Approach to working
Effectively supporting women relies on how individual professionals approach their work. Adopting underlying principles that enable engagement and build relationships with women is key rather than finding a specific model of intervention.
This means:
- safety, respect and acceptance are paramount
- trust is a key priority, built through consistent relationships
- working with the individual, including being culturally competent
- build on strengths and ways of coping
- enables choice and control, which in turn builds self-efficacy
- collaboration – building a plan with a service user not for, and working with other agencies
- offering time and flexibility