Lesson 5:

The Discipline of Social Work

Part I. Learning Module Information

Content The Discipline of Social Work

Standards
demonstrate a high level of understanding of the basic concepts of social
work through a group presentation of a situation in which practitioners of
Performance
social work collaborate to assist individuals, groups, or communities
Standards
involved in difficult situations (e.g., post disaster, court hearing about
separation of celebrity couple, cyber bullying)
Most Essential 1.identify the goals and scope of social work
Learning
Competencies 2. explain the principles and core values of social work
(MELC)
Duration Q1 Week 5

Part II. Learning Explorations

Social Work Social Work

Existence of
helping Debates on
Social work as Strives to the
methods and
Complexitiesof responsive, find meaning fundamental
social situation dynamic and humanitaria
and issues of
visionary n assistance
significance social work
since
civilization
 Social Work Issues on Social Work
 Whether social work isfor
everyone or special
Social workers must be populations?
involved not only with  Appropriateness of social
the people but alsowith workers as agents of social
the societal factors that control
contributed to the  Nature of relationship of
problem. social workers to employers
 Knowledge and skills
required in generalistand
specialist practice

Definition of SocialWork Definition of SocialWork

“Social work as a professional activity of helping individuals,

“Social work as a practical profession designed at helping groups or communities enhance or restore their capacity for
people address their problems and matching them with the social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable
resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives.” to the goal.”

-Australian Association of SocialWorkers - National Association of Social Workers, United States

Definition of SocialWork Definition of SocialWork

“Social work as an APPLIED “Social work as a profession

SOCIAL SCIENCE of helping which is concerned about the
people achieve an effective person’s personal adjustment
level of psychosocial to his/her environment andshe
functioning and effecting referred this as person’s social
societal changes to enhance
functioning.”
the well being of people.”

- Mendoza, 2002
-Cox and Pawar, 2006
Four Areas of Consideration in Social Work

Morales and Sheafor (1983)

1. Social worker is concerned
with enabling or
facilitating change.
2. Social worker helps people
or institutions to enhance
social functioning.

Scope of Social Work Scope of Social Work

Administrative
Child Medical Social
and
Development Work
Management Primary Equal
Discipline Partner
Social Work in
LocalSocial International acute
Work SocialWork psychiatric
hospital Secondary
Discipline
Social work as
community
organizer Lishman et al, 2004 Morales and Sheafor (1983)
Fields included in Social Work

Scope of Social Work Scope of Social Work

Social Work as Primary Social Work as Primary
Discipline Discipline
a. Adoption and services to b. Foster Care
unmarried parents  Removing children from
 Difficult decision to keep the homes and placing them to
baby or place it for adoption foster homestemporarily
 Applies both individual and  Works with the parent, child
group counseling to assist and court to administer court
women in making decisions decisions to remove a child
due to detrimental situations
 Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
c. Residential Care
 Group care home or a
residential treatment
center
 These are for children
exhibiting anti-social
behaviors that
require intensive
treatment
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
e. Protective Services
 Protecting the child
from abuse,
maltreatment,
exploitation by
parents.
 Seeks to protect the
child without infringing
the rights of parents
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
f. Family Services
 Family planning involves
planning the number, spacing
and timing of child births to
fit with their needs.
 Make decisions about the
patterns of reproduction
towards enhancing quality
of life.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
d. Support in own home
 Support services to keep
children in their own
homes
 Counseling, family
consultations, clients with
appropriate institutions
such as day care centers
and home maker services.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
f. Family Services
 Family counseling
involves family case
work, family group work
and family therapy
 Family life education
strengthens family
relationships through
educational activities to
prevent family
breakdown
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
g. Income Maintenance
 Public assistance –
financial aid to the poor.
 It includes cash grants,
food stamps, general
assistance such as hospital
and medical care, and
supplemental security
income.
 Scope of Social Work
Social Work as Primary
Discipline
g. Income Maintenance
 Other forms - Cash in
kind benefits,
emergency support
funds, and other
resources that can be
used by the poor for
food and shelter.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as an Equal Partner
c. Community Services
 Community organization
activities – gathering and
analysis of data, matching
delivery of services to the
population distribution,
securing funds, coordination
with existing agencies and
educating the general public
about the services.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as a
Secondary
Discipline
c. Medical and Health
care – attend to the
social and psychological
factors contributing to
the medical condition of
the patients.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as an Equal Partner
a. Support for people in their
own homes program
 Helping older people remain in
their homes and linking them
with community programs
such as health care, meals and
home care services.
b. Support for people in the long
term care facilities
 Refers to nursing homes or
other group living facilities.
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as a Secondary
Discipline
a. Correctional Facilities –
provide counseling and link
them to the outside world,
provide support upon
release.
b. Industry – Support to both
managers and employees.
Serves as basis for
development
Scope of Social Work
Social Work as a Secondary
Discipline
d. Schools
 Facilitate the provision of
direct educational and
social services and
provide direct social case
work and group work to
selected students