Developmental Theories That Assist Social Workers Essay

Developmental theories are integral to a social workers approach when working with children, and families as they help to guide and explain situations and behaviours. As social workers have an ethical and professional responsibility to their clients, they need to have an established set of guiding theories which underpin their practice. If they work without these theories, they could place their clients at risk of harm by practising from personal assumptions. They also help the social worker understand and manage these situations and to reach the desired outcomes. As suggested by Teater (2014), â€Å"Theory is an essential ingredient in practice that guides the way in which social workers view and approach individuals, groups, communities and society†(Chap 1, p.1). This report will identify and focus on three important developmental theories that assist social workers in their practice. These consist of work by Erikson, Bowlby and Piaget. Erikson’s theory focuses on t he model of life stage development; Piaget’s theory focuses on the cognitive processes while Bowlby’s theory focuses on attachment. Despite these theories representing different aspects of social science, they all have the same guiding principle of development. Once the social worker has identified the relevant theory required, they then use a model to implement the theory. This report will examine and discuss the Collaborative Family Work Model. The Collaborative Family Work Model works in a step by step approachShow MoreRelatedMy Interview With Donna Portnoy889 Words   |  4 PagesMental Health Counselor working in the field of Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. She informed me that she feels it’s easier to find a job as a Social Worker in New York City. 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