Utilizing strengths based perspective with clients enables social workers to focus on the client and family strengths and abilities instead of focusing on the client and family’s problems, bad behaviors and pathologies. The strengths based perspective applies six principles that guide the social worker professional in assisting client’s with the strengths based model; we all have areas of strength, but sometimes it takes an unbiased third party to notice and help others clearly see what they are capable of achieving, even in the midst of their crisis. Every Individual, Group, Family and Community Has Strengths Weick (1992) states “every person has an inherent power that may be characterized as life force, transformational capacity, life energy, spirituality, regenerative potential, and healing power, which is a potent form of knowledge that can guide personal and social transformation” (p. 24). No matter the crisis or oppression, it needs to be brought to client’s realization that they are strong, resilient and can overcome. They may not be aware of this inner power due to the constant stress and overwhelming sense of impending doom in their lives, but with the help of the strengths perspective, we can assist clients in realizing that they have strengths as well as weaknesses. Clients want to know that they can rely on social workers to provide adequate resources and respect their current situation, no matter how difficult it may be. Clients want to know that we can empathize with their situation and provide support, care and concern for the issues they are going through; they need to know that we will help them achieve their goals and not give up on them as many may have before in their lives. Saleeby (2013) states “your cli... ... middle of paper ... ...rk-practice in an urban context: The potential of a capacity-enhancement perspective. New York: Oxford University Press Epstein, M.H. & Sharma, J.M. (1998). Behavioral and emotional rating scale: A strength-based approach to assessment. Texas: Pro-Ed. Kaplan , L. & Girard, J. (1994). Strengthening high risk families. New York: Lexington Books. Kisthardt, W. (1992). A strengths model of case management: The principles and functions of a helping partnership with persons with persistent mental illness. New York: Longman. Saleeby, D. (2013). The strengths perspective in social work practice. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. Weick, A. (1992). Building a strengths perspective for social work. New York: Longman. Weick, A., Rapp, C., Sullivan, W.P. and Kisthardt, W. (1989). A strengths perspective for social work practice. Social Work, 34(4), 350-354.
Then start to develop goals by finding out what they think is helping and what is not and are they willing to invest the time and effort by using the scaling exercise. The social worker with asks strengths-reinforcing coping questions how, what, and has. The Client is encouraged to define their goals from the start where the social worker may present and alternate perspective are to ask the miracle question. Answers to this question can provide indicators of change to be used. “All task are interventions are intended to encourage the client to think and behave differently with regard to the presenting problem than has been typical in the past (Walsh, 2013).” The formal first-session is the assignment of observing the good the client would like to continue in their life and maybe get the client thinking about exceptions. Second the surprise task surprising another person connected with the problem in a good way “shake up” in the clients’ routine and influence positive behavior. The ending is worked on from the start of intervention, where progress is monitored at each session that might be the last. Where the focus is on helping clients identify strategies to maintain and continue the momentum of enacting solutions.
Cowger, C. D. (1994). Assessing client strengths: Clinical assessment for client empowerment. Journal of Social Work, 39(3), 262-268.
These strengths include the ability of communicating effectively, possessing a passion to help people, good listening skills, understanding needs others contain, and solving conflicts. Yet, my weaknesses consist of being too friendly or occasionally being impatient. As an African-American woman who is Christian, there may be some conflict with prospective clients. I could come across clients from different religions, races, sexual orientation, and cultures. He or she might see my religion or race as an issue, nonetheless I would be determined to help them to the best of my abilities, either with consulting a supervisor about steps to take or transferring him or her to another social worker. A previous life experience that could potentially affect my work is when dealing with people that are abusers or have been abused. Having faced this, I will have to discover some way to avert those personal experiences for providing services to those
Strengths and Limitations of Social Work Practice in Colombia: A View from Canadian Social Work
The strengths perspective of social work focuses and utilises the assets family members possess to minimise their difficulties. Social workers are mindful of diversity and, to prevent bias, remain non-judgmental and respectful of families varying norms, values and attitudes, as well as have awareness of the potential of their own values influencing practice. As in many families with parents with relatively low care needs the high cost of assisted care means caring tends to befall upon daughters because of gender inequality and the assumption that females are more nurturing. In the story, Lydia had a strained relationship with her mother, but is was unthinkable for her father and brother to care for Alice as their role was as financial providers for the family’s needs. Consequentially, although Alice felt guilt and a burden to the family, Lydia adopted the role of primary carer, partially out of love and loyalty for her mother, but also necessity due to the family’s traditional views of gender. Although caring and supporting Alice with her mental ill-health needs enabled Lydia and her mother to repair and rekindle a closer relationship. Lydia tailed communication around Alice’s capabilities and through being honest and open, Lydia began to understand Alice as she could empathise with her mother’s plight and its emotional effect.
