SOCIAL WORK

Social Work
It is a helping profession. Some individuals have personal or family problems.
Sometimes they cannot solve these by themselves. So they need outside help. Such
help comes from trained people. The individual seeking help is known as a client and
the trained person helping him is known as a social worker .
DEFINITION OF SOCIAL WORK
Morales and Sheafor (1983) identified four areas of consideration:
1. In each helping situation, the social worker is concerned with enabling or facilitating
change. Interventions to improve the quality of life may appropriately occur as part of
the social work practice.
2. The social worker is in the business of helping people or social institutions, such as
family, change to enhance social functioning. It is not to focus on the whole person but
on social relationships.
3. Applying the social systems theory, social work can be viewed as a profession that
helps people interact more effectively with their social environment. The focus is placed
on the “interface or the meeting place or the transaction of person and the environment”
(William Gordon, as cited by Morales and Sheafor, 1983).
4. In helping to achieve their goals of improved social functioning, the social worker
must have handles in fortifying and securing the necessary resources to attain the goals
of the clients.
GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK
The main goal of social work is to improve a society’s overall well-being, especially for
the most vulnerable populations. Morales and Sheafor (1983) specified three (3)
distinguishing goals of social work namely: caring, curing, and changing. These goals
are outlined and described below:
1. The Goal on Caring Caring refers to the heart of social work and it focuses on the
well-being or the welfare and comfort of the individual and community.
2. The Goal on Curing Curing refers to the aspect of treating people with problems in
social functioning
3. The Goal on Changing Changing refers to the active participation of the social
workers in social reforms.
CORE VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK
Values are fundamental norms and preferred behavior patterns, shared by members of
a society or a subgroup which aim at integrating and channeling the organized activities
of the members. A value specifies whether to follow or not to follow a particular
behavior.
Mendoza (2002) cited that the Council on Social Work Education identified and
described six (6) values that are shared by the social work profession. These values are
outlined below:
1. Right to Self-Fulfillment- Each person has the right to self-fulfillment which is derived
from his/her inherent capacity and thrust toward the goal;
2. Responsibility to Common Good- Each person has the responsibility as a member of
the society to seek ways of fulfillment that contribute to common good;
3. Responsibility of the Society- The society has the responsibility to facilitate
selffulfillment of the individual and the right to enrichment through the contribution of its
individual members
4. Right to Satisfy Basic Needs- Each person requires for the harmonious development
of his powers socially provided and socially safeguarded opportunities for satisfying
his/her basic needs in the physical, psychological, economic, cultural, aesthetic, and
spiritual realms.
5. Social Organizations required to facilitate individual’s effort at selfrealization – The
notion that individual and society has the responsibility to provide appropriate social
resources, it is the right of the individual to promote change in social resources that do
not serve his/her need-meeting efforts
6. Self-realization and contribution to society- To permit both self-realization and
contribution to society by the individual, social organization must make available
socially-provided devices for need-satisfaction as wide in range, variety, and quality as
the general welfare allows.
These values according to the Curriculum Study sponsored by the Council on Social
Work Education as cited by Mendoza (2002) comprise a minimum commitment from the
social worker and the following concepts are implied in these values:
1. Concept of human potentials and capacities- This is premised on the belief that a
person is inherently endowed with potentials and capacities.
2. Concept of social responsibility- an individual has the obligation to contribute to the
common good and society.
3. Concept of equal opportunities- This is premised on the ideal of social justice, two
elements of which are fairness and equality.
4. Concept of social provision- This is based on the premise that there will always be
everywhere with unmet needs or problems which are beyond their own capacity to
solve.
