1

SOCIAL
WORK
 WHAT IS
SOCIAL
WORK?
- Social work is concerned with the social functioning of all people – the poor, the rich, men,
women, the LGBT community, the able, those with disabilities, the young and the old.
- Karls, Wandrei and the National Association of Social Workers (1988) define social
functioning as the “client’s ability to accomplish the activities necessary for daily living and to fulfill
major roles as required by a particular subculture or community.”
- Social work also strives to prevent and solve social, relational and interactional human
problems.
- It engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being.
- It’s end goal is to get the support of both public and private agencies in implementing welfare
programs.
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Simply put, social work aims to empower people

and encourage them to make the most available
resources and opportunities to lead satisfying lives.
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SOCIAL WORK IS BOTH AN ACADEMIC

DISCIPLINE AND A PROFESSION
-As an academic discipline, it uses -As a profession, social work -Social workers have an extensive
tools of the social sciences to involves intellectual activities background in Psychology, and
study social change, the accompanied by individual Anthropology which enables them
empowerment of people in responsibilities. to understand the human
society, the enhancement of social individual and the world. They
equity,and the development of the also study the biological sciences
community. o Through accomplishing their and check their observations
responsibilities, social workers against data from these
are able to help individuals, disciplines.
o With the same tools as the groups and communities
social sciences, specifically that of improve and become productive
Political Sience, Social Work members of society.
studies the dynamics of power in
the community.
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SOCIAL WORK IS BOTH AN ACADEMIC

DISCIPLINE AND A PROFESSION
- Furthermore, social workers learn specialized knowledge, techniques, and communication strategies through
research and supervised field experience.
- Aside from technical and empirical knowledge, social workers also use artistic or creative abilities in their
practice.
- Knowledge in social work is also based on practice wisdom (a form of knowledge derived from the collective
experience of several generations of social workers.
- Just like counseling, social work is also considered a helping profession.

Social welfare and social work are sometimes used interchangeably; however, they are actually different form each
other.
- Social welfare is a broader concept that encompasses social institutions and fields of practice which do not relate
to social work, such as psychiatry, urban planning and education.
- Social work, is a more specific discipline within social welfare.
Nonetheless, the philosophies of social welfare and social work often overlap and complement each other.
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purpose of social work

Social work focuses on bringing about change in both individuals and their
environment or social system. According to Sheafor, Horejsi and Horejsi
(1994), social workers aim to achieve the following:
 Enhance the problem solving and coping capacities of people.
 Prevent the development of serious personal and social problems
 Restore and maintain the social functioning of people.
 Link people with systems and resources that can provide support, services and opportunities
 Promote the creation and development of humane and effective social policies and human services programs
 Plan, develop, and administer social programs and projects with social agencies
 Promote the effective and humane operation and administration of social work organizations and human
services delivery systems
 Protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged from destructive social influences
 Protect the community from people who consistently harm others
 Develop and teach the knowledge and skills needed to accomplish these purposes
 social work is especially concerned 7
with the social functioning of two
broad categories of people:
1.Those with few capacities and 2.Those whose actions seriously limit
opportunities to function or interfere with the social
satisfactorily such as those living in functioning of others such as abusive
poverty, dependent persons like and neglectful parents, persons who
children or people with serious commit crimes, and those who restrict
physical and mental disabilities, and opportunities or resources from
persons whose rights are violated others.

As the needs of people keep increasing, social work’s focus on social

functioning and person-in-environment interaction becomes more and
more important. Social work helps people access resources and
 Scope of social 8

work
The scope of social work is broad. It is applied in a great variety of fields.
Social workers are usually found in hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation
centers where they provide emotional guidance to cliets. It is also applied
in government and public service through the Department of Social
Welfare an Development, the Philippine Red Cross, the Philippine Charity
Sweeptakes Office, and government health facilities such as the Philippine
General Hospital.
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Hepworth and Larse (1986) categorized the general functions of social work
into three types:
Prevention Restoration Remediation
refers to the timely involves the involves the elimination
intervention of social worker rehabilitation of clients of existing problems such
before serious problems whose functions have as drug addiction or
emerge. Prevention involves been impaired by substance abuse.
the provision of financial physical or mental issues.
assistance, as well as
services and facilities such as
marriage counselling and
well-baby clinics.
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Social work practice

may also be direct or
indirect.
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In providing direct services or direct interventions, the social worker meets face to face with
the client, as in a counselling relationship between a social worker and a runaway youth.

- Direct practice may take form of clinical social work.

