Social workers need to have the profound theoretical and practical knowledge to help people. Their knowledge flows from an understanding of the full range of complexities and resources of the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual environment. Despite conflicting paradigms between traditional problem-based assessments and strengths-based approaches, it seems that it is the second approach that helps people do better in the long run (Graybeal, 2001). The problem-oriented social work paradigm stresses the client’s negative aspects: disorders, vices, control, obligations, and misbehaviors (Kreiviniene & Rimkus). The ROPES social work model, which focuses on the individual’s strengths, applies to investigate social isolation causes. The usage of this model can positively affect clients who are in crisis and express suicidal thoughts.
Social workers are in dire need of creating tools to identify strengths in the individual. The ROPES social work model is such a tool (Graybeal, 2001); now, the model is in development; its author is Graybeal Clay. The main components of this model are Resources, Opportunities, Possibilities, Exceptions, and Solutions. Among the resources that must be considered when identifying a problem, the following should be named: family, social environment, community. Guiding questions will also help the disoriented or stuck practitioner navigate. By asking alternative questions, understanding arises not only for the social service provider but also for the client (Graybeal, 2001). Perhaps the client will see hope in their situation or look at the problem with a fresh perspective, contributing to the more successful construction of solutions to problems.
Social isolation is the objective absence of social relations or the scarcity of social contacts. Long-term illness, disabilities, transportation challenges, or unemployment can all contribute to social isolation. Being in such a state is fraught with the fact that people will begin to abuse alcohol and cigarettes; several studies have proved that this behavior’s cause is a lonely lifestyle (Novotney, 2019). Results from 2015 studies have shown a strong association between social isolation and the risk of early mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015). Social workers often have to work with clients who are in a state of isolation from others. Their job involves choosing an appropriate service for a client and assessing the possible results of these services (Kisthardt, 2013). The detrimental effect of isolation on the client’s health obliges social workers to seek practical solutions to this problem that ensure positive results.
The ROPES social work model assumes a more attentive attitude to the questions asked and the responses received from the client than is required by traditional assessment. In the context of working with people subject to a state of social isolation, this will mean a complete consideration of all the client’s circumstances. Consequently, the summation of data on the client’s current resources and potential capabilities will be provided. However, the intuitive understanding of the context of practice, which is required in the work of a social worker, is only achieved as the social worker gains professional experience (Healy, 2014). Therefore, it cannot be assumed that only one use of the proposed model can positively improve the client’s mental state.
A rapid and short-term emergency reaction to mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral distress is a crisis intervention. Crisis interventions help restore a person’s biopsychosocial functioning and reduce the risk of long-term injury. Using the ROPES social work model can be helpful because it enables one to track the presence of suicidal tendencies in a client and establish their cause. However, it still takes some time to complete an analysis of the client’s condition; therefore, preference should be given to assessment models that require less time to make a “diagnosis.”
The ROPES social work model has a severe potential for application in the practice of social workers. Its use allows one to move away from the previously dominant concepts of analyzing the client’s state in favor of this more effective one. Its benefits were explored both in a situation when a client finds himself in social isolation and crisis interventions. However, more research is required to be confident about the effectiveness of the model.
References
Graybeal, C. (2001). Strengths-based social work assessment: Transforming the dominant paradigm. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 82, 233-242. Web.
Healy, K. (2014). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Palgrave Macmillan.
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on psychological science: A journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. Web.
Kisthardt, W. E. (2013). Integrating the core competencies in strengths-based, person-centered practice. In D. Saleebey (ed.). The strengths perspective social work practice. New Jersey: Pearson, 23–78.
Kreiviniene, B., & Rimkus, V. (2016). Positive social work approach: The shift from “work” towards “social”. Tiltai, 73. Web.
Novotney A. (2019). The risks of social isolation. Monitor on Psychology, 50(5), 32. Web.