Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Purpose and Justification
1.2. Coping with Client Violence
2. Theoretical Framework
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results
4.1. The Forced Helper
I am less strict in my assessments when dealing with hostile clients. It happens unconsciously.(Kristina, aged 50, Children and youth worker, 10 year’s experience)
It is problematic when the managers do not stand up to support you […]. You come in as a new worker and want to do things correctly, but the managers tell you otherwise. You lose face before the client, and no one thinks about the fact that you will continue working with and making decisions for the same client. This affects us more than violence itself.
We have special routines for handling violent and querulant clients to avoid confrontation […]. We usually are two social workers; we double-check to ensure correct decisions and handle the cases speedily to avoid unnecessary conflict.(Eva, aged 32, financial assistance worker, 1.5 years’ experience)
4.2. The Compassionate Helper
I have worked with my clients for a long time, and I want to protect them. I want things to go well for them. So, when they threaten me, I attribute the violence to their stressful situation, so I do not report the violent incident to my supervisor or the police. I do not want to cause more damage because the clients have already gone through a lot of troubles.(Gina, aged 28, Youth worker, 5 years’ experience)
These men do not get to meet their children or ex-partners. Because of this, they become frustrated and hostile toward social workers, eventually becoming labelled dangerous people […]. It is essential to dialogue with these men to capture their frustration rather than refer them elsewhere. Frustrated people who are not listened to resort to violence.(Noah, aged 52, child worker, 21 years’ experience)
4.3. The Distanced Helper
I block my feelings from the bad things that happen […]. Many incidents happen all the time, and you have to pull yourself together and move on.(Frida, aged 34, youth worker, 7 years’ experience)
I have become quick at ending meetings when clients begin threatening me. I do not think we [social workers] should tolerate clients who shout at us…. It is a high price to pay.(Frida, aged 34, youth worker, 7 years’ experience)
There is in-built respect for the police, and clients tend to become cautious when the police show up. There is a big difference in how people perceive us compared to the police, even in similar situations.(Irene, aged 32, youth worker, 8 years’ experience)
4.4. The Authoritarian Helper
I get furious when I find out that a client has said bad stuff about my colleagues or me. I call the client and scold them. Sometimes I get shit for doing this, but I don’t care.(Helena, aged 51, youth worker, 10 years’ experience)
I become very negative when a client threatens me; I try to find more reasons to reject the client’s application.… I feel defeated whenever I pay financial assistance to a violent client, even when the client qualifies for the payment.(Birgitta, aged 26, financial assistance worker, 3 years’ experience)
5. Discussion
5.1. Balancing Help and Control
5.2. Is Client Violence and Coping among Social Workers Cyclical?
6. Conclusions and Directions for Further Research
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Nr | Fictitious Name | Age | Gender | Specialisation | Years of Work Experience |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Adam | 36 | Male | Financial assistance | 2 |
2 | Birgitta | 26 | Female | Financial assistance | 3 |
3 | Christian | 24 | Male | Financial assistance | 2 |
4 | Diana | 42 | Female | Financial assistance | 11 |
5 | Eva | 32 | Female | Financial assistance | 1.5 |
6 | Frida | 34 | Female | Youth services | 7 |
7 | Gina | 28 | Female | Youth services | 5 |
8 | Helena | 51 | Female | Youth services | 10 |
9 | Irene | 32 | Female | Youth services | 8 |
10 | Jane | 30 | Female | Financial assistance | 4 |
11 | Kristina | 50 | Female | Child welfare services | 10 |
12 | Lina | 29 | Female | Child welfare services | 5 |
13 | Mike | 35 | Male | Sheltered employment | 8 |
14 | Noah | 52 | Male | Child welfare services | 21 |
15 | Olivia | 43 | Female | Youth services | 12 |
16 | Pia | 47 | Female | Youth services | 15 |
17 | Rita | 31 | Female | Child welfare services | 3 |
18 | Simon | 63 | Male | Youth services | 6 |
19 | Tim | 34 | Male | Financial assistance | 6 |
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Munobwa, J.S.; Öberg, P.; Ahmadi, F. Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work. Soc. Sci. 2023, 12, 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12020058
Munobwa JS, Öberg P, Ahmadi F. Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work. Social Sciences. 2023; 12(2):58. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12020058
Chicago/Turabian StyleMunobwa, Jimmy Stephen, Peter Öberg, and Fereshteh Ahmadi. 2023. "Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work" Social Sciences 12, no. 2: 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12020058
APA StyleMunobwa, J. S., Öberg, P., & Ahmadi, F. (2023). Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work. Social Sciences, 12(2), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12020058