A practitioner inquiry into the creation & application of a contextualised therapeutic model to raise the competencies of youth facilitators in Singapore

Bringing about change in any field or work domain can be onerous, with no linear progression towards the certainty of efficacy. Regardless, one of the hallmarks of effective clinical practice is to constantly strive towards improved care for clients and this is often accomplished by practitioners expanding their scope of practice through rigorous inquiry to enhance their competencies. In similar vein, the present project, aimed at advancing real-world practice via the utilisation of action research, served as a practitioner inquiry into the creation and application of a structured, transdisciplinary and contextualised model (i.e. Bio-Psycho-Social Work, or BPSw Model) to guide intervention programmes for at-risk youth in Singapore. Furthermore, the model was reviewed to assess if it could be used as a competency-raising mechanism for facilitators of youth work in the country.
Accordingly, it was assessed that the action-reflection steps enacted within the project aided the inquiry into improving clinical practice and training in Singapore regarding work with at-risk youth. In this light, the project is the first of its kind in Singapore (i.e. a ground-up, practitioner-led project concerning youth work aimed at improving practice at a national level); serving as an important contribution to research and practice.
The project utilised a mixed-methods design which was crafted around action research. The latter was selected due to its emphasis on action and its promotion of goal-oriented research. Data reflected findings that met the aims of the project and was used to create a training manual for facilitators (i.e. the project artefact); a reference document that could also be used for anyone interested in working with at-risk youth in Singapore. The value and implications of utilising the BPSw Model, along with the training manual, as a potential therapeutic framework and a contribution to practice in Singapore, are elaborated on and reviewed.