Pathways to Empowerment as a working method for local social support services

According to recent legislation, support provided by local authorities in the Netherlands ought to be strengths-based and empower inhabitants to gain control over their lives. This study examined the outcomes, critical elements and working mechanisms of Pathways to Empowerment (PTE), a person-centered, strengths-based intervention, in local social support services provided by a medium size Dutch local authority, from the perspective of citizens needing support. A year after implementation of PTE, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were held with 17 citizens onto their experiences with the provided support with PTE, inquiring their experiences with certain principles of PTE and the changes the support has brought into their lives. The outcomes of support with PTE were: resilience, self-consciousness, positive connections and access to resources and services. According to citizens, ‘being there’, an empowering approach, listening and taking them seriously, focusing on strengths and qualities, working on naturally occurring resources and made-to-measure support is what makes support with PTE work. Working mechanisms connecting the critical elements with the reported outcomes were: building trust and rapport in the client-professional relationship, stimulating trust in and empowerment of self, stimulating social trust and awareness of naturally occurring resources, as well as support, guidance and mediation. The results of this study can help local authorities to better substantiate their choice for applying strengths-based interventions, like PTE, in local social support services.