Good helping relationships in child welfare: learning from stories of success

Abstract

This study involved in‐depth exploration of good helping relationships in child welfare. A select sample of six child welfare worker–client dyads was interviewed to determine worker attributes and actions that were key to the development of good working relationships. Innovative features of the research design, such as a multiple interview format with two individual and one joint interview for each worker and client (five interviews per dyad) and opportunities for the worker and client in each dyad to reflect on and respond to the other’s interview transcripts, produced rich data and revealed high levels of congruency among workers, clients and researchers about worker relationship competencies. Two categories of themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis are discussed: (1) soft, mindful and judicious use of power; and (2) humanistic attitude and style that stretches traditional professional ways‐of‐being. Implications for the hiring, education and training, and supervision of child welfare workers are presented.

Social Support in Family Reunification: A Qualitative Study

“…Finally, these narratives included many quotes about the value found in supportive relationships with child welfare professionals. Similar to other studies (de Boer & Coady, 2007;Drake, 1995;Kauffman, 2007), these findings help to emphasize the meaning families attach to their relationships with child welfare caseworkers, in-home counselors and parent aides.…”

“…Relationships with extended family, neighbors, support groups, and others can provide emotional and practical support to a family in crisis (Lietz, 2007). In addition to natural supports, de Boer and Coady (2007) highlighted the importance of positive relationships formed between professionals and families as another critical way external social support is provided. The participants in Drake's (1995) study perceived the quality of relationships with child welfare workers affected their views regarding the effectiveness of services, while participants in Kauffman's (2007) study felt their relationship with service providers to be ''one of the most important parts of the services'' (p. 560).…”

Social Work Curriculum Review Case Study

“…These findings are congruent with workers' perceptions of effective relationships, as well as field instructors' assessment of effective social work students (Bogo et al, 2004;Bogo et al, 2006;Lafrance, Gray, & Herbert, 2004). Characteristics of effective social workers include attributes like respectfulness, flexibility, kindness, caring, empathy, and warmth; capacity for self-awareness; ethics; attitudes aligned with social work values; and strong interpersonal and communication skills (Beresford et al, 2008;de Boer & Coady, 2006;Drake, 1994). Additionally, successful helping relationships often bear some resemblance to friendships.…”

“…Additionally, successful helping relationships often bear some resemblance to friendships. In this regard, service users value close, comfortable, authentic, and equal relationships where social workers engage with them in a less formal or professional manner, and are often willing to go beyond their traditional role (Beresford et al, 2008;de Boer & Coady, 2006;Ribner & Knei-Paz, 2002).…”

Using Friendship to Build Professional Family Work Relationships where Child Neglect is an Issue: Worker Perceptions

“…Research on the relationship in child and family welfare has shown that effective relationships are those which are characterised by close personal contact, which clients frequently consider to be "friendship-like" in nature, contained within professional boundaries (de Boer & Coady, 2003;Doel, 2010;Drake, 1994;Lynn, et al, 1998;Ribner & Knei-Paz, 2002). How workers operate in such an environment is not well understood, where empirical literature and professional dialogue provides only limited guidance regarding how workers are to maintain friendship-like professional relationships with clients.…”