“Social work originates from humanitarian ideals and democratic philosophy and has
universal application to meet human needs arising from personal-societal interactions
and to develop human potential. Professional social workers are dedicated to service for
the welfare and self-realization of human beings; to the development of resources to
meet individual, group, national and international 6 needs and aspirations; and to the
achievement of social justice (IFSW as cited by Morales and Sheafor, 1983) Social
Work values focus on three general areas: values about people, values about social
work in relation to society and values that inform professional behavior (Dubois & Miley,
1999))
The First Value is the conviction in the Inherent Worth, Integrity and Dignity of the
Individual (Friedlander, 1977). When a person fails to perform of follow what is
expected of him to do in a prescribed manner, the person is considered not worthy and
not desirable person by the people in a society. The person’s dignity is denied and
viewed as person with no integrity and inhumanely treated by the society. People are
not interested about why the person has not been constituting a good performance on
his social responsibilities in a suitable and acceptable way. This value reminds the
social worker that every client that comes (with a problem) to him is not to be
considered as a person having no value and no virtue because he is in a
disadvantageous situation. For a social worker the client is as worthy as any other
person and the client is in that situation because of many other factors acting upon him.
The conviction in the dignity, worth and the integrity of any individual, enables the social
worker to deal with any type of client with a positive frame of mind
The Second Value is Belief in Democratic Functioning. It relies on the democratic
process while dealing with the client system. This alludes that promptness and firmness
in deciding is through unanimity and nothing is forcibly imposed on the client. The
worker, the client and others, are all actively participating in the process of decision
making. Similarly, and at the same, the right of the client in having a preference for the
solution is given the highest attainable point.
The Third Value is the Firm Belief in Equal Opportunity for All, Limited only by the
Individual’s Capacities (Friedlander, 1977). This value conveys an impression the
need for social justice. Social work put forth a determined effort against social injustices
giving out to the disadvantaged and defenseless members of society. Regardless of
caste, religion, race, economic status and intelligence. Each person must have equal
access to the resources of our society.
The Fourth Value is Social Worker’s Social Responsibility towards Himself, his
family and his society (Friedlander, 1977). This value admonishes the social worker not
to neglect himself, his family and the society in which he is living while in the
performance of duty and obligation and professional duties. If he unsuccessfully
performs his obligation and commitment towards himself and his family, then he himself
or his family may fail to carry out their social functioning and may become omission of
performance and failures needing social work intervention.
The Fifth Value is to Transmit Knowledge and Skills to Others (Sheafor & Morales,
1989). This value provides instruction to the social worker to give the information that he
has, that would enable the client to take care of himself, in case 7 the client faces
connate challenges and problems in the future. This is to guarantee that the client
becomes independent on the social worker throughout his life. Withal, it also proposes
that sharing of information, talent and skills among co-professionals goes a long way
and is hard act to follow in nurturing the capability of the professional practice.
The Sixth Value is Separating Personal Feelings from Professional Relationships
(Sheafor & Morales, 1989). This value reminds the social worker that he should not
allow personal feelings to intrude in a professional relationship, as this may make him
over concerned or develop a biased prejudiced view about the client and his problem
situation.
Principles of Social Work Social Work is based on respect for the inherent worth and
dignity of all people and it is cultivated by altruistic and democratic principles.
Friedlander (1958) and Biestek (1957) as cited by Mendoza (2002) indicated seven
principles adhered by social workers including the following:
1. Acceptance
- Respecting clients under different circumstances
- Understanding the meaning and causes of client’s behavior
- Manifests warmth, interest and concern about the client and her/his situation -
2. Client’s participation in problem-solving
- Client is expected to participate in the process. - Gathers information in defining the
nature of the problem - Participates in planning ways in resolving such problems -
Identifying resources to solve - Act through the help of different available resources
3. Self-Determination - The idea behind this principle is that the clients-individuals,
groups, or communities) who are in need have the right to determine their needs and
how they should be met.
4. Individualization
-Recognizing and understanding the client’s own unique characteristics and using
different principles and methods for each client.
- No two clients are exactly alike
- Social interventions differ for each client considering their unique qualities and
situations
5. Confidentiality
-Client should be accorded with appropriate projection, within the limits of the law, with
no any harm that might result from the information given to the social worker
- The client should be assured that what he or she divulges will be kept in confidence. -
Moreover, confidentiality entails privacy
6. Worker self-awareness - Social worker is conscious about her/his role in making use
of her/his professional relationship with the client in a way that will enhance the client’s
development rather than his/her own. - The social worker consciously examines her/his
feelings, judgments, biases and responses whether these are professionally motivated.
