TITLE Disciplines of Social Work

OVERVIEW This lesson will introduce you the fundamental concepts and
expectations of social work, which will make you appreciate
the profession more. You will see social work as a viable
career choice.
CONTENT STANDARD The learners demonstrate an understanding of disciplines of
social work, professionals and practitioners in social work.

PERFORMANCE The learners shall be able to undertake participant observation

STANDARD (e.g., a day in a life of a social worker) to adequately
document and critique their roles, functions, and
Competencies.
OBJECTIVES At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:
1. identify the goals and scope of social work
2. explain the principles and core values of social Work
3. identify specific work areas in which social workers work
4. explain the roles and functions of social workers, value
rights, responsibilities, and accountabilities

DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC:

Social Work- the International Association of Schools of Social Work and

International Federation of Social Workers (2001) defined Social Work as a
promotion of “social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and the
empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being” (as cited in Horner,
2006).

GOALS OF THE DISCIPLINE

-the primary goal of social welfare is to “fulfill the social, financial, health
and recreational requirements of all individuals in a society”.

1. Enhance the problem-solving, coping, and developmental capacities of people.

-the focus of the goal is on the individual where the social worker “serves
primarily as an enabler—a counselor, teacher, caregiver, and behavior changer.”

2. Link people with systems that provide them with resources, services, and
opportunities.

-the focus of this goal is on the relationship between individuals and the
systems they interact with. The social worker “serves primarily as a broker”.

Page 1 of 6
3. Promote the effectiveness and humane operation of systems that provide people
with resources and services.

-this goal focuses on the systems which individuals interact with, specifically
on the available resources for serving the people. The social worker is an advocate
and may take the following specific roles:

a. Program developer, where the social worker needs to promote or design

programs or technologies to meet social needs.

b. Supervisor, where the social worker seeks to increase the effectiveness and
efficiency of service delivery through supervising other staff;

c. Coordinator, where the social worker seeks to improve a delivery system by

increasing communications and coordinating with human service resources; and

d. Consultant, where the social worker seeks to provide guidance to the agencies
and organizations by suggesting ways on how to increase the effectiveness and
efficiency of services.

4. Develop and improve social policy.

-this goal centers on the system people interact with, specifically on the
laws/statutes and social policies that underlie such resources. “Social workers are
planners and policy developers whereby they develop and seek adoption of new
statutes or policies and propose elimination of ineffective or inappropriate statutes
and policies.

THE CORE VALUES

Social Welfare overlaps with other institutions such as family, education, religion,
and politics, and that much of the services it offers may be defined as “those
systems of services and allied occupations and professions that concentrate on
improving or maintaining the physical and mental health and general well-being
of individuals, groups, or communities in a society” (Zastrow, 1996).

Alfred Kahn enumerated four categories of social services which people can avail.

1. Personal Services (casework, counseling, recreation, rehabilitation, religion,

therapy)

2. Protection services (consumer protection, corrections, courts, fire

prevention/firefighting, housing-code enforcement, law enforcement, public health
services)
Page 2 of 6
3. Information/advising services (consulting, consumer information, education,
financial counseling, hotlines, and library services).

4. Maintenance Services (childcare, institutional services, public welfare

programs, etc.)

Value Ethical Principle

Service Social worker’s primary goal is to help people in
need and to address social problems.
Social Justice Social workers challenge social injustice
Dignity and Worth of the Social workers respect the inherent dignity and
Person worth of the person.
Importance of Human Social workers recognize the central importance
Relationships of human relationships.
Integrity Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Competence Social workers practice within their areas of
competence and develop and enhance their
professional expertise.

The Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. explicitly provided its Social
Workers’ Code of Ethics the following principles and values.

 Inherent dignity and worth of all persons.

