SW421: Introduction to Social Work

BSW
Unit I: Introduction of Social Work
a. Concept of Social Work:
• Social Work as an independent discipline
• Social work as a profession
• Basic elements and goals of social work
practice
• Fields of social work practice
• Role of social workers
b. Mission of Social Work
• Preventive
• Curative
c. Relationship of social work with other
disciplines of social sciences – Sociology,
anthropology, history, political science,
economics
 a. Concept of Social Work:

Social Work as an independent

discipline
• Social work is the professional
activity of helping needy people to
help themselves by applying
different methods (case work, group
work and community organization)
and tools ( observation, interview,
home visit and so on).
• According to National Association of
Social Worker (NASW),” Social
Work is the professional activity of
helping individuals, groups or
communities to enhance or restore
their capacity for social functioning
and to create societal condition
favorable to their goals.”
• Social work is an academic and practice
based professional field of study that
seeks to facilitate the welfare of
individuals, families, groups and
communities with a focus on promoting
social change, development,
empowerment and/or cohesion
(Shuttleworth, 2015).
• Social work is interdisciplinary, multi disciplinary social
science
• Some of the theories and ideas were borrowed from the
other discipline
• However it has got it’s own :
a) problem solving tools :(interview, observation, listening,
survey, home visit, questionnaire, recording, relationship,
participatory rural appraisal etc),
b) Techniques : Supportive , counseling…
c) Methods: Primary (Case work, group work, community
organization) and Secondary (Social welfare administration,
social action, social work research).
 Why it is an independent discipline?
• Because:
– It has got it’s own theories.
– It has got it’s own principles.
– Unique way of solving the problems from micro
level to macro level.
– Academic course: From bachelor level to Phd.
level.
 b) Social work as a profession
• Any type of work that needs special training or
a particular skill, often one that
is respected because it involves a
high level of education.
• Generally a person is professional if his/her
entire time is devoted to an activity.
• Social work from this point of view a
profession for those who make a full-time job
of it.
 Cont…

• It is not a profession for those who incidentally

contribute part of themselves to active
philanthropy.
• Those people who are involved in social work
activities are known as social worker/s and social
worker are those who has got
a) social work degree
b) Experiences/Exposure
c) Like other profession receives
remuneration/salary while rendering services.
Social work has got it’s own professional ethics,
values, norms….
• In countries like United States of America,
Australia and many European countries social
work profession is highly recognized and
systematic in nature.
• In the context of Nepal social work profession
is in transitional phase.
• We don’t have license system and still there
are various misconceptions about the social
work in Nepal.
• We have got about 24 years of academic
history of social work in Nepal.
• Although there prevails many constraints in
the field of social work, social work working
area is broadening day by day.
• As a social worker one can work in hospitals,
I/NGOs, CBOs, factories, schools and colleges,
aged care, child protection and so on.
 The fundamental characteristics of
profession
• Great responsibility
• Accountability- Professionals hold themselves
ultimately accountable for the quality of their work
with the client.
• Based on specialized, theoretical knowledge
• Autonomy (self governing)
• Clients rather than customers
• Direct working relationships-Professionals habitually
work directly with their clients rather than through
intermediaries.
• Ethical constraints (controlling factors)
Basic elements and goals of social work practice

Knowledge

Elements
Process
of Social Values and
work ethics
Practice

Skills
 Cont…
i) Knowledge
 practical knowledge and experience of
working with people.
 knowledge of organizations services and it’s
aims.
 policy ideas and priorities of the community.
 research and theoretical ideas.
 Cont…
ii) Values & Ethics
Social Work Values
 exploration of personal value base and motivations
to work with people who may be vulnerable or
disadvantaged in some way.
Social work ethics
Human Rights: respect and dignity of all people.
Social Justice: a responsibility to promote social
justice, in relation to the people with whom they
work.
Professional Integrity: act in a reliable ,honest and
trustworthy manner
 Cont…

