The glue that holds our work together

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The glue that holds our work together The role
nature of relationships in youth
work Literature review Interim research
findings Heather Stewart Helen Rodd Australian
Catholic University Melbourne, Australia
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It is the nature and place of relationships that
distinguishes youth work from other
disciplines (Martin 2003)
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For youth workers the relationship is their
job (Martin 2003)
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• Overview
• Literature review
• A summary of our interim research findings and
  voices of youth workers
• Conclude with suggestions for future action

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• The literature indicates
• Developing connectedness helping young people
  develop resilience
• The significance of developmental issues
• Multi dimensional relationships
• The therapeutic relationship

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1. Developing connectedness helping young
people develop resilience a young persons
connectedness to others in particular,
connectedness with people who model and reinforce
pro-social behaviour, and who go out of their
way to communicate care and respect (Burt et al
in Resnick 2003 p.23)
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Developing connectedness helping young people
develop resilience each child had at least one
person who unconditionally accepted them as they
are (Werner and Smith 1982)
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2. The significance of developmental issues
young people begin to develop new relationships
with others outside of their nuclear family as
part of normal adolescent development (Berk
2003)
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The significance of developmental issues a
young person needs at least six significant and
stable relationships with adults outside of
his/her nuclear family for normal social
development (Larsen Brendtro cited in Martin
2003)
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3. Multi dimensional relationships Young people
need multi dimensional relationships. (Martin
2003)
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• Multi dimensional relationships
• develop from
• A shared history
• Trust over time
• A space to foster empowerment and informal
  education processes

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• 4. The therapeutic relationship
• Trusting relationships are the cornerstone
• Relationships are both therapeutic
  transformative
• (Bruun Hynan 2006)

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The therapeutic relationship Unconditional
positive regard, accurate empathy and genuineness
offered by the helper and perceived by the client
are necessary, and are often sufficient for
therapeutic progress (Carl Rogers 1965)
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Is this obvious? Donald Schons
knowing-in-action (The Reflective
Practitioner 1983)
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• Themes emerging from the research
• Prerequisite for effective youth work
• The value of informal contact
• A medium for informal learning
• Time
• Funding bodies dont value support relationships

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1. Prerequisite for effective youth work I dont
think you can do your job without it The most
important thing that a youth worker can do is
establish a positive relationship with the young
person the relationship is the tool, it is my
workplace. If I dont have the relationship, I
cant achieve much
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Prerequisite for effective youth work Its
fundamental. Its essential. You have to get that
first otherwise you wont get very far. You MUST
get that engagement. The work does not really
start until you get that into place - otherwise
youre asking too much.
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2. The value of informal contact The informal
stuff is as important as the formal stuff it is
the glue that holds our work together the
unstructured time, the coffee breaks, the sitting
around the campfire. Driving is not
incidental. The car is my office. I can give them
my undivided attention without having to look at
them
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2. A medium for informal learning The
relationship is key for this age group They are
going to be disadvantaged by lack of experience
so the educative role is very important. The
work is so repetitive often its like working
with small child. You may have to repeat the same
thing four times. Patience and tolerance- you've
got to have it
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3. Time It is important to give these young
people the time, it is fundamental to my work.
The outcome is important, but time allows the
young person to gain the trust and confidence to
reveal more you dont go straight to the core
but slowly peel back to discover each layer it
allows us to explore all the options and achieve
what is best for them.
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Time We have this constant argument about the
length of support periods. 3 months is
ridiculous! 2 years more realistic. We need to
recognise that its a long passage and a long
transition. Not necessarily intensive, but many
young people need an ongoing role, even if just
to touch base.
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Time Its also a matter of respect - young
people should be allowed to set the pace.
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4. Funding bodies dont value support
relationships I have never heard our Department
mention the importance of developing rapport or
engaging well or building relationships,
which is probably a good indication of how our
program rates these outcomes. This is despite
the fact that our program is specifically for
young people who, it is recognised, have many
issues and face many barriers. That John is
really opening up to me doesnt really rate.
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Funding bodies dont value support
relationships Although its a normal thing for
young people to want long term support,
particularly since these young people often have
fractured family relationships, the department
doesnt want to know about it and dont want to
fund itits about outcomes the data does not
acknowledge the travelling with them that we do
that enables you to be there at the time and be
trusted enough for a conversation about their
alcohol problems or whatever. Theres no room for
that data to be collected we are not
acknowledged for that work.
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• Suggestions for future action
• How could we communicate the value of support
  relationships in our work?
• Youth workers themselves need to articulate and
  defend this fundamental aspect of their practice
• Reflective practice supervision facilitated by a
  youth work educated practitioner

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• Suggestions for future action
• How could we communicate the value of support
  relationships in our work? (continued)
• Studies on the value of long term relationships
  Evidence that it works!

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• Suggestions for future action
• How can we get funding bodies to recognise the
  value of support relationships in our work?
• Develop outcomes that reflect an understanding of
  the practice of youth work
• Expand repertoire of data to include qualitative
  types of evidence

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• Suggestions for future action
• The world we find ourselves in The context of
  practice
• Australian governments Social Inclusion agenda
  and supporting the workforce that implements it.
• Shifting markers for youth/adulthood YP need
  ongoing support into the 18-25 year old age group