Attitudes/Values, Skills, and Knowledge Chapter 4 Attitudes/Values, Skills, and Knowledge

The Professional Helping Relationship The Structure of the Professional Helping Relationship = relationship between a worker and client that follows a pattern determined by goals and ethics of human service field Exists for a limited time, whereas friendships might last for many years. Has a clear focus, whereas friendships have many purposes, most of them vague Negotiate a contract (Forge an agreement) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Professional Helping Relationship Depends on a division of labor Disciplined, whereas in a friendship each person is relatively free to act on impulse Confidentiality Built on acceptance © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Professional Helping Relationship The Content of the Professional Helping Relationship Attitudes Values It is not always easy to separate attitudes and values from skills and knowledge © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Pyramid Model Professionals in every field require a combination of attitudes and values, skills, and knowledge (All three dimensions have equal weight. But each component must be built on the base of appropriate attitudes and values.) Attitudes and Values Knowledge Skills © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values Attitudes and Values Form the Base of the Pyramid Human service education & work starts from a solid base of appropriate attitudes & values Attitudes = feelings or thoughts about people or things Values = worth we place on things © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes/Values, Skills, and Knowledge: An Overview The Content of the Helping Relationship Most human service programs incorporate many dimensions of human behavior And use methods that provoke active learning of concepts and skills Most of us are likely to change direction several times in our careers © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values of the Human Service Worker Patience -Realistic view of the growth of people. Being able to understand that growth in people can slow. (Client can be punished for worker’s sense of frustration.) Empathy (Putting self in shoes of another) Requires a finely tuned, intuitive sensitivity to other people Test this value in yourself © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values of the Human Service Worker Self-Awareness - Sketching our strengths and weaknesses * Capacity to Deal with Ambiguity and Take Risks No one is comfortable with ambiguity, or uncertainty When working with the general public, there are many unknowns Each decision is a judgment call © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values of the Human Service Worker Capacity to Ask for Help and Offer Feedback Knowing when to ask for assistance or for an honest appraisal of his or her work is the mark Of a self-confident human service worker Just as important as asking for help is the willingness to give honest feedback to others. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values of the Human Service Worker Belief in the Capacity to Change Assess realistically how much growth is possible or how fast it can happen We should be intolerant of injustice wherever we encounter it What forces in the environment might be inhibiting human potential? © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Values of the Human Service Worker Open-Mindedness, Skepticism, and Rejection of Stereotypes Human service workers need to see beyond the simplistic bigotry of common stereotypes Each stereotype must be questioned Humor and a Light Touch © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Skills of the Human Service Worker Gathering Data Interviewing Active listening Active looking Reading, research, and assessing Attending conferences and workshops Making home or agency visits © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Skills of the Human Service Worker Storing and Sharing Information Information must be put in a useful format Building Relationships Negotiating Contracts and Assessing Problems A contract begins by stating mutual expectations © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Skills of the Human Service Worker Constructing Action Plans Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) Organize a successful event Practice a method of systematic problem solving Implementing Action Plans Monitoring and Evaluating © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Basic Knowledge of the Human Service Worker Human Growth and Development Major milestones and developmental tasks that a newborn infant faces Abnormal Growth and Development Impact of Society and Culture on Behavior The Dynamics of Groups and Organizations © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Basic Knowledge of the Human Service Worker Ways in which groups influence attitudes and behavior Social and Political Forces That Affect Helping Insights from history & cross-cultural analysis Social Problems, Populations, and Resources © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Basic Knowledge of the Human Service Worker How social problems are identified, how new problems rise to prominence on the social agenda, and how new services to deal with them come into being Research and Evaluation Research is complex Needs to be conducted © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Summary Lay helper and professional helper Helping relationship Attitudes and values Basic skills Basic knowledge areas © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.