The Strengths Perspective in Social Work
The strengths perspective model of social work is based on exploiting the strengths of the individual, Gina in this case scenario, involved to help them resolve their issues, build them up and assist them in alleviating out of their predicament. These strengths create a resilient individual who can prevent a relapse into old habits that got the social workers involved in the first place. Resilience is crucial as it allows one to cope with new situations and make them withstand the mental pressure with which people are often afflicted. It also gives them the ability to come up with sound solutions. (Hammond and Zimmerman, 2012, 2). Often, social workers are quick to give temporary solutions to rather permanent problems, and they fall into a cycle where neither of them achieves what they need. Eventually, the social worker gets exhausted and writes off the case completely.
Gina contemplates going back to Ron whom she left because of abuse because she is out of options, she said. As a social worker, they should not view the situation from her point because Gina has already given up. The social worker is thus charged with the responsibility of changing Gina’s mindset, to lift her out of her destructive thoughts and help her identify, build and exploit her potential. The social worker is tasked with changing the client’s negative-centered thought process to one that is more positive, and encourage her throughout the process and working as a support should she feel like backsliding into negativity. Saleebey (1992) supports the active participation of the social worker by stating that for change to occur within the client, and subsequently in their current situations, the social workers need to collaborate with their clients, set goals with them, and build their strengths.
"The problem is not the people; the problem is the problem." (Hammond and Zimmerman, 2012, 3). Many social workers make the mistake of focusing all their energy on trying to solve the problem and, therefore, they miss the client’s role in the problem. The worker could have multiple solutions to these problems that are not only pragmatic but also reasonable, however, if the client was not part of the solution, they do not work. The social worker guides their clients and empowers them to be the solution, and it includes evaluating their current environment and all other factors that have led to the problem itself. It is crucial that they focus on the causes of the problem because it is the result of unresolved issues underlying the client. (Stuart, 2012). The framework only works if the social works collaboratively with Gina, and particularly because she has children at an impressionable age and has already reported that her son disrespects her. As a social worker, the whole family should be involved in the intervention to prevent the son from growing up to be a deplorable man as his father. (Scerra, 2011, 3).
The framework should, however, be exercised with caution especially in cases where mental illness could be a contributing factor to the situation. During the intervention, the social worker needs to evaluate the family for any signs of mental illness because the framework may need to be modified accordingly for it to work. In such cases, the model is not enough and other psychiatry interventions must be supplemented if the former is to work. It can also be limited in such cases if the clients are prone to delusions especially if they have dissociative disorders. In the quest to help their clients, the social workers could get carried away and inspire their clients, albeit wrongly, to unattainable goals. Failure to reach these goals causes the clients to rapidly relapse and even detest any future interventions the social workers try. The social workers have to evaluate their clients’ aspirations to determine their attainability while directing them away from incredible dreams. Once again, the goals should be pragmatic, within reach and are sustainable over time.
Self- Appraisal
As a member of my group, I think I give the most insight on how to look away from the problem and look more into the client. I believe she holds the key to the solutions to her predicament and from the research we have conducted as a group, I have learned that for the framework to work, the client must always come first. While I do not have the strongest outlook on involving the local community, I do look into research that can be used to provide solutions for Gina at a community level, for example, I suggested that she asks her neighbors to help repair her roof to save on the costs she would have incurred. She cannot afford it. I have also been able to point out the limitations of the framework in Gina's case, the social worker needs to prolong contact time with her, but she simply does not have time to spare.
I am also very team-work oriented, and I am an active participant of the group, taking the time to know each member. Dare I say I have somewhat used the strengths perspective myself to appraise other and identify their strengths. During discussions, I sneakily try to coax the other group members into becoming active participants by focusing on their strengths by asking them to do tasks they are capable of and would enjoy. Being the group leader, I am responsible for the schedule, and I make sure to hand it out and make the discussions as lively as possible, I am not merely an administrative figure, but I also participate. So far, we have been able to complete our tasks in record time and have got the highest scores we have of all tasks we have done separately.
References
Benard, B. 2006. Using Strengths-Based Practice to Tap the Resilience of Family. Strengths Perspective in Social Work, 4/e. (Ed) Saleebey, D. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Hammond, W., and Zimmerman, R. 2012. A Strengths-Based Perspective. Resiliency Initiatives.
Saleebey, D. 1992. Introduction: Beginnings of a Strengths Approach to Practice. New York: Longman.
Saleebey, D. 1996. The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: Extensions and Cautions. [online]. PubMed. Available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [accessed 03 May 2016].
Scerra, N. 2011. Strengths-Based Practice: The Evidence. Social Justice Unit. UnitingCare Children, Young People, and Families.
Solution-focused approach.[online]. Available at http://sites.google.com
Stuart, G. 2012. What Is the Strengths Perspective? [online]. Available at <sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com> [accessed 03 May 2016].
