The Primary Goal of Social Work - Essay Example

?I. The primary goal of social work lies in making individuals aware of their concerns and their current situation. As a service user, I possess different beliefs, socio-cultural background, and values from those of the social worker. Thus, I expect the social worker to respect these beliefs and values. In addition, I want him/her to be sincere, warm and genuine, and exhibit empathy towards my current situation. These characteristics are often termed as core conditions or facilitative qualities. These qualities can lead to the establishment and maintenance of rapport when consistently manifested by social workers. It is essential to exhibit these qualities during the engagement phase. The engagement phase involves forming a collaborative partnership with the service users to address mutually defined needs (Cournoyer, 2010, p. 13). I also put value on the ability of a social worker to listen to my concerns and to be non-judgmental. This gives me a sense that I am fully accepted and embraced. It consequently encourages me to express my views and innermost concerns without the fear of being judged. Social workers exhibit concern and acceptance when they say, “express your feelings and thoughts without fear, as our relationship is founded on trust and understanding.” It would also be beneficial for me to have a social worker who I can consider as a friend instead of a professional who is simply performing his/her job. The findings of the study conducted by Beresford, Croft, and Adshead (2008) indicated that other service users similarly value friendship in their relationship with the social workers. They associate reciprocity, as well as flexible professional boundaries as characteristics which are related to friendship. According to Day (1981, p. 36), the emphasis, which service users put on the qualities of their social workers, reflects their appreciation to the intangible aspect of the relationship. Cournoyer (2010, p. 13) further added that regard, authenticity, professionalism along with sympathy are commonly exhibited by service workers to users. Social workers express these characteristics in a different manner according to the circumstances of the service users. Researchers define empathy as the ability of social workers to put themselves into the shoes of the service users. As a service user, I want the social worker to fully grasp my situation. However, I do not want a social worker who over-identities my feelings in such a manner that he/she becomes too controlling or parental. This leads to the next essential characteristic commonly termed as regard. Regard refers to the attitude of being warm, non-possessive, and non-controlling. I want social workers to exhibit unconditional positive regard in spite of our differences in beliefs and values. Thus, it is essential for social workers to view each service user as inherently valuable and unique. They must also manifest authenticity or the sincerity and genuineness in their manner of relating. Lastly, it is essential for social workers to exhibit professionalism. It includes characteristics such as social support, integrity, ethical decision-making, and the like (Cournoyer, 2010, p. 13). However, Cournoyer (2010, p. 13) noted that demonstrating such qualities is inadequate to enable the service users to attain the agreed objectives in the relationship. Thus, it is necessary for social workers to supplement these qualities with their skill and expertise to help the service user’s progress. In addition, social workers must possess the ability to apply these qualities differently to various kinds of client (Cournoyer, 2010, p. 13). Findings of the study of Beresford et al. (2008) showed that service users highly value the skills and approach of the social workers. References Beresford, P., Croft, S., & Adshead, L. (2008). We don’t see her as a social worker: A server user case study of the importance of the social worker’s relationship and humanity. The British Journal of Social Work. Cournoyer, B. R. (2010). The social work skills workbook. USA: Cengage Learning. Day, P. R. (1981). Social work and social control. USA: Taylor & Francis. II. Peng’s family migrated to the U.S. when she was 12 years. However, her parents raised her strictly in the Chinese culture and beliefs even if they no longer reside in China. Peng did not come from an affluent family; thus, she struggled to get a scholarship to pursue college. Her parents were supportive and proud of her even if they were strict. In college, she met Liona and felt an odd attraction towards her. However, the fear of disappointing her parents and ostracism from society has forced her to suppress these feelings for Liona. It seems that fate has other plans as Liona made the first move of expressing her attraction for Peng. They decided to keep their relationship as a secret to keep their families from being disappointed. Eventually, they revealed their relationship when they graduated from college. Peng’s family expressed disappointment, outrage, and shame over their relationship. The nagging and criticism of her parents is more than she could bear, so she decided to move in with Liona. Currently, Peng is living with Liona and suffering from guilt and depression. She is also unemployed, which additionally affected her self-esteem. Several factors that the service users deemed as successful in the helping relationship starts at the engagement phase of the social work. This working relationship is commonly referred to as the therapeutic alliance. It serves as a medium wherein a social worker influences the social users and outcomes of the practice (Roberts & Watkins, 2009, p. 73). Ribner and Knie-Paz (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2011) reiterated that a service user will likely consider their relationship with social workers as positive if the latter is accessible, non-judgmental, and flexible. In addition, Hepworth, D. Rooney, R. Rooney, Strom-Gottfried and Larsen (2009, p. 35) regard effective communication as crucial in the helping relationship. There is a high likelihood that Peng will become reluctant to divulge vital feelings and information if the social worker fails in engaging her. Thus, a social worker must make Peng at ease through saying, “freely express all your concerns and emotions, I am here to listen and not to judge.” In addition, Roberts and Watkins (2009, p. 73) reiterated that it is essential for clients like Peng to have a social worker who they can trust. Lastly, Roberts and Watkins (2009) recapitulated that it is essential for the social worker to be caring. Hepworth et al. (2009, p. 35) stressed that social workers can successfully engage their clients through establishing rapport. A condition of rapport includes Peng’s perception that the social worker is sincerely concerned with her welfare and fully understands her current situation. The social worker must be able to exhibit positive regard even if he/she may differ from the socio-economic status, race, sexual orientation, and gender of Peng. Chenoweth & McAuliffe (2005, p. 165) added that rapport can be entrenched through demonstrating empathy, authenticity, and respect. It should be noted that it is up to Peng to engage in the therapeutic alliance. The social worker may influence the decision of Peng; however, he/she cannot make that decision for her. References Chenoweth, L. & McAuliffe, D. (2005). The road to social work & human service practice: An introductory practice. Australia: Cengage Learning. Kirst-Ashman, K., & Hull, G. (2011). Understanding generalist practice. USA: Cengage Learning. Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., Strom-Gottfried, K., & Larsen, J. (2009). Direct social work practice: Theory and Skills. USA: Cengage Learning. Roberts, A., & Watkins, J. M. (2009). Social worker’s desk reference. USA: Oxford University. III Part I and II similarly stress the importance that service users put on social worker’s empathy, authenticity, regard, and genuineness during the engagement phase. Thus, it is essential for social workers to manifest these qualities to ensure success in the therapeutic alliance. In addition, these parts highlight the importance of supplementing the social worker’s characteristics with their skills in the therapeutic alliance. It also reiterated the importance of respecting the service user’s cultural background, values, and beliefs even if it differs from that of the social workers. These parts also highlight the importance of establishing and maintaining rapport in the therapeutic process. Part 1 differs from Part 2 as it stresses the importance of reciprocity in the relationship of the social worker and service users. Meanwhile, Part 2 tackles on the influence of the social worker on the decision of the service user and his/her inability to make that decision for him/her. Read More