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DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL WORK IN PAST HUNDRED YEARS: A REVIEW

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 Journal of Social Work Education, Research and Action
Volume 5 Number 1 , January- April, 2019
ISSN 2394-4102
DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL WORK IN PAST HUNDRED
YEARS: A REVIEW
Sanjai Bhatt
Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, Delhi (India).

Subhashree Sanyaal
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work,
Viswa Bharati, Shanti Niketan, Birbhumi, West Bengal (India).

Abstract
This paper reviews different definitions of social work in past hundred years
(1915 to 2014) and presents some summarised dimensions attributed to the
definitions in distinct phases – humanitarian (charity), welfare, development and
empowerment. The analysis of these definitions reveals the changing patterns of
ideology in the practice of the profession and addition of different value loaded
terms in different phases. It also divulge how social work profession has
witnessed positive growth, amplified human and humane values, societal
concerns and transforming approaches which represent the area of focus for the
definitions including obligation towards the society, social change and
development, human rights, and finally empowerment -its changing priorities,
approaches and methodologies.

Key Words: Social work, Definition, Relationship, Wellbeing, Human Rights, Empowerment

Introduction

Social Work has been recognised across the globe since inception as a Human Service Profession
and like many of its western counterparts - the profession of social work has gained a global
recognition and has paved the way for social change across the globe through its approach of
charity and now evolving to an empowerment model. From charity to professional social work
and social welfare, this profession has evolved though the trajectory from - welfare; to
development; to social justice, to rights based approach and as an empowering profession.
Indeed the dominant ideology of Social Work as a profession has evolved from a medico-socio
thematic perspective to dynamic rights based empowerment approach catering to a multiple
issues and problems. The roots of Social Work profession lie with the Charity Organization
Movement in the late nineteenth century to address urban poverty issues in the United States and

* Corresponding Author: Sanjai Bhatt, Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007.
E-mail: sanjaibhatt@gmail.com
Settlement House Movement in 1884 where the first settlement house, in East London to provide
social services and education to the poor workers who lived there. Since then the profession has
evolved distinctly to cater and serve to the need of the people and human service. Social Work
since then has spread across the globe. Statistically, it may be interesting to note that in the year
2000, around 1384 Social work programs started from 114 countries and in 2010 it grew to
include 2110 social work degree sites in 125 countries1. In India, alone around 526 institutions of
Social Work are located across the country (Bhatt & Phukan, 2015).

The objectives of this paper is to compile different definitions of Social Work from different
periods ranging from 1915 to 2014; to identify and specify various stages of Social Work growth
and development reflected through these definition; and to analyse the changing thematic
engagement and practice area of Social Work with changing definitions and foci of approach.
The methodology of the paper is the constructive review of secondary data sources with a view
to compare and produce useful information on summarizes areas of convergence and divergence
of the literature sources collected. The data summarized would contribute to the meaning and
development of existing body of knowledge about Social Work.

A close examination of the evolution of the definitions of social work in past hundred years
(1915 to 2014) would bring afore the changing patterns of ideology in the practice of the
profession. In the present paper, the definitions of Social Work have been classified across
various decades for a comprehensive analysis. Defining Social Work can be seen as old as 1915
when Mary E Richmond highlights the dire need that all stakeholders in the society should help
the helpless members in human history and since then the definitions until 2014 have spoken
volumes about social change, social transformation and principles of human rights and social
justice. On the issue of defining social work, it will be appropriate to mention remark made by
Siddiqui (2015: 23). He aptly remarked that “....when I referred to the famous text by Morales &
Sheafor (1995), Social Work: A Profession with many faces. I was quite confused to read and I
quote, ‘It is difficult to define what social work is’. Then it dawned on me when I start browsing
through various definitions of social work, given by different authors, that the variety of
explanations you come across is really baffling.” He further said that the principal difficulty in
defining social work is that of finding a suitable differentia, one that is brief, inclusive and
conceptually flawless. Simply calling it a helping profession or activity does not serve the
purpose, as almost all profession or activity does not serve the purpose as almost all professions
help people to solve their problems, such as nurses, doctors, lawyers and so on. Further, helping
in the Indian subcontinent in particular and elsewhere too is seen as a social and religious
obligation, and hence possess difficulty in its acceptance as a professional domain, as almost all
politicians and many others take pride in claiming themselves as social workers. (Siddiqui, 2015:
24).

The most earliest and acknowledged definition of Social Work began with Mary E Richmond
where she specified three definitions bringing in the idea of doing different things for and with
different people by cooperating with them to achieve social betterment, social relationships of
men and women, and man and his social environment. Therefore, the adjustment and providing
help was the primary focus of the profession. The focus gradually shifted towards social welfare
where the ideas of standard of living in their own society and society’s betterment. The focus
was on philanthropic, charity, social injustice, humanitarian philosophy, scientific knowledge
and technical skills were the primary focus which shifted on welfare stat. Around 1965, the focus
shifted from problems of intra-personal and /or inter-personal adjustments; activity of helping
individuals, groups or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and
hence development was an underlying theme of practice. The present phase with larger
definitions of social work highlights social change, states responsibility and welfare, problem
solving in human relationships and service to enhance well-being, empowerment and liberation
of people. Hence, an evolution from charity to empowerment model can be visualised through
these definitions of Social Work. For better understanding, the period of hundred years has been
divided in four quarters and the evolution of social work reflected through its core thematic
engagements.

