Professionals and

Practitioners in Social
Work
Lesson 2 Professional and Practitioners in

Social Work
• Learning Competencies:
1. show an understanding of the roles and functions of social
workers (HUMSS_DIASS12-If-19)
2. identify specific work areas in which social workers work
(HUMSS_DIASS12-If-20)
3. identify career opportunities for social workers
(HUMSS_DIASS12-If-21)
4. value rights, responsibilities and accountabilities
(HUMSS_DIASS12-If-22)
5. distinguish between ethical and unethical behaviors among practitioners
(HUMSS_DIASS12-If-23)
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker
There are several duties that a social worker typically perform to the
people and the community they serve. Accordingly these are the roles
and functions of a social work:
• Broker
The social worker is involved in the process of making referrals to
link a family or person to needed resources. Social work professionals
do not simply provide information. They also follow up to be sure the
needed resources are attained. This requires knowing resources,
eligibility requirements, fees and the location of services.
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker
• Advocate
In this role, social workers fight for the rights of others and work to
obtain needed resources by convincing others of the legitimate needs
and rights of member of society. Social workers are particularly
concerned for those who are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for
the themselves. Advocacy can occur on the local, country, state or
national level. Some social workers are involved in international human
rights and advocacy for those in need.
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker
• Case Manager
Case managers are involved in locating services and assisting their
clients to access those services. case management is especially
important for complex situations and for those who are homeless or
elderly, have chronic physical or mental health issues, are disabled,
victims or domestics or other violent crimes, or are vulnerable children.
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker
• Educator
Social Workers are often involved in teaching people about resources
and how to develop particular skills such as budgeting, the caring
discipline of children, effective communication, the meaning of a medical
diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
• Facilitator
In this role, social workers are involved in gathering groups of people
together for a variety of purposes including community development,
self-advocacy, political organization, and policy change. social workers are
involved as group therapists and task group leaders.
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker
• Organizer
Social Workers are involved In many levels of community organization
and action including development, union organization, and research and
policy specialists.
• Manager
Social Workers, because of their expertise in a wide variety of
applications, are well suited to work as managers and supervisors in
almost any setting. As managers, they are better able to influence policy
change and/or development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all
underprivileged people.
People They Serve
Most social workers spend their days working with people. The type of work
social workers do varies based on the groups of people they serve. Common
groups of people that social workers serve include:
• Children
• Older adults
• People with disabilities
• Patients with chronic, acute or terminal diagnoses
• People coping with grief or loss
• People with mental illnesses
• People struggling with addiction
Where They Work
Most social workers work in an office setting, though many spend a large portion of
their time visiting clients in their homes, schools, and in the community. Social
workers most often work in the following settings:
• Hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes
• Community mental health agencies and substance misuse clinics
• State and local governments including child welfare agencies and departments of
health and human services
• Schools and other youth-serving organizations
• Military bases and veterans affairs clinics
• Correctional facilities
• Private practices
Career Opportunities in Social Work
There is a variety of jobs available for graduates in social work
• Health Board social workers
You could work in one of eight regionally based Health Boards as a ‘Community
Care’ social worker for concerns such as psychiatric illness, financial and environmental
difficulties, alcohol and drug-related problems, interpersonal difficulties and child
abuse. All cases dealt with by Health Board social workers include a child/family
dimension.
• Medical social workers
You could be employed as a medical social worker by voluntary and health- board-
run hospitals. You will offer direct help where medical conditions are complicated by
social and emotional factors. Psychiatric social workers work with patients in psychiatric
hospitals and without-patients as well as in a preventative role.
Career Opportunities in Social Work
• Working for Local Authorities
You could also work for local authorities as a housing welfare officer
(social worker), offering social services to tenants, prospective tenants
and/or travellers. This involves liaising with housing and government
departments.
• Working for the Department of Justice
As a probation and welfare officer in the Department of Justice, you
may work with the Adoption Board, the courts, or prisons and places of
detention. This involves making recommendations to the appropriate
authorities.
Career Opportunities in Social Work
• Working for Voluntary Agencies
Voluntary agencies catering for specific interest groups also employ
social workers. These include charities, special schools (run by religious
groups or parents) and treatment centres.
• Working in Industry
Social workers in industry (‘welfare workers’) are concerned with
employees and pensioners of an organization, e.g. the Army. The work
can range from family problems to work with pensioners and the
elderly.
Rights and Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Code of Ethics of Social Work

The rights of social work are partially outlined. Social work foremost
rights include the right to fulfill its professional mandates and to live by
its values. Its responsibilities cover those that pertain to the
dispensation of its basic functions, roles, professional standards, and
adhesive to its local and international codes of ethics. Social work is
accountable to the clients, the general public, and the society.
Rights and Responsibilities,
Accountabilities and Code of Ethics of
Social Work
The following are responsibilities of social workers as to their field of specialization:
1. To help children
2. Assist those life-threatening problems
3. Aid people in overcoming addictions
4. To protect and uphold respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people as
expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
5. Promoting social justice to the people generally and to the people with whom
they work
6. To apply the professional values and principles set out above to their practice
7. They should act with integrity and treat people with compassion, empathy, and
care
Rights and Responsibilities,
Accountabilities and Code of Ethics of
Social Work
Accountability of social worker is to the clients, colleagues,
employers, professional associations, and to the law. Social workers are
accountable for their actions to the values and principles of the
profession, which require them to act in a reliable, honest, and
trustworthy manner. They are answerable to their clients, professional
bodies like registered social workers (RSW), certified social workers
(CSW), licensed social worker (LSW), licensed clinical social workers
(LCSW), and licensed independent social workers (LISW) organization,
and the laws promulgated and enforced by appropriate government
agencies.
Rights and Responsibilities,
Accountabilities and Code of Ethics of
Social Work
The code of ethics specifies the standards of ethics, conduct, and performance expected
of registered social workers. It is a duty of a social worker to always protect the health and
well-being of people who avail of the services.
A sample of ethical principles and ethical standards here are adapted from the Code of
Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. These principles and standards set forth
ideals to which all social workers should aspire.
1. Value: SERVICE
Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address
social problems.
2. Value: SOCIAL JUSTICE
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
3. Value: DIGNITY and WORTH of the PERSON
Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Rights and Responsibilities,
Accountabilities and Code of Ethics of
Social Work
4. Value: IMPORTANCE of HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of
human relationships.
5. Value: INTEGRITY
Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
6. Value: COMPETENCE
Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence
and develop and enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and
skills and apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the
knowledge base of the profession.
Ethical Standards
The following ethical standards are relevant to the professional
activities of all social workers. These standards are concerned with the
social workers’ ethical responsibilities:
1. To clients
2. To colleagues
3. In practice settings
4. As professionals
5. To the social work profession; and
6. To the broader society