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Introduction To Professional Social Work PDF
Introduction To Professional Social Work PDF
Professions are at least to a degree self-regulating, in that they control the training and evaluation
processes that admit new persons to the field, and in judging whether the work done by their
members is up to standard. This differs from other kinds of work where regulation (if considered
necessary) is imposed by the state, or where official quality standards are often lacking.
Profession: An occupation whose core element is work based upon the mastery of a complex
body of knowledge and skills. It is a vocation in which knowledge of some department of
science or learning or the practice of an art founded upon it is used in the service of others. Its
members are governed by codes of ethics and profess a commitment to competence, integrity and
morality, altruism, and the promotion of the public good within their domain. These commitments
form the basis of a social contract between a profession and society, which in return grants
the profession a monopoly over the use of its knowledge base, the right to considerable autonomy in 2
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
practice and the privilege of self-regulation. Professions and their members are accountable to
those served and to society.
The term profession derives from the Latin: "to swear (an oath)". The oath referred to
dictates adherence to ethical standards, which invariably include practitioner/client confidentiality,
truthfulness, and the striving to be an expert in one's calling, all three of these being practiced above
all for the benefit of the client. There is also a stipulation about upholding the good name of the
profession.
The term profession thus refers to an occupation, vocation or high-status career, usually
involving prolonged academic training, formal qualifications and membership of a
professional or regulatory body. Professions involve the application of specialized knowledge of a
subject, field, or science to fee-paying clientele. It is axiomatic that "professional activity involves
systematic knowledge and proficiency. "Professions are usually regulated by professional bodies that
may set examinations of competence, act as a licensing authority for practitioners, and enforce
adherence to an ethical code of practice.
Contents
Formation of a profession
A profession arises when any trade or occupation transforms itself through "the development of
formal qualifications based upon education and examinations, the emergence of regulatory bodies
with powers to admit and discipline members, and some degree of monopoly rights."
The process by which a profession arises from a trade or occupation is often termed
professionalization and has been described as one, "starting with the establishment of the activity as
a full-time occupation, progressing through the establishment of training schools and university links,
the formation of a professional organization, and the struggle to gain legal support for exclusion, and
culminating with the formation of a formal code of ethics."
Regulation
Regulation enforced by statute distinguishes a profession from other occupations represented by
trade groups who aspire to professional status for their members. In all countries, professions have
their regulatory or professional bodies, whose function is to define, promote, oversee, support and
regulate the affairs of its members. For some professions there may be several such bodies.
Autonomy
Professions tend to be autonomous, which means they have a high degree of control of their own 3
affairs: "professionals are autonomous insofar as they can make independent judgments about their
work"
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Power
All professions have power. This power is used to control its own members, and also its area of
expertise and interests. A profession tends to dominate, police and protect its area of expertise and
the conduct of its members, and exercises a dominating influence over its entire field which means
that professions can act monopolist, rebuffing competition from ancillary trades and occupations, as
well as subordinating and controlling lesser but related trades. A profession is characterised by the
power and high prestige it has in society as a whole. It is the power, prestige and value that society
confers upon a profession that more clearly defines it. This is why Judges, Lawyers, Clerics, and
Medical personnel enjoy this high social
status and are regarded as true Attributes of a profession
professionals. 1. There should be tested body of knowledge, consisting
of techniques and methods communicable through an
How professions evolve educational discipline which should not only be academic
but practical in nature
The main milestones which mark an 2. Standards for training, jobs and services should be set
occupation being identified as a profession up.
are: 3. There should be a sense of belonging, group
1. It became a full-time occupation; consciousness and and responsibilities, professional
2. Establishment of training school; ethics for every professional.
3. Establishment of university 4. Profession should provide the professional with
department; continued occupation.
5. it should be responsive to public interest and work
4. Establishment of local association;
towards social ends.
5. Establishment of national association; 6. the goals should be the welfare of the people,
6. Introducing codes of professional improved human relations, built on understanding and
ethics; tolerance Paul Chowdhry p.23
7. Establishment State licensing laws.
The ranking of established professions in the United States based on the above milestones shows
Medicine first, followed by Law, Dentistry, Civil Engineering, Logistics, Architecture and Accounting.
