Macro social work: principles and practice

Macro Social Work

Interview with Macro Social Worker

Rodrigo Ramos

Description: Licensed Master Social Worker and Advanced Practitioner. (LMSW, AP) with forty-one years experience

What are the activities you do in macro practice?

Rodrigo Ramos' responsibilities as a macro social worker for most of his career fell into two distinct categories. First, as an administrator of over ten years experience, spanning five counties, he was responsible for overseeing other Licensed Social Workers (LSW)s and accompanying them on home visits to make sure that they were doing their jobs. He conducted frequent 'audits' or case readings of individual LSW's work and the files of county social services offices. Additionally, he acted as a coordinator for a variety of local youth social service agencies to establish plans of care for difficult youths at risk and juvenile offenders. After his retirement, Ramos began to work part-time as the only LSW on the staff of a nursing home.

What roles do you serve?

Ramos acted as a caretaker and counselor when he determined the needs of different cases in his work with juveniles and the elderly. He also acted as a quality control monitor and instructor to other social workers in his role as an administrator.

What do you like the most about your work?

Ramos said he enjoyed the fulfilling sense of making a difference in other people's lives. He also felt gratified that his work and philosophy had touched the lives of other LSWs and that his determination to uphold high professional standards had resulted in better service to all of the people in need in the counties served by the LSWs he monitored and instructed.

What do you like least?

Bureaucracy could often limit Ramos' creativity and flexibility in dealing with both the LSWs and clients.

The part that interested me most of the work roles the interviewee described.