No more than Contact: An Outcome of Social Work *

This study of the experiences of eight sets of clients with their respective social workers illustrates how the outcome of each case is a reflection of each party's interpretations of crucial aspects of their meetings. In many respects it is a one-sided picture of social work but part of its purpose is to emphasize the process whereby past events and present circumstances affecting both parties' perspectives make it probable that many clients will fail to obtain help and will regard their meetings with social workers as being little different from passing contacts with other 'officials' who feature in their lives.