With the rise of technology and occupational specialization in the 19th century, other bodies began to
claim professional status: Pharmacy, Logistics, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Teaching, Librarianship,
Optometry and Social Work, all of which could claim to be professions by 1900 using these
milestones.
Although professions enjoy high status and public prestige, all professionals do not earn the same
high salaries. There are hidden inequalities even within professions.
Characteristics of a Profession
The list of characteristics that follows is extensive, but does not claim to include every characteristic
that has ever been attributed to professions, nor do all of these features apply to every profession: 4
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
1. Skill based on theoretical knowledge:
2. Professional association:
3. Extensive period of education & Institutional training:
4. Testing of competence:
5. Licensed practitioners: Characteristics of Social Work
6. Work autonomy: 1 It is a helping activity, designed to
7. Code of professional conduct or ethics: give assistance in respect of problems
8. Self-regulation: that prevent individuals, families, groups
9. Public service and altruism: and communities from achieving a
10. Exclusion, monopoly and legal recognition: minimum desirable standard of social
11. Control of remuneration and advertising: and economic well being
12. High status and rewards: 2 It is a social activity, carried out not
13. Individual clients: for personal profit
14. Middle-class occupations: 3 It is a liaison activity, through which
15. Male-dominated: disadvantaged individuals, families,
16. Offer reassurance: groups and communities are linked to or
17. Ritual: enabled to access resources to meet
18. Legitimacy: their needs
19. Inaccessible body of knowledge: Paul Chowdhry p.21-22
20. Indeterminacy of knowledge:
21. Mobility:
6
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
7
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Value system is complex networks of values that people develop either individually or collectively.
Normally a value within a value system is congruent or internally consistent.. but one should aware
that some conflicts exist within the value system.
For ex. All people are equal Vs only people who work productively is worthwhile … these values reveal
inconsistency.
Poverty is the result of laziness Vs One cannot accumulate wealth if he /she is honest
Ethics:
The study of how people ought to act in order to be
Indian Values moral.A moral code that guides the conduct of a group of
The Bhakti movement’s value of professionals (such as medical doctors).The branch of
humanism, every individual has inherent
philosophy that defines what is right for the individual and
worth and dignity
Socialistic values of equality and legal, for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or
judicial, social and economic justice for duties, that people owe themselves and one another.
satisfaction of basic human needs, sharing
of natural resources and access to The word ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos,
essential services which means "character," and from the Latin word mores,
Sarvodaya’s values of Swarajya and which means "customs." In modern society, it defines how
Lokniti, that is people have to govern individuals, business professionals, and corporations
themselves in order to obtain equity and choose to interact with one another.
justice.
Solidarity with the marginalised
peoples, recognizing that Values are the implicit and explicit ideas about what
marginalised people need to be people consider good, ethics relates to what people
empowered consider correct or right. Ethics generates standards that
See also TISS SW Ethical frame work direct one’s conduct. Social work ethics are behavioral
expectations or preferences that are associated with social
work responsibility.
10
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Social Workers transform the abstract values of the profession into principles for practice. Then they
translate these principles into concrete actions in specific situations.
E.g.
Social Work Value Social Work Principle Positive manifestation Potential effect
Respect individuals Principle of Affirm individuality Affirm personhood
worth and dignity individualization Appreciate diversity
Uphold confidentiality Principle of confidentiality Respecting privacy Creating trust
