Client self-determination and professional intervention: striking a balance.
Social workers find themselves caught in the cross fire between two imperatives: (1) outcome-oriented and competency-based practice requisites and (2) the principle of client self-determination. In this context, the authors hypothesize that social workers use a wide range of gradations along a continuum of practice directiveness. Furthermore, there is ethical justification for this diverse role repertoire. Directiveness modalities are influenced by specific conditional factors that guide practitioner behavior. A study is described that empirically explores and amplifies these hypotheses.
Rothman
J
J
School of Public Policy and Social Research, University of California, Los Angeles 90025, USA. jrothman@ucla.edu
Smith
W
W
Nakashima
J
J
Paterson
M A
MA
Mustin
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work; D000078329:Workforce