Decision making in social work practice

摘要: Decision making in social work is high-stakes work. Regardless of practice setting, client population, and role, practitioners confront the challenge both facilitating good decisions. Decisions are defined as intentional choices made from a number alternative possibilities that will result some effect (Van Bemmel & Helder, 1997). In course day, workers make countless Clinicians assess problems determine treatments choice. Policymakers administrators program priorities. Purchasers must choose between providers benefit packages. Agencies decide service eligibility rules. Child protection whether children at risk, courts should be petitioned, out-of-home placements necessary. yet other cases, very problem presented by one choice, worker's task to strengthen client's decision-making skills. Women facing among adoption, abortion, keeping their babies; women abusive domestic situations planning how safe; troubled couples contemplating divorce; families considering when if seek institutional care for an elderly loved one--these but few many can conceptualized counseling decision making. counseling, shared tasks worker assessing improving efforts. Social workers' decisions efficiencies, effectiveness, even fates. Services delivered or denied. Children stay foster return once-abusive parents. Couples divorce. Elderly people live alone enter nursing homes. Families housed not. Troubled teenagers sent counselors court. Professional recognized matter public policy, given its impact on access care, type quality received, third-party payment, outcomes (Chapman Sonnenberg, 2000; Matchar Samsa, Rosen, Proctor, Livne, 1985). Whereas our necessitates we decisions, professionalism demands do so informed rational manner. Society expects professionals, virtue knowledge skill, carefully well. Yet evidence burgeoning field research warns us may compromised factors such time pressure, emotions, cultural differences, lack information, wide range alternatives These rule, rather than exception, contexts which increasingly subject scrutiny purposes payment authorization assurance. External reviewers want know why treatment made, asked articulate clinical rationale recommended provide basis (Goodman, Brown, Deitz, 1992). Implicit requirement prepare plans use monitoring assumption product careful, deliberate How, then, capacity critical decisions? How ensure best information available? workers, ever pressed resources, efficiently? structure process inclusion stakeholders--families, clients, purchasers, advocacy groups--in about choice intervention? help empower clients (Jimison Sher, 1999)? …