| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 社會工作學系 === 99 === ABSTRACT
DISCUSSION OF THE PROCESS OF FRONTLINE SOCIAL WORKERS DURING
RISK ASSESSMENT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS
by
Erh-wen Fan
July 2011
ADVISOR(S): Pei Yang, Miriam Mei Lin LIU
DEPARTMENT: Department of Social Work
MAJOR: TAIWANESE ADOLESENT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
DEGREE: MASTER OF ARTS
As domestic violence has the potential to put victims’ personal safety at risk, it is
a vital issue that often goes beyond verbal conflict between partners. However, as
there has been little concrete discussion of how to assess risk factors during practical
evaluations, this study hopes to gain a further understanding of the decision making
process social workers adopt during risk assessment, and the factors involved. This
will also provide more information on how social workers currently conduct risk
assessment.
This study conducted in-depth interviews with social workers and supervisors
with a year or more of experience in conducting risk assessment on victims of
domestic violence. A total of seven individuals took part in the interviews, including
two supervisors and five social workers. Analysis reveals that the factors social
workers take into consideration during the risk assessment process are as follows: (1)
The victim’s consent is a major factor. This includes the victim’s ability to
self-protect and utilize resources, external factors, self-determination, client
responsibility, and so forth. (2) Offender’s degree of risk. Determining the presence
of or potential for drug addiction, alcoholism, psychological impairment,
unemployment, and violent behavior. (3) The power structure in the interactionAssessment of the interactions is the key to evaluating whether or not the victim is
trapped in a cycle of abuse. However, in terms of the entire risk assessment process,
there may be varying concerns at different stages due to the experience and values of
the social worker responsible. (4) Professional opinion from supervisors.
Supervisors stated that as they reach a consensus with social workers via orientation
training, they expressed trust and respect towards the assessments the social workers
made. The social workers felt that there was room for discussion, but most still stated
that they would respect their supervisor’s opinion during the final decision-making
process.
In terms of practical experience, gender preconceptions of social workers can
still subconsciously affect their objectivity and judgment during contact with victims.
The study also discovered that systemic restrictions can have a lasting influence on
service transmission. At times, social workers must adopt a passive attitude in order to
avoid attracting attention at their work places. Nonetheless, the majority of social
workers are able to grasp an appropriate degree separation between them and the
client is necessary so that their role becomes one of “assister”. This enables social
workers to overcome the expectations they may have of their clients or their work
responsibilities in order to gradually change their perception of their professional role
and implement client responsibility. Not only will they learn to provide their services
to clients in a more diverse way, they will learn to trust in the client’s capability
during the service process, so that both the client and social worker may grow from it.
Keywords: risk assessment, social worker, domestic violence
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