Working with Involuntary Clients : A Guide to Practice

by Chris Trotter

• ISBN13: 9781412918817
• ISBN10: 1412918812
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-27
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd

Summary

Many social workers 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 richly illustrated with case examples drawn from a variety of service-user groups, thus ensuring its relevance across the whole curriculum. 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, the book also includes discussions of key themes such as evidence-based practice, risk assessment, legislation and multidisciplinary working. These changes bring the text up-to-date with current issues in social work education and 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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	viii
1 Introduction	1	(17)
Who are involuntary clients?	2	(1)
The dual role of workers with involuntary clients	3	(2)
Direct practice	5	(1)
Sources of knowledge in work with involuntary clients	6	(2)
Evidence-based practice	8	(7)
The purpose of this book	15	(1)
The structure of the book	16	(2)
2 What works and what doesn't?	18	(47)
Approaches that work	21	(10)
Approaches that sometimes work	31	(22)
Approaches that don't work	53	(1)
An evidence-based practice model	54	(1)
Research evidence, theory and other practice models	55	(8)
Summary	63	(2)
3 Role clarification	65	(22)
Dual role: Social control and helping	67	(2)
What is negotiable and what is not?	69	(2)
Confidentiality	71	(2)
Case manager, case planner or problem-solver?	73	(1)
The client's expectations	74	(2)
Helping the client to understand the nature of the professional relationship	76	(2)
Organisational expectations	78	(1)
Theoretical approach to the work	79	(1)
Case examples	79	(6)
Summary	85	(2)
4 Promoting pro-social outcomes	87	(22)
Identifying pro-social comments and actions	89	(2)
Providing rewards	91	(2)
Modelling pro-social behaviours	93	(2)
Challenging undesirable behaviours	95	(3)
Advantages of the pro-social approach	98	(1)
Criticisms of the pro-social approach	98	(10)
Summary	108	(1)
5 Problem-solving	109	(33)
Steps in the problem-solving process	110	(14)
Problem-solving, risk assessment and case planning	124	(6)
Criticisms of a problem-solving approach	130	(10)
Summary	140	(2)
6 The relationship	142	(16)
Empathy	143	(4)
Optimism	147	(2)
Humour	149	(3)
Self-disclosure	152	(2)
Client violence	154	(3)
Summary	157	(1)
7 Working with families	158	(23)
When is it appropriate to work with family groups?	159	(2)
Collaborative family counselling	161	(1)
A home-based model	162	(1)
The collaborative family counselling process	163	(10)
Pro-social modelling	173	(1)
The worker–client relationship	174	(6)
Summary	180	(1)
8 Evaluation	181	(10)
Single case study evaluation	183	(4)
Case analysis	187	(2)
Conclusion	189	(2)
Appendix: Principles of effective practice	191	(2)
References	193	(14)
Index	207