Part of the challenge in finding new ways of working within legal frameworks is to learn new methods which are not only effective and pay sufficient respect to people, but also include people in ways that build on their strengths and abilities and reinforce your strengths and abilities.
What can you do if you work with members of the public?
1. Be awareBe aware of the power you have by virtue of the position you hold within a large and powerful organisation, in relation to your clients: power to give and withhold services, to remove the liberty of some clients, to protect vulnerable people from getting hurt, to influence profoundly the quality of your clients’ lives.
2. Discuss
Discuss with your team / supervisor ways in which it would be positive and appropriate for you to share some of that power with others; for example, by asking for advice from someone new, by changing your routine about how decision-making meetings are held, by involving clients in producing new publicity information.
3. Be open
Be open to the idea that there are perspectives apart from your own, some of which could be right!
4. Be ready
Be ready to challenge your own and other agencies’ discriminatory policies. Write to the director or assistant director, or get your team to send a letter together; tell your shop steward and ask for the union to take action; re-write the policy yourself and send your ideas to others for comments; inform your clients if you think the agency is acting illegally or discriminating against them and help them find an advocate.
5. Be prepared
Be prepared to give your clients access to advisors and agencies where they can get independ¬ent advice, and might even oppose you.
Go well!