power imbalance in social work practice

Yet, for something so Social work's mission extends well beyond clinical domains and into political and social spheres, all within the confines of the social workerclient relationship. Nor does such a presumption reflect the importance that social work places on care and concern in relationships (Tsui and Cheung, 2004). As a result, the social work relationship has adopted restrictive artificial barriers that are not in keeping with the profession's values and some of the realities of practice. Deciding how to establish, on the spot, for example, an appropriate professional boundary when unexpectedly encountering a male partner in the course of a home visit to conduct a child protection assessment is such an instance. Despite its great influence on society, professionals working in human services are often oblivious to their own power and privilege, their impact on the therapeutic relationship, and how the lack of acknowledgment and dialogue contributes to the marginalization of certain individuals and groups. All students should be aware that social work practice is made up of a network of power relationships and as a student you too are in an unequal power relationship with your practice educator - you are being assessed. Gillian Ruch is a senior lecturer in social work in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Southampton. Some uses of power in social work not only demonstrate bad practice, but also are regarded as immoral and illegal. A central characteristic of the proposed model is the recognition of the reciprocal nature of the connected professional relationship. It is often the immediacy of boundary-setting decisions that perturbs practitioners, with professional encounters frequently requiring swift reactions. Recent reconceptualisations of these approaches, however, have addressed these criticisms (Ruch, 2010). The model emphasises connection rather than separation, advocating a process that encourages mutuality. The study of ways that professional power is perceived in social work practice is limited. Jenny R. Yang and Jane Liu The promise of our nation's anti-discrimination laws has not been fully realized because our current enforcement and legal system has failed to confront the fundamental power imbalance underpinning the employment relationship. Power imbalance The term 'Social Graces', Rowland explained, is a mnemonic to help us remember some of the key features that influence personal and social identity (see figure 1), as developed by John Burhnham, Alison Roper-Hall and colleagues (1992). It is the quality of relationship between the social worker and the client rather than the specific model of practice that has been proven to be a strong predictor of outcomes (Coady, 1993; Howe, 1998). Furthermore, as the social work profession gains greater recognition in developing countries, such as China and India, there is need for an inclusive and representative approach to the conceptualisation of social work knowledge and the use of self (Yan and Tsui, 2007; Alphonse et al., 2008). Contemporary social work theory already is aligned to the dynamic model that we have proposed. In addition, post-structural and feminist theorists have challenged the various epistemological assumptions of social work (Mandell, 2008). The context for sharing information and the commitment on completing agreed-upon tasks also affects the boundary of the relationship. Through a reflection into parallel practice, power, control, boundaries, and responsibilities, this paper emphasizes the significance of Self in supervisory moments to effectively engage in competent supervision. These skills are particularly important in statutory social work where the potential for professional interventions and boundaries to be imposed on individuals and families rather than negotiated with them is heightened, on account of the anxiety-provoking circumstances being addressed. Reamer (2003) suggests a risk-management protocol to deal with such boundary issues. Many clients do not voluntarily enter into their relationship with a social worker, but have been legally obliged to participate. Facilitate a constructive discussion on power conflicts and imbalances in placement settings. This can be the state, which socially legitimizes the power, or directly the client, who gives power through . Put another way, social workers need to develop the ability to reflect both on, and particularly in, action (Schon, 1983), in order to determine how best to respond at any particular moment and to base their reflections on the principle of connection, not separation, as the preferred approach. In general terms, social workers need to ensure that they act in the best interests of service users. Because the stakes are so very high. The briefing identifies empirical studies that report on the association between the process of supervision and outcomes for service users, workers and organisations. The noteworthy aspect of this reconceptualisation is that the boundary surrounds and connects the social worker and client, rather than separates the two parties. I was always encouraged to achieve my full potential at school; my dad wasnt, and was bullied and humiliated by teachers. Essay, Pages 18 (4426 words) Views. A recurrent criticism of reflective, psycho-dynamically informed approaches, however, has been the potential for it to pathologise individuals and to locate the responsibility for personal circumstances entirely at the level of the individual. Uncertainties are likely to arise in social work relationships that will require social workers to reflect on the viability of the boundaries in place. The Social Graces is one of the tools which can help us to achieve this. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian. 's (2008) research in the field of palliative care highlighted how clients most valued the friendship of their social workers and underlines how important the use of self is for effective practice. Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice, Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook, Teaching culturally competent social work practice through black and white pedagogical partnerships, Political critique of Kantian ethics: A contribution to the debate between Webb and McBeath, and Downie, Moral sources and emergent ethical theories in social work, Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World, Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board (HKSWRB), Relationship-based thinking and practice in social work, Dual relationships and professional boundaries, Lessons for social work from the medical model: A viewpoint for practice, Therapists benefits from conducting psychotherapy: The case of social workers'. He has worked as both a practitioner and a researcher in the areas of gendered violence and child protection for the last twenty years. By adopting a connected, inclusive, reflective and participatory approach to the creation of boundaries, it is possible for the visible and invisible, individual and structural dynamics and dimensions of professional relationships to be held in a creative tension. To safeguard against such violations, the concept of professional boundaries is advocated, yet the construction of these boundaries is presented as if it is rudimentary for everyone. In Hong Kong, senior citizens in elderly homes often give red envelopes of money to young front line social workers in Chinese New Year because they regard social workers as friends of the younger generation. Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Its about the interaction between people, not data.. Leah McComb graduated with a BSc in History from the University of Texas at Tyler. A power imbalance is an environment, relationship or interaction where one party has far more social power than the other. The new approaches that have arisen from this critique, such as narrative therapy, seek to avoid pre-judgement by giving greater voice to marginalised clients through collaborative working. Moreover, the model itself requires research to evaluate its effectiveness in order to refine the methods for negotiating relationships in specific contexts. Registered in England & Wales No. Patrick J. O'Leary holds professorial appointments at Griffith University, Australia, and the University of Southampton, UK. emancipatory social work practice. When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Before all others, the core skill required by social work is the capacity to relate to others and their problems. This conceptualisation is more compatible with contemporary theoretical developments within the profession. It incorporates current theories and practices of social work that maintain that the social work relationship is both professional and unique, shaped by collaborative interaction and created by a mutually agreed-upon and context-specific set of boundaries. For the purpose of this paper, we will use the term client. For example, a younger person coming into an industry may have more up to date knowledge and more useful skills than an older person, so there can be a power imbalance. When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Anti-Oppressive Practice primarily traces its roots back to the realm of social work where it has been applied at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels in order to do things like mitigate power imbalances between social workers and their clients as well as the power imbalance between their clients and society at large. The model offers a process for negotiating the relationship between social work researchers and clients. It safeguards against the emergence of bonds that are personal, sexual, religious, financial or business-oriented and allows the social worker to observe and help from a safe distance. There are inherent issues of power and accountability when, for example, male social workers counsel women who have experienced male violence or white social workers advocate the ethnic minorities rights of black clients. Of course, the proposed model represents a starting point: it must be adjusted to fit particular contexts and needs, and to reflect contemporary developments in social work. Social work is at the forefront of professions that address the ontological need for relationships and respond to the breakdowns of personal and societal relationships. Yet, at the same time, social workers must always remain conscious of their professional role. As part of the modelling process, educators can demonstrate their capacity to reflect in the moment and can help students develop the reflective skills and mindset that are pivotal to the application of the model in practice. As the previous paragraph highlights, a distinctive feature of the model is its acknowledgment of the permeable and dynamic nature of professional boundaries. These situations demand careful consideration to determine what constitutes an appropriate professional stance. Introduction. Putting the need for the social graces into a cultural context, Rowland explained that in our western, capitalist society, we have often tended to think of ourselves first and foremost as individuals, rather than as a cohesive unit. Her research and teaching interests lie in the fields of relationship-based and reflective practice. Larson, G. (2008). Reflective Practice can enable practitioners to learn from experience about themselves, their work, and the way they relate to home and work, significant others and wider society and culture. Topics discussed include: social work powers in working with children and families; the changing role child care social work and the crisis of confidence about the role; increasing policy shift towards social control; the tensions and contradictions inherent in the helping process; the role of social workers in the school environment; whether Clients are often viewed as the sole recipients in the social work relationship. The earlier reference to Beresford et al. Keywords co-operative power emancipatory practice empowerment oppression power Over recent years, a dening feature of social work has been a concern with issues of power, particularly in relation to processes of oppression and empowerment (Adams, 1996; Karban and Trotter, 2000). Regardless of whether the relationship is voluntary or involuntary, there is an essential criterion for a professional social work relationship: it must have a purpose and function, and these form the basis of the relationship. This article is also available for rental through DeepDyve. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account. Whilst successful protocols would ensure transparency in social workers' dealings with clients, their creation does not incorporate client negotiation. Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic. Critical Reflection on Self in Practice Social work is an inherently political role; it allows social workers to occupy a position of power and privilege via their access to resources and hierarchical structure of the social service sector. The role of power in social work practice has been generally understated despite its importance to the course and outcome of the clinical process. Cultural and individual preferences, such as ways of greeting and speaking, might be incorporated into the boundaries of the relationship. Yet, the creation and management of the boundaries of the social work relationship have received little attention: these boundaries are usually assumed and are modelled on more general conceptions of professional boundaries. It is this exclusive and implicit model of boundary setting that we are seeking to reconfigure. Empowerment has become a well-used term across a wide variety of social work settings that involve dealing with people and their problems. In 1990 in the UK the case of 'The Pindown Experience', which occurred in the county of Staffordshire, came to the public and media attention. On January 1st 2020, if you had asked the average social worker whether they operated in a fair and just society, the resounding answer would have been no. In attempting to reconceptualise the boundaries of professional social work practice, there are clearly tensions operating that need to be thoughtfully responded to. In this regard, social workers' use of self is vital to their ability to relate to clients (Ward, 2010). 