Roles for Forensic Social Work and Interdisciplinary Nature

There are a plethora of roles that can be categorized under the forensic social work title.  The knowledgebase of a forensic social worker, is centered around “specialized knowledge drawn from established principles and their application, familiarity with the law, painstaking evaluation, and objective criteria associated with treatment outcomes” (National Organization of Forensic Social Work website, 2015, para. 2). 

Populations served by forensic social workers

Forensic social workers may provide services including consultation, education and or instruction for

• criminal justice,

• juvenile justice,

• correctional systems,

• law makers,

• law enforcement personnel,

• attorneys,

• law students,

• paralegals

• members of society(National Organization of Forensic Social Work website, 2015, para. 3). 

In addition,

• Victims and offenders of intimate partner violence

• Elder abuse victims

• Child abuse and sexual abuse offenders and Victims (MASCHI et al., 2009)

 

 

 

Forensic social work roles

One of the many important roles of a social worker is to be a negotiator.   This role is important because in working with clients who are in the legal system, the right to self-determination is often times limited (MASCHI et al., 2009).  The negotiator promotes self-determination of client, while maintaining balance with the obligation to the broader society and maintaining the ethical principles and social work values (MASCHI et al., 2009). 

Another role important to the profession is an Advocate.  When working with clients who are on the opposite end of the legal system, the issue of confidentiality may come into play.  Individuals from the multidisciplinary team may coerce clients to sign an open release form (MASCHI et al., 2009).  The clients often times feel powerless and feel that signing the open release is mandatory (MASCHI et al., 2009).  The social worker advocates to the client that this is optional. Some of the other roles of Forensic social workers include:

• expert witness- child abuse cases

• Mitigation

• diagnosing, treatment,

• assessment,

• making recommendations of mental status,

• the best interest of children, screening,

• evaluation, and treating law enforcement” (National Organization of Forensic Social Work website, 2015, para. 4).

 

 

 

Interdisciplinary Nature of FSW

Forensic social workers often collaborate with other professionals with different expertise. This is important when addressing the social problems, such as “Gangs, substance abuse, child welfare, and domestic violence” (MASCHI et al., 2009, p.57).  Working with an interdisciplinary team allows the formation of an intervention or plan of action that will address the different contributing components of the social issue resulting in equfinality (MASCHI et al., 2009).  This type of collaboration results in feasible outcomes on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels (MASCHI et al., 2009).     (Cole, 2012)

 

Empirically Based evidence on an interdisciplinary approach and successes and instances of unsuccessfulness:  http://0-eds.a.ebscohost.com.bravecat.uncp.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=311846b9-66bd-425c-9e9a-8ec9edb57eec%40sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4205