Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 62

Working with Various Client Groups
This approach supports young children’s development and well-being,
supports family decision making and care giving, fosters families’
independence, respects children and family choices, builds on child and
family strengths, and involves families in all aspects of evaluation, planning,
and delivery of services. It recognises the importance of relationships, the
need to identify families-in-need early, and agrees that integrated services
must involve a comprehensive and holistic system of care. Programmes,
staff, and the interventions must be flexible and must accommodate the
needs of the population being served. It builds on whatever integration
in services that already exist and explores the concept of “value added”
services.

Cultural competence
One way in which they can be flexible is to be culturally competent as
families often need access to culturally, linguistically, and age-appropriate
services. Families reflect cultural diversity in their values and beliefs, and
in the views and expectations they have of themselves, their children, and
their providers. Understanding diversity is particularly important when
considering a family’s perceptions of illness, wellness and health, ageing
and managing changes such as family transitions, family and social roles and
losses. Staff must be knowledgeable about both mainstream perceptions
and practices – and beliefs from other cultural perspectives, and ideally
reflect on the multicultural diversity of the families they work with.
Another aspect of integration is the concept of integrating behavioural
health services into easily accessible, non-threatening places where families
naturally go. This way, these families can easily access and use community
based services. These services may include those that address financial,
social, educational, physical health, and behavioural health needs.
Integration of services also often suggests working in a trans-disciplinary
approach in a multi-disciplinary team. There is coordination of services
to (a) eliminate fragmentation and duplication in service delivery; and
(b) ensure all service providers have knowledge of pertinent information
from all sources. To facilitate cross-programme relationships, consultation
among service providers, cross-training, and family involvement can be
helpful. Partnerships or collaborative arrangements beyond simple referral
arrangements are a key component of integrated services. Ultimately, the
goal of integrating services is to improve services and their availability and
delivery, within a coordinated, efficient system.

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