When entering the social work field, I was not educated about every therapy technique and every social work theory. My instinct was to use a strengths based approach. I still incorporate strengths based because specializing in fields that deal with poverty, domestic violence and homelessness, some of these clients really need the boost to know that they do have the ability to help themselves. Now that I have more practice and knowledge of theories, I can do more cognitive approaches with my clients that center on
Lamb, F., Brady, M., & Lohman, C. (2009). Lifelong resiliency learning: A strength-based synergy for gerontological social work. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(7), 713-728. doi:10.1080/01634370802716216
Entering the field of social work you must be prepared to encounter many personalities. Knowing this, you have to become aware of people with different backgrounds and morals. By doing this you will be able to help your clients to the best of your ability, without forcing your personal beliefs or values on to them. A value is a set of rules or or beliefs that affect your every day decisions (Sheafor & Horejsi, 2011). Applying your personal values to every situation is very important, however, you must learn to separate what you know and what is in actuality the best outcome for your client. I will be discussing the ways I feel about the “Vignette’s”, while also incorporating different things I have learned from the readings and class discussions.
“To discover the power within people and communities, I believe that social workers do the following: subvert and abjure pejorative labels; provide opportunities for connections to family, institutional, communal, and spiritual resources; assail the victim mindset; snub paternalism; trust people 's intuitions, accounts, perspectives, and energies; and believe in people 's dreams…it assumes that the strengths of individuals and communities are renewable and expandable resources. In this way, the ideas of community and membership become central to the strengths approach. “ (Saleebey, 2013,
Assessment is a basic skill of generalist social workers. As my current place of employment does not employ any defined assessment, I will utilize information from a generalist text and a sample assessment. The parameters of a generalist assessment are often defined by the specific practise agency (Birkenmaier, Berg-Weger, & Dewees, 2011). The assessment is utilized to identify relevant information such as demographics and the major areas for work such as the client’s goals (Birkenmaier et al., 2011). Many theories such as psychoanalytic or strengths perspective can influence a generalist assessment based on the assessing social worker’s theoretical preference (Birkenmaier et al., 2011). The sample generalist assessment used focuses on the client’s: living skills; health and disability; educationemployment; legal issues; housing; significant relationships; understanding of the issue; demographics; and crisis management (National Council of Social Service, 2006). The social worker has the opportunity to delve further into those areas if deemed necessary by their agency (National Council of Social Service, 2006).
The generalist model in the social work profession was drawn from a social system’s theory in the late 1960 's due to the complexities of problems and challenges faced by human beings. It was needed to assist social workers in assessing and interviewing clients. Rather than make the client fit the model, the generalist model seeks to find the approach that best fits the client, as well as emphasizing respect for client self-determination and the use of client strengths with empowerment as an expected client system outcome. A generalist practice model is used in all areas of social work field in ethical and effective helping based on the eco-systems perspective using problem-solving strategies and practice skills requiring a strengths perspective
As we have learned, social work is a helping profession as a result, it is vital that we as social workers are well adverse. Social workers most often are the first response team to clients. As a result, if we as social workers do not make a good impression by being empathetic, understanding, and supportive to our client’s needs; they are not going to return for services in the future. As social worker’s we are taught a set of skills (in which align to the NASW core values) that allow us to be successful and significant while provide assistance to our clients. This allows us to provide the appropriate treatment, resources, and have them readily available for the clients. It is our job as social workers to engage with clients
Knowing who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are help to not only improve your craft, but also to help shape you as an individual. Personally, my strengths lie mostly in my ability to listen and empathize. I genuinely care about others even if they don’t care about me. I want to see everyone do his or her best. In addition, my passion for this field comes directly from my heart. I rely heavily on my experiences to remind me of how dark life can become and I use that to help me better understand the issues facing many people today. For instance, I can understand and accurately address issues facing teenagers because of my past. I know what they are going through and can offer some sort of help. I also pride myself on my education and willingness to continuously better myself. I think the best quality any social worker can have is the love of the field and the eagerness to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Tricia Bent-Goodley states in her 2015 article The Art and Science of Social
Insufficient financial support for social welfare programmes can be partly attributed to problems social workers face in their practice (Rwomire & Raditlhokwa, 1996). Scarcity of resources is a problem that challenges implementation of developmental approach to social work practice. Social workers are overburdened but under-resourced (Cornelia, 2005). This means they have a lot of work to do but they are given limited resources. The strengths based approach considers the social worker as a facilitator and partner in helping the community reach its full potential, therefore it is his or her duty to regularly bring people with similar interest, talents, skills and knowledge together so as to share information and support each other (Gray, 2002). For them to do this it is important that they are fully equipped. This may include human
As a social worker, there are many core values to follow. Some of which include “Respect for human rights and dignity, promotion of social justice and human well being, recognizing the worth and uniqueness of every person, and the importance of the community” (C. Phillips, lecture, October 6, 2015). By following the core values, this will allow me to have a client-focused practice, which will cause a positive experience for both the clients and myself. Well-being consists of many