1. Principle of Acceptance.
Acceptance originate from Greek word “agape” which means “love which descends to misery, ugliness
and guilt in order to elevate..the love is critical and is able to transform what it loves..this love
(acceptance is not charity) is not charity which is an escape from the demands of critical love
…acceptance penetrates to the inner selves of others and affirms their humanity
2. Principle of Individualization
Social Workers by their training develop a generalized understanding of people, their problems and
their environment. If one applies this to all it may lead to bias, prejudice, labeling, stereotyping and
ignoring the beauty of diversity and uniqueness. This principle emphasis that client (group /
Community) have a right “to be individuals and be treated not as a human being but as this human
being with personal differences…and this transformed into “start where the client / group /community
is”
Empathy
Putting oneself into the psychological frame of reference of another, so that the other person’s
feeling, thinking, and acting are understood and to some extent predictable. A desirable trust-building
characteristic of a helping profession. It is embodied in the sincere statement, “I understand how you
feel.” Empathy is different from sympathy in that to be empathetic one understands how the person
feels rather than actually experiencing those feelings, as in sympathy.
12
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Controlled Emotional Involvement
Controlled emotional involvement is in no sense a “hardening” process. It is rather a mellowing
process which serves to steady and temper our emotional responses. Over identification with clients
impedes objectivity and neutrality.
Meaningful Relationship
Meaningful relationship begins by demonstrating the interests in client.
5. Principle of Objectivity
It is closely related to non judgementalism
7. Principle of Confidentiality
Confidential means private or secret; something treated with trust, resulting in a feeling of security
that information will not be disclosed to other parties. An example is the confidentiality of
conversations and records between attorney and client.
8. Principle of Accountability
9. Principle of Access to Resources
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Objectives of Social Work
Objectives of Social Work
1. To provide people physical help
2. TO help them in adjustment
Brown
1. To give assistance to individuals in removing difficulties which they face in utilizing the
Witmer
society’s resources
2. Utilization of community resources for their welfare
1. Social Work seeks to see and assist individuals, families and groups in relation to many social
& economic forces by which they are affected
ESCAP –UN
1. Social Work seeks to perform an integrating function for which no other provision is made in
contemporary society
2. Social Work seeks to maximize the resources available in the community by promoting social
well being
The cumulative effects of personal troubles are public issues. Likewise, individuals feel the
14
repecussions of public issues personally as private troubles.
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Strengths and Needs
The mission of social work profession as well as the statements of its goals and objectives implicitly
concern human needs and human strengths.
Human needs are the substance of the social work profession – the impetus for social work activities.
Human strengths are the building blocks of social work practice – the source of energy for developing
solutions.
Purpose of the Code for Today’s Practice How Values Influence Practice
Influence forming of relationships
–“Guide” Practitioners in resolving ethical dilemmas that arise Influence views of situations
in practice Influence selection of options
–Protect the public from incompetent Diversity often signals value differences
–To Protect the Public
–To Describe the Responsibilities & Expectations of Social Workers to their Clients, Colleagues,
Employers and the Society
–To Assist the Social Worker in Developing Ethical Problem and Decision Making Skills as well as
Develop Strategies to Address the Ethical Dilemma.
–To Summarize the Social Work Profession’s Mission and Core Values
Code of Ethics
Professional Sections
– “Preamble”-summarizes the social work profession's mission and core values
– “Purpose”-provides an overview of Code’s main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical
issues or dilemmas in social work practice
– “Principles”-presents broad ethical principles, based on social work’s core values, that inform
social work practice
–“Standards”-includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers’ conduct and to provide a
basis for adjudication 15
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Professional Code vs. State Licensure Regulations
Code applies to all degreed professionals within the
field of practice Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Code is regulated by professional association ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE BORN FREE AND
EQUAL IN DIGNITY AND RIGHTS.
Code incorporates values, principles and standards Protection of life
Code has the highest level of practice expectation Right to equality
Code is directed towards the professional Right to autonomy
State Regulations only apply to those who are Right to a decent quality of life
licensed Right to privacy
within their jurisdiction December 10, 1948 30 Articles http://www.un.org
Case Scenario #1
In the course of treatment of a coworker’s former client, a social worker learns that the client and her
former therapist were sexually involved during the same time that they had engaged in a professional
relationship. The clients report that she has not told others in the agency about the relationship. The
social worker would like to discuss the issue with her supervisor and the client’s former therapist-
lover. The client prefers that the social worker not discuss this matter with her former therapist or
with supervisory staff at the agency.