16763. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account. I explore the use of power and professional authority, value dilemmas resulting from my role as both a social work student and a youth justice worker, and deontological and teleological issues arising from tensions between professionals with differing objectives. This stance challenges the dominant discourse in relation to boundary setting that has been historically defensive and protective in nature. This led to the young people creating a micro project that resulted in the installation of security lighting. Psycho-dynamic perspectives located at the individual end of the theoretical continuum have been pivotal in defining social work relationships as primarily therapeutic in nature (Sudbery, 2002). Power imbalances and the international development architecture Conceptual Framework Power can be defined as "the ability of human agency to exercise control over its social and physical environment"i. Anti-oppressive practice is a concept, a theory, and an approach used in practice in the social work field. If you asked the same question today, on 29th June as we approach the half-way mark of the year, the answer would be unequivocal. But just because I might conform to privilege, it doesnt mean Ive had it easy. Social workers are often proponents of specific models, claiming that they are highly effective and closely compatible with the aims of social work. For example, in Lebanon, young people in Palestinian refugee camps raised a concern about poor lighting with a social worker. Setting the ethical parameters of the social work relationship, Reconceptualising the boundaries in the social work relationship, Implications for social work theory, practice, education and research, Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), 2010, Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board (HKSWRB), 2009, Receive exclusive offers and updates from Oxford Academic, Copyright 2023 British Association of Social Workers. This may invoke greater discussion with clients about how the relationship might differ from their experience with other professionals. Shibboleth / Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institutions website and Oxford Academic. Over time, social work theorists have developed sophisticated processes to address the power imbalances and instances of exploitation and discrimination that may arise in relationships with clients. . It is argued that, in most instances, the effectiveness of social work . People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, Fall 2017, Vol. I have travelled around the world with no fear that I would be singled out for my skin colour; my dad, on the other hand, is too fearful to travel to America for the fear of being attacked. This power imbalance can impede therapy when societal power dynamics, such as race, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, and HIV status are taken into consideration. Sometimes, it seems impossible to maintain a strictly professional separation from clients and avoid any social and personal exchanges. Rate the graces on a linear scale of 1-10, 1 being that they impact you only a little, 10 being that they impact you significantly. Social work seeks to address social injustice by challenging the processes of discrimination and oppression which create barriers to inclusion and lead to social exclusion; it seeks to address power imbalances and to empower people to develop and connect to networks and services to improve health and well-being. Clients often entrust very personal information and feelings in the process of the intervention. 'Cultural competence' refers to the knowledge, skills and awareness of cultural differences and similarities within, among and between groups. Have you ever been overlooked for a promotion because of your gender? Unsurprisingly, boundary issues, in a variety of international contexts, are often difficult to negotiate. In fact, Howe (1998) suggests that the way social workers understand their clients and work with them is the best demonstration of the profession's capacity to connect and unite. Where the potential for boundary breaches is heightened, for example, in the case of dual relationships in small communities, the model encourages the social worker and the client to acknowledge the risks and to focus on how they can manage their connections rather than on how they can maintain their distance. Social work aims to encourage self-determination and promote social justice and the relationship between the social worker and the client is the starting point for realising these goals. This resonated with me on a number of levels; I only began to understand the self-centric nature of Western culture when I lived in Chile, where the first question asked to a stranger was not the typical What do you do for a living?, but Tell me about your family. However, in a comprehensive study conducted by Doel and his colleagues (2010), a clear majority of social workers relied on their own sense of what is appropriate or not, instead of the complicated code of ethics or formal guidelines, in many cases as big as a book, set by professional bodies. As a consequence, the professional boundaries within social work have become increasingly incongruent with developments in the profession's unique theoretical and value base. Those located in the second circle, separated from the central circle by a dashed line to depict the permeable nature of the boundary, hold a less pivotal role in relationship building and boundary setting and, therefore, may, in some instances, be included in boundary-setting discussions, and in other instances not. 1. Social workers in rural communities are often also involved in other social activities and community organisations (Pugh, 2007). This may feel uncomfortable at first, but keep at it. power. Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing. They must limit the personal disclosure, expectations, extent, duration and focus of the relationship; there must be some terminal points to the engagement (Turney, 2010). Download. This is important as it begins to deconstruct the power relationship between supervisor and social worker, and social worker and family members.

Massachusetts Wildfires, How To Play Path Of Titans Demo, Todd Mcshay Dave Portnoy, Articles P