Levels of Social Work Intervention

Remedial/Tertiary: Getting help after the problem has already occurred [Target: Small number
of people]

Preventive/Secondary: Even before the problem has occurred, you sense the risk it can be to
others

Developmental/Primary: Even before symptoms appear, take preventive measures.

Population:

DEVELOPMENTAL

PREVENTIVE

REMEDIAL

Singapore Social Welfare Policy

Public policy: Economic development, defence, transport, social services etc.

Social policy: Policy intervention that guides society to develop, improve or maintain the social
well-being of people through meeting their human needs and supporting their social
functioning.

 Rewards must be correlated to work

 Rewards also must correspond to the contributions one makes
 Committed to help the most needy
 The needy should never be allowed to become a permanent burden on the community
 4 dimensions of help:
1. Self-care (emphasizes individual responsibility): Own income/medisave
2. Family care (basic building block of society): Family’s medisave
3. Community care: Medifund
4. State care
 “Many Helping Hands” approach: Participation of all sectors of society in meeting the social
needs of people

Medisave

Policy Model: Residual

Redistribution: Horizontal

National medical savings scheme which helps individuals put aside part of their income into
their Medisave Accounts to meet their future personal or immediate family's hospitalization,
day surgery and certain outpatient expenses
Medishield

Policy Model: Residual

Redistribution:

Help members meet medical expenses from major illnesses, which could not be sufficiently
covered by their Medisave balance. MediShield will cover up to 80% of your large medical bill at
the Class B2/C level. MediShield is operated by the CPF Board.

Medifund

Policy Model: Residual

Redistribution: Vertical

An endowment fund set up by the Government to help needy Singaporeans who are unable to
pay for their medical expenses. Medifund acts as a safety net for those who cannot afford the
subsidised bill charges, despite Medisave and MediShield coverage. The Government utilises the
interest income from the capital sum, which stands at S$1.7 billion (FY 2009), to help needy
patients who have exhausted all other means to pay their medical bills.

Eldershield

Policy Model: Residual

Redistribution: Vertical/Lifespan

ElderShield is an affordable severe disability insurance scheme which provides basic financial
protection to those who need long-term care, especially during old age.  It provides a monthly
cash payout to help pay the out-of-pocket expenses for the care of a severely-disabled person.

There are currently 2 ElderShield schemes: ElderShield300 and ElderShield400. ElderShield300

was first launched in September 2002 and offers a payout of $300 per month for a maximum of
60 months. ElderShield400 came about after the ElderShield reform in 2007 and offers an
improved coverage with payout of $400 per month for a maximum of 72 months.

Social Security System: CPF [An example of a policy]

Scheme: Membership Contribution rates 3 separate accounts

Usage: Retirement savings, Healthcare, Property purchase, Insurance, Investment, Education

Implications:

 Avoid welfare dependency

 Maintain individual responsibility

 “Stakeholder principle” of citizenship

 High rates of homeownership

 Maintain taxation at reasonable level

Other examples of social service schemes: Comcare, HOPE, Housing grant for living near
parents/married children, grants to VWOs, NCSS, Community Chest

Levels of Social Work Practice

 Micro (Individual)

 Mezzo (Families & Groups)

 Macro (Community)

Social Work with groups

Examples: Social conversation Recreation Recreation-skill Education Sensitivity
Task (Problem solving & Decision Making) Self-help Socialization Therapy

Models of Social Group Work:

Social Goals Models Remedial Model Reciprocal Model

Developing social Restore or rehabilitate Highlights mutual relationship
responsibility and social members between members, and
consciousness between members and the
society (To enhance
something)
Red Cross Society Stroke Club Centre for Fathering

Social Work with Communities

Models of Community Practice:

Locality Social Planning Social Action Model

Development Model Model
Goals Self-help and Problem-solving of Change in power
integration of groups community problems relationships and
resources
Clients Resident groups Service users (people Disadvantaged
in the community) populations
Example Block parties, Help renovate etc Repeal of law/Fight
neighbourhood watch for rights

Methods of Social Work Practice

Direct: First-hand interaction with client

Indirect: Research, Social Administration, Policy Planning

Social Work for different populations (services available)

IN THE BOOK :D