Towards a revised definition of client collaboration: the knowledge–power–politics triad

Abstract

Client collaboration has long since been a core principle in social work practice. Despite its wide reference in the profession's practical and theoretical discourse, no single, clearly delineated definition of it can be found in the literature. This article presents a proposed framework for defining and assessing client collaboration, which rests upon three key concepts — sharing of knowledge, sharing of power, and political context.

Keywords:

• client collaboration
• knowledge
• power theories
• social work