- According to the National Association of Social Workers (1991), clinical social work
involves applying principles and techniques in addressing psychosocial problems,
including mental and emotional disorders.
- Clinical social work aims to improve interaction among people, manage life support
mechanisms and deal with conflicts.
- It addresses the needs of individuals, couples, families and groups.
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When engaged in indirect practice, the social workers acts on behalf of a group to address a
specific problem. Social work practice may be based on the size of the client system that the
social worker serves.
- Micro-level practice focuses on interaction at the most intimate level such as between
husband and wife, parent and child, and among family members. The terms interpersonal
helping, direct practice are often used interchangeably with micro-level practice.
- Macro-level practice may involve work with an organization, community or even
society. When engaged in macro-level practice, the social work agency, fund raising,
testimonial creation for proposed legislation, policy analysis, class advocacy, and social
resource development.
- Between the micro- and macro-levels is the Mezzo-level practice which deals with
interpersonal relations that are somewhat less intimate than the family but more personally
meaningful than institutional and organizational-level relationships. Examples of these
include relationships among individuals in a self-help or therapy group, peers at school or
work and neighbors.
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Values in social work

Values refer to strongly held beliefs about people, preferred goals and the means of achieving them, and desired
conditions of life. Like other professions, social work observes core values which are found in its Code of
Ethics.
•Service – social workers are expected to provide assistance to people and respond to
social issues. Social workers are also encourages to serve without expecting to be paid
high fees. This is also referred to as pro bono service.
•Social justice – social workers aim to create changes in society to address the plight of the
vulnerable and the oppressed. They work to address issues such as poverty an inequality,
and help people find resources, services and information that will help them
satisfy their needs. They also aim to encourage their clients to decide wisely on their own.
•Integrity – social workers demonstrate trustworthiness, truthfulness and responsibility.
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Values in social work

•Importance of human relationships – social workers know that large-scale changes in
communities can only take place when people trust one another.
•Dignity and worth of the person – social workers treat everyone with concern
and respect. They are also sensitive toward cultural an ethnic differences among
individuals.
•Competence – social workers constantly develop their skills and knowledge to apply
them in professional practice. They must also contribute to the body of
knowledge in their discipline.
 According to Hepworth and Larsen (1986), the 15

values of social work are founded on the

following ideas:
1. People need to gain resources and opportunities that will help them meet the demands of
living and reach their fullest potential.
2. When interacting with others, an individual must respect the other person’s individuality and
uphold his or her dignity as a way of valuing everyone’s uniqueness and worth.
3. A person must avoid stepping on the rights of other and seek self- determination and
independence.
4. Both individuals and society must carry out the values of social work. Individuals and society
must carry out the values of social work. Individuals must strive to participate in the exercise of
democracy, and society must provide them ways to do so.
 Principles in social 16

worker
- A number of principles are valued in social work. These
principles apply in all practice situation, regardless of client
characteristics, setting, roles assumed by the social worker, and the
theories, models and techniques being used.
- Siporin (1975) explained that while social workers need to adhere
to these principles as much as possible, there are still exceptions based
on their own discretion.
Following are general principles that form 17

the foundation of social work practice

(Hepworth and Larsen, 1986):
1. People can choose and decide by themselves
2. As helping persons, social workers aid others in achieving independence.
3. As helping persons, social workers need to alter external factors that have negative effects on their
clients.
4. Human perform actions according to their purposes and goals
5. People can acquire new behavior
6. Individuals can address challenges by concentrating on the current alternatives available, utilizing their
hidden strengths and practicing coping mechanisms.
7. People experience problems in their lives because they know little about them or because they have
inadequate coping mechanisms to adopt to them.
8. The problems that people face are often shared with one another and not merely their own.
Following are general principles that form 18

the foundation of social work practice

9.
(Hepworth and Larsen, 1986):
While it is inevitable for humans to face adversities, humans also become stronger as they encounter
more challenges in their lives.
10. Self- esteem is important for human beings.
11. People grow through establishing relationships with open and authentic people.
12. Human growth also entails realizing, beings sensitive to, and acting on the needs of one’s significant
others and the people around them
13. People can only reach their highest potentials when they learn to live in the moment
14. People need to consider not only the goals they aim for but also means they will use to achieve them
15. Social workers need to practice self-awareness to become sensitive and wise in understanding others. A
social workers self- awareness, in turn, will help clients further understand themselves.
16. People must respect the values and beliefs of one another.
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Princciples focused on the social

worker as a professional
-Sheafor, Horejsi and Horejsi (1994) provided a list of principles that relate to the
professionals and self-development of the social worker.
1. The Social Workers practice must be bound by the conventions in the profession.
2. The social worker must practice consciousness of self.
3. The Social worker should be objective when dealing with people
4. The Social worker should respect human diversity
5. The social worker must continually develop personally and professionally.
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Principles that guide social work activities
Principles which are useful in the social workers actual intervention with individual clients or client’s group

1.The social worker 4.The social worker 7.The social worker should not
should engage in should consider the only help clients but also
engage with them
knowledge and value client’s individual
guide practice. characteristics. 8.The social worker should
encourage his/her clients to
2.The social worker must 5.The social worker practice self- determination.
care about the client in should help the client look
his/her entirety. into the future. 9.The social worker should
help the client learn self-
directed problem-solving skills.
3.The social worker must 6.The social worker must
uphold the client’s help clients build their
dignity. strengths.
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GROUP MEMBERS:
Ablong, Jericho
Catipay, Princess Dinah
Diluvio, Francis Isaia
Garces, Christine Erica
Lolor, Maxine
Montejo, Mary Grace
Razo, Justine Jean
Seno, Rhaiza
Teves, Reginald
Villegas, Ianna Jyl
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Thank you!
Any questions?