Scenario Commentary #1
Competing Values:
– Client’s right to Self-Determination
– Therapist unethical behavior with client
– Agency’s integrity
16
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Case Scenario #2
A substance abuse treatment social worker who works with a client who has lost her license to drive
after
a recent arrest for driving while intoxicated sees the client drive to the agency for her session. During
the counseling session, the social worker comes to believe that the client is under the influence of
alcohol. The client shares with her social worker her frustration over her need to drive to work and
other essential places as justification for her decision to occasionally drive without her license.
Scenario Commentary #2
The standard exceptions to confidentiality include disclosure of information shared by a client when it
is necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to a client or other identifiable
person or when laws, such as mandatory laws to report child abuse, require disclosure without a
client’s consent. A social worker should be knowledgeable about or obtain proper consultation about
relevant laws and regulations concerning disclosure. One might argue that the loss of one’s driver’s
Following international organizations provide the basic leadership for the globalization of
social work.
International Federation of Social Workers (ifsw)
International Association of Schools of Social Work (iassw)
Council on Social Work Education (cswe)
Professional Boundaries
A social worker shall not become involved in a client’s personal affairs that are not relevant to the
service being provided
A social worker shall not exploit the relationship with a client for personal benefit, gain or
gratification
The social worker shall distinguish between actions and statements made as a private citizen and
actions and statements as a social worker
The social worker shall not have a sexual relationship with a client or client’s relatives
The social worker shall not have a business relationship with a client
? Principle
Huggingof a truthfulness
client, and going to lunch
and full with a client
disclosure
18
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Social Work Levels of Intervention
6
5
Society
4 Communities
3 Complex Organizations
2 Formal Groups
1 Members of Families & Groups
Social Work Intervention
Individuals
2
Members of Families
Social Work Intervention
1 & Groups
Individuals
1 Social Work Levels of Intervention
5 Communities
6
Preamble
The Declaration of Ethics for Professional Social Workers is intended to serve as a guide to the
members of the social work profession, who have obtained minimally a bachelor's degree in social work
and, thus, base their work on recognized knowledge, philosophy and skills. The Declaration is rooted in
the contemporary social reality which has a historical background and in the framework of humanistic
values, based on the intrinsic worth of all human and non-human life.
The Bhakti movement promoted the value of humanism, that is, every individual
has inherent worth and dignity, irrespective of attributes and achievements. Every
person, therefore, has an innate capability to run his/her own life. Democracy
emphasizes participatory process in the decision making of an entity and
accountability of that entity to its members.
Socialism has promoted the values of equality and legal, judicial, social and
economic justice for satisfaction of basic human needs, sharing of natural resources
and access to essential services. While equality highlighted non-hierarchy and non-
discrimination based on equal worth of every person, the growing value of equity
emphasizes recognition of differences, diversity and pluralism.
The ideology of Sarvodaya has emphasized the values of Swarajya and Lokniti, that is people have to
govern themselves in order to obtain equity and justice. This ideology accepts that people are
knowledgeable about their situation and the ways to manage them, given the necessary resources. It
acknowledges that they have the right to plan their own destinies and determine their life styles. It
appreciates that local solutions must be congruent with local resource realities.
20
The social work profession is committed to solidarity with the marginalized peoples. The basic
human rights are very often violated for people, who lack economic, physical, mental, social and/or
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
emotional resources. Lack of resources lead to powerlessness and, thereby marginalization of people
by the social, economic and political systems. Marginalized people are vulnerable to deprivation and
exploitation by those who yield power as they have control over resources.
The profession recognizes that marginalized people need to be empowered so that they
themselves play a dominant role for their development and welfare. Empowerment is the process of
gaining control over self as well as the resources which determine power. This process aims at
reforming the nature and direction of the systemic forces which marginalize the powerless. Systemic
change is an imperative for redistributive justice.