7. Client-worker relationship –
The purpose of client-worker relationship is to help the client in some area of his/her
social functioning in which, at the present he or she is experiencing some difficulty, and
where the worker is in the position to offer help.

To give you a solid understanding of specific concepts along with roles and functions of
social workers, here are some important terms you should bear in mind before
proceeding with the mental stretching activity in this module:
Advocate - A person who advances the interest and welfare of a particular sector
through speech, press or social action for the purpose of meaningful change, human
security, public safety and protection from abuse or violence.
Broker - A person who assists in locating for resources or services and in negotiating for
its acquisition or accessibility and use in favour of a client.
Case Manager.A person who handles and manages all information and processes -
relating to a specific issue, problem or circumstance, that is inimical to a person under
his/her care, guardianship, custody or assignment.
Change Agent A person who initiates specific measure to transform or help individuals, -
groups and communities to become socially functional and be an active participants in
achieving self-worth or societal change.
Counselor A person who provides guidance and intervention to an individual or - group
particularly in dealing and managing an issue or a problem or difficulty, that includes
helping them to look for possible answers or solutions that will alleviate suffering.
Educator - A person who provides meaningful experiences for people to learn and
become life-long learners through various platforms, whether formal, informal or non-
formal, using varied types of strategies, scilicet; instruction, interaction, immersion,
simulation, apprenticeships, etc.
Enabler - A person who empowers another by capacitating him/her with the necessary
knowledge, skills and values necessary for his/her transformation, recovery, growth or
development.
Facilitator. A person who coordinates, leads or directs a particular group to work for -
specific task in the pursuit of achieving productive results for the attainment of group or
organization’s work goal.
Mediator - A person who assists in settling issues, dispute, disagreements or mere
problems, between individuals or groups for the purpose of reconciliation, remediation,
or settlement.
Researcher - A person who engages in a systematic inquiry to address an issue, a
problem or a given condition or topic which may provide essential suggestions or
recommendations that will help improve systems and practices, resolve conflicts,
disorders or difficulties, and inequities, or widen the pond of human knowledge.

For the purpose of creating a definite understanding of specific concepts along a;ong
work areas in which social workers work, the following terms are contextually defined:
Advocacy Group - An advocacy group is a special interest group that promotes specific
agenda using different platforms to influence public opinion or action.
Clinic - A clinic is an establishment or hospital department where outpatients are given
medical treatment.
Government Organization - A government organization is a social unit, public in
character, that governs the relations of individuals, groups and institutions within a
specified geographical boarder.
Hospital - A hospital is an institution that provides medical and surgical treatment and
nursing care for the sick and injured.
Learning Center - A learning center is a learning facility designed to provide education
and training outside of the formal structure for a specific type or group of learners.
Military
Institution - A military institution is the establishment of the state that oversees its armed
or military services and guarantees the sovereignty of the state
Military Camp - A military camp is a temporary or semi-permanent military facility
designed to shelter troops and provide training venues for the armed forces.
Non-Government Organization - A non-government organization is a voluntary, non-
profit organization designed to advance the interest and welfare of people and society
under a well-defined cause to ensure social equilibrium.
Non-residential Facility - A non-residential facility is a non-contained structure designed
to provide assistance or intervention to young people who are identified delinquents
Private Office - A private office is any existing establishment, regardless of its legal
purpose, that is under the ownership of a civilian authority, hence, not under the direct
control of the government.
Public Office - A public office is an institution of the government designed to carry out
government programs and services to the people of the state or nation.
Rehabilitation Center - A rehabilitation center is a medical and health treatment facility
designed to facilitate the process of recovery from any form of severe physical and
mental condition including substance abuse.
Residential Facility - A residential facility is an institution that provides care and services
to specific types of people for the purpose of fostering care, rehabilitation, or
transformation
Response Unit - A response unit is a specialized group organized for the purpose of
addressing an immediate need or problem which obstructs the social functioning of an
individual or group.
School - A school is an institution, whether public or private, established to educate
children.
Training Center A training center is a learning venue that provides authentic and
meaningful experiences on specific skills or industry
Welfare Agency A welfare agency is an institution, mostly of the government, that
provides social services to ensure the social and economic security and survival of the
people.