Relationships and reciprocity; where next for strengths-based social work in adult social care?

ABSTRACT Strengths-based social work is a deceptively simple approach that is conflated with community strengths-based models, causing confusion for local authority commissioning processes as well as for practice. This has led to the reductionist question ‘what are your strengths’ now being seen as an acceptable basis for assessment. It may be that in our determination to avoid a deficit approach, we are ignoring the realities of living with care and support needs. But it may also be that in the face of overwhelming need, a simplistic approach to assessment serves the unconscious need to contain anxiety for social workers and wider system. This article uses a local authority case study to explore the meaning of strengths approach for social work. An approach of Relationships and Reciprocity is proposed to build upon the affirming principles of strengths and contributions whilst recognising the centrality of the relationship in forming authentic collaboration and containment.