SOCIAL WORK:
Social work is a professional service rendered to people for the purpose of assisting them as individuals or in a group to attain satisfying relationships and standards of life accordance with their particular wish and capacity and in harmony with those of the community. –
Social work is a professional form comprising of knowledge and skills. It attempts on one hand to help the individuals to satisfy their needs and on the other hand to remove as far as possible the barriers that obstruct people from achieving the best of which they are capable of. – Clarke (1947)
Meaning of Social Work:
Working for the people, community, society for the people to achieve the particular task.
Social work philosophy:
Philosophy analyses the basic principles and concepts of social life.
Leonard believes that philosophy is more than a conceptual expression of different world viewers.
Edward was the first social worker who consciously emphasized to philosophical basis of social work.
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK:
The social work profession is guided by a distinct set of abstract values and a Code of Ethics. These values are transformed into accepted practice principles for the purpose of informing our intervention with clients. What follows is a listing of nine Social Work Principles and brief description of each.
Acceptance - Acceptance is a fundamental social work principle that implies a sincere understanding of clients. Acceptance is conveyed in the professional relationship through the expression of genuine concern, receptive listening, intentional responses that acknowledge the other person's point of view, and the creation of a climate of mutual respect.
Affirming Individuality - To affirm a client's individuality is to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities of that client. It means to "begin where the client is." Clients expect personalized understanding and undivided attention from professionals. Individualization requires freedom from bias and prejudice, an avoidance of labeling and stereotyping, a recognition and appreciation of diversity, and knowledge of human behavior.
Purposeful Expression of Feelings - Clients need to have opportunities to express their feelings freely to the social worker. As social workers, we must go beyond "just the facts" to uncover the underlying feelings.
Non-judgmentalism - Communicating non-judgmentalism is essential to developing a relationship with any client. It does not imply that social workers do not make decisions; rather it implies a non blaming attitude and behavior. Social workers judge others as neither good or bad nor as worthy or unworthy.
Objectivity - Closely related to non-judgmentalism, objectivity is the principle of examining situations without bias. To be objective in their observations and understanding, social workers must avoid injecting personal feelings and prejudices in relationships with clients.
Controlled Emotional Involvement - There are three components to a controlled emotional response to a client's situation: sensitivity to expressed or unexpressed feelings, and understanding based on knowledge of human behavior, and a response guided by knowledge and purpose. The social worker should not respond in a way that conveys coldness or lack of interest while at the same time cannot over identify with the client.
Self -Determination - The principle of self-determination is based on the recognition of the right and need of clients to freedom in making their own choices and decisions. Social workers have a responsibility to create a working relationship in which choice can be exercised.
Access to Resources - Social workers are implored to assure that everyone has the necessary resources, services, and opportunities; to pay attention to expanding choices, and opportunities for the oppressed and disadvantages; and to advocate for policy and legislative changes that improve social conditions and promote social justice.
Confidentiality - Confidentiality or the right to privacy implies that clients must give expressed consent before information such as their identity, the content of discussions held with them, one's professional opinion about them, or their record is disclosed
OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL WORK:
Brown has mentioned these:
- To provide physical health.
- To solve psychological problems.
- To make availability and opportunity to the weaker section of rising the standard of living.
According to Witner:
· To give assistance to individuals in removing difficulties which they face in utilizing social services.
· Utilization of community resources for their welfare.
In general,
- To provide psychological and social support to solve adjustment problems.
- To create self sufficiency.
- Strengthening and making harmony/social relations.
The role a social worker:
As a care giver – counsels and supports people with problems in a therapeutic way.
As a consultant – works with the individuals and groups to assist in their problems and programmes.
As a mediator – helps to reach the governmental policies and services needed and makes the system more useful.
As a mobilizer – tries to bring new resources to the needy. Gathers and analyses information for programme planning and evaluation.
As an evaluator – evaluates the strengths and weaknesses.
As an advocate – works for the improvement of policies and laws in order to make the system more useful.
As a referrer agent – refers people to use the services available in other agencies.
CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL WORK:
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:
According to T. K. N. Unnidan, social development may be seen as a process of new order of existence, the quality of life and the quality of social relations which exist to indicate the level of order of existence.
Social development is a process which results in the transformation of social structures in a manner which improves the capacity of the society to fulfill its aspirations. Society develops by consciousness and social consciousness develops by organization. The process that is subconscious in the society emerges as conscious knowledge in pioneering individuals. Development is a process, not a programme. Not all social change constitutes development. It consists of four well-marked stages -- survival, growth, development and evolution. Development implies a qualitative change in the way the society carries out its activities, such as through more progressive attitudes and behavior by the population, the adoption of more effective social organizations or more advanced technology which may have been developed elsewhere. The term evolution refers to the original formulation and adoption of qualitative and structural advances in the form of new social attitudes, values, behaviors, or organizations.
According to Dr. Saleema Omar, social development is a process that aids for the total development of the people such as education, economy, employment, etc.
Examples: health services, culture, housing, protection of children, change in the status of women, improved status of workers, reduction of diseases, poverty and other social deficiencies.
SOCIAL WELFARE:
In American English, welfare is often also used to refer to financial aid provided to individuals in need, which is called benefit(s) or welfare benefits in British English.
Welfare or welfare work consists of actions or procedures — especially on the part of governments and institutions — striving to promote the basic well-being of individuals in need. These efforts usually strive to improve the financial situation of people in need but may also strive to improve their employment chances and many other aspects of their lives including sometimes their mental health. In many countries, most such aid is provided by family members, relatives, and the local community and is only theoretically available from government sources.
Welfare can take a variety of forms, such as monetary payments, subsidies and vouchers, health services, or housing. Welfare can be provided by governments, non-governmental organizations, or a combination of the two. Welfare schemes may be funded directly by governments, or in social insurance models, by the members of the welfare scheme.
Welfare systems differ from country to country, but welfare is commonly provided to those who are unemployed, those with illness or disability, those of old age, those with dependent children and to veterans. A person's eligibility for welfare may also be constrained by means testing or other conditions.
In a more general sense, welfare also means the well-being of individuals or a group, in other words their health, happiness, safety, prosperity, and fortunes.
SOCIAL WELFARE: PUBLIC – Government policies, projects, schemes.
WORKERS – PF, ESI, and Compensation act. (Ensured by Govt. and employer – fringe benefits)
Herold has defined social welfare as those formally organized and socially sponsored institutions, agencies and programs which function to maintain or improve the economic condition, health of some party or the entire population.
SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION:
Social administration is an instrument of bringing social action through the implementation of social policy. Social administration is a process of bringing community welfare through decisions for the total welfare of the community. It is a study of development structures and the practices in social work. It renders services to the removal of the prevailing disabilities and to the creation of opportunities for the well being of the entire humanity.
CHARACTERISTICS:
· It is not a distinct discipline but a multi disciplinary field of study.
· The legal welfare provision aims at meeting the needs of the individuals.
Social service management:
There are two traditional models of administration: professionalism and bureaucracy. In recent years, a new model of 'management' has been added.
| | Professionals | Managers | Bureaucrats |
| Expertise | Specialized competence | Administrative management | Functionally differentiated administrative tasks |
| Motivation | Professional commitment | Personal incentives | Public service |
| Accountability | Professional standards | Performance criteria | Responsibility to superiors |
| Decision-making | Discretion | Quasi-autonomous | Rule based |
SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT:
The literal meaning of empowerment is ‘make able’. It is a process that helps people to gain control over their lives through raising awareness, taking action and working inorder to exercise greater control.
IMPORTANCE:
- Empowerment facilitates changes.
- It enables person to do what one wants to do.
- It is a feeling that activates the psychological energy to accomplish one’s goal.
- Helps in self actualization.
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Having a positive self concept with an optimistic outlook.
- Knowing one’s strength, potentiality and capability.
- Skills necessary in the empowerment of social work:
- Adjustment.
- Communication.
- Balancing multiple roles.
- Facing challenges.
- Creative thinking.
- Problem solving.
- Leadership behavior.
- Initiatives.
