Topic

Clientele and Audiences of Social Work

What Is a Client System in Social Work?

1. A client system is the group of people that a social worker is responsible for
helping. Their tasks are designated by the needs of the individual or the family that they are
needed to help. Some social workers use the term client services in the same context as a
client system; it typically depends on the state in which the person works.
A social worker has a number of tasks they are required to complete on a routine basis. Their main
goal is to provide helpful services to their clients. The client system is the collection of people that the
social worker is assigned to help. Many of these people need assistance with money, food or
protective services for themselves or their children.
In many situations, the social worker is an advocate for minors that do not have the ability to provide
for themselves. The social worker speaks on their behalf, and they find the children a safe place to
stay. Other clients that they represent are parents that need some help with obtaining welfare or food
stamps. These programs help the parents feed and clothe their children while they look for work. In
some states, the clients in this system are disabled, and the social worker makes sure they receive
the proper services such as medical and daily care.

2. characteristics of Clientele and Audiences of Social Work

All people with various social concerns (in terms of being marginalized or experiencing social
injustice or having their rights violated or disrespected) share characteristic qualities of the
clientele and audience of social work: individuals, families, groups, and communities
experiencing being left out or having some personal social problems like loss of job, getting
sick especially becoming terminally ill, all those deserving of social welfare benefits, and so
on. It is not just about being old and retired, being employed and having concerns in that
place of work, being in a health-care facility, home for the elderly, home for street children,
drug rehabilitation center, mental health facility, or having conditions that would warrant one
to be in such facilities. Being a minority, a migrant, a divorced woman, neglected child,
sexually, physically, or mentally abused child, suffering discrimination of any kind
characterize one as clientele and audience of social work.

3. Needs of Various Types of Clientele and Audiences of Social Work

The needs are generally that of wanting to be empowered, to be socially included by way of
insuring that one receives what is legally due him/her and that one receives the necessary
care he/she deserves. Some people need their rights respected, some need justice, and others
need social welfare help to put them on their feet. Each context of socia l work discussed in
this book reflects a unique type of clientele and audience. However, commonalities do exist.

4. The Individual as Client of Social Work

We have pointed out that social work can happen on one, two, three, or four levels. The
individual level is generally working on an individual who has to be assisted to fit in a larger
environment or someone who has been deprived space by the larger environment calling for
change in the very environment or simply improving one’s ability to co pe with it.

5. The Group and Organization as Client of Social Work

Groups are people existing with similar or common identity. Gay men and lesbians, migrants,
women, abused or neglected children, elderly, pensioners, veterans, military service men and
women, people in conflict with the law, unemployed, people with substance abuse and
addiction represent groups that social work may focus its services on. There are also groups
such as members of an organization or place of employment, or pupils and students i n school
setup. We classify them as groups because they form collectivities in terms of level of services
they have to receive.

6.The Community as Client of Social Work

Community has the largest share in the clientele and audience of social work because
individuals and families are essentially members of the community. Everything happens in a
community and everyone claims membership in the community. A community may exist as a
marginalized sector, and in which case, the social work services may gear towar d their
emancipation and empowerment. In some cases, they may constitute the majority imposing
general norms that seek to marginalize minorities and those different from them. In this case,
social work may focus on community transformation to cause environmental change so as to
make it possible for individuals and groups on the minority to achieve social well -being or
social justice and respect for their rights.

Activity
Make a short reflection on how to deal with client in social work. 10 points