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Strengthening Social Worker-Client Relationships in Child Protective Services

Addressing Power Imbalances and ‘Ruptured’ Relationships

Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, smaiter{at}wlu.ca

Sally Palmer

McMaster University, Canada

Shehenaz Manji

Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada

Few researchers have set out to explore parents’ feelings about their experiences with Child Protective Services (CPS) particularly as they relate to the relationship between workers and parents who come to the attention of CPS. Yet the worker-client relationship is a central aspect of social work intervention, contributing to positive case resolutions. Understanding aspects of this relationship can contribute to improved CPS. This article reports findings from a qualitative study that used in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 61 parents who had involvement with CPS.¹ Parents appreciated workers who were caring, genuine, empathetic, exceptionally helpful, non-judgmental, and accepting. Negative qualities of workers identified by parents were being judgmental, cold and uncaring, poor listeners, critical, and insincere.

Child protection interventions can result in greater actual and/or perceived power imbalances between the client and the worker compared to other social work interventions. Our findings, however, suggest that a positive alliance can be achieved within the context of the adversarial and complex nature of CPS. Possible ways to maintain relationships or rebuild ‘ruptured’ relationships are suggested.

Key Words: child protection • client perspective • client relationship • power • qualitative research • social worker qualities

Qualitative Social Work, Vol. 5, No. 2, 161-186 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1473325006064255


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