The Declaration provides general ethical principles to guide conduct of professional social workers with
respect to self and the profession, work with the marginalized and other people in need, the society
and the state, co-workers and employing organizations and social work education and research. In its
practical application, the entire Declaration and its spirit are of importance, and must be viewed
holistically, rather than considering a particular ethical principle in isolation. This also implies that the
application of ethical principles must be judged within the context in which they are being considered.
The Tata Institute of Social Ethical Responsibility to Self and the Profession
Sciences (TISS) was As the first essential to social work practice, I shall constantly seek an
established in 1936, as the understanding of myself and change my attitudes and
Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate
prejudices which may affect my work.
School of Social Work. The
first school of social work in I shall be sensitive to and respect the feelings and thinking of
India, the TISS was a others, understands behaviors, avoid stereotypes and recognize
pioneering effort, individuality in every person.
characteristic of the Sir
Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). Its I accept with humility and openness, the need to learn and shall
establishment was the result imbibe the spirit of inquiry to constantly update my knowledge
of the decision of the base and intervention strategies.
Trustees of the SDTT to
accept Dr. Clifford
I shall gear my practice upon relevant knowledge and in the
Manshardt’s vision of a
post-graduate school of social changing socioeconomic, geographical and cultural context.
work of national stature that
would engage in a continuous I shall use my knowledge, power and status as a professional,
study of Indian social issues for the well-being of all and not misuse these for personal gains.
and problems and impart
education in social work to I shall intervene into the personal affairs of another
meet the emerging need for individual only with his/her consent, except when I must act to
trained human power. This
prevent injury to him/her or to others, in accordance with the legal
subsequently influenced the
direction of social work
provisions.
education and social research
in India. In order to ensure credibility and integrity of the social work
profession, I shall constantly review it and work towards its
development.
I shall work to promote networking among social work professionals, other professionals and
like-minded individuals and organizations, at the micro- and macro-levels, to work towards people-
centered development.
I shall work towards developing and strengthening of professional associations, which are
means for development of the profession.
I shall facilitate development of the new entrants to the profession.
I shall cooperate with my co-workers towards development, accepting and respecting our
personal and professional differences.
I shall contribute to the process of collective reflection and democratic decision-making when
working as a team.
I shall acknowledge my co-workers' attributes and achievements and will be willing to learn from them.
I shall respect confidences shared by my co-workers in the course of their professional
relationships and transactions.
I shall promote a practice of mutual evaluation with co-workers for our professional
development.
When I am an employer or supervisor to my co-workers, I shall ensure clarity of goals in delegation of
roles and responsibilities, provide opportunities for growth, give them due credits and jointly review
their performance on the basis of goals and clearly enunciate criteria. 23
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
I shall act to promote humanistic values and ethical practices in my employing organization’s policies
and practices.
I shall ensure that the organization’s resources are used judiciously and for the purpose they are
intended.
I shall periodically monitor and evaluate the organization’s policies and programs by maintaining
records, self reflection on people's feedback and feedback from the co-workers.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Communitarian (a social order in which individuals are bound together by common values that
foster close communal bonds. A model of political organization that
stresses ties of affection, kinship, and a sense of common purpose and
tradition, as opposed to the meager morality of contractual ties
entered into between a loose conglomeration of individuals) republics
existed during the early Vedic period. In communitarian social order
the whole business of helping people in need was everybody’s business
mainly handles in a collective way. Thus every body was client and
agent both an different occasions and for different purposes. In early
days of Indian civilization both social life and social welfare were
almost inseparable
At later days, Mary Richmond, a social work pioneer, while explaining the underlying philosophy of
social work, mentioned about wider self. The concept of wider self match the Hindu concept of larger
or greater self.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Yama and Niyama
Yama is a "moral restraint" or rule for living virtuously. Ten yamas are codified in numerous scriptures, including
the Hatha Yoga Pradipika compiled by Yogi Swatmarama, while Patanjali lists five yamas, and five niyamas
(disciplines) in the Yoga Sutra.
The ten traditional yamas are:
Ahimsa: Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury, or harm to any living creature in thought, word, or deed. This is
the "main" Yama. The other nine are there in support of its accomplishment.
