The Discipline

of Social Work
Mary Vianney Sibonga
Subject Teacher
INTRODUCTION
What do you see in the picture below?
Contents
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. Values
IV. Principles
V. Resources
Understanding Social Work

I. Purpose
Definition
RA 4373:
Profession which is primarily concerned
with organized social service activity
aimed to facilitate and strengthen basic
social relationships and social adjustment
between individuals and their social
environment for the good of the individual
and of society.
The Purpose of Social Work
TO BRING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND THEIR SOCIAL SYSTEMS

Social workers aim to help people better cope with the demands of their
circumstances.

Also, social workers aim to help change the environment for people to
have fewer personal and social problems.

Social workers DO NOT only devote their efforts to existing problems,

they also strive to prevent future problems from developing.

Social work is targeted to all members of the society.

However, social work has devoted its primary attention to people who are
most vulnerable or at risk.
The Purpose of Social Work
TO BRING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND THEIR SOCIAL SYSTEMS

Social work is concerned with two broad categories of people:

Those with few capacities and opportunities to function satisfactorily

(e.g., people living in poverty, dependent persons, people with physical
and mental disabilities, and people whose rights are violated)

Those whose actions limit or interfere with the social functioning of

others (e.g., abusive and neglectful parents, persons who commit crimes,
those who restrict opportunities of resources from others)
The Purpose of Social Work
TO BRING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND THEIR SOCIAL SYSTEMS

Social work is different from social welfare.

Social welfare is broader and encompasses social institutions and fields

of practice that do not relate to social work (e.g., psychiatry, urban
planning, and education)

Social work is a more specific discipline within social welfare.

Understanding Social Work
I. Purpose
II. Scope
The Scope of Social Work
IT IS BROAD AND IS APPLIED IN A GREAT VARIETY OF FIELDS.

What do we do? This question in the context of social work is difficult to

answer.

It is because social work serves society, the clients may either be

individuals or social systems (e.g., families, organizations, communities).

Social workers are found in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers to

provide emotional guidance to clients.

Social work is also applied in government and non-government

organizations.
The Scope of Social Work
IT IS BROAD AND IS APPLIED IN A GREAT VARIETY OF FIELDS.

The functions of social work according to Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, and

Strom-Gottfried (2012) are:

Prevention
timely intervention of the social worker before serious problems
emerge such as the provision of financial assistance, marriage
counseling, well-baby clinics

Restoration
rehabilitation of clients whose functions have been impaired by
physical or mental issues

Remediation
elimination of existing problems such as drug addiction or
substance abuse
The Scope of Social Work
IT IS BROAD AND IS APPLIED IN A GREAT VARIETY OF FIELDS.

Social work can be applied directly or indirectly.

Direct services or direct intervention involves the social worker meeting

face-to-face with the client (e.g., a counseling relationship between a
social worker and a runaway youth).

Indirect practice involves the social worker acting on behalf of a group to

address a specific problem (e.g., social worker may write to a funding
agency and request financial support for the construction of a facility for
runaway youth).
The Scope of Social Work
IT IS BROAD AND IS APPLIED IN A GREAT VARIETY OF FIELDS.

Social work can also be described based on the size of the client system.

Micro-level practice: interaction at the most intimate level (e.g., husband

and wife, parent and child, between family members)

Meso-level practice: deals with interpersonal relations that are somewhat

less intimate but more meaningful (e.g., neighbors, peers at school or work,
and therapy group)

Macro-level practice: involve work within an organization, community, or

even society (e.g., social worker is involved in administrative duties with a
social work agency or testimonial creation for proposed legislation)
Understanding Social Work
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. Values
The Values of Social Work
SOCIAL WORK OBSERVES CORE VALUES WHICH ARE FOUND IN THEIR
CODE OF ETHICS

Values are strongly held beliefs or broad preferences concerning the

appropriate course of action.

The values in social work are:

Service - provide assistance to people and respond to social issues
Social Justice - aim to create changes in society to address the plight
of the vulnerable and the oppressed
Integrity - demonstrate trustworthiness, truthfulness, and responsibility
The Values of Social Work
SOCIAL WORK OBSERVES CORE VALUES WHICH ARE FOUND IN THEIR
CODE OF ETHICS

Importance of human relationships - establish connection among

clients and other people
Dignity and worth of the person - treat everyone with concern and
respect
Competence - develop skills constantly to apply them in the field
Understanding Social Work
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. Values
IV. Principles
The Principles of Social Work
SOCIAL WORK IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES

Principles for the social worker as a professional:

1. The social worker’s practice must be bound by the conventions in the

profession.
2. The social worker must practice consciousness of self.
3. The social worker should be objective in dealing with people.
4. The social worker should respect human diversity.
5. The social worker must continually develop personally and
professionally.
The Principles of Social Work
SOCIAL WORK IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES

Principles that guide social work activities:

1. The social worker should engage in knowledge- and value-guided

practice.
2. The social worker must care about the client in his/her entirety.
3. The social worker must uphold the client’s dignity.
4. The social worker should consider the client’s individual characteristics.
5. The social worker should help the client look into the future.
6. The social worker must help clients build their strengths.
7. The social worker should not only help clients but also engage with them.
The Principles of Social Work
SOCIAL WORK IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES

Principles that guide social work activities:

8. The social worker should encourage his/her clients to practice

self-determination.
9. The social worker should help the client learn self-directed
problem-solving skills.
10. The social worker needs to protect the client’s confidential information.
11. The social worker should observe normalization.
12. The social worker should continuously assess his or her work with the client.
13. The social worker should be accountable to the client, his or her agency,
the community, and the social work profession.
 Conclusion
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS THAN YOU.

SOCIAL WORK EXISTS TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

“Be kind―for everyone you meet is
fighting a hard battle.”
Plato
Resources
REFERENCES:

ABADINGO, L. E. (2018). DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL

SCIENCES FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. C&E PUBLISHING.
HEPWORTH, D. H., ROONEY, R. H., ROONEY, G. D., & STROM-GOTTFRIED, K.
(2012). DIRECT SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE: THEORY AND SKILLS (9TH ED.).
BROOKS/COLE, CENGAGE LEARNING.

FOR FURTHER READING:

SEGAL, E. A., GERDES, K. E., & STEINER, S. (2019). AN INTRODUCTION TO THE

PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK (6TH ED.). CENGAGE.
ZASTROW, C. (2017). INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL
WELFARE: EMPOWERING PEOPLE (12TH ED.). CENGAGE.

PHOTO CREDIT:

SLIDE 2: CARTER'S PULITZER PRIZE WINNING PHOTOGRAPH OF A

VULTURE WATCHING A STARVING CHILD IN SUDAN, 1993.
KEVIN CARTER/CORBIS SYGMA
Thank
you