Use of Collaborative Relationships Flashcards
What effect does the client’s developmental level have on the SW-client relationship?
- Should not rely on only chronological age as clients can be functioning at different levels
- Must use appropriate engagement & intervention strategies related to developmental functioning
- Assessment should include determining the psychosocial levels of clients
- Client’s development may be delayed or advanced in all or certain domains, may be inconsistent with each other
Also understanding causes for these discrepancies
What are some methods to clarify roles & responsibilities
- Can be supportive but SW is not the whole support system - have to mobilize client to build their own natural supports
- Should not be insensitive to client’s resistance - when a client does not claim any difficulties, is unable or refuses to talk, explains that it is someone else’s fault/denies what happened a SW may try to argue or exert pressure
○ This tends to increase resistance and does nothing for the client
In an effort to establish a relationship SW may overpraise or fail to confront client
- Should not be insensitive to client’s resistance - when a client does not claim any difficulties, is unable or refuses to talk, explains that it is someone else’s fault/denies what happened a SW may try to argue or exert pressure
Define Consultation
the utilization of an “expert” in a specific area to assist with developing a solution to the issue
What are the concepts of consultation?
- Usually time limited, advice can be used in problem-solving process
- No formal authority - not required to follow recommendations
- Should seek out advice from colleagues whenever it is in the best interests of the client but only if the colleagues have demonstrated knowledge, expertise, and competency to the related subject
- Need to get consent to disclose any identifying/specific information & only disclose what is absolutely necessary
SW can provide consultation but only if they have appropriate knowledge/skill to do so and should follow ethical standards: avoiding conflicts of interest & maintaining boundaries
What are the 4 critical pieces of consultation?
- Defining the purpose of the consultation
- Specifying the consultants role
- Clarifying the nature of the problem
- Outlining the consultation process
What are some methods of networking?
- Building relationships with other professionals who have similar areas of interest - creating a community around common interests and building alliances
- More of an altruistic focus in SW than in business - sharing resources/expertise
- Put’s SW’s out there so others know what they do
Educating others about social problems is an important part of making systematic changes
What is interdisciplinary collaboration & how does it benefit SW?
- Interdisciplinary: working with others from various professions
○ Help clients with not having to navigate multiple service systems
○ Can be cost-effective
Can benefit SW as they:
1. Provide peer support, especially with stressful problems
2. Allow for work to be assigned across multiple professionals
3. Fulfill professional goals by ensuring all aspects of client care is delivered
4. Creates cross-fertilization of skills between professionals
5. Facilitates decision making related to all aspects of client care, can lead to increased job satisfaction
Streamlines work practices through sharing of info
What is collaboration & what are its benefits?
Collaboration - a learned skill that can be improved through practice, a vehicle for improving services for all clients
- Working with others for the betterment of a client
- More likely to develop innovative approaches
- Must understand your own style and focus on your behaviour as part of a group rather than on how other members should change
- Requires strong interpersonal communication & group process skills as well as being able to understand perspectives of others
Can be one time (discrete) or continuous
What can a SW do to help with collaboration?
- SW should clearly articulate role on interdisciplinary teams
2. Should understand roles of professionals from other disciplines
3. Should seek & establish common ground with these professionals - commonality in professional goals
4. SW should acknowledge differences within field and across disciplines
5. Should address conflict within teams so that it does not interfere with the collaborative process & teams outcomes
6. Should establish & maintain collegial relationships
What are ethical guidelines of collaboration?
- Participate & contribute to decisions that affect the well-being of clients by drawing on perspectives, values & experiences of the SW profession. Professional & ethical obligations as a whole and of individuals should be clearly established
If a team decision raises ethical concerns, SW should try to resolve disagreement through appropriate channels. If disagreement cannot be resolved SW should pursue other avenues to address their concerns consistent with client well being
Define Intradisciplinary collaboration
Intradisciplinary: composed of same discipline - social workers. May have different levels & training/skill within the profession
- Useful in professional development, mentorship and supervision
Can facilitate consensus and cohesion but ability to generate alternative solutions may be reduced
What are some methods to assess availability of community resources?
- For clients to make informed decisions it is critical that they understand the range of services available to them and understand opportunities to obtain services from other providers
- Should understand their right to refuse services and possible consequences of refusal
- Should assist clients to access available resources throughout problem solving process as well as create new ones if no appropriate ones exist
- For clients to choose between alternatives resources, SW must review advantages & disadvantages of using each
What are some ethical concerns in referrals?
- Clarifying Need/Purpose for Referral
§ SW should refer clients to other professionals when the professionals’ specialized knowledge is needed to serve clients or when SW believes they are not being effective/making reasonable progress
2. Researching Resources
§ Making a referral to a competent provider with expertise
§ Avoiding duplication of services/seeing if same service is offered by SW’s agency to avoid fragmentation for client
3. Discussing & Selecting Options
§ SW prohibited from giving/receiving payment for a referral when no professional service is provided by the referring SW
4. Planning for Initial Contact
§ SW may want to work with a client to prepare for initial meeting - may include helping client understand what to expect, reviewing needs & progress to it can be discussed with new provider
5. Initial Contact
§ SW who refer clients to other professionals should take appropriate steps to facilitate an orderly transfer of responsibility
§ Should disclose (with consent) all relevant info to new service provider
6. Follow up to see if need was met
SW should always follow up to ensure there was not a break in service & that new provider is meeting client needs
What are some methods to establish service networks or community resources
- Strong leadership & sound management are critical to service integration
- 2 distinct network forms: mandated network arrangements & self organizing networks
○ Within each, there may be a lead organization or model in which all organizations share decision-making power
○ Mandated often associated with centralized structure, self organizing more of a decentralized one
○ Networks can also have strong and weak arrangements
Willingness and ability of social service organizations to form networks often depends on organizational size, resource dependency, and collaborative experience
- 2 distinct network forms: mandated network arrangements & self organizing networks
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- No person shall “on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance”
Desegregated schools & public buildings, funding to terminate discriminatory hiring practices
