DIASS

SOCIAL WORK
Roles and Functions of a Social Worker

There 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:

1. Broker

The social worker is involved in the process of making referrals to link a

family or person to needed resources Social work professionals 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

2. 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.
Advocacy can occur on the local, county, state or national level. Some
social workers are involved in international human rights and advocacy
for those in need.

3. 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.

4.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.
5.Facilitator
In this role, social workers are involved in gathering groups of people
together for a variety of purposes including community development, self-
advocacy, political organization, and policy change. Social workers are
involved as group therapists and task group leaders.

6.Organizer
Social Workers are involved in many levels of community organization
and action including economic development, union organization, and
research and policy specialists.

7.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 illnesses
 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 clinics

 Correctional facilities

 Private practices

Career Opportunities in Social Work

There is a variety of jobs available for graduates in social work.

1. Health Board social workers

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

2. Medical social workers

You could be employed as a medical social worker by voluntary and
health- board-run hospitals. You will offer direct help where medical
conditions are complicated by social and emotional factors. Psychiatric
social workers work with patients in psychiatric hospitals and without-
patients as well as in a preventative role.
3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6.Working in Industry

Social workers in industry (welfare workers') are concemed with

employees and pensioners of an organization, eg 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 outlined. Social work foremost
rights include the right to fulfill its professional mandates and to live by its
values. Its 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
of 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 the 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 the clients, colleagues,

employers. professional associations, 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 workers (RSW), certified social workers (CSW), licensed
social worker (LSW), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and
licensed independent social workers (LISW) organization, and the laws
promulgated and enforced by appropriate government agencies.

Types of Clientele:
1. Individuals
2. Groups and Organization
3. Community

The individual as Client of Social Work

Social workers work with individuals who have transactional relationships

with people and their social environments. They must learn social work
practice methods to restore, maintain and promote social functioning as it
relates to individuals, farnilies, and small groups. Integrate on
multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice issues. You will examine
social work values and ethics as well as issues of race, ethnicity, gender,
sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, religion, and ability as
these relate to social work practice. You will learn the importance of
developing relationships and learn how to apply skills and put into
practice.

The group and organization as Client of Social Work

Social workers work with a variety of groups in all settings in which social
work is practice. It is means that inside of a group of people it needs of
commonly identity or similarity with each other. It is like a small group that
working with service, like group of organization or place of employment,
or pupils and student in school setup. Social work applies social sciences,
such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community
development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems,
conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and
personal problems; and create social change. Social work practice is
often divided into micro-work, which involves working with individuals or
small groups; and macro-Work, which involves working communities, and
within social policy, to create change on a larger scale.

The community as Client of Social Work

This is a group of individuals or families that share certain values,
services, institutions, interests, or geographical proximity. A functional
special unit that meets people's sustenance needs, helps form collective
identities, and patterned social interaction. Social work may focus on
community transformation to cause environmental change to make it
possible and to achieve social well-being or social justice.

Conducting Needs Assessment for Individuals, Groups,

Organizations and Communities

Careful planning is important to social work. Community needs

assessment to identify the strength and resources available in the
community to meet the needs of the children and families. It provides a
framework for developing and identifying services and solutions that
support and nurture children and families. through surveys, interviews,

Before they give their services, they plan it first community meetings
and these information's are their basis to make data. On those data, it will
show what the problems of the community are and this data/information
will help them on what services they will make for Individuals. When there
are poor people, the socialist work focuses on how they will help them.
Social work helps

Community Needs Assessment Steps

➤ Define your community- This will help you identify the group(s), or
sub- communities, that tend to feel the effects most.
➤ Population- The goal is to understand the culture and social structure
of your
➤Place- Can include schools, senior centers, shelters, parks, religious
community to better target your program, establishment, and other
infrastructure.
➤ Attitudes and Values- This is really about what drives your
community.
 Decide on scope-Community needs are often interconnected and
complicate.
➤ Identify Assets- Referred to as resources that are necessary for your
program's success.
➤ Make Connections- Some of your greatest assets are people, from
students to governors. Gather your contacts and reach out to community
leaders.
➤Collect data- Your data will include statistics, but also the thoughts and
knowledge of community members.
➤ Analyze your findings- Gather notes from your interviews, surveys,
and observations and look for patterns and trends Present your findings-
After conducting a needs assessment; organizations.

Methods of Gathering data

The main take away from your assessment should be a clear

understanding of the impact, intensity, and distribution of services. Collect
qualitative and quantitative data that will inform your decision-making.
Here are the types of information you will want to collect:

Interviews, focus groups, and surveys: Speak to those at ground level,

experts, and community leaders about what they observe and experience
in the way of needs.

Listening sessions and public forums: Listening and participating in

community gatherings like town meetings are a great way to learn about
perspectives on local issues.
Direct or participatory observation: Visit your community's spaces, like
senior centers, shelters, and schools to observe, speak with those at the
ground level, and participate in programs that already exist.

Types of data needed

Qualitative data- which means that the research uses words, rather than
numbers to express the results, the inquiry, or investigation about
people's

Quantitative data