1. Phase I: 1915-1940: Charity or Philanthropic Model

The charity or philanthropic model of social work began with the development of fields of
practice began to occur with the emergence of psychiatric social work and medical social work.
It was the time when the primary role of social work was seen as a helping activity. It was during
this time the concept of developing personality; continued adjustment with the external
environment was encouraged. Hence the basic human attitude changed beyond looking at self
and larger towards community and helping people. If we see Richmond’s definitions of 1915 to
1922, she strongly argue for man and environment adjustment.

a) “...the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating with
them to achieve at one and the same time their own society and society’s betterment”
(Richmond, 1915).
b) “...the art of bringing about better adjustment in the social relationships of individual
men, or women, or children” (Richmond, 1917).
c) “...those processes which develop personality through adjustment consciously
effected, individual by individual, between men and their social environment”
(Richmond, 1922).

Mary Ellen Richmond is often credited with developing social work as a profession, especially
struggled to respond Flexner contention who in his famous lecture in 1915 on “Is Social Work a
Profession?” delivered at the National Conference on Charities and Corrections, examined the
characteristics of a profession concerning social work. Richmond constructed the foundations for
the scientific methodology of professional social work. She searched for the causes of poverty
and social exclusion in the interaction between an individual and his or her environment.
(González & Gelman, 2019: 233-247). A historic and defining feature of social work is the
profession's focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society.
During this period, there were a quite few definitions came which have their emphasis on social
work as an ‘art’ which Richmond first titled. Some of the other definitions in initial years were as
follows:
a) “...the art of bringing an individual who is in a condition of social disorder into the
best possible relation with all parts of his environment” (Jerett, 1919).
b) “...the art of changing human attitudes” (Lee, 1923)
c) “...a method of helping people out of trouble” (de Schweinitz, 1924).
d) Social Work includes all “voluntary attempts to extend benefits in response to need
which are concerned with social relationships and which avail themselves of
scientific knowledge and methods” (Cheyney, 1926).
e) “...a particular way of assisting people to meet their personal and social need”
(Lowry, 1937).
f) “...helping the client to use whatever capacity he has to deal actively and responsibly
with some specific problem which he is encountering in reality (Marcus, 1938).
g) “...those processes involved in giving service, financial assistance or personal counsel
to individuals by representatives of social agencies according to policies established
and with consideration of individual needs” (de Schweinitz,1939 as cited in Kirton,
2011).
h) “…a process through which we use the understanding of individual in society in the
rendering of certain social services supported by community and applied for by
members of it” (Gartland, 1940).

The changing nature of social work has been perceived of time, the dominant frame during phase
one was “to help”, “to assist”, “to enable”, “to restore”, “to mediate” and to facilitate. Probably,
these definitions have established social work as a helping profession. The entire focus was on
curing a social disorder and changing human attitudes. Therefore a more curative, charitable,
philanthropic attitude for help was seen as social service and social welfare.

2. Phase II (1941-1965): Welfare Model

The second phase witnessed the development of a welfare approach to social work and the
definitions stands a testimony to it, it may be interesting to note that, in 1947 the concept of
social security, economic well-being and standard of living was being focussed upon. The
welfare model spoke of removal of social injustice, relieve distress, prevent suffering and assist
the weaker members of society.

According to Witmer, the primary function of social work is “to give assistance to the
individuals in regards to the difficulties their encounter in their use of an organized group’s
service or in their performance as a member of an organized group” (1942). However, in the
1942s, Fink for the first time spoke about developing services to initiate capacities of individuals
and effective participation in development of society; hence a slow trend towards welfare
approach towards community and individual development was seen as an underlying current in
the domain of social work. Fink assertively mentioned that “ Social Work is the provision of
services designed to aid individuals , singly or in groups in coping with the present and future
social and psychological obstacles that prevent or are likely to prevent, full or effective
participation in society. The function of social work is the creation of those conditions within the
society, and the development of those capacities within the individual that increase the
probability of a more satisfying way of life for the members of the society” (Fink, 1942).

Anderson, probably first time defined social work as a professional service. It says that social
work is “a professional service rendered to the people for the purpose of assisting them, as
individuals or in groups, to attain satisfying relationship and standards of life in accordance with
their particular wishes and capacities and in harmony with those of the community (1945)”.
Following this, Helen Clarke also emphasised that “Social Work is a form of professional service
comprising a composite of knowledge and skills, parts of which are not distinct of social work,
which attempts on the one hand to help the individual satisfy his needs in the social milieu and
on the other to remove as far as possible the barriers which obstruct people from achieving the
best of which they are capable (1947)”. In between, two other definitions by Wilsnac (1946)
made an psychoanalytical orientation to social work by defining as “a therapeutic discipline for
encouraging ego-development” and Towle has kept emphasis on unmet need when social work
has been put as “…one method by which certain special services are made available in areas of
unmet need” (Towle,1947).