 Natural and social rights, capacities, and responsibilities
 Value of unity in diversity, individual differences, and pluralism in society
 Free society
 Growth and development of the individual, the family system, and the
community
 Social justice and political, economic, and social well-being of all people
 Social workers as agents and advocates of change
 Promotion of professionalism, responsibility, and accountability.
 Professional practice deeply rooted in cultural values.
Essential learning: Social work is an act of paying forward. It is an act
of extending kindness, generosity, and genuine care for someone else’s
well-being. As defined by the International Association of Schools of
Social Work and International Federation of Social Workers, social work
as a profession promotes social change, solves problems involving human
relationships, and empowers and liberates people from social problems.
Social work is a fruitful and fulfilling field as it rests on one’s altruistic
nature. In its most noble sense, social work values human rights and social
justice, and aims to help people who are vulnerable enough to fully
participate in society,
Page 3 of 6
Social Work as a Multi-skilled Profession

In order for social workers to effectively perform tasks, they have to (NASW,
1981, as cited in Gibelman, 1995)

1. Listen to others with understanding and purpose.

2. Elicit information and assemble relevant facts to prepare a social history,

assessment, and report.

3. Create and maintain professional helping relationships.

4. Observe and interpret verbal and nonverbal behavior and use knowledge of
personality theory and diagnostic methods.

5. Engage clients, including individuals, families, groups, and communities, in

efforts to resolve their own problems and to gain trust.

6. Discuss sensitive emotional subjects supportively and without being

threatening.

7. Create innovative solutions to clients’ needs.

8. Determine the need to terminate the therapeutic relationship.

9. Conduct research or interpret the research findings and professional

literature.

10. Mediate and negotiate between conflicting parties.

11. Provide inter-organizational liaison services.

12. Interpret and communicate social needs to funding sources, the public, or
legislators.

Areas of Social Work in a Glance

1. Child, Family, and School Social Work

- the kind of help that social workers extend in this area include reaching out
and rehabilitating children who have experienced trauma or abuse; counseling
individuals who are undergoing stress and anxiety due to depression or grief;
or providing assistance to parents who have a child suffering from severe
illness. The social worker is expected to have a high degree of expertise in
handling sensitive and fragile situations of children, families, and students in
schools.

2. Community Social Work

Page 4 of 6
-the main task of a social who does community work is to assist in the
effective implementation of infrastructure building, volunteering, and
fundraising efforts. Social workers were as links to community-based non-
profit organizations that help neighbourhoods in times of crisis and disasters.

3. Hospice and Palliative Care Social Work

-hospice and palliative care social workers provide assistance to those

seriously or terminally ill. Given the special circumstances of palliative care,
social workers in this area should be knowledgeable on how to provide relief
from pain and other relevant services.

4. Medical and Health Social Work

-Social Workers with a medical and health background and expertise are
assigned in places such as clinics and hospitals to help clients with emotional,
financial, and physical struggles caused by a medical condition. The social
workers also assist these clients to access the various benefits and privileges
that they are entitled to.

5. Mental Health and Substance abuse Social Work

-this is an area of social work where the main clients are individuals who
struggle with addiction, substance abuse, or mental health problems. Social
Workers provide assistance and counseling to both the victims and their
families by recommending to them solutions to these issues.

6. Military and Veterans Social Work

-Social Workers in this area are expected to provide assistance to military and
combat veterans by helping them overcome post-traumatic stress and slowly
adjust to life and family outside combat.

7. Psychiatric Social Work

-Social Workers, in this area provide therapy and assess the psychiatric health
of clients. Social workers in this area coordinate with the client’s family for
the latter to understand the situation’s legal and clinical contexts, as well as
the information as to where, when, and how resources can be accessed to
address the client’s needs.

As you may have noticed, social work is a mesh of disciplines, skills, and
motivations. It only takes a certain degree of introspection and realization of
which among areas of social work best suits your interests and abilities. At the

Page 5 of 6
end of the day, anyone has the potential of “being” a social worker, but
“becoming” one is a choice you make.

Page 6 of 6