iii) Process
 The ability to work in a thoughtful and
systematic way.
 to be able to justify their methods of working.
 Process should be meaningful and within an
overall plan or strategy.
 Cont…
iv) Skills
Four categories of skill in social work profession
 Skills in thinking: analyzing, managing, reflecting and
valuing.
 Skills in using the senses: listening and talking,
observing, understanding and expressing feelings
 Skills in combine thinking and using the senses: giving
and receiving constructive feedback, interviewing,
leading, negotiating, supporting
 Skills in supporting your studies and practices:
reflective writing, digital and information literacy
skills, academic and professional writing skills.
 Goals of social work practice
• Empower people, individually and collectively, to
utilize their own problem-solving and coping
capabilities more effectively.
• Uphold the integrity of the profession in all aspects of
social work practice.
• Establish linkages between people and societal
resources to further social functioning and enhance
the quality of life.
• Develop cooperative networks within the institutional
system.
• Promote social justice and equality of all people with
regard to full participation of people in society.
 Cont…

• Develop cooperative networks within the

institutional system.
• fulfill humanitarian needs.
• strengthen harmonious social relations.
• change the environment in favor of
individual’s growth and development.
• ensure social justice and democratic
functioning.
• make provision for corrective, preventive and
rehabilitative services.
 Fields of social work practice
 Social work in aged care
 Social work in child protection
 Social work in health
 Social work leadership and management
 Social work in mental health
 Social work with refugees and asylum seekers
 Social work in factories
 Social work in disability
 Social work in hospitals
 Social work in schools/colleges
 Social work in research
 Community welfare
 Role of Social Worker
• Advocate
• Counselor
• Mediator
• Educator
• Motivator
• Facilitator
• Researcher
• Case manager
• Community change agent
 Advocate
• In the advocate role, the social worker fights
for the rights of those disempowered by
society with the goal of empowering the
client. The social worker speaks on behalf of
clients when others will not listen or when
clients are unable to do so.
 COUNSELOR
• In the role of counselor, the social worker
helps clients express their needs, clarify their
problems, explore resolution strategies, and
applies intervention strategies to develop and
expand the capacities of clients to deal with
their problems more effectively. A key function
of this role is to empower people by affirming
their personal strengths and their capacities to
deal with their problems more effectively.
 MEDIATOR
• In the mediator role, the social worker
intervenes in disputes between parties to help
them find compromises, reconcile differences,
and reach mutually satisfying agreements. The
mediator takes a neutral stance among the
involved parties.
 EDUCATOR
• In the Educator role, social workers are
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.
 MOTIVATOR
• Social worker helps to motivate the client to
use his/her abilities. Each and every individual
possess some kind of strength which can be
very useful while addressing the problems.
 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.
 RESEARCHER
• In the researcher role, a social worker
evaluates practice interventions and with
others evaluates program outcomes. The
researcher critically analyze the literature on
relevant topics of interest and uses this
information to inform practice. A researcher
extends and disseminates knowledge, and
seeks to enhance the effectiveness of social
work practice.
 CASE MANAGER
• In the role of a Case manager, the social
worker locates services and assists 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 of
domestic or other violent crimes, or are
vulnerable children.
 COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENT
• As a community change agent, the social worker
participates as part of a group or organization
seeking to improve or restructure some aspect of
community service provision. A change agent,
working with others, uses a problem-solving model
to identify the problem, solicit community input, and
plan for change. A community change agent acts in a
coordinated manner to achieve planned change at
multiple levels that helps to shift the focus of
institutional resources to meet identified goals.
 BROKER
• In the role of a broker, a social worker is
responsible for identifying, locating, and linking
clients to needed resources in a timely manner.
Once the client’s needs are assessed and
potential services identified, the broker assists
the client in choosing the most appropriate
service option and assists in negotiating the terms
of service delivery. In this role the social worker is
also concerned with the quality, quantity, and
accessibility of services.
• Initiator
• Lobbying