GROUP 7

Lesson 2: Professional and

Pactitioners in Social Work
The social work professional and
practitioners are aware that their profession
is based on the principles of human rights
and social justice that serve to empower
individuals, groups, and communities to
develop their full potential and well-being.
Roles and Functions of a Social Workers

•These are several duties that a social worker

typically perform to the people and the
community they serve. Accordingly these are the
roles and functions of a social work
 Broker
•the social worker is involved in the process of
making referrals to link a family or to needed
resources. Social work professional do not simply
provide information. They also follow up to be sure
the needed resources are attained. This requires
knowing resources, eligibility requirements, fees and
the location of services
 Advocate
•In this role, social workers fight for the rights of others
and work to obtain needed resources by convincing others
of the legitimate needs and rights of members of society.
Social workers are particularly concerned for those who
are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for themselves
 Case Manager
•case managers are involved
• in locating services and
assisting their clients to access those services. Case
management is especially important for complex
situations and for those who are homeless or elderly,
have chronic physical or mental health issues,are
disabled, victims of domestic or other violent crimes, or
are vulnerable children
 Educator
•Social workers are often involved in teaching people
about resources and how to develop particular skills
such as budgeting, the caring discipline of children,
effective communication, the meaning of a medical
diagnosis and the prevention of violence.
Facilitator

•In this role social workers are involved in

gathering of people together for a variety of
purposes including community development, self-
advocacy, political organization, and policy
change. Social workers are involved as group
therapist and task group leaders.
Organizer
•Social Workers are involved in many levels
of community organization and action
including economic development, union
organization, and research and policy
specialist.
 Manager
•Social workers, because of their expertise in a
wide variety of applications, are well suited to
work as managers and supervisors in almost any
setting. As managers,they are better able to
influence policy change and/or development, and
to advocate, on a larger scale, for all
underprivileged people.
People They Serve

Most social workers spend their days working

with people. The type of work social workers do
varies based on the groups of people they serve.
Common groups of people that social workers
serve include:
◻️Children
◻️older adults
◻️People with disabilities
◻️Patients with chronic, acute or
terminal diagnoses
◻️People coping with grief or loss
◻️People with mental illness
◻️People struggling with addiction
Where They Work

•Most social workers work in an office

setting, though many spend a large portion
of their time visiting clients in their homes,
schools,and in the community. Social
workers most often work in the following
settings:
◻️Hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing
homes
◻️Community mental health agencies and
substance misuse clinics
◻️State and local governments including child
welfare agencies and departments of health and
human services
 •Schools and other youth-serving
organizations

◻️Military bases and veterans affairs

organizations
◻️Correctional facilities
◻️Private practices
Career Opportunities in Social Work

•There is a variety of jobs available

for graduates in social work
Health Board social workers
•You could work in one of eight regionally based Health
Boards as 'Community Care’ social worker for concerns
such as psychiatrist illness, financial and environment
difficulties, alcohol and drug-related problems,
interpersonal difficulties and child abuse. All cases dealt
with by Health Boards social workers include a
child/family dimension
 Medical social workers

•You could be employed as a medical social worker by

voluntary and health-board-run hospital. You will offer
direct help Where medical conditions are complicated by
social and emotional factors. Psychiatric social workers
work with patients in psychiatric hospital and without-
patients as well as in preventative role
Working for Local Authorities
•You could also work for local authorities as
a housing welfare officer (social worker),
offering social services to tenants,
prospective tenants and/or travellers. This
involves liaising with housing and
government departments
Working for the Department of Justice
•As a probation and welfare officer in the Department of
Justice,you may work with the Adoption Board,the
courts,or prisons and places of detention. This involves
making recommendations to the appropriate authorities.
Working for voluntary Agencies
•Voluntary agencies catering for specific interest
groups also employ social workers. These include
charities, special schools (run by religious groups or
parents) and treatment centres.
Working in industry
•Social workers in industry ('welfare workers’) are
concerned with employees and pensioners of an
organization,e.g. the Army. The work can range from
family problems to work with pensioners and the
elderly
Rights and Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Code of
Ethics of Social Work
The rights of social work are partially outline. Social work foremost rights
include the right to fullfil its professional mandates and to live by its values.
It’s responsibilities cover those that pertain to the dispensation of its basic
functions, roles, professional standards, and adhesive to its local and
international codes of ethics. Social work is accountable to the clients,the
general public, and the society. The following are responsibilities of social
workers as to their field specialization:
1. To help children
2. Assist those life-threatening problems
3. Aid people in overcoming addictions
4. To protect and uphold respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all
people as expressed in the united nations universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948)
5. Promoting social justice to the people generally and to people with whom
they work
6. To apply the professional values and principles set out above to their
practice
7. They should act with integrity and treat people with compassion, empathy
and care
Accountability of social worker is to clients, colleagues, employees,
professional association, and to the law Social workers are
accountable for their actions to the values and principles of the
profession, which require them to act in a reliable, honest, and
trustworthy manner. They are answerable to their clients, professional
bodies like registered social worker (RSW), certified social workers
(CSW), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW),and licensed
independent social workers (LISW) organization,and the laws
promulgated and enforced by appropriate government agencies.
 Codes of Ethics of Social Work
•The code of ethics 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 adapted from the Code of Ethics of the National Association
of Social Workers. These principles and standards set forth ideals to
which all social workers should aspire
1. Value: SERVICE Ethical Principle:
Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to
address social problems.
2. Value: Social JUSTICE Ethical Principle:
Social workers challenge social injustice.
3. DIGNITY and WORTH of the PERSON Ethical Principle:
Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the
person.
4. Value: IMPORTANCE of HUMAN RELATIONSHIP Ethical Principle:
Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationship.
5. Value: INTEGRITY Ethical Principle:
Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
6. 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 and apply them in practice. Social
workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession.
 Ethical Standards
•The following ethical standards are relevant to the
professional activities of all social workers. These
standards are concerned with the social workers’ ethical
responsibilities:
That’s all,thanks you!!