EXAMPLES: self help activities, youth and women empowerment programmes.
SOCIAL SECURITY:
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:
- social insurance, where people receive benefits or services in recognition of contributions to an insurance scheme. These services typically include provision for retirement pensions, disability insurance, survivor benefits and unemployment insurance.
- income maintenance—mainly the distribution of cash in the event of interruption of employment, including retirement, disability and unemployment
- services provided by administrations responsible for social security. In different countries this may include medical care, aspects of social work and even industrial relations.
- More rarely, the term is also used to refer to basic security, a term roughly equivalent to access to basic necessities—things such as food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care.
SOCIAL ACTION:
In sociology, social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals (or 'agents'). According to Max Weber, "an Action is 'social' if the acting individual takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in its course" (Secher 1962).
The Social Action Model is a theory of social work practice. The social action model is key to sociopolitical empowerment for work with oppressed groups, communitites, and organizations. The model strives to reallocate sociopolitical power so that disenfranchaised citizens can access the opportunities and resources of society and, in turn, find meaningful ways to contribute to society as valued human beings.
The model guides social workers on how to take action by using empowerment-based practice, collaboration and partnership, alliances, and development and action plans. The model can also be used within the context of an ecosystems perspective.
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the largest association representing social work and social workers in the
As an organisation of members serving members, our success and vitality is built on the active involvement of members who share a commitment to good social work practice as outlined in the Association's Code of Ethics for Social Work - an essential document which sets the professional standard to which BASW members subscribe.
BASW campaigns on all social work issues and is recognised throughout the
The Australian Association of Social Workers is the professional representative body of Social Workers in
Chief Executive Officer, Kandie Allen-Kelly, leads our team of 30 staff working in the Branches and our national offices located in
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK:
Clinical social work is the professional application of social work theory and methods to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability, or impairment, including emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders (Barker, 2003).
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. They are often the first to diagnose and treat people with mental disorders and various emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Clinical social workers are essential to a variety of client-centered settings, including community mental health centers, hospitals, substance use treatment and recovery programs, schools, primary health care centers, child welfare agencies, aging services, employee assistance programs, and private practice settings.Clinical social work has a primary focus on the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of individuals, couples, families, and groups. It centers on a holistic approach to psychotherapy and the client’s relationship to his or her environment. Clinical social work views the client’s relationship with his or her environment as essential to treatment
planning.
Clinical social work is a state-regulated professional practice. It is guided by state laws and regulations. In most instances, clinical social workers are required to have the following credentials:
- a master’s degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
- a minimum of two years or 3,000 hours of post-master’s degree experience in a supervised clinical setting
- a clinical license in the state of practice.
Clinical social work is broadly based and addresses the needs of individuals, families, couples, and groups affected by life changes and challenges, including mental disorders and other behavioral disturbances. Clinical social workers seek to provide essential services in the environments, communities, and social systems that affect the lives of the people they serve.
These Standards for Clinical Social Work Practice set forth by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) are intended to guide clinical social workers in all clinical settings. Specifically, the goals of the standards are to:
- maintain or improve the quality of services provided by clinical social workers
- establish professional expectations to assist social workers in monitoring and evaluating their clinical practice
- provide a framework for clinical social workers to assess responsible, professional behavior
- Inform consumers, government regulatory bodies, and others about the professional standards for clinical social work practice.
Clinical social workers shall have the ability to:
- establish and maintain a relationship of mutual respect, acceptance, and trust
- gather and interpret social, personal, environmental, and health information
- evaluate and treat problems within their scope of practice
- establish achievable treatment goals with the client
- facilitate cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes consistent with treatment goals
- evaluate the effectiveness of treatment services provided to the client
- identify appropriate resources and assessment instruments, as needed
- advocate for client services
- Collaborate effectively with other social work or allied professionals, when appropriate.
ECOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK:
Ecological Social Work is intended as an educational information resource and support forum for a global community of social workers attentive to the well-being of the Earth Community and concerned about environmental degradation.
