The link between a social worker and their client tends to evolve over time just like any other relationship. For the relationship to work it must be positive and acceptable to both parties; there should be a mutual respect and harmonious interaction as well as communication between all the parties involved (Humphrey, 56). The social work is appointment by the government to help people in dire situations, to determine whether or not their living conditions require them to be put into the welfare system and to decide in the cases of children whether they should be put into foster care (Howe, 31). The goal of social work is to support the client effectively manage their problems, utilize all the resources and exploit all the opportunities available to them. It is also the goal of the social worker to empower the client to better at solving their problems. In this case, I have chosen the relationship between a social worker and clients within the local Youth Centre.
In the initial meeting between the two, the social worker is there to help the client by assessing and recommending the best course of action. It is the first stage where the social worker is seen as the friendly visitor (Humphrey, 56). After placement either in a home or under the social worker’s care, there is an established relationship where the client sees the social worker as the social service professional; who has the power to determine their fate and well-being (Howe, 45). In a youth center, these two stages are usually simultaneous, they do not take long as the period of determination could make a difference between the client becoming wayward or turning their life around.
The next stage in the relationship between the social worker and the client, in this case, the young person is to establish trust and a system where the youth feels comfortable sharing their problems with the social worker. The establishment of trust is crucial to ensuring that the client feels guided not driven towards a particular direction (Jonas and Morton, 300). It means that the social work discusses the opportunities and resources available and leaves the client to follow the course that accommodates them best. Once they have made a decision and constructed a path they wish to follow the social worker gives them reign over their lives; leaving them to become self-governing. They are still supervised, but the relationship is less constrictive, and the boundaries have lessened to the point where they can interact in a friendly manner (Humphrey, 56). The client now has become a citizen to the point where they feel the need to reciprocate the help. It is tricky to manage this stage without the client feeling resentful (Jonas and Morton, 212).
It takes a lot of tact and growth to operate this stage successfully. The social worker plays a critical part in guiding youth within a youth center they are the authority figure, counsellor and parent figure in that institution. It requires a lot of dedication and personal growth to fit into all the roles effectively and for all the clients under their care. The relationship with all the clients evolve at different rates some much faster than others it is, therefore, in the best interests of their clients that they are flexible enough to accommodate all their needs.
Work Cited
Howe, David. The Emotionally Intelligent Social Worker. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. Print.
Humphrey, Caroline. Becoming A Social Worker. London: Sage Publications, 2010. Print.
Jonas, Kai J, and Thomas A Morton. Restoring Civil Societies. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. Print.
