins and rest.
Samudra’s mother is a house wife and father is employed as a driver in the Sri Lanka army.
Samudra is having two elder sisters. She was born with an average weight of 2.5kg and with the
growth refusal of food was initiated. Though this is a normal way of small children her mother
had not taken an attempt to feed her. Her mother delivered another baby while Samudra was very
small and due to this mother’s attention may have been diverted to another direction. Samudra
didn’t take breakfast and hade got used to take short eats like biscuits and yogurt during the day.
With the continuation of this food habit Samudra was suffering from malnutrition. Further has
she had to attended to the varies extra classes after school she came home late and had to wake
up early in the morning to get in to the school van. Due to this reasons she didn’t get sufficient
resting time for sleep. These facts were reviled at the social worker study.

The main objectives of solving this problem was improving the psychical condition of Samudra
and attempting to enhance the educational level than before. The planed interventions to achieve
this goal were as follows.

1. Explaining the present situation of samudra to her parents.

2. Referring her to a doctor through her parents.
3. Building up a relationship between this family and the family health nurse of the area.
4. Changing the food pattern of Samudra and to encourage taking nutrition food.
5. Changing the attitudes of Samudra’s parents.
6. Draw attention of parents to Samudra’s education.
7. To seek the cooperation of Samudra’s sisters to improve her education.
8. To make aware of class teacher on Samudra’s psychical and mental condition.

The social worker to call the possible effort to implement the above planed intervention within a
short period of two months time. During this period Samudra was referred to a doctor and taken
to the medical clinic of the area to measure her height and weight. Further she was taken to a eye
specialist. Her parents, sisters were explained the condition of Samudra. The parent’s attitude
towards the food pattern of Samudra was changed. Similarly her parents and sisters attention on
Samudra’s education was also changed a little bit.

After this intervention process Samudra gave up bringing few biscuits to have in the school
interval. Her mother had prepared rice and curry in different ways as Samudra likes for her
lunch. Her sisters had given more cooperation to carry out her educational activities and she had
given up writing all the notes in one book. The assignment s given by the school to do at home
were attended than earlier and her sleepiness also disappeared little by little after this
intervention.

To make these changes in Samudra social worker had referred her to a doctor and his opinion
was that her nutrition level is below the expected level. In other words she is suffering from mal
nutrition. Accordingly it is the conclusion that Samudra had been face to a savior backwards
socially and educationally due to her mal nutrition. It was observed her mother who is having
low educational level had been given low attention to Samudra’s education and health. When the
social worker went to the home of Samudra to meet her mother she tried to talk about her
illnesses and difficulties face by her and to draw the attention towards her. It appears that the low
educational level standard of parents and the low level of attention towards their children have
contributed to this problem. If the Samudra’s mother had given sufficient attention to her
daughters health and behavior she could have identified the Samudra’s situation.

To analysis this problem Erick Erickson’s “Psycho Social Developmental Stages theory” could
be used. Here the third stage that is age three to five years is introduced as “Initiative Vs Guilt”.
During this period the children build up their mental strength and self confidence by playing and
quarrelling. Through playing activities the child is trying to explore the world. If the child gets a
positive support for his/her exploration builds up his priority and confidence. On the other hand
if he doesn’t get positive cooperation he feels guilty. Accordingly due to low level of nutrition
the Samudra is unable to play as required and there by unable to explore the world and build up
self confidence.