By this time, social case work has grown as an established method of social work. Bowers has
defined it as an art in which knowledge of the science of human relations and skills in
relationship are used to mobilize capacities in the individual and resources in the community
appropriate for better adjustment between the client and all or any part of his environment”
(1949). While a group of scholars has laid emphasis continued to advance knowledge based on
relationship, there were another group who were influenced by welfare state in general and social
security principles in particular. Though welfare state started emerging in early years of
twentieth century, Derek Fraser aptly commented on the welfare state “as it germinated in the
social thought of late Victorian liberalism, reached its infancy in the collectivism of the pre-and
post-Great War statism, matured in the universalism of the 1940s and flowered in full bloom in
the consensus and affluence of the 1950s and 1960s. By the 1970s it was in decline, like the
faded rose of autumn. Both UK and U.S. governments are pursuing in the 1980s monetarist
policies inimical to welfare (1984: 233).

Following Lord William Henry Beveridge’s ideological connotation and lexicon over welfare
state, Youngdahl defined Social work which seeks two things for people; economic well-being
and the deeper source of happiness that is self-realization; the stuff of its concern is human
behaviour and relationships. The focus of attention is on the individual and his self-adjustment to
a recognized reality” (Youngdahl, 1949). In India, two definitions of social work which was in
its nascent stage also came on same lines. A noted scholar, B.G. Kher who was a lawyer,
solicitor and social worker by choice and politician by necessity (1947) said that the aim of
Social Work, as generally understood is to remove social injustice, to relieve distress, to prevent
suffering and to assist the weaker members of society to rehabilitate themselves and their
families and, in short, fight the five giant evils of: (1) physical want; (2) diseases; (3) ignorance;
(4) Squalor; and (5) Idleness (Kher, 1947). The another definition by Prof. Sushil Chandra was
more elaborated as he defined that “Social Work is a dynamic activity undertaken by public or
private efforts in the implementation of social policy, with a view to raise the standard of living
and to bring about social, economic, political and cultural well-being of the individual, family
and the group within a society irrespective of its stage of social development (1954).

The definitions that emerged during this phase focus on individuals self and his minimum quality
of life drawing the attention on social welfare as a model of social work. In fact, the idea of
economic, social and political well-being, the concept of common good and minimum standard
of life for all has to be noted. To Friedlander,” Social Work is that process which deals directly
and differently with persons who have problems relating primarily to their social situation and
which endeavours, individual to individual to understand what help is needed and to assist the
individual to find and utilize the help indicated”. He further asserted that “Social Work is both a
science and an art and is carried on in its practical application in six different forms, which are
all based upon a common core of knowledge and skill which we call ‘generic social work’”
(Friedlander, 1951). Later on, he refined his definition as “Social Work is a professional service,
based on scientific knowledge and skill in human relations which assist individuals alone or in
groups to obtain social and personal satisfaction and independence” (Friedlander, 1961).

In 1957, India has almost ten schools of social work and it has started an annual conference
called as The Indian Conference of Social Work. It defined social work is a welfare activity
based on humanitarian philosophy, scientific knowledge and technical skills for helping
individuals or groups or community to live a rich and full life (1957).” At the same time, Boehm
pronounced that Social Work seeks to enhance the social functioning of individuals, singly or in
groups, by activities focussed upon their social relationship which constitute the interaction
between man and his environment. These activities can be grouped into three functions;
restoration of impaired capacity, provision of individual and social resources and prevention of
dysfunction” (Boehm, 1958). Herbert H Stroup also said that Social Work is the art of bringing
various resources to bear on individual, group and community needs by the application of a
scientific method of helping people to help themselves” (1960). In other words, social work has
been interpreted same time in two different continents with different tone and fervour. In west,
the problem solving, restoring impaired capacity and social functioning was the key words in the
west whereas Indian scholars were focusing more on welfare activity. However, the message at
both the places was almost similar.
While Commission on Practice of the National Association of Social Workers (1958) defined
Social Work Practice is “a constellation of value, purpose, sanction, knowledge and method” ,
the United Nation Commission in 1959 explained “Social Work is a helping activity directed to
problems which affect economic and social well-being, a non-profit activity and a liaison activity
concerned with maximizing resources for well-being and facilitating their use”. Siddiqui (2015:
23) commented that “In the early 20 th century, the main role assigned to social workers was
providing assistance to the needy (see Cheyne, 1926; Witmer 1942), which forever tilted the
natural thrust of social work to deal with poverty, and depravation of all kind. Later the
definitions started calling it a professional service to satisfy ‘individual needs along with
removing barriers’ (Clarke, 1947; Friedlander, 1955), based on scientific knowledge. The
concept of providing help in social functioning came later.” The emphasis that social work is
professional service gained momentum and every second definition, it appears, was answering to
Flexner’s one sided observation on social work.

