The construction of the unmotivated client as a tool for solving the dilemma between control and reflexive approaches of social workers working with vulnerable children in the Czech Republic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Social workers working with vulnerable children reproduce their ‘traditional dilemma’ between control and reflexive approach. This dilemma is particularly relevant in the context of contemporary, neoliberal-oriented society. At the same time, the situation is accentuated by the fact that more than half of the clients are often perceived by the support workers as ‘unmotivated’. The presented article aims to present a way how social workers working with vulnerable children deal with the dilemma of using control and reflexive approaches by constructing the client's (un)motivation. On the basis of qualitative research carried out using semi-structured interviews, narratives implicitly associated with the unmotivated client and their influence on the nature of the social workers’ interventions were revealed. Based on the data analysis, a recommendation was made to strengthen the use of reflexive approaches in social work.