SOCIAL-WORKERS PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR POWER AND SERVICE OUTCOMES

While social workers are becoming increasingly interested in methods o f client empowerment, little attention has yet focused on the links be tween workers' own power and the services they provide to clients. The authors examine the link between workers' perceptions of their power on the job and perceived service outcomes. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted on survey responses from 591 direct practice s ocial workers in Israel. Results indicate that power perceptions are s ignificantly associated with an array of perceived service outcomes. T hese findings highlight the relevance of self-efficacy and control the ory in understanding social workers' efforts toward effective service delivery. Further, they underscore a need to consider more carefully d irect practitioners' <(own)under bar> power concerns as they increasin gly consider the empowerment of their clients.