Curriculum Guide – Substance use - The College of Social Work
Curriculum Guide – Substance use - The College of Social Work
Curriculum Guide – Substance use - The College of Social Work
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<strong>Curriculum</strong> guide <strong>–</strong> Relationships, relationship stress and/or breakdown Dr Danielle Turney<br />
Introduction<br />
This guide starts from an acknowledgement <strong>of</strong> the central importance <strong>of</strong> relationships within social work.<br />
Whether working with adults or children, practice involves working both in and with relationships; and whatever<br />
setting they find themselves in, practitioners are likely to encounter situations where the interpersonal<br />
relationships that service <strong>use</strong>rs are involved in are damaged, distressing and/or in some cases, dangerous. So<br />
it is critical for students to have an understanding <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the factors that can affect and adversely impact<br />
on relationships as well as those that support the development <strong>of</strong> positive and nurturing relationships within<br />
families, communities and groups.<br />
At the same time, social work itself takes place through the medium <strong>of</strong> the relationship between the<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional and the service <strong>use</strong>r. Establishing, managing and working within these relationships can be<br />
demanding and requires a range <strong>of</strong> capabilities <strong>–</strong> practical, intellectual, ethical and emotional. So it is<br />
suggested that programmes should look at the nature <strong>of</strong> what has become known as „relationship-based<br />
practice‟, its strengths, limitations and challenges. Students should be encouraged to locate this approach<br />
within a psycho-social understanding <strong>of</strong> practice and to understand the ways in which they can <strong>use</strong><br />
relationships purposively to support change. As noted, though, relationship-based practice can be personally<br />
challenging and difficult, and students will need a level <strong>of</strong> emotional resilience in order to work safely and<br />
effectively. It is important therefore that they have a safe space to consider the effects (on themselves and<br />
others) <strong>of</strong> working with strong <strong>–</strong> and <strong>of</strong>ten negative <strong>–</strong> emotions, with a view to ensuring they have strategies for<br />
managing their own wellbeing in practice. Attention should also be given to reflecting on „positive relationships‟<br />
and how they can deflect social workers from their task and responsibilities: the death <strong>of</strong> Peter Connelly („Baby<br />
P‟) in 2007 drew attention to the danger <strong>of</strong> false or „disguised‟ parental compliance i , and there are examples in<br />
case reviews <strong>of</strong> incidents where striving to develop a positive relationship with parents and carers <strong>of</strong> vulnerable<br />
children diverted social workers from the vital task <strong>of</strong> protection.<br />
Terminology<br />
Relationship-based practice is characterised by the central emphasis on “the pr<strong>of</strong>essional relationship as the<br />
medium through which the practitioner can engage with and intervene in the complexity <strong>of</strong> an individual‟s<br />
internal and external worlds” (Wilson et al (2008) Key resources 8). <strong>The</strong> definition <strong>of</strong>fered here places practice<br />
within a psycho-social framework that recognises the impact <strong>of</strong> both internal and external factors on individuals‟<br />
experiences, and accords significance to both. This is proposed in contrast to earlier interpretations <strong>of</strong><br />
relationship-based practice which, it has been argued, took a narrower psycho-dynamically-informed view that<br />
paid less attention to the context within which individuals were placed and the ways in which factors, such as<br />
race/ethnicity, class, gender, disability, impact on the experiences and opportunities available to the individual<br />
in the wider society.<br />
Key curriculum issues<br />
This is potentially a challenging topic to address as it cuts across all aspects <strong>of</strong> social work. Indeed, it is<br />
perhaps more an underpinning framework for, or approach to, practice although there are clearly also discrete<br />
issues to address in the curriculum <strong>–</strong> for example, in relation to skills (particularly the development <strong>of</strong><br />
interpersonal or communication skills). Practice educators have a central role to play in this respect, but<br />
building skills and capabilities for relationship-based work should also be addressed in the university<br />
curriculum through discussion and activities in classes/workshops and through groupwork (e.g. problem-led<br />
learning groups, and tutor-led „base‟ groups). A range <strong>of</strong> different approaches may be effective, including case<br />
studies, exercises using vignettes, videos or role plays. <strong>The</strong>re may also be opportunities for learning through<br />
modelling and, in the case <strong>of</strong> staff-led groups, through reflection on the tutor/student relationship.<br />
i<br />
Reder, P, Duncan, S and Gray, M (1993) Beyond blame: Child ab<strong>use</strong> tragedies revisited. London & New York: Routledge.<br />
Produced in partnership to support curriculum<br />
development in initial social work education(2012)<br />
December 2012. ©<strong>The</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> 2012, 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5BH
Key content issues<br />
