Advising and Advocacy

Abstract

Social workers give a great deal of advice. It is not always fashionable for them to admit that this is the case. Such behaviour appears to fly in the face of a commitment to the ‘empowerment’ and ‘self-actualization’ of clients. Because of the vague aura of guilt often pervading the activity, little discussion has occurred regarding the most appropriate and effective ways of undertaking it. This is a pity for not only do many clients seek it, but it is also often incumbent upon social workers to provide good advice. Advocacy is a much more widely acknowledged activity. It is far more acceptable, perhaps because it appears to represent a positive form of intervention at the behest of the client; it appears to place social workers unambiguously on the side of the under-privileged.