Week 3-2nd Post Chapter 6

Blog 2

Chapter 6: Who Owns the Problem?

Chapter out line: Clarification of who owns the problem

Answer: The person that owns the problem is the person whose needs are not being met.

3 reasons why you should know who owns the problem

*Know who is responsible for solving the problem

Don’t try to take over and make yourself responsible for problems. You cannot accept what problems that are not yours

*Meddling/disrespectful

Even with the best intentions and an honest attempt to help if you try to take over and solve the problem then often you are perceived as pushy and have lost faith in the client’s ability.

*Lose opportunities to grow

 The message sent while meddling is that you do not feel that the person is capable of finding a solution. During the time that the client deals with the issues and emotions personal growth is taking place.

What if the client owns the problem?

-In many situations and circumstances the problem can shift

-Know what and who the problem belongs to

-Making strategic decisions to act or not act and to what extend and in what manner

Is it Uncaring?

            -Guilt for not doing more-Outside pressure to do more

            -Id of who owns the problem and their self-actualization

            -Respecting the client’s privacy and self-determination

            (Our goal should be to encourage the client to do as much for them as they can)

Making strategic decisions

            *Knowing how much and how intensive your involvement should be

            *Professional/Friendship-Time mgmt. /Extent of involvement

            *Deciding when and who can take what own their own

            (Personal growth and empowerment are a goal but only if the client can handle the responsibility)

Being a Resource

*You as a wealth of knowledge ie Resources at your finger tips

*Collaboration of details, facts, information, networks and general situational knowledge

*Goal: provide the resources/tools and allow the client to work toward a solution with your assistance and support and ultimately gaining personal skills and emotional growth.  

What if you own the problem?

            ~If you’re having personal or professional problems

            ~You seem to be the only one affected/Accepting the problem as your own

            ~Seeking for resolution-this is a request for assistance in solving your problem

            ~Solution can be positive or negative depending on variables

            ~Personal growth and open honest rapport established or sustained

What if both own the problem?

            ~Everyone is different

            ~Working relationship being hindered by problem

            ~Honest and genuine exposure of problem details

            ~As in life seek resolution in fixing the problem

~As in life a mutual collaboration and compromise must be found to fix the problem

(A solution can vary depending on the situation and client-outcome is dependent on the mutual collaboration and agreed compromise to change the situation) 

Note:

Now that we have recognized and acknowledged that many problems that will be brought to us are in fact the client’s problem. Knowing that the problem is theirs we can analyze and determine to what extend our involvement will be. As each client will have different strengths and weaknesses we must tailor our time and resources to meet the specific need. Our goal should be to allow and empower the client to do as much as possible for themselves. By doing this the client can have a sense of accomplishment and pride for solving one’s own personal issues or adversities.   

Article in Review:

In researching who own the problem and how to interact with it I came across the following article. It seemed to show questionable practices in my opinion. Our book clearly states that these are strategic decisions however I did have some reservations concerning the perceived callus nature of the worker. It did seem uncaring in the way the video worker came across to the client. However our book noted that this was not uncaring and that it was a strategic decision making on the workers part to empower the client to make emotional and personal strides to accomplish a goal.

I don’t guess I have ever really given the process much thought at all. I never knew that case workers did that kind of strategic decision making throughout their case load. To be perfectly honest I assumed it was a lack of effort on the case workers part to just make the client do all the work. I realize the error of my rationale. Only through adversities do we rise and allow the client to work through their own self-determination then they can value the experience and the knowledge it brought. Remaining a valuable resource in the completion of this journey is your part as the case worker and that is what we are to do manage our time, energy and involvement for to be as much of a resource to as many as possible with resignation to effectiveness.

Now that question that I have after watching the above video of a worker/client session left me thinking that the worker was above and beyond an uncaring nature. I guess my question is was that a portrayal of strategic decision making or just being mean spirited. I can tell you this if some spoke to me in the manner the worker spoke to the client in the video I would have taken it as a personal attack on my character rather than strategic decision making. I did not see the strategy she was using I only saw the worker seemingly belittling the client.

Is their grey area in strategic decision making and if so is it at EACH workers discretion how to use and what manner to use it in?