Engaging with children in social work assessments is a complex task that requires a nuanced approach to ensure that their voices are heard and accurately represented. The research article "The Voice of the Child in Social Work Assessments: Age-Appropriate Communication with Children" by O'Reilly and Dolan (2016) provides valuable insights into the role of play skills in facilitating effective communication between social workers and children. This blog post aims to highlight the key findings of this research and offer practical advice for practitioners looking to improve their skills in this area.
The Importance of Play in Communication
Play has long been recognized as a primary medium through which children express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. According to Landreth (2002), play therapy is a developmentally appropriate intervention that parallels the counseling experience for adults. The research by O'Reilly and Dolan underscores the importance of using play skills during child protection and welfare assessments to create a child-centered environment.
Key Findings from the Research
The study conducted by O'Reilly and Dolan involved a Play Skills Training (PST) program designed to equip social workers with techniques used in play therapy. Here are the five key findings from the research:
- Commitment to a Child-Friendly Environment: Social workers reported a greater awareness and commitment to providing a child-friendly environment. They ensured that materials suitable for the child's age and interests were available during assessments.
- Increased Confidence: Participants felt more confident engaging with children using play-based methods, which helped children feel more relaxed and open during sessions.
- More Child-Centered Experience: The use of play skills resulted in a more child-centered assessment process, allowing social workers to gain better insights into the children's worlds.
- The Voice of the Child: By using play skills, social workers were able to capture and represent the child's voice more effectively in assessments.
- More Enthused About Their Work: Social workers reported feeling more enthusiastic about their work, as the play-based approach made the assessment process more enjoyable for both the children and themselves.
Practical Applications
Based on the research findings, here are some practical steps that social workers can take to incorporate play skills into their practice:
- Prepare the Environment: Ensure that the assessment space is equipped with age-appropriate toys, art materials, and other play media.
- Use Non-Directive Play: Allow children to take the lead in play activities, respecting their pace and direction.
- Incorporate Drawing and Storytelling: Use drawing techniques and therapeutic stories to help children express their thoughts and feelings.
- Utilize Worksheets: Employ worksheets to assess children's feelings and experiences in a structured yet flexible manner.
- Engage in Sand Play: Use sand play to allow children to create stories or pictures that can provide insights into their emotional world.
Conclusion
The research by O'Reilly and Dolan highlights the critical role of play skills in enhancing communication between social workers and children during child protection and welfare assessments. By adopting a child-centered approach and using age-appropriate communication techniques, social workers can ensure that the voices of children are heard and represented accurately. For practitioners looking to improve their skills, further exploration of play therapy techniques and ongoing training can be invaluable.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Voice of the Child in Social Work Assessments: Age-Appropriate Communication with Children.
