At the core of developing strength-based Intervention Plans are some of the assumptions that support the strength-based philosophy. The first is that every client has strengths, which are defined as, “the capacity to cope with difficulties, to maintain functioning in the face of stress, to bounce back In the face of significant trauma, to use external challenges as a stimulus for growth, and to use social supports as a source of resilience” (McQuaide & Ehrenreich, 1997). The second is that strengths should be taken into account when developing the Intervention Plans that will guide the treatment process. Strength- based assessments create the opportunity to establish positive expectations for the client, and also empowers both the client and his or her family to have some power in making decisions regarding their treatment (Rudolph & Epstein, 2000; Johnson & Friedman, 1991; Saleebey, 1992).
Full Answer
What is the strengths-based social work method?
These social work methods focus less on managing risk and what people lack, and more on their innate ability to grow and develop by building on their strengths. The strengths-based method is based on several underlying principles, including (modified from Rogers et al., 2020):
How do you do a strengths-based intervention?
Look for signs of strength in your client. The first step of a strengths-based intervention, as you might expect, is to learn about your client’s unique strengths. You will achieve this by asking direct questions, and observing body language, emotion, tone, and behavior. Asking about strengths.
What are the strengths-based and Solution-Focused approaches to social care?
The strengths-based and solution-focused approaches to social care help develop alliances with service users while recognizing their uniqueness (Rogers et al., 2020). These social work methods focus less on managing risk and what people lack, and more on their innate ability to grow and develop by building on their strengths.
What is strengths-based therapy?
Strengths-Based Therapy. Research in positive psychology has shown us that people who know their strengths and use them frequently tend to feel happier, have better self-esteem, and are more likely to accomplish their goals. However, many people have a hard time identifying their strengths (4).
What is an example of strength-based approach in social work?
A great example of this step is someone “talked about learning to ride a bike, aged 43. For them, this represented courage, perseverance and a commitment to learning – and the fact that many people learn to ride before they start school was irrelevant” (Strength-Based Positive Coaching).
How do you use strengths-based approach?
Look at the whole community and be aware of the support available from that community. Focus on a whole-life approach not just a person's care needs. Focus on outcomes. Consider how the individual might contribute to the local community, and hence be better integrated in the wider society around them.
What is a strengths-based approach and how can you apply this in a mental health setting?
Strengths-based approach moves the focus away from deficits of people with mental illnesses (consumers) and focuses on the strengths and resources of the consumers. The paper also aligned the relevance of strength-based approach to mental health nursing and its contribution to mental health recovery.
How does a strengths-based approach provide care?
Strengths-based practice is a collaborative process between the person supported by services and those supporting them, allowing them to work together to determine an outcome that draws on the person's strengths and assets.
What type of client would benefit from a strength-based approach?
Strengths-based therapy can be helpful for many different presenting concerns. It can help boost self-esteem and confidence, and there is evidence that this approach can be beneficial for individuals with depression or anxiety. 2 In addition, it can help individuals recovering from trauma.
What six things does the strengths-based approach focus on?
Page 1THE SIX PRINCIPLES OF STRENGTHS-BASED, ... THE INITIAL FOCUS IN THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP IS UPON THE PERSON'S STRENGTHS, DESIRES, INTERESTS, ASPIRATIONS, EXPERIENCE, ACSRIBED MEANING, TALENTS, KNOWLEDGE, RESILIANCY, NOT ON THEIR DEFICITS, WEAKNESSNES, OR PROBLEMS/NEEDS AS PERCEIVED BY ANOTHER.More items...
What is meant by a strengths-based approach?
The strength-based approach is an approach to people that views situations realistically and looks for opportunities to complement and support existing strengths and capacities as opposed to focusing on, and staying with, the problem or concern.
Why is strength based approach important in social work?
Strength-based approaches are at the heart of modern social work because they glean so much insight about the person and help support services tailor their approach. And, a tailored approach is exactly what you can expect when you get in touch with Portman Recruitment.
What is social work?
Social work encompasses all sorts of disciplines and impacts the lives of a variety of people. From young people with mental health concerns and those with incredibly damaging life experiences to family members who have been the victims of harm or substance abuse, it can be hard to imagine the pain and suffering that many people go through ...
Why is it important to put people at the centre of a plan?
