Advice giving is a strange concept within social work, on the one hand we aim to be person-centred and have self-determination as one of the central principles of our value base and on the other we are expected (both by others and by ourselves) to know what will be the best solution and to advise people accordingly.
This can be a difficult balance to maintain, and one in which we should always be reflecting and challenging our own assumptions. If a crystal ball came with our registration certificate it would be a different story, but in the real world we need to rely on a range of information and at times conflicting pieces of guidance and advice to support individuals, families and communities.
These individuals, who are often in crisis, need our support to navigate the various systems and options, and at times to make informed and evidence-based decisions in the best interests of others, when they are unable to do so for themselves
At the beginning of my social work career I really had no clue what I was doing or why. This wasn’t based on anything specific but rather a feeling of leaving university and being completely unprepared for what I saw as a responsibility to sort out other people’s lives...
I think, if we are honest, most of us would acknowledge that this is a scary prospect, especially in the beginning of a social work career. What if I get it wrong? What if I missed something? What if I make it worse? These are all questions I asked myself, and ones which I still ponder from time to time. The difference today is that I now know that there is often not a right answer - for me advice and guidance is actually about getting informed rather than getting it right, and that understanding can make a real difference to how we receive, give, and use advice within social work practice.
In the middle of last year I started working with The College on building and developing a practice based helpdesk, Knowledge at the College. It provides information and advice for social workers by social workers. This service had to be evidence based and informative while still being accessible and grounded in front line practice.
Early research showed that more than any other resource social workers asked their peers and colleagues for advice and so that is exactly what we have created – a peer written, peer reviewed, practitioner forum where social workers can access advice and information specific to their practice dilemmas and decisions. Advice is still about exploring the options in our minds, and this service helps social workers to do just that – consider their options and seek additional views.
For me the value of advice-giving is not about social workers imposing their knowledge on others, but rather social workers sharing knowledge with each other and those they support, making sure that the individual, family or community has the best possible support and information available.
What does advice-giving mean to you? How do you use advice to improve and develop your practice? Have you had a look at the Knowledge at The College member service? How could it be used to support you in practice?
Daisy Bogg