When working alongside a family it is easier to be able to empower them and work in partnership with them if you are working in a supporting role, ie almost in a preventative situation - a need has been identified and if it is addressed then potentially the family will not need any further input. However if this need becomes a reality and the children are put at risk of significant harm this can mean that the social worker would then need to become the authority figure in the situation.
This can then become a barrier for the parents and social worker concerned as the parents may feel that the social worker is now controlling the situation and the social worker may feel they are unable to empower the parents as they need to be told what to do
This can then become a barrier for the parents and social worker concerned as the parents may feel that the social worker is now controlling the situation and the social worker may feel they are unable to empower the parents as they need to be told what to do