Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Who are involuntary clients? The dual role of workers with involuntary clients Direct practice Sources of knowledge in work with involuntary clients Evidence-based practice The purpose of this book The structure of the book 2 What works and what doesn't? Approaches that work Approaches that sometimes work Approaches that don't work An evidence-based practice model Research evidence, theory and other practice models Summary 3 Role clarification Dual role: Social control and helping What is negotiable and what is not? Confidentiality Case manager, case planner or problem-solver? The client's expectations Helping the client to understand the nature of the professional relationship Organisational expectations Theoretical approach to the work Case examples Summary 4 Promoting pro-social outcomes Identifying pro-social comments and actions Providing rewards Modelling pro-social behaviours Challenging undesirable behaviours Advantages of the pro-social approach Criticisms of the pro-social approach Summary 5 Problem-solving Steps in the problem-solving process Problem-solving, risk assessment and case planning Criticisms of a problem-solving approach Summary 6 The relationship Empathy Optimism Humour Self-disclosure Client violence Summary 7 Working with families When is it appropriate to work with family groups? Collaborative family counselling A home-based model The collaborative family counselling process Pro-social modelling The worker-client relationship Summary 8 Evaluation Single case study evaluation Case analysis Conclusion Appendix: Principles of effective practice References Index

About the Author

Chris Trotter is Professor in the Department of Social Work at Monash University and the author of Helping Abused Children and their Families and Collaborative Family Work.

Reviews

"This is another edition of an essential text for social workers and all professionals working in complex social settings where service users (described here as clients by virtue of involuntary service use) are compelled to use services regardless of whether they want to. The book is a fresh reminder of how the profession needs to build on Trotter's book to demonstrate wider expertise, and evidence of good interventions and practices (which has been part of Trotter's mission to date). The book reviews practice with not only compliant involuntary clients, but also those who may resist or even sabotage interventions, sometimes as a result of the practitioner not having the necessary skills, values or aptitude for this kind of work."

Dr Lee Quinney, University of Wolverhampton