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EC1- Identify the goals and scope of social work.

Sally wants to be a social worker someday. Whenever she tells people her dream of becoming one, however, she is often met with question, sometimes, even skepticism. People ask her why aspire to become a social worker when she can become a teacher, a doctor, or a lawyer. Others discourage her from pursuing a career in social work and opt for a higher-paying profession instead. Some even ask her what is social work.

In your opinion, what could be sally’s reason for wanting to become a social worker? What do you know about social work? Answer these questions and more as you read this module.

What is social work?

What comes to your mind when you hear the term “social work”? Johnson (1998, 8-83) defines social work as response to a concern or need; a creative blending of knowledge, values, and skills; a problem-solving process; an intervention into human transactions; and a developing profession. Farley, smith and Boyle (2003), on the other hand, defines social work as an art, a science, and a profession. As an art, Social work requires great skills to understand people to help themselves. As a science, it requires the use of problem-solving methods and objectivity in ascertaining facts and in developing principles and operational concepts. It is a profession because it encompasses the attributes of a profession.”

Here in the Philippines, which is one of the first few countries in Asia where the practice of social work is legally mandated, social work is defined by Republic Act No. 4373 as the “profession which is primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed to facilitate and strengthen basic social relationships and the mutual adjustment. Between individuals and their social environment for the good of the individual and of society.” This definition underlines the role of social work as an agent for building and strengthening relationships between members of the society for their mutual gain.

Social Work as a Helping Profession

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) states that “social work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups or communities, enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal favorable to this goal. “

We gather from this definition that the practice of social work concerns not just individuals, but also groups and communities. The definition also introduced the concept of social functioning, which according to Sheafor and Horejsi (2003, 5) is a key to understanding the unique focus of social work and distinguishes it from other helping professions.

Social functioning is defined as the “match between the needs and abilities of individuals and the opportunities and demands of the environment (Macht, 1992). It relates to ling up to the expectations made by the self, the immediate social community, and the society at large of an individual (Du Bois & Miley, 2005).

To illustrate, a student such as yourself, also performs other roles – as a son or daughter, a sibling, a friend, and a member of a community organization. We can say that you are socially functioning when you satisfy your expectations – as well as the expectations of your community and society – of how a student, son or daughter, sibling, friend, or a group member should perform. To determine whether an individual is socially functioning, he must, in the process of performing his roles gain positive relationships and develop positive feelings of self-worth (Skidmore, 1997).

Another characteristic of social work which makes it distinct from other helping professions is the duality and interaction between the person and the environment (Gibelman as quoted in Segal et al. 2004, 3). Unlike other helping professions social work focuses not just on the individuals. Conversely, a dysfunctional environment may cause individuals to socially dysfunctional situation, they may perform roles or functions vis-à-vis the negative environment but without some or all of the elements mentioned by Skidmore.

Global Definition of Social Work

As the very context of social work changes, so does the definition of social work. In 2004, NASW and the International Federation of Social works (IFSW) proposed a global definition of social work:

Social work is a practice -based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being.

The above-mentioned definition gives emphasis to the core mandate of social work: to promote social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. It also underlines the core principles of social justice, human rights, social responsibility, and respect for diversities, and recognizes the interconnectedness of social, political, cultural, and spatial factors in the attainment of the core mandate of social work.

EC2 - Explain the principles and core values of social work.

Core Values and Principles of Social Work

Social work is very much influenced by Judeo-Christian philosophy which espouses humanitarianism. Its practice is based on the belief that every human beings has dignity and worth. From this belief emanates the core values and principles that guide the practice of social work.

Core Values of Social Work

Du Bois and Miley (2011) categorized social work values into the following; values about people, values about society, and values about professional behavior.

Values about people. These values reflect how we view human nature and change. Examples of these are respect for the inherent worth and dignity of the person and the importance of human relationships.

Values about society. These values pertain to the conditions and processes in society that would make it possible for people to achieve their full potential. Examples of these are democracy, social responsibility, social justice, inclusion (non-discrimination), and gender equity.

Values about professional behavior. These values reflect the kind of performance and ethical standards social workers must adhere to in the practice of social work.

The key of social work are as follows.

Service. Social work is a commitment to help people in need and to address social problems. The service provided in social work aims at inspiring change that support people and that contribute to the betterment of man’s quality of life.

Social justice. Social work challenges social injustice. According to Segal et al. (2004, 20-21), working for social justice means “striving to create a society in which all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation economic status, age, and/or physical or mental ability, have the same basic rights and opportunities and can develop to their potential.”

