Module 3: Social Work

Lesson 1 The Discipline

of Social Work
Definitions of Social Work

* The National Association of Social Workers (NASW, n.d.),

defined social work as the professional activity of helping
individuals, groups or communities enhance or restore their
capacity of their personal interaction with their environment and
creating societal conditions beneficial to the mission.

* The United Nations of Economic Social and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO, 2000), considers social work as a field
within human services and a part of services of the government.
* The International Federation of Social Works (IFSW, 2006), defines social work
as a practice-based and academic discipline that promotes change and social
development. (Retrieved from http://www.sacssp.co.za/)
* Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), as cited in Cox & Pawar,
2006) defines social work as a practical profession designed at helping people
addresses their problems and matching them with the resources they need to lead
healthy and productive lives.
* The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW),
states that social work profession promotes social change, problem
solving in human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of
people to enhance well-being. (IFSW & IASSW, 2004 as cited in Co &
Pawar, 2006).
Definition, Goals and Scope of Social Work
Scenarios in relation to Social Work.
Scenario 1: Typhoon Victims
Scenario 2: Community Immersion
Guide Questions: 1. What can you say about the picture/s? What makes it social work? Write your answer
on the box.
II. Goals of Social Work

The primary mission of social work profession is to develop human beings and assist other
institutions in attaining the basic human needs of people and in empowering the lost, the least,
and the last. These goals are outlined and described below:
1. The Goal on Caring refers to the heart of social work and it centers on the well-being or the
welfare and comfort of the individual and community.

Volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) form part

of an active corps of capable, caring by sharing their
resources, time, and efforts to alleviate human suffering.
2. The Goal on Curing
Curing refers to the aspect of treating people with problems in their social environment
(EXAMPLE. Counselling and therapy)
3. The Goal on Changing

refers to the active participation of the social workers in social reforms (EXAMPLE: promoting
social change and justice).
III. Scope of Social Work
To supplement your understanding in the value of social work, it is important to study the scope of social work.
The scope of social work includes:
1. Child development Social Work

2. Medical Social Work

3. Clinical Social Work

4. Social work administration and management

5. International Social work

6. Social work as community organizer

7. Women welfare

8. Crisis intervention

9. Criminal justice
Morales and Sheafor (1998, 8th edition) identified and described the fields included in the area
of social work, which are as follows:
1. Social Work as a Primary Discipline
In terms of child welfare, social work offers:
a. The adoption and services to unmarried parents – the difficult decision of unmarried
parents whether to keep the baby or place the child for adoption
b. The foster care – removes the children from their homes and placing them temporarily in a
foster care
c. The residential care – a group care home or a residential treatment center for children

d. The support in own homes – provides support services in order to keep children in their own
homes
e. The protective services – protect the child from child abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation by
one or both parents
Family services, social work offers:
a. Family counselling – utilize the three approaches to this type of counselling
namely:

a.1. family case work, involves helping individual members of the family
change their behaviour to make them more effective contributors in the
family:
a. 2. family group work, the process by which the family examines its
relationships and resolves their problem with the help of the social worker:
and lastly,

a. 3. family therapy, focuses on transforming the structure of the family to

make it more supportive to its members
b. Family life education - an intervention to strengthen the family through educational activities
that seek to prevent family breakdown
c. Family planning – assisting the families plan the number, spacing, and timing of the births
of children to fit with their needs
Income maintenance, social work offers:
a. Public assistance – refers to the provision of the financial aid to the poor. Services include
cash grants, food stamps, general assistance such as hospital and medical care, and
supplemental security income.
b. Social insurances – social provisions that are funded by employers and employees through
contributions to a specific program.
c. The other income maintenance programs include cash in kind benefits, emergency support
funds, and other resources which can be used by the poor for food and shelter.
2. Social Work as an Equal Partner
Aging, social work offers:
a. The support for people in their own homes program consists of helping older people
remain in their own homes by linking them with community programs that bring health
care services into their homes.
b. The support for people in long-term care facilities program refers to nursing home care
services into their homes.

Community services, social work offers:

a. Community organization
b. Community planning
c. Community development
3. Social Work as a Secondary Discipline

Industry, social workers act as:

a. Support to both the managers and the employees of the companies.
They make themselves available to the employees with social problems for individual, family,
and group counselling
b. Provide information to the managers as basis for management decisions that might have an
impact on the social atmosphere in the working environment
Medical and health care, social workers:
a. Attend to the social and psychological factors that are contributing to the medical
condition of the patients
b. Link patients with community resources
c. Provide necessary counselling, and link with self-help groups
Schools, the primary tasks of social workers in schools, (as cited by Morales and
Sheafor, 1998, 8th edition)

a. Facilitate the provision of direct educational and social services and provide direct
social case work and group work services to selected students;
b. Act as a pupil advocate, focusing on urgent needs of the selected group of
students;
c. Consult with school administrators major problems;
d. Consult with teachers about techniques for creating a climate in which children
are freed and motivated to learn by interpreting social and cultural influences in the
lives of students;
e. Organize parent and community groups to channel concerns about students and
the school to improve school and community relations.
IV. Core Values of Social Work

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW, n.d) stated that the mission of
the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values include:
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human
relationships, integrity, and competence (Morales and Sheafor, 1998, 8th edition ).

“ Social work originates from humanitarian ideals and democratic philosophy and
has universal application to meet human needs arising from personal- societal
interactions and to develop human potential. Professional social workers are
dedicated to service for the welfare and selfrealization of human beings; to the
development of resources to meet individual, group, national and international needs
and aspirations; and to the achievement of social justice (IFSW as cited by Morales
and Sheafor, 8th edition).”
Lesson 2:
Professionals and
Practitioners in Social
Work
The social work professionals 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. The focus of intervention in social work is
the relationship between the individual and their
immediate and wider social environment. Particular
emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of vulnerable and
marginalized individuals and groups.
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:

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

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.

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.
Medical social workers
You could be employed as a medical social worker by voluntary and
healthboard-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.

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
A. MODIFIED TRUE or FALSE
Directions: Read each statement carefully. Write T on the line if you think the statement is
TRUE. F If FALSE.
1. Social workers keep accurate records.
2. Social workers promote social justice.
3. Social workers deal inappropriately with health and safety risks.
4. Unethical behavior is a must have for social workers.
5. The code of ethics specifies the standards of ethics, conduct, and performance expected of
registered social workers.
6. Social workers respect the rights and dignity of people.
7. Accuracy of data among social workers is verifying the source.
8. Making decisions for the whole based on the personal preference of the social worker is
essential for social work.
9. Social workers keep their professional knowledge and skills up to date so that they are able to
provide appropriate services.
10.Social workers comply with the laws and regulations governing their practice.