Satya: Truthfulness in word and thought (in conformity with the facts).
Asteya: No stealing, no coveting, no entering into debt.
Brahmacharya: Divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married.
Kshama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
Dhriti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to
completion.
Daya: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.
Arjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
Mitahara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or
eggs.
Shaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech.
Patanjali's five yamas, or moral restraints, are ahimsa (non-injury), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-
stealing), brahmacharya (continence or chastity) and aparagriha (abstinence from avarice). He also lists five
niyamas, or disciplines, which include shauca (purity), samtosha (contentment), tapas (asceticism),
svadhyaya (study), and ishvara-pranidhana (devotion to the Lord).
It is to be noted that the Buddhist notion of social welfare is wider than a purely mundane notion in
such a way that it includes an awareness of the material needs that are necessary for the promotion
of social welfare. The welfare of people can be promoted only when all their needs are adequately
fulfilled. Humanist psychologists have pointed out that human beings have a hierarchy of needs. xv
They do not attain their real humanity unless certain higher and uniquely human needs are also
satisfied. Buddhism can fully agree with that view, for Buddhism recognizes the necessity to attend to
the basic material needs of man not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end which is much
higher than that. The greatest happiness that a human being can attain by becoming entirely free
from the corruptions of mind is considered in Buddhism as the highest in the hierarchy of human
needs
6.Christianity
Christianity is a faith based on the believed life and teaching of Jesus. Christians believe by faith that
all who sin (disobey God) even once wouldn't go to heaven, even if they did good
things, so God gave His own Son, Jesus, to die, so that Christians can "substitute"
Jesus' sinless life for themselves. Christians believe that no matter how many sins
or how much evil a person has done, they will still go to heaven by taking Jesus as
a substitute for his/her own sin. It is a unique religion in the sense that the
believer's good or bad deeds do not determine their eternal salvation. Rather, it is
the sinless life of Jesus and the sacrificial death of Jesus that is the way to heaven.
Thus, Jesus is their "Savior" and they are "saved" by Him, and not because of
anything they did on their own.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Kanishka
Kanishka was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an
empire extending to large parts of India in the 2nd century of the common
era, famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. His main
capital was at Peshawar (Purushpura) in northwestern Pakistan, with
regional capitals at the location of the modern city of Taxila in Pakistan,
Begram in Afghanistan and Mathura in India.
Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate refers to the many Muslim dynasties that ruled in India from 1206 to 1526.
Several Turkic and Pashtun ("Afghan") dynasties ruled from Delhi: the Mamluk dynasty (1206-90),
the Khilji dynasty (1290-1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1413), the Sayyid dynasty (1414-51), and
the Lodhi dynasty (1451-1526). In 1526 the Delhi Sultanate was
absorbed by the emerging Mughal Empire.
Deccan sultanates
The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval
kingdoms–-Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar of south-
central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan
Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These
kingdoms became independent during the breakup of the Bahmani
Sultanate. In 1490, Ahmadnagar declared independence, followed by
Bijapur and Berar in the same year. Golkonda became independent in
1518 and Bidar in 1528. In 1510, Bijapur repulsed an invasion by the
Portuguese against the city of Goa, but lost it later that year. 28
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Mughal Rule
India in the 16th century had numerous unpopular rulers, both Muslim and Hindu, with an absence of
common bodies of laws or institutions. External developments also played a role in the rise of the
Mughal Empire. The circumnavigation of Africa by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498
allowed Europeans to challenge Arab control of the trading routes between Europe and Asia. In
Central Asia and Afghanistan, shifts in power pushed Babur of Ferghana (in present-day Uzbekistan)
southward, first to Kabul and then to India. The Mughal Empire lasted for more than three centuries.
The Mughal Empire was one of the largest centralized states in pre modern history and was the
precursor to the British Indian Empire.
