NCJ Number
53087
Date Published
1977
Length
95 pages
Annotation
THE WORK METHODS AND VIEWPOINTS OF A SOCIAL WORK TEAM INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANISATION, HELP FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, WERE REPORTED BY ITS MEMBERS FOR THE YEARS 1975 AND 1976.
Abstract
THE TEAM CONSISTED OF THREE FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKERS, A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, A PSYCHIATRIST, A RECEPTIONIST, AND A STUDENT DOING FIELDWORK. THEY COMMENTED ON THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES, ON THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR JOBS, AND ON POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS. THE FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS SPENT 2 DAYS OF EACH WEEK PERFORMING DIRECT CLIENT WORK, 1 DAY ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND THE 2 REMAINING DAYS WORKING ON OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PUBLIC RELATIONS. THE TEAM MEMBERS DID NOT HAVE A LEADER AND SHARED THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK. THE POSITIVE AS WELL AS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON EXISTING SOCIETAL STRUCTURES OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OFFENDERS WAS DISCUSSED. TEAM MEMBERS CONSIDERED IT THEIR TASK NOT ONLY TO HELP CLIENTS BUT ALSO TO INFLUENCE THE DIRECT ENVIRONMENT OF THE CLIENTS (PRISONS AND COURTS) AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. MANY DEFENSE LAWYERS CONTACTED THE TEAM TO GET EARLY ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR CLIENTS. A CLIENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF EARLY ASSISTANCE USUALLY RESULTED IN A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEAM. SISTER ORGANISATIONS, CLIENTS, AND LAWYERS WERE ASKED TO GIVE THEIR OPINION ABOUT THE WORK OF THE TEAM, AND THEIR REPLIES WERE PUBLISHED IN FULL. THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM WAS MEASURED BY THE SATISFACTION OF THE CLIENTS WITH THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN AND NOT BY THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AMONG CLIENTS. --IN DUTCH (WVK)