OBJECTIVES:
Ecological Awareness:
To help deepen social worker's understanding of nature, threats to the integrity of the Earth, and the limits to shallowly defined and technocratic solutions to complex environmental problems.
Political Involvement:
To help transform social workers and society toward an appreciation of:
1. Environmental and economic justice.
2. Ecological sustainability.
3. Respect for human and non-human diversity.
4. Responsible patterns of human consumption and fulfillment.
5. Constructive and active political engagement.
6. Full, participatory community democracy.
Spiritual Sensitivity
To help advance an inter-faith dialogue, drawing from diverse wisdom sources and traditions, toward nurturing a life of communion, respect, gratitude and compassion for the natural world and all of Earth's Inhabitants.
Environmentally Aware:
That is, it recognizes that (1) nature is the irreplaceable source of humankind's absolute physical sustenance and imaginative capacities and thus the hinge point of our theoretical orientations and practice strategies and (2) because global natural disasters and environmental calamity increasingly impact large numbers of people while having disproportionate repercussions for the poor and marginalized, the profession has a ethical and moral responsibility to be actively involved in addressing problems of environmental crisis.
Spiritually Sensitive:
A Deep-Ecological Social Work is acutely conscious of the complex relationship between spirituality and ecology. Deep-Ecological spirituality impresses on our consciousness an awareness of the (1) interconnectedness and interdependence of all things and (2) the rightful place of humankind in the cosmic order.
Politically Involved:
Ecological Social Work studies the human historic-social-political systems in interaction with environmental systems. Human patterns of collective organization are inseparable from those of the natural world. Social injustices and ecological injustice are interwoven in a dynamic interplay of mutual involvement. Poverty is seen not only in the lack of financial assistance and social support infrastructure but also in polluted water supplies, poisoned air, and unhealthy living quarters. A politically involved Deep-Ecological Social Work is made manifest in at least two ways. Thus the social workers question deeply and insistently the social, political, economic structures and assumptions of modern, industrial society, and secondly the capacity to offer a vision of the kind of society and ecological sensibility necessary to sustain human and ecosystem viability.
EMPOWERMENT SOCIAL WORK:
Empowerment aims to use specific strategies to reduce, eliminate, combat and reverse negative valuations by powerful groups in society affecting certain individuals and social groups.
Empowerment can be defined as enabling service users to take action to improve their lives. From the point of view of service users, practitioners are often in positions of considerable power, particularly where decisions are being made about the delivery of services and around intervention in people's lives. To practise empowerment, social workers will need to focus on working with service users to engage them in the problem-solving process. Empowerment is linked with anti-oppressive practice, in that the social worker can work with service users to enable them to overcome barriers to solving problems – whether located in the attitudes and practices of professionals and social institutions (for example, health and education authorities) or in the beliefs of the service user. The social worker's knowledge of service provision and the law can be critical in empowering service users. Anti-oppressive practice is ‘about a process of change which leads (service users) from feeling powerless to powerful’ (Dalrymple and Burke, 1995).
WELFARE:
Welfarism is a form of consequentialism. Like all forms of consequentialism, welfarism is based on the premise that actions, policies, and/or rules should be evaluated on the basis of their consequences. Welfarism is the view that the morally significant consequences are impacts on human welfare.
There are many different understandings of human welfare, but the term "welfarism" is usually associated with the economic conception of welfare. Economists usually think of individual welfare in terms of utility functions. Social welfare can be conceived as an aggregation of individual utilities or utility functions. Welfarism can be contrasted to other consequentialist theories, such as classical utilitarianism, which takes utility among agents as directly accessible and measurable.
Welfarist views have been especially influential in the law and economics movement. Steven Shavell and Louis Kaplow have argued in an influential book, Fairness versus Welfare that welfare should be the exclusive criteria by which legal analysts evaluate legal policy choices.
Really, any program in which the government provides money or services to citizens who are in need is a welfare program. As such, many programs that welfare critics do not criticize are in fact welfare, and in these cases the term welfare should be seen to mean primarily programs in excess of a certain base level. At the same time, proponents of greater welfare would point to theoretical welfare programs as simply looking after more base needs, and therefore on a similar footing as existing social support systems.
