Social Work A Practice-based Profession

Social Work as a profession “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.” IFSW, 2014.

Purpose The purpose of the social work profession is to “promote human and community wellbeing” (EPAS, 2008, p. 1). Social work is a helping and practice based profession where a professional social worker helps: Individuals Families Groups Organizations Communities Another purpose of professional social work is to restore or enhance the capacity of the people in need for optimal social functioning and to create social conditions that support this goal.

Objectives To enhance people’s capacities to resolve problems. Linking clients with needed resources Improve the service delivery network Promote social justice through the development of social policy

Methods of Social Work Practice Social Casework Social Group Work Community Organisation Social Welfare Administration Social Work Research Social Action

Characteristics of Professional Social worker Warmth Honesty Genuineness Empathy Openness Courage Hopefulness Humility Concern Sensitivity.

Roles and Functions Social work professionals work in many settings with diverse people who have- Problems Issues Needs They do the following activities: Intervene between the state and the citizen Maximize the capacity of people Contribute to policies and practice

A social worker is expected to have the knowledge and skills that will enable him/her to take appropriate action and play a variety of roles few of them are as listed below: Enabler-helps a client become capable of coping with situations Educator- gives information to clients and other systems Advocate -taking a course of action on behalf of client Coordinator-brings together various parts to form a unified whole. Mediator -involves resolving arguments or conflicts at micro, mezzo, or macro systems Analyst/Evaluator-Social workers with a broad knowledge base of how various systems function can analyze or evaluate how well programs and systems work.

Broker /Advocate- Acts as intermediary between individuals and resources Planner - Coordinates program and policy development Activist - Stimulates and energizes social change Trainer- Instructs or educates through staff development (skills development) Colleague- Acts as mentor and guide for support and professional acculturation Outreach Worker- Conveys public information about social issues and social services Research/ Scholar- Engages in discovery for knowledge development

Core Values in Social Work Service Social Justice Dignity & Worth of the Person Importance of Human Relationships Integrity Competence

Basic Concepts Social Welfare- It is an organized system of social services and institutions, designed to aid individuals and groups, to attain satisfying standards of life and health. Social Justice- It refers to the creation of social institutions that support the welfare of individuals and groups. Social Development- It is a comprehensive concept which implies major structural changes- political, economic, cultural which are deliberate action to transform the society. Social Capital- It is the network of relationships among the people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that the society to function effectively.

Basic Concepts Social Policy- It is a comprehensive set of policies designed to improve the quality of life in the society., nature of relationship etc. Advocacy- It involves "the act of directly representing a course of action on behalf of one or more individuals, groups, or communities, with the goal of securing or retaining social justice (Mickelson, 1995, p.95) Empowerment- It is the “process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individual can take action to improve their situations” (Gutierrez, 1994)

Fields of social work practice Family welfare Information & referral Youth welfare Child welfare Health and rehabilitation Women welfare Occupational social work Aging services Housing Mental health Community development School social work Income maintenance

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