Value 4: Valuing Human Relationships

Context for Practice Statement: Clinical specialists understand that a comprehensive approach to care involves considering the full spectrum of a service user’s life, including bio-psycho-social-spiritual elements. By situating the individual within their broader context, the Clinical specialist is better equipped to address the complex interplay of factors affecting the person’s well-being. This holistic approach not only acknowledges service users’ existing strengths and difficulties but also fosters a collaborative therapeutic relationship that is essential for effective practice. Through this relationship, clinical specialists can support service users in realizing change, overcoming challenges, and moving towards healing.

Standards of Practice: Clinical specialists shall commit to providing holistic services and consider the full spectrum of a service user’s life by:

4.1.1 engaging in-depth with service users to understand their perspective on their difficulties and strengths, considering their physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and cultural needs;

4.1.2 pursuing additional assessments in distinct clinical and related areas as necessary, and acquiring extra training to ensure proficiency. Prior to conducting these assessments, clinicians must undertake a self-assessment to affirm their preparedness (refer to guidelines). These evaluations may encompass social work-related or interdisciplinary practices including outcome measurement, psychiatric disability assessment, vocational capability evaluation, consideration of age-specific issues, forensic evaluations, or the implementation of standardized assessment schedules that demand adept data analysis;

4.1.3 proactively identifying and evaluating indicators to mitigate potential harm to service users or others. This encompasses assessing risks related to self-harm, vulnerability to domestic violence, other safety concerns within the home and living environment such as child safety and evaluating the likelihood of the service user causing harm to others;

4.1.4 establishing or verifying the probable mental health condition(s) and analyzing the significance and priority of factors influencing service user’s state. In situations lacking a formal diagnosis, employing frameworks like the DSM-5 to formulate a preliminary assessment and discussing significant factors impacting the service user’s condition;

4.1.5 integrating theory and professional knowledge with collected data to construct a comprehensive narrative linking the service user’s functional status with their identified strengths and challenges within their social context;

4.1.6 collaborating with service users to reach a shared agreement and understanding regarding the assessment findings to identify and apply suitable interventions as part of the intervention or service planning, incorporating measurable objectives agreed upon by both parties;

4.1.7 consistently revisiting the assessment findings and the intervention or service plan with the service user to maintain a concentrated focus on a mutual recognition of challenges and strengths, ensuring adaptive and responsive care throughout the service provision process.

When appropriate:

4.1.8 collating data from a diverse array of sources to form a nuanced understanding of the service user’s situational challenges and assets;

4.1.9 conducting assessments of clinical functioning as an integral component of a broad-based assessment service, utilizing specific assessment tools to gain insight into particular facets of the service user’s issues and strengths.

Context for Practice: Clinical specialists are dedicated to establishing and maintaining therapeutic relationships that honour the individuality and dignity of each service user. Clinical specialists understand the significance of mutual respect and the reciprocal nature of therapeutic relationships. The commitment involves engaging in continuous learning, applying evidence-informed knowledge to therapy and interventions, and maintaining an ethical stance that places the well-being of service users at the forefront of all professional endeavours.

Standards of Practice: Clinical specialists shall establish and maintain therapeutic relationships by:

4.2.1 identifying and utilizing current research to support the selection and application of bio-psycho-social-spiritual therapeutic interventions;

4.2.2 engaging with service users to form a therapeutic relationship that is characterized by empathy, trust, and respect, recognizing this as the foundation for effective intervention;

4.2.3 establishing a clear agreement with service users that outlines the basis for the intervention, ensuring transparency and mutual understanding regarding the objectives and process of therapy;

4.2.4 providing comprehensive information to service users about the purpose, nature, possible risks, and anticipated outcomes of the proposed intervention, ensuring informed consent is obtained;

4.2.5 working within a framework that is supported by evidence-informed practice, adapting therapy and intervention plans according to the evolving needs and progress of service users;

4.2.6 continuously monitoring and evaluating interventions, involving the service user’s family as appropriate and with the service user’s consent, to assess effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

4.2.7 engaging in ongoing formal and informal professional development opportunities, including advanced and specialized training in therapeutic interventions, to enhance skill sets and maintain best practices in clinical social work.