A few months ago, I mentioned that I’ll be limiting the content I create around starting and running a consulting practice.
But I had a conversation with social work colleague recently that I couldn’t want to share! So, this month’s Ask Nicole is about consulting, but from the context of social work.
My colleague asked how I’ve used my social work skills as a consultant. In hindsight, my transition from full time direct services social work to full time consulting was pretty seamless, due in part to how my time was structured.
There’s more than one way to be a social worker. This is important, particularly if you’re either social work student, a social worker new to the field, or a seasoned professional looking for something different.
Likewise, most social workers start out at the micro level, working directly with individuals, children, and families. An opportunity can arise where you can serve in a supervisory or leadership role, moving from micro social work into mezzo and macro social work, but the clinical social work skills you learned in school will always be applicable regardless of your role as a social worker.
Here’s how my old process for engaging direct services clients influences how I currently engage with consulting clients.
Old direct services work
The social work generalist intervention model goes like this:
- Engagement – Establishing trust and building rapport
- Assessment – Asking questions to gain understanding for how to identify solutions
- Planning – Action planning with specific objectives and tasks
- Implementation – Carry out the plan and monitor progress
- Evaluation – Identify what’s working and not, and develop strategies for course correction
- Termination – Ensuring the client can maintain changes and monitor any progress independently, without professional help
- Follow Up – Check in with the client for progress updates or if another intervention is needed
I had many tasks under my role. One of which was engaging with direct services clients. Using the generalist intervention model, here’s what typically occurred when working with clients:
- Conduct a short intake assessment to gather immediate information. This typically involved setting up referrals, creating appointments, or providing resources. Based on how extensive their immediate needs were, I determined if the client would be high needs, medium needs, or low needs (engagement)
- After a client was assigned to me, we met again for a more thorough assessment and to follow up on the tasks taken during the intake assessment. Here, I captured more background information, and typically clients tend to open up (assessment)
- During the assessment, the client identified goals they wanted to work on (e.g., permanent housing, undetectable HIV viral load, job placement, etc.) and we developed separate action plan consisting of objectives, tasks, and realistic timelines based on the client’s perceived ability to accomplish them coupled with what I’ve seen clients do (planning)
- I maintain engagement with the client through routine follow up (e.g., office visits, calls, home visits, case conferences with other providers, etc.). We keep each other abreast of tasks we’ve been assigned to and progress made (implementation)
- Depending on whether the client is labeled high needs, medium needs, or low needs at the time of the intake, we review progress on the client’s goals as well as whether the immediate needs at the time of the intake were address. We complete current action plans if the goals were met, and as new goals or immediate needs surface, we create new action plans. Also, a high needs client can be identified as medium or low needs, and vice versa. (evaluation)
- At this stage, the client let’s me know if they’d like their case closed in the near future, and I monitor them for a period of time to ensure everything is ok (termination)
- As monitoring continues, I either suggest case closure or restart the process when new needs emerge (follow up)
Current consulting work
Here’s a typical consulting client cycle, using the generalist intervention model:
- The client fills out my client/partner request form to share the scope of their project and how they envision working with me. Based on the information provided, I either give them a referral to someone else or I schedule a discovery call (engagement)
- During the discovery call, I ask detailed questions about the project as by this time, the client is able to provide more information. I share my process with working on similar projects with similar clients, my expectations for working with clients (project meetings, project management, etc.), and any logistical needs the client will need (assessment)
- Working together, the client and I develop the project scope, tasks, and timeline (planning)
- The client and I start working together (implementation)
- Throughout the life of the project, I’m checking in with the client to assess the project’s progress and course correct where needed (evaluation)
- At the project’s completion, the client and I identify if additional work is needed (termination + follow up)
- If no immediate needs are identified at the time of project completion, I check in with the client after a period of time to see how things are progressing and to offer assistance if new needs emerge (follow up)
Key takeaway
The skills you learn at the micro social work level travel with you into all areas of social work. As you move along your social work trajectory, think of how you can apply your skills in a variety of ways and settings. This ensures that you keep abreast of new social work industry happenings as well as lead to you having a more well-rounded, fulfilled career as a social worker.
Raise Your Voice: How do you see yourself using your social work skills as a consultant? Share below in the comments section.
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