The Tactical Use of Self: Relationship-Based Practice and Disguised Compliance

Overview

This one-day course supports social work practitioners to use relationship-based practice as a conscious and purposeful professional skill. It explores how practitioners’ own values, emotional responses and professional authority can influence assessment, engagement and decision-making, particularly where there are concerns about disguised compliance, minimisation or resistance. Through discussion, reflection and practical exercises, participants will consider how to maintain respectful curiosity while confidently challenging accounts that may obscure risk or unmet need.

Who is The Tactical Use of Self: Relationship-Based Practice and Disguised Compliance aimed at?

Frontline social workers, senior practitioners, assessors and other professionals working with children, adults and families where complex relational dynamics, risk, resistance or disguised compliance may be present. 

Course Length

1 day

Learning Outcomes

On conclusion of the course, participants will have had the opportunity to:

•    Explore the concept of the professional use of self and its relevance to relationship-based practice, assessment and decision-making.
•    Consider how personal values, emotional responses and professional assumptions can influence engagement with children, adults, families and carers.
•    Recognise indicators of disguised compliance, minimisation, professional resistance and apparently cooperative behaviour that may obscure risk or need.
•    Develop confidence in using authoritative professional curiosity to ask purposeful, respectful and challenging questions.
•    Practise conversational approaches that support reflective engagement while maintaining a clear focus on evidence, impact and safeguarding responsibilities.
•    Identify ways to triangulate information across professional networks and move beyond reliance on verbal accounts alone.