Introduction
Social work is an integral field in the modern world, which puts emphasis on the well-being of underaged individuals, and a lot in this domain is defined by the attitude of social workers and their help. The qualities any good employee in this field has are being ethical, organized, and emphatic. However, while social workers are crucial in their domain, the work that they do cannot be underestimated. In the interviews, they conduct casual but intentional conversations before initiating a relationship. The social worker can establish a connection with the client by using this interview to learn crucial details about their background, needs, and difficulties, which define their importance (Payne, 2021). As a result, it is a goal to make a good first impression, which will help build a relationship with the client and influence their experience and path (Payne, 2021). In turn, negative consequences of poor interviews can manifest in the client’s rage, dissatisfaction, resistance, and loss of faith. Therefore, social workers play an essential role when meeting with clients and guiding them in their custodial hardships through counseling and motivating.
Motivational Interviewing and Cultural Competence
It can be evident that in social work, motivational interviewing and cultural competence are essential. For instance, motivational interviewing is a counseling technique that emphasizes increasing a client’s incentive to change (Hohman, 2021). Initially, to help individuals with drug abuse problems, William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick created motivational interviewing in the 1980s (Hohman, 2021). Since then, it has expanded outside the realm of addictive diseases to include areas including parenthood, healthcare, nursing, criminology, and education (Hohman, 2021). In addition, the capacity for responsible and successful participation in cross-cultural situations in both individual and professional contexts is known as cultural competence (Hohman, 2021). Terry L. Cross and colleagues coined the phrase cultural competency in 1989, but it was not until almost 10 years later that healthcare employees started to receive official training and education in the subject (Hohman, 2021). Therefore, these two concepts have been widely applied in different areas for decades.
Vignette Content
In the case of John, it is first necessary to look at his qualities. When reviewing his strengths and good qualities, it is noteworthy that he is employed and has a part-time job. Additionally, he receives social security benefits and has family support and transportation. At this time, he needs to work on the reasons why he left his children unattended and ensure that his home is child-friendly and entirely safe, such as ensuring that there are sharp objects in an open area. Moreover, he will need and take a course on child-safe practices. Considering that he has family support, it can be easier for him to reach out for services like nannies or parental guidance.
This interview might have a positive impact on John with the help of the NASW Code of Ethics since he will feel supported and understood. Here, the code of ethics exists to address some of the concerns of the clients and manage conflicts when necessary. It is important because it helps social workers understand and abide by ideals, guidelines, and norms that improve society and the field of human services (Koenig et al., 2019). As for the hardest part of the interview, I believe it will be the emotional stress that stems from the feeling of responsibility to help John. As a result, I would have to overcome this by looking through all options available and focusing on small details and bigger picture. In the future, I think it would be more professional not to share the same emotions with clients because it might have a negative impact on me and damage my ability to think rationally.
Conclusion
Hence, social workers are crucial in helping clients through difficulties by advising and inspiring them. Increasing a client’s incentive to change is a key component of the counseling practice known as motivational interviewing. Cultural competency is the ability to act responsibly in cross-cultural contexts. John currently needs to implement child-friendly and responsible practices, while focusing on the strengths of being employed and having transportation and family support.
References
Hohman, M. (2021). Motivational interviewing in social work practice. Guilford Publications.
Koenig, T., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. (2019). Human behavior theory for social work practice. SAGE.
Payne, M. (2021). An A-Z of social work theory. SAGE.