3. Phase III (1966-1990): Development Phase

The term NGO came into use as a part of civil society movement at the end of the Second World
War. The United Nations differentiated between inter-governmental specialized agencies and
private organizations but the dramatic growth of NGOs was reported during 1980s. As the World
Bank and IMF forced cuts in public services, NGOs were encouraged to move in to fill the gaps.
They were considered: “the preferred channel for service provision, in deliberate substitution for
the state”. The World Bank not only encourages member governments to work with NGOs on
development projects, but also directly funds the NGO projects. It is reported that, from 1973 to
1988, NGOs were involved in about 15 (World) Bank projects a year. By 1990 that number had
jumped to 89% or 40% of all new projects approved (Jones, 2006). This has provided
engagement of social work professional directly and NGOs led project.The third phase mainly
focussed on the developmental model and aspect of social work. If we take a close look at the
trajectory of definitions, it may be noted that the idea of helping people to help themselves-
focussing on development was floated during this time. The idea of well-being, minimum decent
standard of living now became the primary focus and importance was given to increasing an
individual’s control over their lives through making satisfying choices, coping satisfactorily with
the results of life choices and life events, and working to provide the societal changes

While in early days of this phase and even later on (Soodan,1989) social work has been
continued to be interpreted in terms of problem solving, social functioning and social adjustment.
Prof. Mirza R. Ahmad defined social work as a professional service based on knowledge of
human relations and skills in relationships and concerned with problems of intra-personal and /or
inter-personal adjustments resulting from unmet individual, group or community needs (Ahmad,
1969). Murthy & Rao also supported the same elements of social work definition as they wrote
that social work is “help rendered to any person or group who or which is suffering from
disability, mental, physical, emotional or moral, so that the individual or group so helped is
enabled to help himself or itself” (Moorthy & Rao, 1970). Similar sentiments were echoed even
two decades later in another definition by Soodan which explained social work as a professional
service based on scientific knowledge; social work practice and skills in human relationships
which is rendered to the individual alone or through the medium of groups to fulfil their needs
and to remove those social barriers which prevent them from performing their social roles”
(Soodan, 1989). It was not the case in India or Asian countries alone which followed American
model of social work education and practice to great extent. The focus on the methods of Social
Work became an important point of understanding of the discipline. On critical examination it
may be noted that the terms “individuals”, “groups” and “communities” became an important
arena of focus and enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning. Compton quoted
National Association of Social Workers (1973) which says that Social Work is a professional
activity of helping individuals, groups or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for
social functioning and to create societal conditions favourable to their goals.” However he talked
of social change in the definition. “Social Work is a process that operates to assist individuals (as
individuals or as groups and as members of groups) in increasing their control over their lives
through making satisfying choices, coping satisfactorily with the results of life choices and life
events, and working to provide the societal changes that will make available to individuals and
groups the social resource and support necessary for the selection of meaningful alternatives and
for the making of meaningful choices” (Compton, 1980).Further, he points out that changing
definitions also change the focus of social work and what practitioners are supposed to know
and do.

Dissatisfied with social work focusing too much on individuals and not addressing the social
causes of distress, a number of practitioners launched Case Con, which described itself as a
revolutionary magazine for social workers. The first issue appeared in 1970 and published 25
issues before stopping its publication in 1977. The title Case Con referred to case conferences
but also to the con, the dishonest trick, of reducing structural social problems to individual
client`s own responsibility. In line with this, Case Con also published a manifesto in which it was
argued social workers should try to change society in order to tackle the fundamental causes of
social problems. Additionally, the magazine criticised the rise of managerialism in social work
agencies and neo-liberalism as an increasingly dominating political paradigm (Steyaert, 2019)

While India was facing consequential challenges of a politically moved internal emergency, the
term radical social work started gaining ground in 1975 and recognition by social workers across
continents especially in Latin American and African countries. Roy Bailey and Mike Brake
published an edited book entitles Radical social work heavily criticising traditional social work
(and social work education!) for being a-political ( Bailey & Brake, 1975). The socialist critique
was most clearly articulated in Radical Social Work, an influential collection of writings edited
by social work academics Roy Bailey and Mike Brake which appeared in 1975 (Bailey & Brake
1975). The book addressed such issues as the potential of systems models to be a basis for more
radical practice; the limits and potential of community development approaches; the relationship
between sociological theories and social work practice; and issues of gay rights and social work
(Steyaert, 2019). Radical left movements emerged in the sixties and reached their peak in
seventies, and then became non-functional, since they were notable to demonstrate any specific
successes. Post nineties the world has become much more closed to structural changes in the
Marxian framework (Siddiqui, 2015: 34). The new branch of Occupational social work came in
1987 to deal with work, workers and workplaces (Bhatt,2001).

