Client Violence in Social Work Practice Prevention, Intervention, and Research

by Newhill, Christina E.

• ISBN13: 9781593850388
• ISBN10: 1593850387
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-28
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Presenting practical strategies for violence assessment and prevention that are grounded in solid empirical research, this book guides social work practitioners and students to provide state-of-the-art treatment to aggressive clients while reducing violence risks. Effective methods are described together with specific recommendations for approaching, engaging, and intervening with potentially violent clients in both office and field settings. Skills development exercises, case analyses, and guidelines for developing and implementing an agency safety plan enhance the book's utility as a training text and professional resource.

Author Biography

Christina E. Newhill, PhD, LCSW, is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, where she teaches in the direct practice mental health specialization. With over 10 years of community mental health practice experience, Dr. Newhill is Principal Investigator on several research studies focusing on violent behavior and risk assessment. She has conducted training workshops on violence in the workplace at the local, state, and national levels for many years.

Table of Contents

Introduction Why Violence Is an Issue for Social Work Practice	1	(1)
The Social Worker's Dilemma: Care versus Control	2	(1)
Conservative Social Policies and Desperate Clients	3	(2)
Predicting Violence	5	(2)
Organization of This Book	7	(4)
Skill Development Exercises	11	(4)
PART I. VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Violence in Our Society and in Our Workplaces	15	(20)
Violence in Our Society	15	(10)
Violence in Our Workplaces	25	(7)
Conclusion	32	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	33	(2)
Overview of the Incidence and Prevalence of Client Violence toward Social Workers	35	(22)
Overview of the Literature	36	(9)
The CV Study	45	(4)
Conclusion	49	(5)
Skill Development Exercises	54	(3)
PART II. ISSUES RELATED TO RISK ASSESSMENT OF VIOLENT CLIENTS
Understanding Client-Initiated Property Damage and Threats	57	(14)
Property Damage	57	(4)
Threats	61	(8)
Skill Development Exercises	69	(2)
Understanding Client-Initiated Physical Attacks	71	(17)
Fatal Attacks by Clients	71	(8)
The Nature of Attempted and Actual Physical Attacks	76	(3)
Use of Weapons	79	(1)
Client Motive or Provocation in Incidents of Attempted or Actual Physical Attacks	80	(5)
Conclusion	85	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	85	(3)
Risk Factors Associated with Violent Behavior	88	(33)
Individual and Clinical Risk Factors	90	(18)
Historical Risk Factors	108	(4)
Environmental/Contextual Risk Factors	112	(4)
Conclusion	116	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	117	(4)
PART III. THE INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE
The Risk Assessment of Violent Clients	121	(26)
Encountering a Violent Client	121	(2)
Aspects to Be Considered When Making a Risk Assessment	123	(4)
Diagnostic Assessment	127	(6)
The Assessment Interview	133	(7)
Environmental Assessment of the Client's Situation	140	(3)
Conclusion	143	(2)
Skill Development Exercises	145	(2)
Approaching and Engaging the Violent Client	147	(19)
Preparing for the Intervention	147	(2)
Choosing a Safe Interviewing Environment	149	(4)
Engaging and Talking with the Violent Client	153	(5)
The Role of Empathy and Communication Skills in Working with Violent Clients	158	(2)
Role of the Strengths Perspective	160	(2)
Conclusion	162	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	163	(3)
Intervention Modalities for Treating the Violent Client	166	(21)
Medication	166	(2)
Therapeutic Use of Food or Drinks	168	(1)
When to Hospitalize	168	(3)
Psychotherapy with Violent Clients	171	(2)
Behavior Therapy with Violent Clients	173	(1)
Intervention Strategies When a Client Makes a Threat	174	(6)
Social Workers' Immediate Responses to Incidents of Violence	180	(2)
Client Outcomes Following Incidents of Violence	182	(1)
Conclusion	182	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	183	(4)
Strategies to Prevent Client Violence in Office and Field Settings	187	(18)
Which Practice Settings Are the Most Risky?	187	(2)
Prevention Strategies for Office Settings	189	(10)
Prevention Strategies for Home Visits and Other Contacts in the Field	199	(4)
Conclusion	203	(1)
Skill Development Exercises	203	(2)
General Strategies for the Prevention of Violence	205	(17)
Conclusion	213	(2)
Skill Development Exercise	215	(1)
Model for a Violent Incident Report Form	216	(3)
Model for an Agency Safety Plan	219	(2)
Strategies to Prevent Client Violence	221	(1)
When Client Violence Occurs: The Multidimensional Impact on Social Workers	222	(14)
Blaming Ourselves	222	(2)
Social Workers' Emotional Reactions to Client Violence	224	(4)
Physical Injuries to the Social Worker as a Result of Client Violence	228	(2)
Impact on Social Workers' Feelings about Their Profession	230	(2)
Impact of Client Violence on Social Workers' Practice Conduct	232	(2)
Conclusion	234	(1)
Skill Development Exercise	235	(1)
Future Directions for Practice and Policy	236	(5)
Violence and Social Work Practice	237	(1)
The Empirical Basis of Our Understanding of Client Violence	238	(1)
Implications for the Future	239	(2)
Appendix 1 Client Violence toward Social Workers Survey Questionnaire	241	(8)
Appendix 2 A Model Syllabus for a Course on Understanding and Managing Violence and Safety in Social Work Practice	249	(4)
References	253	(22)
Index	275