Undertaking any new venture is a strenuous activity because the person faces unpredicted situations they may not handle. It is even more challenging for family social workers who are waiting for their first interview with a family, as the list of potential adverse outcomes includes stress, pressure, and unsatisfied family members. This paper presents several possible situations that may occur during the first interview and ways of alleviating the adverse effects.
Situation 1
One of the common barriers that may arise between a social worker and the family is the unintentional adverse effects of family problems. Members may share their issues too actively and chaotically with the professional that it becomes almost impossible to identify the potential causes and distinct communication patterns. Failure to treat the problems is only one of the unfavorable outcomes for the social worker. The specialist may even face burnout if he or she is continuously found in such shambolic situations.
There are two possible ways this issue may be mitigated. The family social worker should develop a concrete treatment plan for each family member prior to the first meeting. Studying family files and learning about the family’s specific problem through relevant literature is beneficial, as suggested by Collins, Jordan, and Coleman (2013). The second approach to dealing with potential chaos is to take an active position from the beginning. The social worker should ask specific questions so that the interview is focused and manageable. As with the previous solution, preparation plays a crucial role because it is not easy to develop appropriate and precise questions.
Situation 2
It is natural for any individual to doubt the expertise of another person if they do not have much experience in the field. The same principle applies to family social workers that are preparing for their first interview. The family may be reluctant to share their issues because they have questions about the specialist’s level of knowledge. Some workers, when faced with mistrust and doubt on the interviewee’s behalf, may show a decrease in their performance, and some may even quit. The relevant evidence is given by Lanaj, Kim, Koopman and Matta (2018), who claim that frequent mistrust at the workplace leads to emotional exhaustion, conflicts with co-workers, and even harsh disagreements at home. These are serious consequences, and the family social workers should always be ready to tackle mistrust.
The specialists should always behave professionally and proceed with the treatment plan. Being professional also means not taking clients’ words too emotionally and personally. They should also refrain from having arguments with the family members, and instead, facilitate effective communication. The second solution is to plan well before the interview to make a favorable first impression. When a social worker evinces a high level of preparedness, clients are more likely to consider the specialist seriously.
Conclusion
First interviews have a high level of importance in terms of the probability of future success with the family and motivation for further development and growth. It is not possible to predict every situation, but general principles may help mitigate some adverse consequences. Social workers should always prepare before the interviews and obtain as much information as possible on the family before meeting them for the first time. Professionalism and a desire to commit to continuous learning are also critical. The specialists should not be too emotional about clients’ attitudes toward them and should always be objective in their decisions.
References
Collins, D., Jordan, C., & Coleman, H. (2013). An introduction to family social work (4th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Lanaj, K., Kim, P. H., Koopman, J., & Matta, F. K. (2018). Daily mistrust: A resource perspective and its implications for work and home. Personnel Psychology, 71(4), 545-570.