Relational Social Work at the case level. Working with coping networks to cope micro-social problems

The general task of social workers is to accompany people who experience life problems to more prosperous conditions of well-being. In order to do this, social workers can enter into the everyday lives of people in need in a reflexive manner to support their willingness to feel better through the actions of these people themselves, despite difficulties and vulnerabilities. Relational Social Work provides significant operational guidance to social workers who, to understand how to support people, are confronted with important questions regarding conceptual, methodological and ethical issues. Despite social workers interact with severely vulnerable people, the basic assumption of Relational Social Work is to recognize and strengthen the motivation of these same people who are moving, or who intending to move, towards a desired improvement. This article presents phases of problem solving according to Relational Social Work through the analysis of a foster care planned in a relational way.