delivering a strengths based approach to adult …...people who come to social workers for...
TRANSCRIPT
Strengths Based Social Work:Applying a strengths based practice framework for effective social work practice
Hello!I am Samantha Baron,
Professor of Social Work at Manchester Metropolitan
University
Co author of DHSC publication: Strengths Based Social
Work:Practice Framework and Handbook
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I’m here to talk to you today about.........
How we conceptualise, theorise and philosophise ‘strengths based practice’ and its relation to good social work practice
Introduce a strengths based practice framework for work with adults
Explore how the practice framework can be used within organsiations and by professional practitioners
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““All humans, somewhere within, have
the urge to be heroic; to transcendcircumstances, to develop one’s powers, to overcome adversity, to stand up and be counted.”
(Saleebey 2009)
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For too long we have focused on...
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Problem Based Approach Strengths Based Approach
Person is defined as case Person is defined unique
Symptoms add up to diagnosis Resources, talents etc. add up to strengths
Therapies are problem focused Therapy is possibly focused
Emphasize solutions to match problems
Emphasis on exceptions, past successes
Worker as the expert Person as the expert
Intervention Collaboration
Resources for work are the knowledge and skills of the worker
Resources for work are the strengths and capacities of the client.
Stigmatizing terminology Positive terminology
Philosophically.............
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Weick 1992
Saleeby 1992
.
Every person has an inherent power that may be characterized as life
force, transformational capacity, life energy, spirituality, regenerative
potential, and healing power which is a potent form of knowledge that can
guide personal and social transformation. This power also means that
people possess the inherent capacity to learn, grow, and change
Individuals and groups “have vast, often untapped and frequently
unappreciated reservoirs of physical, emotional, cognitive, interpersonal,
social, and spiritual energies, resources and competencies
Saleeby 1992
.
People who come to social workers for assistance with some problem, are
more than that problem; they also have strengths and abilities which have
allowed them to survive, if not thrive, in the face of the challenges they meet
Philosophical assumptions......
1.People are often doing amazingly well, the best they can at the time, given the difficulties they face and the known resources available to them
2.People have survived to this point – certainly, not without pain – but with ideas, will, hopes, skills, and other people, all of which we need to understand and appreciate in order to help
3.Change can only happen when you collaborate with peoples’ aspirations, perceptions, and strengths and when you firmly believe in them.
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Philosophical assumptions......
4.People facing adversities can develop ideas, capacities and strategies that can ultimately benefit them
5. All human beings have an intimate capacity for healthy and efficient self mentoring that heals and transforms
6. Even maladaptive practices can be transformed into positive strategies to master the art of dealing with challenges
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Practice assumptions.....
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1) An absolute belief that every person has potential and it is their unique strengths and capabilities that will determine their evolving story as well as define who they are - not their limitations
2) What we focus on becomes one’s reality – focus on strength, not labels – seeing challenges as capacity fostering creates hope and optimism.
3) The language we use creates our reality – for all of us.
4) Belief that change is inevitable – all individuals have the urge to succeed, to explore the world around them and to make themselves useful to others and their communities.
5) Positive change occurs in the context of authentic relationships - people need to know someone cares and will be there unconditionally for them. It is a transactional and facilitating
process of supporting change and capacity building– not fixing.
Practice assumptions.....
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6) Person’s perspective of reality is primary (their story)– therefore, need to value and start the change process with what is important to the person - not the expert.
7) People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they are invited to start with what they already know.
8) Capacity building is a process and a goal – a life long journey that is dynamic as opposed to static.
9) It is important to value differences and the essential need to collaborate –effective change is a collaborative, inclusive and participatory process.
Measuring strengths involves identifying.........
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What people have learned about themselves, others and their world (Early and Maye, 2004)
Personal qualities, traits, talents and virtues that reside in people often displayed during trauma and crisis (Saleebey, 1997)
People's sense of pride i.e. survivors pride in overcoming odds (Wolin and Wolin, 1993)
Personal hopes and dreams of the client (ibid)
Essentials of the Strengths Based Perspective
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P
C R
C stands for: Competence, Capacities, Courage
P symbolises: Promise, Possibility, Positive expectations, Potential
R signifies: Resilience, Reserves, Resources, Resoucefulness
Conversations not assessments....
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Survival questionsHow have you managed to overcome or survive the challenges that you have faced?What have you learned about yourself and your world during those struggles?Support questionsWho are the people you rely on?Who has made you feel understood, supported and encouraged?Possibility questionsWhat do you want to accomplish in life?What are your hopes for the future?
Conversations not assessments....
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Esteem QuestionsWhat makes you proud about yourself?What positive things do people say about you?
Perspective questionsWhat do you want to accomplish in life?What are your hopes for your future?
Change questionsWhat do you think is necessary for things to change?
Strengths Based Safeguarding ...
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Change and survival
Perspective and esteem
Support and possibility
Empowerment
Prevention
Proportionality
Protection
Partnership
Accountability
Strengths Based Practice Framework
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A practice framework ‘integrates empirical research, practice theories, ethical principles and experiential knowledge in a compact and convenient format that helps practitioners to use the knowledge and principles to inform their everyday work’ (Connolly and Healy 2009)
A conceptual map that brings together, in accessible design, the agency’s approach to social work practice with adults and their families. Practice frameworks offer a vision for social work practice which is groundedin the realities of practice, supported by research and embedded in a set of principles and values that are essential to social work. (Connolly 2006, Stanley 2017)
Introducing the KcVETS frameworkKc : Knowledge & Co creation V : ValuesE : Experiential learningT : Theory & methodsS : Skills and behaviours
Integrated Practice Framework *Professional Practice*Supervision Practice*Quality Improvement
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Professional Practice
Professional Practice
Professional Practice
Professional Practice
Professional Practice
Professional Supervision
Quality Improvement
Strengths Based Practice Framework
Knowledge, research, co
creation
Asset Based Community Development
Appreciative Inquiry
Restorative Practice
Three Conversations
Methods & theory
Asset Based Community Development
Appreciative Inquiry
Restorative Practice
Experiential learning
Three Conversations
Values & ethics
Asset Based Community Development
Three Conversations
Restorative Practice
Skills
Asset Based Community
Development
Appreciative Inquiry
Three Conversations
Restorative Practice
