Skills and Method Used by the Social Workers during the Interview

Skills

1. Skills in observing the interviewee

 A social work interview is guided by the professional principles applied in working with people.
 Body Language
 Content of Opening and Closing Sentences
 Shifts in Conversion
 Association of Ideas
 Recurrent References
 Inconsistencies and Gaps
 Concealed meaning
2. Skills in relating with the interviewee
 Clients give information and express feelings in non- verbal behavioral ways.
 Principle of Acceptance
 Principle of Individualization
 Principle of Confidentiality
 Principle of Self-Awareness
 Principle of Self-Determination
3. Skills in listening
 Listening to what the client has to say and how the client responds to questions is very
important.
 Understanding what the word means to clients whose language expression is somewhat
different from those of the social worker.
4. Skills in asking questions
 The essence of this group of skills is knowing the various types of questions to ask and the
usefulness of each type of question.
 A friendly manner in asking questions can make the difference between her getting correct or
wrong information, and a responsive or hostile reply.
 Avoid questions with yes or no answers as this is not conducive to client self-expression.
 One must ask only necessary questions.
5. Skills in answering personal questions
 Social workers are also entitled to their privacy and must not feel obligated to answer every
questions their client asks.
 The worker should also be sensitive to the motive for asking personal questions.
6. Interpreting the clients response
 The interviewer gives meaning to the client’s words, expressions, and behavior. The worker
should also exercise care in order to arrive at objective and accurate interpretations.
 There is also a need to understand the client’s culture, when making interpretations of his
responses.

Methods

1. Exploration
 The statements and behaviors by the social worker that further the client providing the
information.
2. Reflection
 Sharing with the client about the social worker’s speculations and pondering them together with
the client. Involves feedback, paraphrasing, reframing and interpretation.
3. Validation
 The enactment of trust and confidence, establishing belief by the worker in the client’s worth as
a person.
 is acceptance and empowerment of the client.
4. Confrontation
 Directing the client’s attention to discrepancies in what has been said and nonverbal cues and
expressions.