4. Phase IV (1991-2015) Justice, Rights and empowerment

The decade of 1990 was the acceptance of new economic policies and globalisation in most of
the countries. Padma Swaminathan reported that “Before the 90s India was probably one of the
least preferred economies in the world. But 1991 saw the nation entering into a new phase of
economic reforms under the stewardship of the Prime Minister Man Monhan Singh, then Finance
Minister (1991-95). Call it the era of globalization, Indian economy for the first time saw a
fundamental shift from its socialist ideologies. There were some signs of macro-economic
changes during Rajiv Gandhi’s era (2011). Kim & Zurlo (2009) scrutinize the relationship
between globalisation and the welfare state by sampling 18 affluent countries from 1980 to 2001
and concentrating on the mediating effect of three welfare regime types. Our study provides a
comprehensive examination of the relationship between globalisation and the welfare state using
a state-of the-art analytical technique - the mixed-effect model. Findings suggest that welfare
regimes respond differently to the impact of globalization and therefore mediate the relationship
between globalisation and the welfare state. Globalisation negatively affects the welfare state in a
social democratic regime, while it marginally affects the welfare state in liberal and conservative
regimes (Kim & Zurlo, 2009). Verma and Singh (2011) have defined ”Social work is the applied
social science of intervening into social problems at individual, group, and community level to
achieve an effective level of social functioning and well being of people and bringing about
social change for social and human development through empowerment, advocacy and social
justice in order to reduce dependency of people”.

The fourth and the present dimension of social work definitions and social work practice have
undergone massive change post globalisation. There were four significant development in this
period: (i) emergence of various progressive pro people approaches namely, anti oppressive
social work, green social work, developmental social work ,critical social work, another social
work is possible; (ii) movement of social work profession as a human right profession as the
concepts of social justice and human right became core to social work profession; (iii) the
process of developing global definition of social work; and (iv) developing global agenda of
social work and social development. All these four milestones have contributed in developing a
new understanding of social work and its significant role in the societal wellbeing.
The democratic ideals are in core of social work practice and social workers are driven by values
of change therein they challenge inequalities, injustices and oppression. For radical social
workers, this implies working towards the transformation of capitalist society towards building
socialistic pattern of social arrangements with compatible commitments to equality, dignity and
justice. Mullaly & Keating (1991) suggest three schools of radical thought corresponding to three
versions of socialist analysis; social democracy, revolutionary Marxism and revolutionary
Marxism. However, they work in institutional contexts which paradoxically implicate them in
maintaining capitalist functions (1991:49-78). 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 oppression2.

The major social investment intervention strategies used in development social work including
human capital investments, social capital mobilization, employment and self-employment
(microenterprise), asset building strategies, and policies for removing barriers to effective
economic participation among social work in social welfare clients. It shows that these practice
interventions can be used to help the client groups that the profession has traditionally served
while transcending social work's remedial and maintenance services and promoting community
living and economic participation (Midgley, 2010). Social work, like other social professions,
has been profoundly affected by this neo-liberal onslaught. This led to reclaiming the radical
tradition and a dream that ‘The Another Social Work is Possible!’ As one would expect, the
specific forms in which these ideas and policies have shaped social work services and forms of
practice have varied from country to country and have been, to some degree, ‘contingent on
context’ (McDonald et al. 2003).

During this period, global approaches approach and global conventions to understanding social
issue and problems have been on the fore. It began in 1982 when International Federation of
Social Workers presented its first ever global definition of social work since it sets out the role
and functions of social work and applies across the globe. Since the first definition, agreed in
1982 and approved and adopted by the General Meeting of the IFSW at its General Meeting in
Brighton, is also known as Brighton definition. It defined “Social work is a profession whose
purpose it is to bring about social changes in society in general and in its individual forms of
development” (1982). In 1994, a project was initiated at the IFSW in its biennial general meeting
held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Two years later the IFSW president, Elis Envall, appointed a special
task force consisting of one representative from each of the five IFSW regions, and special
resource persons, and the input of various leaders of the profession worldwide was also solicited.
The Task Force was very ably led by Isadora Hare from the US National Association of Social
Work, although Isadora also has a South African background (IFSW, 2006).

Explaining the process of formulating definition, Hare (2004) mentioned that the International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) at its biennial general meeting held in Montreal in July
2000, agreed on a new international definition of social work, replacing a previous version from
1982. The definition of Social Work was formally adopted by both IASSW & IFSW in May
2001, as follows: “The social work profession promotes social change, problem-solving in
human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being.
Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points
where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are
fundamental to social work”. . It begins with a short definition, followed by a commentary of
four paragraphs: the first expands on the definition itself, and the remaining three focus
respectively on the values, theory and practice of social work. (Hare, 2004: 408-09).

Hare has also mentioned another core concept is enhancing human well-being. As the Preamble
to the USA’s National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics (1996) states: the primary
mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being (Reamer, 1998: 263). A
UNESCO publication has defined well-being as: a state of successful performance throughout
the life course integrating physical, cognitive, and social-emotional function that results in
productive activities deemed significant by one’s cultural community, fulfilling social
relationships, and the ability to transcend moderate psychosocial and environmental problems.
Well-being also has a subjective dimension in the sense of satisfaction associated with fulfilling
one’s potential (Pollard & Davidson, 2001: 10-11 as cited in Hare, 2004).

The international social work community in the past few decades has come out three
fundamental documents: international definition, ethics documents, and global standards. These
documents must be reviewed every 10 years.Since the definition in 2001, has also made a
commitment to review it in ten years cycle and both the organisations -IFSW and IASSW- were
behind the schedule, the Asia Pacific Association of Social Work Education (APASWE) took
lead at its first national association meeting in June 2010 in Hong Kong and has raised the
number of questions.