1. Relationships, relational difficulties and/or breakdown<br />
Attachment theory and the importance <strong>of</strong> early relationships.<br />
Relationships across the lifecourse.<br />
Relational difficulties (e.g. communication, differing values, parenting difficulties, intergenerational<br />
conflict).<br />
<strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> factors such as domestic violence on interpersonal relationships.<br />
2. <strong>Work</strong>ing in and with relationships in practice<br />
<strong>The</strong> centrality <strong>of</strong> relationships in social work <strong>–</strong> why do they matter?<br />
Critiques <strong>of</strong> relationship-based approaches.<br />
<strong>The</strong> contemporary context <strong>of</strong> relationship-based practice.<br />
<strong>The</strong>oretical bases <strong>of</strong> relationship-based practice:<br />
Psycho-dynamic and systemic approaches and concepts may be particularly relevant here in<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> understanding intrapersonal, interpersonal and organisational relational dynamics.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se theoretical understandings will need to be contextualised within a broader framework<br />
which acknowledges the impact <strong>of</strong> external factors on the lives <strong>of</strong> individuals, groups and<br />
communities and promotes the development <strong>of</strong> anti-oppressive practice. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Curriculum</strong> <strong>Guide</strong><br />
„<strong>Social</strong> work intervention methods‟ identifies a range <strong>of</strong> relevant theoretical approaches that<br />
could be drawn on to inform relationship-based practice.<br />
3. Core components <strong>of</strong> a relationship-based approach<br />
What differentiates pr<strong>of</strong>essional relationships from other sorts <strong>of</strong> relationship?<br />
Service <strong>use</strong>rs‟ perspectives on the key elements <strong>of</strong> effective working relationships.<br />
„Use <strong>of</strong> self‟ and relationship-based practice.<br />
<strong>The</strong> role <strong>of</strong> reflection.<br />
4. Skills for building and maintaining relationships<br />
Relating to others.<br />
Relating to yourself.<br />
Relating to organisational dynamics and processes and the external context for practice.<br />
Produced in partnership to support curriculum<br />
development in initial social work education(2012)<br />
December 2012. ©<strong>The</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> 2012, 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5BH
5. Challenges to relationship-based practice<br />
Intrapersonal factors.<br />
Interpersonal factors.<br />
Organisational and broader structural constraints.<br />
6. What supports effective relationship-based practice?<br />
Individual/personal support.<br />
Team/group support.<br />
Organisational support.<br />
Relationship-based working requires not only individual engagement but also the support <strong>of</strong> the team<br />
and wider organisation. So attention could be foc<strong>use</strong>d here on the role and importance <strong>of</strong> factors such<br />
as reflective supervision (individual and peer/group), team work, and organisational culture to identify<br />
how support can be provided at all levels <strong>of</strong> the organisation.<br />
Links to other curriculum areas including other curriculum guides ( ):<br />
This topic links to a range <strong>of</strong> other curriculum areas, including some already addressed within other guides, in<br />
particular: Human growth and development ( ); Neglect, violence and ab<strong>use</strong> ( ); Communication skills ( );<br />
Intervention methods ( )<br />
Key resources<br />
1. Davidson, J (2005) Pr<strong>of</strong>essional relationship boundaries: a social work teaching module. <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong><br />
Education, 24: 5, 511<strong>–</strong>533.<br />
2. Hennessey, R (2011) Relationship skills in social work. London & Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Sage.<br />
3. Howe, D (2011) Attachment across the lifecourse: A Brief Introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave<br />
Macmillan.<br />
4. Howe, D (2008) <strong>The</strong> emotionally intelligent social worker. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.<br />
5. Reupert (2009): Students' <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> self: teaching implications. <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> Education: <strong>The</strong> International<br />
Journal, 28:7, 765<strong>–</strong>777.<br />
6. Ruch, G, Turney, D and Ward, A (eds) (2010) Relationship-based social work: Getting to the heart <strong>of</strong><br />
practice. London & Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.<br />
7. Thompson, S and Thompson, N (2008) <strong>The</strong> critically reflective practitioner. Basingstoke: Palgrave<br />
Macmillan.<br />
8. Wilson, K, Ruch, G, Lymbery, M and Cooper, A (2008) <strong>Social</strong> work: An introduction to contemporary<br />
practice. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.<br />
9. <strong>The</strong> Centre for <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> Practice (http://cfswp.org/)<br />
This is an organisation that aims to promote relationship-based practice; the website provides links to a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> <strong>use</strong>ful resources (papers, web resources, etc.).<br />
Produced in partnership to support curriculum<br />
development in initial social work education(2012)<br />
December 2012. ©<strong>The</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> 2012, 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5BH