Putting them at the centre of a plan is bound to make them happier and more receptive to social workers interventions. Better outcomes – By creating a bespoke package of support, resources and facilities, the chances of them turning their life around for ...
What is holistic approach?
A holistic and multi-faceted approach, it is about working with the individual and looks to improve on their strengths to promote their wellbeing. The whole approach has a focus on what is strong about the person rather than what is wrong with them.
How to do strengths based intervention?
You will achieve this by asking direct questions, and observing body language, emotion, tone, and behavior.
What is strengths based therapy?
Research in positive psychology has shown us that people who know their strengths and use them frequently tend to feel happier, have better self-esteem, and are more likely to accomplish their goals. However, many people have a hard time identifying their strengths (4). They see them as ordinary, even when they are not.
How does learning to spot strengths work?
Learning to spot strengths works in a similar way. When a person learns to spot strengths, they’ll begin seeing them everywhere. By learning to spot strengths in others, your client will eventually start to notice strengths in themselves, along with several other benefits.
What to do after a client has discovered their strengths?
After your client has discovered their strengths, the next step is to further develop and use them. Guide your client toward new situations where they can use their strengths, or toward new ways their strengths can be used to deal with current problems.
How to help clients spot their strengths?
One good way to help a client spot strengths is to ask questions about what they enjoy, what activities they gravitate toward, and when they are happiest. The answers usually point toward their strengths. Strengths Discussion Questions. worksheet.
How to spot a weakness?
Body language, tone, emotion, and behavior are excellent clues for spotting strengths. To see for yourself, try asking your client to spend five minutes discuss ing a weakness, and then five minutes discussing a strength. Take note of the differences in body language.
What does it mean when a person uses their strengths?
When a person uses their strengths, they tend to feel energized, and they report higher levels of self-esteem, well-being, and other desirable outcomes. Studies have indicated that strength-based positive psychology interventions might reduce depression, and contribute to successful goal completion (2, 7).
What Is Strengths-Based Therapy?
Strengths-based therapy is a theoretical orientation and approach to psychotherapy treatment based in positive psychology. A strengths-based therapist focuses on the client’s existing resources, resilience, and positive qualities in an effort to use these abilities to improve quality of life and reduce problematic symptoms. 1
Techniques of Strengths-Based Therapy
As with all therapeutic approaches, a therapist will choose techniques based on the client’s unique needs. A strengths-based therapist might use some of the following techniques in their sessions:
What Strengths-Based Therapy Can Help With
Strengths-based therapy can be helpful for many different presenting concerns. It can help boost self-esteem and confidence, and there is evidence that this approach can be beneficial for individuals with depression or anxiety. 2 In addition, it can help individuals recovering from trauma.
Benefits of Strengths-Based Therapy
Many people find strengths-based therapy beneficial in their mental health journeys. One reason for this is that positive psychology changes the traditional therapy narrative from “What do we need to fix about you?” to “What is the good that is already in you, and how can we bring that out?”
Effectiveness of Strengths-Based Therapy
Research surrounding strengths-based therapy has shown that it is an effective treatment for a variety of conditions, including depression, 2 and trauma. 3 It is also beneficial as an early intervention for serious mental health issues, such as psychosis. 4
Things to Consider
As with all therapeutic approaches, strengths-based therapy will not be an ideal fit for everyone. A balanced approach to strengths-based therapy will not completely ignore a client’s weaknesses but rather will emphasize strengths in the context of the whole person.
How to Get Started
If you feel that a strengths-based approach would benefit you, and you do not already have a therapist, you can search for a therapist who indicates that they specialize in this approach. Therapists who have training in a strengths-based approach will often indicate this on their website or profile.
What is the framework of social work?
A framework that offers a clear process for social workers to engage with service users and implement appropriate interventions is, however, vital. As a result, social work has combined various interdisciplinary concepts and social work theories with firsthand, experiential knowledge to develop an evidence base for social workers’ decisions.
How to assess social workers?
Typically, assessments are perspectives constructed at a particular time and place, and include the following elements (Parker, 2013): 1 Preparation, planning, and engagement involve working with the individual requiring support to introduce the need to perform an assessment and agree how the social worker will carry it out. 2 Collecting data and forming a picture help social workers understand the situation better. 3 Preliminary analysis includes interpreting the data and testing out “thoughts and hunches” (Parker, 2013, p. 314). 4 Deeper analysis and shared negotiation are required following testing to put together an interpretation. This can offer the client or referrer an alternative way of viewing the problem. 5 Construct an action plan collaboratively.