(a) Is “social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and
liberation of people to enhance well-being” appropriate as aims and activities of social
work?
(b) Is the dichotomic way of thinking, e.g. people vs. environment, acceptable?
(c) Is individualism or the individual-centered way of thinking, including “to develop their
full potential”, suitable?
(d). Aren’t stability in society, harmony in human relations, respect for others, an emphasis
on unique traditions and culture, an emphasis on responsibility, and the importance of
family, kin, and community core elements for social work?
(e). How about inserting a non-English word, e.g. “kyôsei” (interdependent living, living
together or coexistence; cf. symbiosis) [Each non-English country/regions inserts a
word from its own language.], in the definition?
 (f) Aren’t there any objections to designating human rights and social justice as the
fundamental principles of social work?
(g) Between the lines, Western democracy, Christianity, and modernism can be read.
(h) The element of spirituality is missing (APASWE, 2012).

There were opinions on the need of having the definition of social work first, even before the
definition of the social work profession. There were also questions on the need and process of
the revision of global definition. In continuation of these questions, Henrickson has powerfully
argued in his paper that “An Asia-Pacific Response to the Discussions on Social Work Definition
Our international organizations have established a working definition of social work, but that
definition is not something we in the Asia Pacific have agreed; some country representatives
have said that it is a nice definition, but largely ignored in their countries. Social change,
empowerment and liberation, social justice and human rights are not concepts that have shared
understandings throughout the world. Concepts such as social harmony, interdependence, and
collectivity are concepts that are more highly valued in many Asian and indigenous Pasifika
communities (2012). The Asia pacific conference demanded that the global definition of social
work should have a structured definition of social work that creates shared ways of behaving and
working with people, and the international definition should be aspirational and not prescriptive
or overtly specific. Our practice must be informed by our theories, and our theories must be
informed by our practice; in this way we bridge the divisions among theory, practice and policy,
and clearly make connections among micro, meso and macro levels of practice. In addition,
focus should be on individuals in their environments or places, and to maintain robust and
informed relationships with governments and economies. The that spirituality needs to be a
dimension of the way social work understands itself and its purpose in the region and the
relationship with indigenous and local contexts is an essential one (Henrickson in APASWE, 2012).

Despite all heavy odds and differences, the following definition was approved by the IFSW
General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014 : “Social work is a practice-
based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development,
social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice,
human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work.
Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge,
social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. The
above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels” (IFSW, 2014).

The idea that social work is a professional service and academic discipline with specialization
came to the fore and recognition for social workers have been provided by many nations across
the world. The human rights came out strong and central theme. Empowerment and liberation of
people to enhance well-being has been the foci of social work practice. There are not many
reflections on this definition. The following table brings to light the phase, focus area of social
work profession and ideology that has been designed from an analysis of the definitions which
have been framed during that period. The socio political environment- be it world war,
globalisation and impact of signing of global treatise like Millennium and Sustainable
Development Goals (MDGs) have a major role to play in shaping various definitions and
ideology of the profession over the time.

Table-1: Different Dimensions of Definitions of Social work during Different Phases

Period Focus Area Ideology
1915-1940 Help, Humanitarianism, Voluntary Service, Individual and Client Charity
based Assistance to Individuals, Individual Need and Adjustment
to the Environment; Social Relationships, Social Adjustments,
1941-1965 Welfare State, Social security, Social relationship, functioning, Welfare
Scientific Knowledge Standard of living,
1965-1990 Social change and development, , Quality of life, Radical Social Development
work, Critical social work,
1991-2014 Human Rights , social justice, Anti oppressive, Right based, Empowerment
Liberation of people, empowerment, social cohesion, collective
responsibility

Despite global definitions, social work as a discipline has seen diversification into many major
areas of practice. In the first decade of the 21 st century, Social work has reached on the place
where it has allowed wishful manifestations in the different areas differently as occupational
social work or child protection or working with LGBTQ on one hand and on the other, it has
been questioning political power of the state, demanding justice as a matter of rights, not mercy
or doles. The profession has even questioned its own definition in one part of the world as
mentioned earlier. Few notable areas are mentioned in ensuing paragraphs.

Green Social Work: “a form of holistic professional social work practice that focuses on the:
interdependencies amongst people; the social organisation of relationships between people and
the flora and fauna in their physical habitats; and the interactions between socio-economic and
physical environmental crises and interpersonal behaviours that undermine the well-being of
human beings and planet earth. It proposes to address these issues by arguing for a profound
transformation in how people conceptualise the social basis of their society, their relationships
with each other, living things and the inanimate world” (Dominelli, 2012). On Constructing a
Social Work Environmental Dialogue, Pulla and Pathare (2018) commented that‘ Before any
serious steps can be undertaken by the profession towards building a presence in the climate
change debate, social workers must first turn their attention to building an understanding of what
this means for their professional practice. … at its essence, this needs to be implemented at a
pedagogical level in our schools of social work with a review of social work education to
incorporate elements of eco-social work and sustainability into our training (2018:120)

Anti-Oppressive Social Work: Anti-oppressive practice embodies a person-centered

philosophy; an egalitarian value system concerned with reducing the deleterious effects of
structural inequalities upon people’s lives; a methodology focusing on both process and
outcome; and a way of structuring relationships between individuals that aims to empower users
by reducing the negative effects of hierarchy on their interaction and the work they do together”
(Dominelli 1996, cited under History of the Field: 170). Dominelli (2002) defines Oppression
as, “relations that divide people into dominant or superior groups and subordinate or inferior
ones. These relations of domination consist of the systematic devaluing of the attributes and
contributions of those deemed inferior and their exclusion from the social resources available to
those in the dominant group”.

