CASE STUDY

(Social Service and Counseling Division of

a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court)
Presented by:
•LLAMOSO, MAHRIAN BLESSIE
•YAM-ID, SHIELA
 ADMIN CASE

This is the case of a Social Service and Counseling Division of a Juvenile

and Domestics Relations Court, which found itself with vague source of
authority since the judicial revamp and as a result, several administrative
problems came up. One example is the division’s financial problems. Because
of the uncertainty of its funding, the chief social worker resigned, resulting in
the absence of supervision, thereby absence of direction, control, and
coordination. No additional social workers are hired. Workers continue to
receive low salaries. Physical facilities are poor and inadequate.
In spite of the above situation, many new cases keep coming in on top of
ongoing cases. This has resulted not only in the heavy caseload per social
worker but delayed delivery of services, overstaying of detainees or wards,
and congestion in the detention home.
 Admin Case
The social workers do not only receive a salary lower than that of court stenographers,
but they even suffer from a long uncertain waiting time for the reimbursement of their
transportation expenses despite stipulations on their entitlement to transportation allowances.
The resignation of the chief social worker has left the division without any administrative
person to supervise and give direction to the social workers. For some time, no evaluation
likewise of their performance has been done and no staff meetings where problems may be
discussed and shared have been conducted. These have resulted to the absence of a measure
of control on the workers’ performance and so each one has been doing his/her own thing.
Even observance of office hours is no longer followed. Tardiness, absences, and under time
are very common among workers.

Source: Cordero, E.A., Consuelo, G.L., & Pangalanan, E.A., (2013). “Administration and Supervision in Social Work (Revised Edition).
Philippines
I. Background Information

A. AGENCY
The Social Service and Counseling Division of a Juvenile and Domestics
Relations Court, staffed with duly registered social workers and a chief
of the division which possesses a Master’s degree in Social Work. This
division performs social case studies, probation, counseling and other
social services in connection with cases filled with the court has several
administrative problems. Such as absence of supervision, funding
problems, poor and inadequate physical facilities, heavy caseload and
delayed delivery of services.
I. Background Information

A. EMPLOYEES
The division is staffed with duly registered social workers which receive
low salary and suffer from a long uncertain waiting time for their
transportation expenses reimbursement. Many new cases are still coming
which resulted to heavy caseload per social worker and delayed delivery
of services. Because of the resignation of the chief social worker there
are no evaluation of the performances of the staff, no administrative
person to supervise and give direction thus, each one of them are doing
his/her own thing.
II. Presenting Problem

The agency is caught up with several administrative problems

because of its vague source of authority since the judicial
revamp. Heavy caseload per social workers and delayed
delivery of services as well as delayed reimbursement of
transportation expenses and low salaries are expressed by
social workers.
 III. Assessment

There's no proper administration and supervision in the Social Service and

Counseling Division of a Juvenile and Domestics Relations Court due to
changes in its judicial system. This affects the entire agency especially the
social workers.
The resignation of the chief social worker has left the agency without any
administrative person to supervise. The absence of supervision makes the
staffs' performance poor and other concerns such as salary and
reimbursement problems, heavy caseloads, and workforce shortage were
not addressed. Moreover, the provision of services are poor which affects
the delivery of services of other social welfare agency.
 III. Assessment

Even though, social workers are presented as losing their motivations to

work they still continue to serve their clients. This could be because, the
social workers have the responsibility and swear before the court to do their
duties. The human resource development in the division, local government
where the court is located, Secretary of Justice, and Supreme Court can
help address the concern of the division and provide concrete solution.
The case is not a matter of life and death however, this requires urgent
action since many clients and other service provider rely on the programs
and services provided by the division. Also, if the problems of the division
are not addressed, its reputation will be destroyed and may cause another
problem to arise.
IV. Helping Plan

A. For the Agency

1. To find a new replacement for a chief social worker for the

division
2. To coordinate with the human resource development unit for
additional workers
3. To submit and file a request for repairs in the agency’s physical
facilities
4. To collaborate with the source of funding for the division’s
financial problem
 Goal/Objective Activity Responsible Time Expected Outcome
Person Frame
To find a new Consultation or appointment with the Human Resource Depending For the division to have an administrative
on the
replacement for a social worker next in rank Development Unit length of the person to supervise and give direction to
chief social worker Coordinate with the Human Resource process of the social works. Moreover, to have a
for the division Development Unit or request from the Secretary of appointment person to oversee the operation in the
Secretary of Justice Justice division and further assess the
administrative problems in the division
and of social workers.
To coordinate with Coordination with the human resource Human Resource As per To address the problem of workforce
agreed by
the human resource development or the Secretary of Development Unit the shortage in the division and address the
development division Justice as the primary unit in the responsible heavy caseload and delayed delivery of
for additional appointment of staffed and qualified Secretary of persons services.
personnel in the division. Justice
workers
To collaborate with Open dialogue with the local Court As per To have a clear understanding of the
agreed by
the source of funding government where the court is located Administrative the persons funding sources for the division
for the division’s involved
financial problem Local Government
Unit
To submit and file a Submission of proposal to the Office Chief of the As per For the physical facilities of the division to
agreed by
request for repairs in of the Court Administration (OCA) Division the persons be repaired and reorganized to have an
the agency’s physical sighting the poor and inadequate Office of the Court involved adequate space for the conduct of
facilities physical facilities of the division Administrative interviews and counseling and to ensure a
secured storage space for the case records
IV. Helping Plan

B. For the Employees

1. Link client with a resource that can help them legally

answer with regards to their salary and reimbursment
2. Empower workers through capability building trainings
and seminars
Goal/Objective Activity Responsible Time Expected Outcome
Person Frame
Link client with a • Coordination through Court As per To help address the salary and
resource that can help open dialogue with the Administrator agreed by reimbursement problems of the
them legally answer local government or the person social workers
with regards to their court administrator for Local Government involved
salary and the salary concern and
reimbursement reimbursement DOLE
problems of the
workers
Empower workers • Capability Building Chief of the Once a To elicit an empowered and
through capability Trainings and Seminars Division month motivated workforce and to
building trainings and harmoniously work with co-
seminars workers. Moreover, to
strengthen the response
management of the workers in
urgent situation
 V. Helping Model
The models that can also be used in this case are the evidence-based model, and intercession-mediation model.
Every model has its own contribution towards the resolution of the division and social worker’s concern.
Evidence Based Case Management Model, this will help the division and the social workers in terms of the
administrative problems that came up in the division that had resulted and branches out to different problems in
the delivery of programs and services in the division. This model will also help in focusing on the existing reality
and situation in the division thus, the helping plan will addressed the existing administrative problems in the
division and social workers. Moreover, we can incorporate the use of the intercession-mediation model in which
we can utilize the administrative appeal or the use of direct confrontation or judicial system that will be
appropriate for the case. Also, its legal model rather than the medical model in which we can take the role of an
intercessor-advocate for the salary problem and reimbursement of the employees and intercessor-mediator to
connect the social workers with responsible person or unit that will help them. Thus, actions will be directed
towards securing benefits and help to which the social workers and the division as a whole is legally entitled.
Thank You