Respect for the inherent Worth and Dignity of the person. Social work places importance to the worth and dignity of the person – his uniqueness and individuality and his rights with respect to the interest of the society in general.

Importance of Human Relationships. Social work value human relationships. The practice of social work concerns all forms and levels of human relationship – with self, family, small group, organization, and community.

Integrity. Integrity is of utmost importance in the practice of social work. Social work professionals must abide by standards of behavior required of the profession.

Competence. The practice of social work require an application of theories, skills, and expertise in the workings of the individual and of society. The acquisition of social work competencies does not end with professional certification. According to Segal (2004,21), social work is “a lifelong professional pursuit.” And effective social work practice should be based on social work knowledge that is updated and relevant to the changing times and challenges of the profession.

Social Work Practice Principle

Rooted in the core values of social work are the practice principles that govern every interaction between the social work practitioner and the client. These principles are acceptance , self-determination, affirming individuality, confidentiality and worker’s self-awareness.

Acceptance. The principles of acceptance refers to the practitioner’s recognition and authentic interest in the client’s individual qualities , rights and needs. This principle is demonstrated through the manner by which practitioners serve their clients, such as through emphatic listening and responding and by establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Self-determination. This principle is based on the recognition that clients have the right and the capacity to make their own decisions. Social workers can only facilitate but not manipulate the client’s decision-making process.

Affirming Individuality. This principles is based on the premise that every individual is different. In pursuing this principle into practice, social workers are expected to accept client without bias and prejudice, avoid making labels and attributing stereotypes to clients, and acknowledge and valued client diversity.

Confidentiality. The essence pf this principle is the right of every individual toe privacy. The social worker is duty-bound to seek the consent of the client before disclosing any data about his identity, the nature of his case, and the content of discussions between him and the social worker.

Worker’s Self-awareness. A social worker must be conscious of his values, beliefs, biases and prejudices. After all, before social workers can begin to understand others, they must understand themselves first. By being self-aware, social workers can effectively adjust their thought processes and sensitiveness in dealing with clients with diverse problems and from different backgrounds.

Collective Responsibility. This principle is based on the reality that individual rights can be protected only if each member of the community commits to taking responsibility of his fellowmen and the environment. Social work, therefore, facilitates outcomes that encourage people and communities to be respectful of each other’s rights and to make concerted efforts to the fulfillment of these rights.

It is important to note that among the practice principles cited above, two are not absolute. These are the principles of confidentiality and self-determination. Confidentiality cannot be invoked when among the information disclosed by the client involves putting the life of another person in danger. The principle of self-determination, on the other hand, can be disregarded when the case involves children who cannot decide for themselves and adults who are not capable of making rational decisions because of psychological impairment.

Purposes and Functions of Social Work

Du Bois and Miley (2005) states that social work as a profession and field of study serves the following purposes:

· Enhance social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities;

· Link client systems with needed resources;

· Improve the operation of the social service delivery network; and

· Promote social justice through development of social policy.

Zastrow (2008), on the other hand, identified the following as purposes of the social work profession:

· Enhance the problem-solving, coping, and developmental capacities of people;

· Link people with systems that provide them with resources, services and opportunities;

· Promote the effectiveness and humane operation of systems that provide people with resources and services;

· Develop and improve social policy;

· Enhance human well-being and alleviate poverty, oppression and other forms of social justice;

· Pursue policies, services and resources through advocacy and social and political actions that promote social and economic justice;

· Develop and use research, knowledge and skills that advance social work practice; and

· Develop and apply practice in the context of diverse cultures.

Functions of Social Work

Fraley (2003) identified restoration of impaired social functioning, developmental, and prevention of social dysfunction as the three basic functions of social work. These functions are intertwined and interdependent.

The restoration of impaired social functioning can be further subdivided into curative/remedial and rehabilitative. The curative/remedial function aims to remove the causes of the breakdown in the person’s social functioning. Its rehabilitative function involves rebuilding patterns of interaction, such as through the provision of appropriate skills and psychological support.

Through the developmental function, social work maintains social stability and cohesion and facilitates social change and development. This function concerns with meeting the needs of the people by connecting them to appropriate social, political, and economic channels. This may be in the form of advocating policies for marginalized populations.

The third function, the prevention of social dysfunction, involves the early discovery, control, and elimination of factors that could potentially hamper effective social functioning. An example of this is premarital counseling. Through premarital counseling, couples can address and prepare for the four important factors that affect marital relationships – communication skills, conflict resolution skills, finances, and parenting – all of which can cause marital distress and can possibly lead to a broken home.