Inspiration to other shelters through Danner's work methods

Violence against women and children is one of the most serious violations of basic human rights. Globally, the shelter movement is facing a big task to break the cyle of violence. We must continue to improve our professional skills and methods to support women and children exposed to violence.

Collegial and professional input are vital in ensuring a thorough and complete case view that allows the team of shelter staff to find the best solution for the woman or the child in focus.

The Conference Model

NB! The video is with Arabic speak. For English subtitles, use the menu in the lower right corner. 

When working in a shelter, or with people in need in general, it is important that professionals are able to assess cases – especially the challenging ones – from different perspectives. One way of doing this is by using a methodology for professional reflection called the Conference Model. Here, cases can be reviewed and reflected in group sessions in a structured way. This methodology ensures that a wide range of professional perspectives are brought into the discussion as it allows for social workers, child specialists, psychologists, etc. to give their individual perspective.

Just as importantly, the methodology also ensures that a caseworker is supported and reassured in her work by creating a joint collegial and managerial responsibility, and it prevents the feeling of isolation and personal responsibility. It gives the manager the opportunity to ensure that no employee is isolated, and provides a good overview of whether a certain case needs special attention from e.g. a managerial level.