A social welfare provision, which is what many people mean when they speak of welfare, is a program that aims to give a base level of income to people who may be out of work, disabled, or elderly. The idea is that without the government stepping in to help these groups, they would otherwise not survive, and so the government has a moral obligation to support them. Proponents also point out that keeping people at a certain minimum level allows them to work, and therefore ultimately helps the society at large financially.People who have been laid off, for example, may be eligible for welfare while they look for other work. This may come in the form of direct financial assistance, or in the form of a scrip, such as food stamps, which may be exchanged for necessary commodities. Those who have a disability which keeps them from working may be eligible for the same sorts of welfare programs, although they do not face the requirement of searching for a new job.
Many nations have a national health care system, which acts as a massive form of welfare, allowing those of all socioeconomic groups access to medical attention should they need it. In the
Democracy is a system of government in which either the actual governing is carried out by the people governed (direct democracy), or the power to do so is granted by them (as in representative democracy). The term is derived from the Greek: δημοκρατία - (dēmokratía) "popular government",which was coined from δῆμος (dêmos) "people" and κράτος (krátos) "power", in the middle of the fifth-fourth century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens following a popular uprising in 508 BC.
In political theory, democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. Even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of 'democracy', there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes, equality and freedom. These principles are reflected by all citizens being equal before the law, and having equal access to power. Additionally, all citizens are able to enjoy legitimized freedoms and liberties, which are usually protected by a constitution.
There are several varieties of democracy, some of which provide better representation and more freedoms for their citizens than others. However, if any democracy is not carefully legislated to avoid an uneven distribution of political power with balances, such as the separation of powers, then a branch of the system of rule could accumulate power and become harmful to the democracy itself.
The "majority rule" is often described as a characteristic feature of democracy, but without responsible government or constitutional protections of individual liberties from democratic power it is possible for dissenting individuals to be oppressed by the "tyranny of the majority". An essential process in representative democracies is competitive elections, that are fair both substantively and procedurally. Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are essential so that citizens are informed and able to vote in their personal interests.
Popular sovereignty is common but not a universal motivating philosophy for establishing a democracy. In some countries, democracy is based on the philosophical principle of equal rights. Many people use the term "democracy" as shorthand for liberal democracy, which may include additional elements such as political pluralism, equality before the law, the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances, due process, civil liberties, human rights, and elements of civil society outside the government.
In the United States, separation of powers is often cited as a supporting attribute, but in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the dominant philosophy is parliamentary sovereignty (though in practice judicial independence is generally maintained). In other cases, "democracy" is used to mean direct democracy. Though the term "democracy" is typically used in the context of a political state, the principles are also applicable to private organizations and other groups.
Democracy has its origins in Ancient Greece. However other cultures have significantly contributed to the evolution of democracy such as Ancient Rome Europe, and North and
What are human rights?
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.
Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law , general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.
Universal and inalienable
The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for example, noted that it is the duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.
All States have ratified at least one, and 80% of States have ratified four or more, of the core human rights treaties, reflecting consent of States which creates legal obligations for them and giving concrete expression to universality. Some fundamental human rights norms enjoy universal protection by customary international law across all boundaries and civilizations.
Human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
On December 10, 1948, shortly after the devastation of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust, the newly formed United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). At the time, Eleanor Roosevelt, the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, the group that researched and wrote the document, said:
Man's desire for peace lies behind this Declaration. The realization that the flagrant violation of human rights by Nazi and Fascist countries sowed the seeds of the last world war has supplied the impetus for the work which brings us to the moment of achievement here today.
Passing this Declaration marked an international desire for peace and the beginnings of a system to protect basic human dignity and freedoms. The UDHR has since inspired many individuals and policymakers around the world to work toward a better world.
Students and teachers studying this history will examine some of the key challenges and opportunities of the 20th and 21st centuries: the concept of "universal" rights, negotiation of values, the limits of sovereignty, creating a concrete document from an inspirational vision, and the role of education and human rights.
Below is a sample of our extensive resources for teaching this history.
