Substandard1.1 Understanding the power of process and building sound relationships.
According to Nicholas (2010), building professional knowledge with the client is an essential skill during the helping process as this allows them to feel comfortable sharing their life challenges and for the social worker to assess the biographical information of the client as well as having insight about the challenges clients faced. The student needs to understand the power of building working relationships with clients in micro intervention as they pave the way to win the trust of your clients. According to Higham (2006) when a social worker begins working with clients, she must feel comfortable in developing a professional client-worker working relationship. Schenck et al. (2015) agree with the author as they mentioned that a working relationship is successful when rapport, self-determination, confidentiality, respect, acceptance, communication, and maintenance of professional boundaries are present in the interaction between the social worker and the client. The student social worker must understand the power of establishing rapport with her clients in the field as she will be able to gain a place in their circle of trust.
The student found this to be true as she engaged with the first client to conduct an interview as it was required for the intake report she had to form a good and comfortable space as we both don’t know each other. The SSW contacted the client and arranged for a date and venue to meet and conduct the interview. Upon arrival at the venue (community library), the student introduced herself and her profession and studies, then allowed the client to introduce himself. After that, the student explained the purpose of the interview and asked the client for permission to take notes during the interview. The student social worker explained to the client that everything discussed in the interview would be kept confidential as this is the ethical standard of the profession. In this way, the student showed transparency and built a trusting and open environment for the client. During the interview, the student listened effectively, maintained eye contact, and used non-verbal communication such as nodding allowing the client to express himself fully without interruption.
The student demonstrated competency in building a comfortable space for the client. For evidence, refer to Intake Report Question 5.
Sub-standard 1. 4 Understanding the Self is an important instrument of intervention.
According to Ebere (2015), "the use of self enables social workers to aim for authenticity and genuineness, which means that social workers should put their integrity forward to develop positive relationships with the group. However, the student builds a safe atmosphere and harmonious relationships among the client so that they create an empathetic atmosphere and confidential relationship for the client to share their feelings freely and communicate effectively without projection of feelings. This entails understanding the SSW's emotions and biases to avoid imposing the students' feelings on the client rather than maintaining professional boundaries focusing on the client's needs during the therapeutic process.
In the micro report, the student conducted an interview she used herself as an instrument to conduct a successful and effective interview and she applied an empathetic and nonjudgmental attitude. As the SSW student interviewed with the client, the client shared life challenges that affect their emotional well-being. The student uses phrases like ‘it is normal to feel the way you’re feeling’ but the supervisor suggested using another phrase like ‘it is okay to feel this way as the other one might convey negative connotation. This is a way to validate the client's emotions and that it is a human reaction to feel overwhelmed when facing struggles. This standard is achieved in the micro process report on page 6 number 4.3. and number 5.
Sub-standard 1.9. Commitment to professional ethics and to ongoing professional development
This sub-standard requires the student social worker to demonstrate ethical conduct when all times as this enhances professional development. According to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Social workers (2005), social workers have an ethical responsibility towards clients, colleagues, other professionals, employees, and society. There are four primary areas of ethical responsibility for Social Workers: these include self-determination, informed consent, maintenance of client social worker boundaries, and confidentiality. The professional principles and values of social work form the heart of the profession. Therefore, it is important for the student social worker to always abide by ethics because the student will be using ethics throughout social work practice. Moreso, the SSW must commit to the code of ethics to show professionalism.
The student demonstrated professional conduct when she was interviewing a client to understand why the client was a social work intervention. The student used a variety of social work ethics to show professionalism. The SSW explained the confidentiality of the helping relationship. The student was required to record the interview, so she asked the client for permission to record the interview and share the information with the supervisor and the client agreed. This shows that the student showed commitment to the client's self-determination as it is the client's right to allow the professional to record and share their personal information.
The student social worker demonstrates adequate competency in professional in upholding professional conduct for ongoing professional development. For evidence refer to micro intake report question 5 pages 4 and 5.
References
Ahmed, S. (2016). Counseling skills and social work practice. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3 (4): 194-19
Ebere, C.S., 2016. THE USE OF SELF IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Embimgbo, S. O., 2019. Interviewing and Counseling as Social Work Tools: Social work in Nigeria, University of Nigeria Ltd
Nicholas, L., Rautenbach, J. and Maistry, M., 2010. Introduction to social work. Claremont:
Schenck, R., Mbedzi, L., Schultz. P., Seduku. J., & Sesoko. M. 2015. Introduction to Social Work in the South African Context. South Africa: Oxford University Press