Occupational Social Work: Occupational social work can broadly be defined as a specialized
field of social work practice which addresses the human and social needs of the work community
through a variety of interventions which aim to foster optimal adaptation between individuals
and their environments (Straussner, 1990). It addresses the wide range of individual and family
needs relationship within organizations and the broader issues of relationship of the world of
work to the community at large. The occupational social work encompasses the service delivery
activities such as employees assistance program, health promotion, managed health care,
affirmative action, child and elder care, human resource development, organizational
development, career development and training, work with the unemployed and those undergone
job retrenchment, corporate social responsibility, employee benefits, occupational health and
safety, job development, pre and post retirement planning and relocation assistance (NASW,
1987 in Bhatt, 2001).

Social Work Definitions by Professional Organisations

It will be appropriate to examine definitions offered by professional organisations. Since Social

work is a practice based profession with broad dimensions and multifaceted in nature which
intersects with several disciplines, professional organizations in various countries offer
definitions to explain the profession to professionals and others. The National Association of
Social Workers, as a professional organization of social workers in the United States, has
membership of 120,000 professionally qualified social workers. It provides guidance, research,
up to date information, advocacy, and other resources for its members and for other stakeholders
in general. NASW explicitly stated that’ Social work practice consists of the professional
application of social work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following
ends: helping people obtain tangible services; counseling and psychotherapy with individuals,
families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health
services; and participating in legislative processes. The practice of social work requires
knowledge of human development and behavior; of social and economic, and cultural
institutions; and of the interaction of all these factors (NASW, n.d). The Canadian Association of
Social workers in its preamble of code of Ethics has stated that “The primary mission of the
social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of
all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable,
oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession's
focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to
social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address
problems in living. Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of
clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end
discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be
in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation, administration,
advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and
research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their
own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations,
communities, and other social institutions to individuals' needs and social problems” (CASW,
2005). The social work profession is dedicated to the welfare and self-realization of all people;
the development and disciplined use of scientific and professional knowledge; the development
of resources and skills to meet individual, group, national and international changing needs and
aspirations; and the achievement of social justice for all. The profession has a particular interest
in the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and/or living in
poverty. Social workers are committed to human rights as enshrined in Canadian law, as well as
in international conventions on human rights created or supported by the United Nations
(CASW, 2005).
The BASW website informs that what social workers do. Social workers aim to improve
people’s lives by helping with social and interpersonal difficulties, promoting human rights and
wellbeing. Social workers protect children and adults with support needs from harm. From
helping keep a family under pressure together to supporting someone with mental health
problems, social work is a varied, demanding, often emotional and very rewarding career. The
problems social workers deal with are often rooted in social or emotional disadvantage,
discrimination, poverty or trauma. Social workers recognise the bigger picture affecting people’s
lives and work for a more equal and just society where human rights are respected and protected.
Social workers recognise the bigger picture affecting people’s lives and work for a more equal
and just society where human rights are respected and protected (BASW, 2020). However, the
Indian counterpart National Association of Professional social Workers in India (NAPSWI) has
accepted the global definition (Code of Ethics, NAPSWI, 2015). During 6th Indian Social Work
Congress,2018 at Delhi, NAPSWI (2018) adopted a definition of professional social work which
says that “.Professional social work is based on democratic values, humanitarian philosophy
with central focus on the human relationships and human dignity. In India, the profession of
social work draws its strengths from indigenous wisdom, constitutional commitment for equality,
social justice and human rights, and scientific knowledge base. Its professional practice
contributes to macro level understanding and policy change while continuing to focus on people
at individual, group and the community levels. As a practice-based profession its interactions
enrich institutions and systems at all levels through culturally responsive interventions and that
aim at individual and social wellbeing. Its central concerns are empowerment of vulnerable,
oppressed, and marginalised sections of our communities and as a practice it endeavours to
partake in social change, sustainable development through participatory and collaboratory
processes with people in need, institutions and the state (NAPSWI,2018)”.
.
Siddiqui has probably rightly questioned that the problem these definitions create in the mind of
a practitioner or a student is exactly what their job is as a professional? Further, if they are not
able to provide a solution to the problem, but help the person to reach the professional person,
since left on their own they will not be able to access that, will it dilute their professional status?
Are they supposed to be proficient in all the tasks or only in some, which they prefer? Is there a
shared understanding or theory of carrying out all the tasks, if all these are social work tasks and
require an expertise? In other words what is the common thread running across these tasks
(2015:26). However, the answers of these questions are not difficult, but we have been sluggish
in responding the finer details as it has not completely blocked our way of working so we could
easily avoiding the response. There is need to rework on our code of ethics, practice manuals,
standards of quality professional services.

