Helpful and Effective Communication : Our Clients’ Views

Abstract

Mayer and Timms (1970) first highlighted the importance and complete neglect of seeking clients’ views about the social work services they received. The growth of studies of clients’ opinions since then reflects a developing recognition that clients are consumers of social work and should have some voice in its appraisal and development. Any commitment to the empowerment of social work clients is meaningless if their views are neither sought nor taken into account, although in residential work we still know little of clients’ or residents’ views, because, as Booth (1983) suggests ‘surprisingly little effort has been made to find out’ (p. 24).