The original agreement was that the IFSW would come into being when
seven national organizations agreed to become members. After much preliminary work, the
Federation was finally founded in 1956 at the time of the meeting of the International Conference on
Social Welfare in Munich, Germany.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Important recent policy documents include the Definition of Social Work; Global Standards for Social
Work Education and Training; and Ethics in Social Work:
Statement of Principles (all developed with the International
Federation of Social Workers).
Membership is open to tertiary level social work schools, individual social work educators, and others
specifically interested in social work education.
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) is the association of boards that regulate social work.
ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing
examination used across the country and in several Canadian
provinces, and is a central resource for information on the legal
regulation of social work. Through the association, social work
boards can share information and work together. ASWB is also
available to help individual social workers and social work students with questions they may have
about licensing and the social work examinations.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Unless the fundamental direction of social work changes, then neither a new social work degree nor
new bodies such as the Social Care Councils will do anything to improve the current situation. These
are no more than ‘technical fixes’ for deep-rooted problems. So attempts by individual local
authorities to alleviate the staffing crisis by offering cash incentives – the so-called ‘golden hellos’ –
simply move the problem around.
In the absence of an organized response to these trends, people understandably react in different
individual ways. Some social workers may leave the profession, but for many this is not an option.
Some workers have found ways within their workplaces to occupy spaces where they can practice a
more rounded social work – in the voluntary sector, for example, or in more specialist projects - but
this option is not available to most. Even in the voluntary sector the trends are increasingly mirroring
the managerialist pattern of the statutory agencies.
And yet, the need for a social work committed to social justice and challenging poverty and
discrimination is greater than ever. In our view, this remains a project that is worth defending. More
than any other welfare state profession, social work seeks to understand the links between ‘public
issues’ and ‘private troubles’ and seeks to address both. It is for this reason that many who hold
power and influence in our society would be delighted to see a demoralized and defeated social work,
a social work that is incapable of drawing attention to the miseries and difficulties which beset so
many in our society. This alone makes social work worth fighting for.
The current degraded status of social work as a profession is inextricably related to the status and
standing of those we work with. Social work clients are amongst some of the most vulnerable and
impoverished in our society, and have benefited least from New Labor’s social welfare reforms. In
fact, under New Labor we have witnessed not only greater levels of material inequality, but also an
intensified demonisation of asylum seekers, young people and poor families, the very groups that
social workers engage with. Too often today social workers are often doing little more than supervis-
ing the deterioration of people’s lives.
So in opposition to those who would be happy to see a defeated and silenced social work occupation,
we are seeking a social work that has prevention at its heart and recognizes the value of collective
approaches. At the same time we also recognize that good casework has also suffered as a result of
the trends referred to above. We are looking to a social work that can contribute to shaping a
different kind of social policy agenda, based on our understanding of the struggles experienced by
clients in addressing a range of emotional, social and material problems and the strengths they bring
to these struggles.
We note that the organization People and Planet includes social work within its ‘Ethical Careers
Service’. If that progressive promise is to be realized even in part, then we need to coalesce and
organize around a shared vision of what a genuinely anti-oppressive social work might be like.
This Manifesto is a small contribution towards the process of developing that vision and that
organization.
Since then, Social work education in India has spawned seven decades during which it has attracted a
large number of youth to pursue a formal degree in Social Work, develop human service values and
work for the betterment of society. The journey has not been without its fair share of bumps and
jerks, but challenging and exciting, nevertheless. The problems these trained social workers confront
are common in Indian subcontinent. In order to ensure excellence in education, training and practice
of professional social work, we need very active professional associations. Though India has fairly a
long history of social work education as compared to other South Asian countries, professional
associations were formed much later in order to play huge proactive roles. Our existing associations
are yet to get permanent affiliation or membership in International Federation of Social Workers
(IFSW). As professionals we have a responsibility for making professional organizations vibrant. In
past, we had several associations such as
Labor Welfare Officers‟ Association, Probation Officers‟ Association, Association of Alumni of Schools
of Social Work in India, etc. There are few regional level associations as well, such as, Bombay
Association of Trained Social Workers (BATSW), Maharashtra Association of Social Work Educators
(MATSWE), Karnataka Association of Professional Social Workers (KAPSW), Professional Social
Workers Forum, Chennai (PSWFC), etc. The ambit of their activities rarely reaches beyond local level
meetings, seminars and they do not have much say or authority at the national level. The
professional bodies of social workers that function at the national level are mainly three, namely,
ASSWI, ISPSW and NAPSWI. Associations of Schools of Social Work in India (ASSWI) ASSWI was
established in 1959 at Baroda. It is a professional organization engaged in the promotion of standards
of social work education in the country. It has represented the profession by taking up social issues
and concerns related to social work education at the national level since the early sixties. This
association is functioning through its elected executive committee. Most of the members of ASSWI
are from Schools of Social Work/Departments of Social Work which were established during the 33
second half of the 20th century.
