Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 61

Working with Various Client Groups

Principles behind integrated services
So how are the principles of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment
and dignity applicable across working with various clients who are vulnerable?
They are applicable as they are aligned with the values and principles of
social work practice which support involvement, self-determination, respect
and dignity of the human being. There should be greater efforts to inform
and work more deliberately with those who receive services. On another
perspective, it is about conveying to users that providers are accountable
for the way in which services are delivered. It does sound like a tall order
but good practice and good public service do demand that of professionals,
practitioners and even those who offer community service.
The principles behind integrated services help service providers no matter
what expertise, resources, attributes and goodwill we bring to the helping
relationship. They remind us that we should be mindful that there is
accountability when we are involved in the lives of others and especially
those who open up their lives for us to work with them. There will be
challenging situations but we should stay focused on getting the outcomes.

Application in early intervention for children and
youth services
The overarching guiding principle in many services can also be summed
up in a phrase, “it’s all in the relationship”. Clinical, collaborative, and
administrative efforts can be relationship-oriented, focusing on positive
parent-child, family-staff, staff-agency, and agency-agency interactions.
The work with families therefore depends first and foremost on positive
rapport and trust building with families through an ongoing, consistent,
and supportive professional relationship which will facilitate disclosure of
behavioural issues over time.
Integration often involves a strength-based approach based on a family
needs assessment, and the provision of comprehensive and responsive
services over time to allow for sufficient dosage levels. There is less of a
traditional “deficit” approach in delivering services for young children and
a shift to a more family-centred model of care. In one form of an integrated
approach, there is a philosophical shift from deficits to strengths, from
control to collaboration, from an expert model to a partnership model, from
gate-keeping to sharing, and from dependence to empowerment.

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