new technology in the human services

NTHS Vol:10(2) pp21-22 1997

ProCare, (1996), Interpersonal Skills - Social Work, ProCare ISBN: 085432 6065

 

 

Neil Thompson was fomerly Professor of Social Work and Applied Social Studies at Staffordshire University but now works as an independent trainer, consultant and author He is the author of several books, including People Skills (Macmillan, 1996).

Contact him at:

1 Worcester Road
Bangor on Dee
Wrexham LL]3 OJB
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1978 780296
Fax: +44 (0)1978 781117
Email: neil@nthompson.demon.co.uk

Interpersonal Skills - Social Work Module

reviewed by Neil Thompson

This is the first version of an Interpersonal Skills CAL module, produced by ProCare. Provided on a single floppy disk, with a clear and helpful printed tutor guide, it was easy to install and easy to use, with no technical difficulties at an. The module is part of a series that includes Interpersonal Skills for Nurses and Research Methods for Nursing and Social Work.

The module is intended to give students the opportunity to explore issues relating to interpersonal skills and is divided into eight sections, covering communication, making contact, assessment, planning, implementation, maintaining contact, endings and evaluation, Each section provides basic information with exercises and back-up references to guide students through.

Attractively presented, with easy to follow instructions, the software is pitched appropriately at first year DipSW level. The information provided is generally good, in clear language with helpful interlinking between the sections. So, as far as it goes, I found it a very helpful and useful package. However, that is where I had some difficulty - in terms of how far it goes. I was left with some major reservations not about what was in the package but what was left out. I found this to he the case in ~ ways:

  • Some of the material is very narrowly defined. For example, assessment is defined in relation to providing care services. This apparent care management model does not sit easily with social work more broadly defined, for example m child protection or as an Approved Social Worker under the Mental Health Act 1983. Similarly, the fact that the term 'implementation' is used rather than the more usual 'intervention' gives the impression that we are looking at the implementation of a care plan, rather than social work more broadly.
  • Many aspects of interpersonal skills are either not addressed or are referred to only cursorily. For example, assertiveness and handling aggression could have played a much more prominent role.
  • The attention given to issues of discrimination and oppression is disappointing- Although there are some attempts to address the complex issues of power relations and inequalities as they affect interpersonal skills, I would have preferred these to have been seen as central concerns. For example: what assessment skills are needed in seeking to take account of racism when working with someone from a minority ethnic group? What significance do gender dynamics have for communication skills? These and other, related questions can have a crucial bearing on interpersonal interactions but are not given the central platform or attention they deserve.

In sum, this is a user-friendly piece of software that could prove quite useful for first-year DipSW students, but this has to be seen in the context of some serious limitations in the scope of the module due to its very narrow perspective on social work, interpersonal skills and the relationship between the two in terms of power and inequality.


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Last updated 17 December 1999

The journal has now ceased publication (2003)