LESSON 8:THE

PROFESSIONALS AND
PRACTITIONERS IN THE
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIAL
WORK
8.1 Defining the roles,function,and
competencies of social work
• Social work as a profession has evolved over
time but its enduring feature as a helping
profession is "the dual aims of helping
individuals fit better into their environments,
typically known as micro practice, and
changing the environment so that it works
better for individuals, refered to as macro
practice " (Segal,Gerdes, and steiner 2005).
• Social work,like other applied social sciences,
may help individuals cope with anxiety,stress or
depression but it goes further to help the client
gain access to other community resources and
empowering services that may be state run pr
privately operated.These resources and
support systems aimed at providing relief or
empowering individuals and groups in
distressed situations are as varied as the
problems that people experience.
ROLES OF SOCIAL
WORK
• Thesed provide direction for professional
activities and are best situated in the context of
client system(DuBois and Miley 2008).The
roles are generally interwoven with functions
but DuBois and Miley 2008 have provided
elements that can be distinctively viewed as
roles rather than functions. For individuals and
families,their role isthat of an enabler----helping
people find solutions.
FUNCTIONS OF
SOCIAL WORK
• These speak of main activities professionally
performed by social workers.DuBois and
Miley2008 include among others:
• Counsel with individuals ,facilitate groups,work
with families, refine agency procedures,initiate
new programs,lobby for legislative changes,
organize community actions,educate the public,
conduct needs assessments,and evaluate
practice and programs at various system levels
and targets of change or social transformation;
• Enhance social functioning og individuals
families,groups,organizations and
communities ;
• Link client system with needed resources;
• Improved the operations of the social service
delivery network;and
• Promote social justice of social policy.
• COSULTANCY refers to the professional
activities through which social workers and
their clients plan,initiate,and pursue actions
toward desired change.RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT refers to the act of
coordinating, systematizing,and integrating
resources and services needed to supports
social functioning,meeting needs and resolving
problems.EDUCATION refers to the provision of
knowledge and critical information.
COMPETENCIES OF
SOCIAL WORK
• These cover all necessary skills and personality
qualities needed by the profession to
performed their various roles and skills.
• Think critically;
• Build and sustain relationship;
• Execute empowering processes;
• Use practical methods;
• Analyze policies;
• Communicate effectively;
• Strong xultural and intercultural competence;
• Good computer literacy;
• Conduct research;
• Do social planning;
• Perform crisis intervention; and
• Sound time management.
• On the other hand Segal, Gerdes,and stainer
(2005) suggests a host of functional
competencies that social workera should be
capable of, such as:
• Handle case management with various clients
and population groups;
• Perform direct practice depending on the
needs of the client and the environment in
which the social worker operate;
• Conduct mediations among parties especially
where one party is socially disadvantage;
• Make referralsto appropriate agencies and
services sectors needed by the client;
• In gerontological context,perform programs
planning and administration in numerous
settings;
• In mental health setting,function as case
managers, advocates,administrators, therapists,
and to use research as basisfor problem
solbing and choice of intervention in
empirically based practice;
• In school system,analyze the transactions
between students, teqcher,parents,and the
school system;
• In the judicial system, make the system more
fair and beneficial to both convicted criminals
and their victims; and
• Pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable
and oppressed individuals, eliminating
economic inequality and poverty
 8.2 AREAS OF
SPECIALIZATION OF
SOCIAL WORK
Social work specialization covers five major fields
(Hartman 2015):

ͽ 1.Family and child welfare.This includes services to

families in situation that seriously disrupt family lofe
such as physical or mental illness,unemployment,
divorce,in aid of improving client's family life
ͷ 2.Health.Social workers health patients and their
families in clinics,hospitals and other healthcare
facilities.
ͱ 3.Mental Health.Social workers provide aid to people
suffering from mental and emotional stress and many
other services similar to the ones offered by medical
social worker.
¥ 4.Corrections.Social workers in corrections
are involved with programs concerned with the
prevention of crime and the rehabilitation of
criminals and provide councel to pwople who
are on probation or parole.
Φ 5.Schools.Social work in school is part of the
program on all levels,from preschool through
college.they also assist students who have
learning difficulties and help them work to their
potential.
8.3 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
OF SOCIAL WORK
• Social work careers span a wide variety of job
opportunities in both public and private
practice. Social workers can directly work with
people they served and it is common for them
to volunteer their services.
• The number of social work professionals in the
Philippines are much smaller but they arw
present in variety of setting,including hospitals,
retirement homes,mental health clinics,schools,
non profit agencies and government offices.
 8.4 RIGHTS,
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
ACCOUNTABILITIES OF
SOCIAL WORK
• By definition,social work is jointly presented by
the international FEDERATION OF
SOCIALWORKERS(IFSW)and INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATIONOF SCHOOLOF SOCIAL WORK
(IASSW):
• The social work profession facilitates social
change and development, social cohesion, and
the empowerment and liberation of people.
• Responsibilities of social workers working
within their field of specialization arw to help
children,assist those life-threatening problems,
or aid people in overcoming addictions.
8.5 CODE OF ETHICS
OF SOCIAL WORK
• 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
adopted from the Code of ethics of the national
association of social workers.
Value:Service
Ethical Principle:Social workers' primary goal is to
help people in need and to address social
problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above
self interest.
Value:Social Justice
Ethical Principle:Social workers challenge social
injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly
with and on behalf on vulnerable and oppressed
individuals and groups of people.
Value:Dignity and worth of the person
Ethical Principle:Social workers respect the inherent
dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and
respectful fashion ,mindful of individual differences and
cultural and ethnic diversity.
Value:importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central
importance of human relationships.
Social workers understand that relationship
between and among people are an important vehicle fot
change..
• Value: Integrity
• Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a
trustworthy manner.
• Social workers are continually aware of the
profession's mission,values,ethical principles,
and ethical standards and practice in a manner
consistent with them.
• 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 apply
them in practice.
Ethical Standards

The ff.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 professional; (5)to the social
work profession;and(6)to the broader society

Guidelines for the Professional Conduct

The ffg.guidelines for professional conduct reflect the
spirit of a code of ethics.

1. Social workers are expected to uphold human rights in

their practice.
2.Social workers should respect the rights and dignity of
people.
3.Social workers should respect relationships of people
who use their services.
4.Social workers should promote social justice.
5.Social workers should comply with the laws and
regulations governing their practice.
6.Social workers should carry out their duties
professionally and ethically.
7.Social workers should demonstrate ethical awareness.
8.Social workers should demonstrate professional
accountability.
9.Social workers should act in the best interest of people
who use their services.
10.Social workers should communicate with people who
use their services,careers,and professionals.
11.Social workers should seek informed consent of
people who use their services.
12.Social workers should keep accurate records.
13.Social workers should deal appropriately with health
and safety risks.
14.Social workers should willingly collaborate,delegate,
and manage appropriately.
15.Social workers should undertake research ethically.
16.Social workers should maintain high standards of
personal conduct.
17.Social workers should act eith integrity.
18.Social workers should provide accurate information
about their conduct and competence.
19.Social workers should treat information about
people who use their services as confidential except in
situations that call for greater ethical requirement such
as preservation of life.
20.Social workers should act within the limits of their
professional knowledge,skills,and experience.
21.Social workers should keep their professional
knowledge and skills up to date so that they are able to
provide appropriate services.