Client participation is one of the social work’s central ideals, yet several studies have illustrated the challenges around including client perspectives in decision-making and action-planning procedures in institutional settings. The present study explores how social workers can help clients form and expresses their views to influence decisions about how to proceed in their case. We use a discourse analysis methodology focused on naturally occurring interactions in meetings in which a client initiative has consequences for the decisions made. Our analysis illustrates a process where the social worker assists the client in taking the initiative to form and express their views about how to proceed in the case followed by joint exploration, adjustment and concretisation of the client’s initiative into an institutional referral. This account casts participation in conversation as more than the acceptance or implementation of clients’ ideas or requests. Rather, participation in this setting is a negotiated activity that entails supporting clients in developing thoughts and ideas about how to achieve their long-term goals within the available framework of institutional resources. The analysis offers concrete implications for practice, as the single case illustrates interactional practices involved in facilitating client participation within a welfare-to-work context.

中文翻译：

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在社会工作中培养客户主动性：互动探索

客户参与是社会工作的核心理念之一，但一些研究已经说明了在机构环境中将客户观点纳入决策和行动计划程序的挑战。本研究探讨了社会工作者如何帮助案主形成和表达他们的观点，以影响有关如何处理他们的案件的决定。我们使用一种话语分析方法，专注于会议中自然发生的互动，在这些互动中，客户的倡议会对做出的决定产生影响。我们的分析说明了一个过程，即社工协助案主主动形成并表达他们对案件如何进行的看法，然后共同探索、调整和具体化案主的主动性，并将其具体化为机构转介。该帐户将参与对话不仅仅是接受或实施客户的想法或要求。相反，参与这种环境是一项谈判活动，需要支持客户发展关于如何在可用的机构资源框架内实现其长期目标的想法和想法。该分析为实践提供了具体的含义，因为单个案例说明了在从福利到工作的环境中促进客户参与所涉及的互动实践。参与这种环境是一项协商的活动，需要支持客户发展关于如何在可用的机构资源框架内实现其长期目标的想法和想法。该分析为实践提供了具体的含义，因为单个案例说明了在从福利到工作的环境中促进客户参与所涉及的互动实践。参与这种环境是一项协商的活动，需要支持客户发展关于如何在可用的机构资源框架内实现其长期目标的想法和想法。该分析为实践提供了具体的含义，因为单个案例说明了在从福利到工作的环境中促进客户参与所涉及的互动实践。