Legal rights (sometimes also called civil rights or statutory rights) are rights conveyed by a particular polity, codified into legal statutes by some form of legislature (or unenumerated but implied from enumerated rights), and as such are contingent upon local laws, customs, or beliefs. In contrast, natural rights (also called moral rights or inalienable rights) are rights which are not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of a particular society or polity. Natural rights are thus necessarily universal, whereas legal rights are culturally and politically relative.
RIGHTS:
INTELLECTUAL
- CIVIL
- RELIGIOUS
- RIGHTS TO OPINION
REAL
· PROPERTY
· RIGHTS TO USE
· RIGHTS TO LIBERTIES
PERSONAL
· TO DO SOMETHING
· TO SPEAK SOMETHING
· TO EXPRESS SOMETHING
Rights are the entitlements or justified claims to a certain kind of positive or negative treatment from others. – John Garrett
Human rights are those minimal rights which every individual must have against the state or other public authority by virtue of his/her being a member of the human family irrespective of any other consideration. – D. D. Basu
Human rights are legally guaranteed power to realize an interest. – Allen.
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary organizations to carry out its missions.
There are currently 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, primarily: the General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly); the Security Council (decides certain resolutions for peace and security); the Economic and Social Council (assists in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development); the Secretariat (provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN); the International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The UN's most visible public figure is the Secretary-General, currently Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who attained the post in 2007. The organization is financed from assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states, and has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
.HOW SOCIAL WORK IS A PROFESSION?
The current state of social work professional development is characterized by two realities. There is a great deal of traditional social and psychological research (both qualitative and quantitative) being carried out primarily by university-based researchers and by researchers based in institutes, foundations, or social service agencies.
Meanwhile, many social work practitioners continue to look to their own experience for knowledge. This is a continuation of the debate that has persisted since the outset of the profession in the first decade of the twentieth century.
One reason for the gap between information obtained through practice, as opposed to through research, is that practitioner’s deal with situations that are unique and idiosyncratic, while research concentrates on similarities. The combining of these two types of knowledge is often imperfect.
A hopeful development for bridging this gap is the compilation, in many practice fields, of collections of "best practices" which attempt to distill research findings and the experience of respected practitioners into effective practice techniques. Although social work has roots in the informatics revolution, an important contemporary development in the profession is overcoming suspicion of technology and taking advantage of the potential of information technology to empower clients.
Professional associations
There are a number of professional associations for social workers. The purpose of these associations is to provide ethical guidance and other forms of support for their members and social workers in general.
Two of these are the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). Network of Professional Social Workers is a fast growing professional network of Social Workers across the globe. Network of Professional Social Workers aim to connect Social Workers beyond their local and national associations across the globe. Network of Professional Social Workers effectively uses Social networking media such as Linkedin, Face Book etc to network with Social Workers across many countries and initiate discussions on various issues affecting Social Work Profession. Network of Professional Social Workers Group list serve, NPSW.
ROLE OF A PROFESSIONAL:
The main tasks of professional social workers can include a variety of services such as case management (linking clients with agencies and programs that will meet their psychosocial needs), medical social work, counseling (psychotherapy), human services management, social welfare policy analysis, policy and practice development, community organizing, advocacy, teaching (in schools of social work), and social science research.
Professional social workers work in a variety of mainly public settings, including: grassroots advocacy organizations, hospitals, hospices, community health agencies, schools, international organizations, employee assistance, philanthropy, and even the military. Some social workers work as psychotherapists, counselors, psychiatric social workers, community organizers or mental health practitioners.
Types of professional intervention
There are three general categories or levels of intervention. The first is "Macro" social work which involves society or communities as a whole. This type of social work practice would include policy forming and advocacy on a national or international scale.
The second level of intervention is described as "Mezzo" social work practice. This level would involve work with agencies, small organizations, and other small groups. This practice would include policy making within a social work agency or developing programs for a particular neighborhood.
The final level is the "Micro" level that involves service to individuals and families.
There are a wide variety of activities that can be considered social work and professional social workers are employed in many different types of environments. The following list details some of the main fields of social work.
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