Interviewing Using a Strength-based Approach

Question 1

What are strengths (2)?

Answer 1

• The strengths perspective focuses on the capacities and
  potentialities of service users.
• Strengths are characteristics associated with coping and
  resilience.

Question 2

Examples of strengths (4):

Answer 2

• Reasoning and appraisal skills, defence and coping
  mechanisms.
• Temperamental and dispositional factors.
• Interpersonal skills and supports.
• External factors e.g. social institutions, financial
  resources etc.

Question 3

Steps using the strength perspective in practice (6):

Answer 3

• Engagement
• Clarification (of problem)
• Assessment
• Intervention
• Goal setting
• The role of the worker

Question 4

Strength-based interview skills (4):

Answer 4

• Don’t take no for an answer.
• Help correct the effects of being labelled.
• Take advantage of the considerable resources of culture and ethnicity.
• Normalise and externalise.

Question 5

Questions to discover strengths (7):

Answer 5

• How have you managed to survive (or thrive) so far?
• How have you been able to rise to the challenges put before you?
• What have you learned about yourself and your world during your struggles?
• Which of these difficulties have given you special strength, insight or skill?
• What people have given you special understanding, support and guidance?
• Where are they now?
• What associations, organisations or groups have been especially helpful to you up to now?

Question 6

Exception questions (3):

Answer 6

• “Have there been times when this problem has not had an
  effect on you?”
• “What was different about those times?”
• “What supports / personal skills and resources do you think you have to assist you in addressing the problem?”

Question 7

Questions for identifying barriers (2):

Answer 7

• “What do you think prevents the problem from being resolved?”.
• “What might need changing in your environment in order to assist you to resolve the problem?”

Question 8

Intervention Strategies (5):

Answer 8

1. Use a future focus (help the person imagine a future without the problem + possibility questions).
2. Use a change focus (reframe to change the perception of the problem and its power over the problem + esteem questions).
3. Identify resources and capacities (could use miracle questions).
4. Use a strength-based focus for developing achievable goals and tasks (goals should be S.M.A.R.T)
5. Review for future sessions

Question 9

S.M.A.R.T goals:

Answer 9

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Timely

Question 10

All goals should be linked with:

Answer 10

• A persons support system (personal and local).
• Community resources.
• The person’s strengths.

Question 11

Important practice themes for effective family intervention (5):

Answer 11

• Accessibility.
• Respectfulness and empowerment.
• Purposeful intervention (focus on improving outcomes).
• Flexibility.
• Strong networking.

Question 12

The role of the social worker in goal implementation (3):

Answer 12

• Advocating for community connections.
• Expanding resource networks through influencing systems and structures.
• Advocating for the person’s rights and entitlements to be promoted and protected.

Question 13

To maintain anti-oppressive practice:

Answer 13

…the social worker and client should work in collaboration where the client is viewed as the expert of her or his own situation and life experiences.