EPS社工介入模式

本文主要介紹筆者始創的一個名為EPS的社工介入模式。這個介入模式主要是運用充權(Empowerment)、參與(Participation)和強項角度(Strengths Perspective)三個概念去推行社工的介入方法。本文首先介紹這個模式的三個基本信念，包括：(一) 社會工作的重要目標是去幫助服務對象達致充權；(二) 透過參與才能讓服務對象獲得充權；及(三) 極度相信服務對象有能力及有強項。本文分別闡述充權的概念和作用，分析為何要促進服務對象的參與，剖析達致有意義及高度參與的方法，以及檢視強項角度的信念和重要性。EPS模式認為，社工實踐中一定要將這三個概念 (E、P、S) 緊扣在一起，才能達到社工的理想目標。無論在哪個服務範疇，社工都應該以強項角度去看事物，鼓勵服務對象的參與，從而令他們得到充權。充權是要達到的目標，參與是一個方法，而強項是一個重要的基礎。目標，方法，基礎三樣缺一不可。這個模式指出社工介入的核心元素是採用強項角度去運用參與以達致充權作用。本文最後探討若忽略這三個重要概念或其中一個，社工的介入會出現甚麼問題，並剖析三個概念的互動如何促進社工介入的成效，以及介紹EPS模式在不同領域的應用。

This article introduces a social work intervention model which is called EPS Model and is newly developed by the author. The EPS Model is to apply the following three concepts in social work practice, including Empowerment (E), Participation (P) and Strengths Perspective (S).The article firstly presents the three basic beliefs of the model: (1) the main goal of social work practice is not just to provide services and help people solve problems, but to help people empower themselves; (2) the empowerment goal can be actualized through promoting service user participation and (3) we have to strongly believe that people have strengths and abilities. The article then introduces the concept of empowerment and its functions, discusses why service user participation should be promoted and the effective means of promoting meaningful and greater participation, and examines the faith and importance in strengths perspective. The main characteristics of the EPS Model is to affirm that these three concepts (E, P and S) are inter-related and need to be closely inter-linked. Empowerment should be regarded as the aim of social work practice. Participation is the effective means to achieve empowerment. Strengths perspective is thus regarded as the important basis for social work intervention. The aim, the means and the basis are equally important and neither one can be excluded. This model suggests that social work practice should be based on the strengths perspective and should make use of participation to achieve service users' empowerment. The article finally examines the problems arising from the neglect of any one of the three important concepts, the impact of the interplay of the three concepts on the effect of social work practice and the application of the EPS Model in different service settings.