Relationship-based practice: emergent themes in social work literature

Key points

• There are compelling philosophical, policy and practice reasons to put relationships at the heart of social work
• The importance of relationships is increasingly recognised in ‘people work’ but especially in social work and social care, across all domains of practice
• Effective relationships are central to successful outcomes
• Current policy directions in Scotland are rooted in the need for effective personal / professional relationships
• Relationships are complex, requiring an awareness of ‘self’ and the negotiation of inter-personal boundaries
• Current practice cultures can make it difficult to practice in properly relational ways and would require a radical shift for issues of power, agency and status to be addressed