What is group work?
Groupwork offers several different functions, including social control, social action, education, and therapy. Some groups have expected outcomes or goals, while others are more organic, allowing the purpose to develop as the group evolves.
What is group work in domestic violence?
Group work can offer a forum for groups of people who have experienced domestic violence. However, the facilitator must ensure that no one individual asserts power over the group and that there are no barriers to inclusion or participation (Rogers et al., 2020).
What is social work confronted with?
Every day social workers are confronted with people who experience “oppression, discrimination, and poverty” and must make sense of a deluge of conflicting and contradictory information (Rogers et al., 2020, p. 2). Finding appropriate methods and models can help make sense of the experiences of others.
How can self awareness help with domestic violence?
Self-awareness can help manage conflict between social workers and service users in cases of domestic abuse. Being aware of personal feelings and beliefs, maintaining focus, and being clear and direct can help when tensions rise (Edmondson & Ashworth, 2020). Domestic violence is extremely damaging.
Is collaborative practice best practice?
Assumptions should not be made regarding the individual’s capacity to grow and change. Collaborative practice is best practice. Every environment is rich in resources. “Social work is about care, care-taking and hope” (Rogers et al., 2020, p. 244).
What is strengths based approach in social work?
When talking to individuals and families about healthy active living or about managing their long-term health conditions, many health professionals have also developed the way they hold their conversations to include motivational interviewing and strengths-based conversational techniques.
How to work in a strengths based way?
Building a rapport and trusting relationship with people who may have care and support needs is a fundamental foundation for working in a strengths-based way. Different people will need different communication approaches such as interpreters, sign language, easy read documents, pictorial information, and it is vital to find the most appropriate method of communication for the individual so that they can be fully involved in the strengths-based conversations. If the person has difficulty in engaging in the process then independent advocacy must be arranged.
What is the importance of strengths based practice?
In actual fact, to ensure a successful implementation it is crucial to involve partner organisations and departments , and the community.
What is practice framework?
Practice frameworks provide a guide to undertaking humane and morally informed assessment and intervention work, and, offer practitioners an intervention approach and logic that is theoretically based and supported by a set of practice triggers . According to Stanley (2016; 2017), an agreed framework needs to reinforce ideas of up to date practice and co-produced knowledge (Kc) and research, promote our social work values (V) and ethics, render visible social work theories (T) and methods, and promote a range of practice skills (S). The practitioner’s experiential learning is also recognised (E) and promoted and this is important if we are to avoid prescription and promote professional judgement and professional decision making.
What is outcomes in social care?
The Social Care Institute for Excellence defines outcomes as: 'the impact, or end-results, of services on a person’s life; therefore outcomes-focused services are those that aim to achieve the priorities that service users themselves identify as important.”
What is a strengths based approach?
A strengths-based approach helps people identify how they are already trying to cope and builds on that. There are two types of strengths that are both equally important: Prevention/Resilience Strengths, or what you do on a daily basis to stay healthy and happy; and intervention/coping strengths which help the person answer the questions, ...
Is it helpful to have PTSD?
In general it is helpful for people with PTSD to understand that their symptoms may be a primitive way their brain is trying to help them stay safe and not get in that situation again.
Values, Reflections and Wishes
Reaction
- A colleague once pointed out a key observation that often risk was scaled without considering the nature and response to the social care intervention. Evoking more of an expert position, the circumstances within the family were being considered without thinking about what help and support had been offered and what the reaction was. Inadvertently, practitioners were applying s…
Changing The Narrative
- There is plenty of hope with organisations across the country changing the narrative. More recently North Yorkshire has been the first local authority to be awarded Outstanding in every area in their Ofsted inspection. It is pleasing to note that one of the criteria for the new inspection framework from Ofsted is: The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and famil…
Culture and Context
- In my experience the organisation’s relationship to risk is critical to shaping the practice culture and context. It is pleasing to see that policy makers as well as Ofsted are encouraging innovation and creativity. Organisations understand that one of its primary purposes is to safeguard and protect children. However, this can become a defining feature that leads to a one-dimensional a…