Vulnerability in social work encounters – a matter of trust?

Trust is often argued to play a crucial role in the success of social work (Behnia, 2008; Smith, 2001, 2004), and this is readily understandable. Among the many understandings of trust is an individual's willingness to embrace vulnerability, driven by positive expectations for the future or the other (Baier, 1986; Luhmann, 1999; Mayer et al., 1995; Rousseau et al., 1998). In her much quoted work, Baier (1986) argues that by placing trust in someone, you grant them a degree of authority over you, which comes with the inherent risk of harm if they neglect or disregard the ethical responsibilities associated with that power. Social work clients often come into contact with social workers during moments of personal crisis or vulnerability, and placing trust in the social worker often marks the initial step towards seeking help. Consequently, in encounters between social workers and clients, participants often find themselves in situations where vulnerable matters surface in the interaction. Dealing with aspects of such vulnerabilities are often central in the accomplishment of institutional goals. However, people in vulnerable positions may have experiences of misplaced trust in people with authority and may not readily embrace vulnerability in encounters with professionals with power. The dual responsibility of social workers across various settings to provide support while also governing ethical and legal responsibilities inherent in their role, may also challenges client’s readiness to confide in their social worker without fear of judgment or betrayal. Furthermore, from the perspective of the social worker the dual mandate may create an element of risk, especially in encounters with client’s who are in situations of stress, under the influence of drugs or suffer mental health problems. This means that there may also be a limit to the trust that can be shown from the worker to the client - depending on the context. These factors mean that trust is not a given and cannot be taken for granted in encounters between people in vulnerable positions and professional social workers. In this article we set out to explore how links between trust and vulnerability can be observed on a conversational level in encounters between social workers and clients.