About this resource
When people do not engage, the barrier is often the service. This reflection looks at practical barriers, such as transport, times and costs, emotional barriers such as shame and past experiences, cultural barriers and service design, then identifies what the worker and service can change.
Purpose
To shift focus from 'hard to engage' clients to services that are easier to engage with.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Community services and case workers. Also relevant for social workers, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Community services workers and teams.
Practice setting: Supervision, team meetings and service reviews.
Suggested uses
- Supervision
- Team reflection
- Service reviews
- Planning outreach
Instructions for practitioners
- Ask clients directly what gets in the way.
- Look at the service through a client's eyes.
- Choose changes within your control.
- Review the effect of changes.
Accessibility considerations
Editable HTML source available for adaptation.
Scope and limitations
A reflective tool.
Research basis
A strong working alliance and routine progress feedback are among the most consistent predictors of good outcomes in therapy. Case management practice standards describe assessment, planning, coordination, review and planned exits with the person at the centre.
- Case Management Society of Australia and New Zealand. (2013). National standards of practice for case management (3rd ed.). https://www.cmsa.org.au/
- Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172
- Lambert, M. J., Whipple, J. L., & Kleinstäuber, M. (2018). Collecting and delivering progress feedback: A meta-analysis of routine outcome monitoring. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 520–537. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000167
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
