Many social workers, probation officers and others in the human services are employed in positions where they deal with involuntary clients. These positions are demanding, and require a specific set of skills. The new edition of this successful book provides an accessible and practical guide for managing difficult and sensitive relationships and communicating with reluctant clients.
The author directly links theory to real-life by adopting a jargon-free and accessible guide to working in partnership with involuntary clients. Written in a lively and engaging style, the book is relevant to students and practitioners and richly illustrated with case examples drawn from a variety of service-user groups, including adult and youth justice and child protection, as well as people with addictions, young people who refuse to go to school and mental health patients who refuse treatment. The author's integrated and systematic approach promotes prosocial values; emphasizes clarifying roles; and deals with issues of authority and goal-setting.
Fully revised and updated throughout to reflect contemporary research and practice, the book includes new material on collaborative family work as well as an increased emphasis on trauma informed practice. The result is an invaluable practical guide for social work and social care students and professionals to working with both clients and their families.
Author(s): Chris Trotter
Edition: 4
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 177
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Who are involuntary clients?
The dual role of workers with involuntary clients
Direct practice
Sources of knowledge in work with involuntary clients
Evidence-based practice
The purpose of this book
The structure of the book
2 What works and what doesn’t?
Approaches that work
An integrated approach
Approaches that sometimes work
Approaches that don’t work
An evidence-based practice model
Research evidence, theory and other practice models
Summary
3 Role clarification
Dual role: Social control and helping
What is negotiable and what is not?
Confidentiality
Case manager, case planner or problem-solver?
The client’s expectations
Helping the client to understand the nature of the professional relationship
Organisational expectations
Theoretical approach to the work
Summary
4 Promoting pro-social outcomes
1. Identify pro-social comments and behaviours
2. Reward pro-social comments and behaviours
3. Modelling pro-social behaviours
4. Challenging undesirable behaviours
Advantages of the pro-social approach
Criticisms of pro-social modelling and reinforcement
Summary
5 Problem-solving
Steps in the problem-solving process
Written agreements
Problem-solving, risk assessment and case planning
Criticisms of problem-solving
Summary
6 The worker-client relationship
Empathy
Touching
Culturally sensitive
Optimism
Humour
Self-disclosure
Worker safety and client violence
Summary
7 Working with families
When is it appropriate to work with family groups?
Collaborative Family Work
Collaborative Family Work research
A home-based model
The Collaborative Family Work process
A flexible approach
Pro-social modelling
The worker–client relationship
Single session family work
Summary
8 Evaluation
Single case study evaluation
Case analysis
Analysing interviews
Coaching
Conclusion
Appendix: Principles of effective practice
1. Role clarification
2. Pro-social modelling and reinforcement
3. Problem-solving
4. Relationship
References
Index