S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Promote social change, empowerment and liberation of people to enhance their well being adhering
to the principles of human rights and social justice;
Promote research, action and other forms of continuing education for knowledge up- gradation of
members; and Advocate for programs and policies to meet the needs of social work fraternity and its
various clientele groups.
With the launching of social work program by dint of Open and Distance Learning in India through
IGNOU, a new chapter has been opened for professional social workers in the Indian sub-continent
since 2004.This initiative of IGNOU has taken social work education to the door steps of the un-
reached in far flung areas i.e. from Kashmir to Campbell Bay in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all
the states in the North-East. There is flexible admission procedures adopted by IGNOU: any one
having the required entry qualification can pursue social work education at Bachelors, Masters and
Doctoral level without restrictions on age, place of residence and occupational status. The Annual
National Seminar being organized by IGNOU in collaboration with NAPSWI is a meeting place for
professional social work educators, practitioners and students from any state and union territory in
the country. This annual event is gaining momentum with the support of ASSWI, several universities
and international organizations.
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S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work
Revolutionary Marxism and evolutionary Marxism. However they work in institutional contexts
which paradoxically implicates them in maintaining capitalist functions. Social work theories have
three possible aims, as identified by Rojek et al (1983). These are:
The progressive position. Social work is seen as a catalyst for social change. Social workers work
with the oppressed and marginalised and so are in a good position to harness class resistance to
capitalism and transform society into a more social democracy or socialist state. ( Bailey & Brake,
1975[2], Galper, 1975, Simpkin, 1979, Ginsberg, 1979)
The reproductive position. Social work seen as an indispensable tool of the capitalist social order.
It’s function is to produce and maintain the capitalist state machine and to ensure working class
subordination. Social workers are the ‘soft cops’ of the capitalist state machine. (Althusser, 1971,
Poulantzas, 1975, Muller & Neususs, 1978)
The contradictory position. Social work can undermine capitalism and class society. While it acts
as an instrument of class control it can simultaneously create the conditions for the overthrow of
capitalist social relations. (Corrigan & Leonard, Phillipson, 1979, Bolger, 1981)
History
Critical social work is heavily influenced by Marxism, the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory
and by the earlier approach of Radical social work, which was focused on class oppression. Critical
social work evolved from this to oppose all forms of oppression. Several writers helped codify radical
social work, such as Jeffry Galper (1975) and Harold Throssell (1975). They were building on the
views expounded by earlier social workers such as Octavia Hill, Jane Addams & Bertha Reynolds, who
had at various points over the previous 200 years sought to make social work & charity more focused
on structural forces.
“A dialectical approach to social work avoids the simplistic linear cause-effect notion of historical
materialism and the naïve romanticism associated with the notion of totally free human will." (Mullaly
and Keating, 1991).
"Dialectical analysis helps to illuminate the complex interplay between people and the world around
them and to indicate the role of social work within society” (Mullaly, 2007:241)
Practice models
Some of the practice theories that critical social work utilises include:
Working collectively
Building cooperation and consciousness
Helping people to understand the social consequences of the market system
Helping people deal collectively with social problems rather than individualising them
Making alliances with working class organisations and recognise social workers as ‘workers’
themselves
36