Building Relationships

Topic 1: Introduction to the strengths-based approach Learning outcomes

At the end of this topic you will have gained knowledge of:

• The underlying beliefs of the strengths-based approach

• How use of this approach can support individuals to move towards

self-sufficiency.

Introduction

At the heart of the strengths approach are social justice principles of respect and empowerment.

A strengths approach focuses on a person’s strengths not their deficits. It is an optimistic approach that finds the more you focus on an individual’s strengths, the greater they become. This approach places the person as the expert in their own lives.

“The strengths approach is a philosophy for working with people to bring change”. Wayne McCashen

Activity – the strengths-based approach

Please read the ‘Using strengths and building relationships’ PowerPoint presentation provided.

What are the underlying beliefs of the strength-based approach?

Please record your thoughts, reflections and important points in the space below.

By asking questions and working with participants, you can help them to discover and value their strengths and capacities to promote change.

We can become more people oriented if we focus on strengths questions that ask:

• What has worked well for the participant in the past?

• What actions participants take to achieve goals?

• What skills, knowledge or resources they currently use

Activity – identify strengths

Some strengths are easily identified, while others are more difficult to uncover. And it’s often more challenging to identify personal strengths than it is to identify our achievements e.g. an exam result, a personal milestone.

How many of your own strengths can you identify and why? (see attachment A)

How would you define the expression “power-over”?

Power-over limits potential and ability. We need to embrace the power-with philosophy within the constraints of our business, remembering that we are still bound by legislation and policy.

Power-with

Addressing power imbalances is an important underlying principle of the strengths-based approach.

Power-with is important in fostering self-determination, and is a key component of the strengths-based approach. Record your answers to the following questions in the spaces provided.

How would you define power-with?

The NDIA inherently operates from a power-over position with participant obligations and formal controls over payments.

Even in these circumstances it’s possible to choose an option that is more power-with than power-over.

Explain in your words how that might occur:

Summary

Use of the strengths-based approach assists us to help participants identify the freedom they have to make their own choices, and work from a position of strength to plan for the future.

Topic 2: The questioning cycle

This is an image of the questioning cycle. The key components of the questioning cycle are set the context, seek permission and provide clarification.

In an interaction, setting the context, provides an understanding for the reason for discussion, it’s the ‘why’ we are having a chat.

Seeking permission before asking questions of a sensitive or personal nature, allows the participant to advise whether they are comfortable to discuss the reason for the interaction.

Providing clarification to questions will ensure of an agreed understanding.

The types of questions you ask, should encourage and open up the conversation, and focus on the possibilities rather than the problem.

Questions are at the heart of this model and are fundamentally linked to the three elements we are about to explore.

Set the context

In an interaction, setting the context, provides an understanding for the reason for discussion.

Why do you think individuals want staff to do this?

How do you do it?

Seek permission

Why do individuals want staff to do this?

Provide clarification

Why do individuals want staff to do this?

What are the benefits?

The problem

Within the house we have been encouraged to resolve participant and staff issues, and we do this well. However, the strengths-based approach is about assisting people to identify their own solutions.

One of the most important shifts in using a strengths-based approach is to become a ‘listener’. Often we resist, instead we often seek or find a solution instead of listening.

Using a strengths-based approach is not about imposing our ideas onto other people and or trying to ‘fix’ a problem with our solutions. We are moving from a transaction approach to an interaction approach. In many of us it is hard-wired to approach a problem and try to fix or solve it.

Summary

The questioning cycle provides techniques, which enhance the quality of our conversations.

The questioning cycle doesn’t have to be used in a specific order. Use the different components where required throughout the conversation.

These skills can be applied to time limited conversations and any conversation involving complex issues.

Topic 3: Using the strengths-based approach

Learning outcomes

At the end of this topic you will gain knowledge of the importance of using strengths-based language.

Strengths-based language

An important aspect of the strengths-based approach is how we use language.

Due to past experiences and perceptions people understand themselves in a certain way. This is their ‘reality’. Sometimes we can challenge this reality.

Labelling

Labelling a person can shape our perception of that person. We should never refer to a person by his or her diagnosis or experience.

Example: Imagine the following introduction was made “Hi, this is Rodney, and Rodney is homeless”.

How does this make you feel about meeting Rodney?

Alternate introduction: “Hi, this is Rodney, and Rodney is looking for somewhere to stay”.

How does this differ from the first question?

How does this make you feel about meeting Rodney now?

Remember a person is not their illness or their circumstance. A person is not the problem, the problem is the problem.

Let’s look at how questions can actually influence or determine if responses are going to be positive or defensive by expanding the Rodney scenario a little;

Let’s change the question and see if the responses change from defensive and negative to something more positive;

Let’s now examine the differences between questions that relate to the problem and questions seeking to tap into strengths.

Activity - Strengths-based questions vs problem-focused questions

Which questions do you think focus on fixing the participants problem?

Mark the questions with a tick for P for Problem-focused or S for Strength based

Check your answers on the next page.

What kind of responses do you think might be given were given to the two different types questions?

Knowing your boundaries

When asking questions of a personal nature it is important to understand your role and skill level to ensure you do not become an ‘accidental counsellor’.

Activity

The following activity lists several actions that can be taken to assist you in knowing your boundaries, avoiding misunderstandings and reducing the risk of stress for you and others.

On the next page you are required to find the best match between the column A: ‘What to do’ and column B ‘How to do this’.

Draw a line from the item in column A to its best match with the “How to” responses in Column B

For example see the line that has already been drawn from “Notice your own emotions and be aware of any triggers...” to “Monitor your emotions...”

Reframing language.

It is possible to put a positive spin on issues, this helps create a positive approach and can enable participants to identify their own strengths.

Some individuals may have complex and difficult personal circumstances and at times will disclose some of these to you. When this occurs it is important to acknowledge these issues raised.

What are some referrals or specialists participants and/or staff can be referred to?

When should you urgently refer a customer to a social worker, counselling service or medical professional?

Informal support

Support can not only be formal but also include informal relationships.

Name different types of informal support available.

The outcome of an interaction utilising the strength-based approach versus a problem-focused approach is likely to be different despite the time length of that interaction being the same. Our interactions are often governed by time-limited constraints, legislation and policies.

What principles and techniques of the strengths-based approach and questioning cycle could you use in your current role?

How would you use these?