Beneficial Helping Relationships - Perspectives of Clients and their Social Workers

Author:
Ho Jiajing, Asaph

Abstract
There is a dearth of local literature on beneficial helping relationships that integrates perspectives from both clients and social workers ("SWs"). To fill the gap, this study in a Singapore-based Family Service Centre (“FSC”) utilised semi-structured interviews to explore qualitative narratives of disadvantaged families (“clients”) (n=3) and their SWs (n=4) on how beneficial helping relationships are defined, supported, and impeded. Themes were derived through Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Nuanced perspectives from clients and SWs successfully illuminated that beneficial helping relationships involve mutual and significant contributions from both actors rather than one-sided effort, leading to improved outcomes including increased client self-efficacy. Conversely, trust in helping relationships was found to be impacted by managerialism which may unintentionally prioritise fixed Key-Performance-Indicators (“KPIs”) over the relationship-building process, overemphasise risk management practices, and place a time famine on SWs.

As social work practice in FSCs experiences increasing managerialism, this study outlines pragmatic strategies through which practice, organisations, and policy may harness its advantages, such as enhanced accountability, while safeguarding trust in helping relationships. Notably, the study argues for “contact logs” to be recognised and funded alongside “case recordings”, as clients valued social workers being available through flexible modes of contact within the relationship-building process over time.

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