A critical eye on the various definitions of Social Work highlights a change in the approach of
the profession over a period of time. Social Work as a discipline and practice profession owes it
heredity to philanthropy and charity but now operates at micro, meso and macro level. On this
debate during its early days, Silvia Staub-Bernasconi has remarked that “Jane Addams and Mary
Richmond knew each other. Yet, instead of agreeing that their theoretical and practical
approaches were complementary and seeking to establish a concept of concerted action, they
criticised each other’s views on social work. This split into a purely micro and broader social
meso and macro approach is not unique in the history of human and social sciences (where it is
defined as the theoretically unresolved micro/macro link). It is also reflected in the definition of
professional functions and methods (2009). Since the emergence of social work to the current
times, the profession has undergone major transformations developing many offshoots and areas
of practice. With the move from charity to service-delivery to organised social work practice to
right based approaches various different methods of social work practice emerged. Currently, six
methods of social work practice are recognised by the institutions of Social Work; Social
Casework, Social Welfare Administration, Social Group Work, Community Organisation, Social
Action, and Social Research. These methods evolved in Social Work with changes in the context
of practice. The reference to the context is also important as certain methods came to be
practised more in the developing and under-developed countries than in the developed countries
of the West. In the Indian context, community organisation emerged as one of the central
methods of practice alongside casework. It will not be out of place to mention that there is need
of seventh method of social work which deals with families because family cannot be grouped
with any other group and can be left to be dealt with method of social work. This method can be
named as Family Social Work or working with families.
To Siddiqui (2015),Social work can be defined as a profession providing help to person/s in
dealing with the problems arising out of their ‘Social Functioning’, or ‘Interaction with their
Social Environment’. I see the core expertise needed by social workers to help people in their
social functioning as expertise and skills in human relationships. Social Work, therefore, can be
defined as a profession to facilitate human relations to promote social development of an
individual on the one hand and of a society on the other (2015: 31). The Social Work profession
thus can claim human relationships as their main area of knowledge and skills (Siddiqui, 2015:
33). This is not atypical of the western model of social work, where casework has always
remained the central method of social work practice. Prof Murli Desai (2002) has opined that
‘the ideologies of Indian social work seem to have developed as a combination of modern
professional values. Value from Indian religions and social ideologies and value of Gandhian
Sarvodaya movement .the western urban middle class paradigm with which the profession
began, has been functional in terms of education infrastructure, job market and so on. As a result,
social work professionals have an ambivalent approach towards developmental issues.
(2002:140) In Indian context where community living has been the trend-community
organization, social action has been the major methods applicable across rural and urban context.

In last three decades, the emergence of social work profession with over emphasis on human
rights perspective is another significant development…“human rights are inseparable from social
work theory, values and ethics, and practice. Rights corresponding to human needs have to be
upheld and fostered, and they embody the justification and motivation for social work action.
Advocacy for such rights must therefore be an integral part of social work.” (IFSW: 2000). The
focus on social rights and acceptance of second generation rights of social work in the profession
of social work (Wronka, 2016). However, there is a commonality in terms of constituency of
social work in traditional social work and of human rights as social work clients and vulnerable
individuals and groups are the common ground in both periods. Brij Mohan has issued a serious
warning on the future of social work. Social media and the digital revolution have fundamentally
changed the meaning of “social” and “work.” Social work, like all other professions, will
undergo dramatic changes as apps and algorithms overtake human operations. The failure of
social sciences in general and social work in particular warrants thoughtful innovations that
ensure sustainable services (Mohan: 2018)

Before summing up, we propose a definition of social work in Indian context, considering
characteristics, nature, scope, values and its role of social work professionals. Social Work
focuses upon basic understanding of human relationships and social environment and their
dynamic interplay, and it is based on universal human values and democratic ideals as an
emerging human service profession. Considering the sustainable social development as its major
goal, social work ensures the engagement of people, institutions and systems at different levels,
not only for protecting and promoting the, social justice and human rights but also ensuring
dignity of human beings, their overall wellbeing through specifically designed interventions
suitable to their socio cultural milieu (Bhatt and Sanyal,2019).
The biggest challenge that social work as a profession faces is the vague social status. It is still
assumed that social work is voluntary in nature and any individual (with a kind heart) who
wishes to pursue social work can do so without any professional skills and training. In India, the
lack of governmental support compounds this problem as till date there has been no council
established for bringing social work practitioners and educators under one banner and unlike the
western counterparts there has been no licensing of social workers who practice the profession
including those engaged in medical and psychiatric social work practice. However, the advocacy
efforts are likely to yield results. The Government of India has recognised psychiatric social
workers under Mental Health Act and 'The Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018.The
social work is in process of redefining itself as it is one of the most dynamic academic discipline
and practicing profession.

End Note

1. In e-mail conversation from Dr. John Victor Rautenbach, Board Member: International Association of
Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and Chair: Standing Committee on the World Census of Social Work
Programs 2019.
2. The article on critical social work in Wikipedia with unverified
citation.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_social_work

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