Introduction
SOCIAL WORK
Social work is an international profession
with a set of core values and a diverse knowledge and skills base. In 2001, the
International Association of Schools of Social Work and The International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) definition states:
“The
social work profession promotes social change, problem-solving in human
relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and
social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with
their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are
fundamental to social work.” (International Association of Schools of Social
Work 2001).
SOCIAL
WORKERS
Social
work is a regulated profession in which social workers are uniquely educated
and qualified to support individuals and families in meeting some of life’s
biggest challenges. Social workers play a pivotal and often leading role in
safeguarding people’s rights, building relationships to support and empower
children, adults and families to make important choices about the direction of
their lives.
Social
workers must have the knowledge, emotional intelligence, analytical skills and
authority to work holistically within these relationships. They will have the confidence to confront
challenging and complex social and family situations, drawing on research
evidence, community resources and the professional contribution of health,
housing and other partner agencies so as to safeguard and promote people’s
well-being. They intervene, using legal powers when applicable, for the
protection of children and adults as necessary.
ROLES OF
SOCIAL WORKERS
Roles
which social workers play and include the social worker as advocate, counselor,
caseworker, partner, risk assessor, care manager and agent of social control.
Social
workers may play all of these roles in different contexts and at different
times in their career; and there may well be conflict between them.
a.
The social worker as counselor or caseworker: Counselor (or caseworker) who
works with individuals to help them address personal issues. The idea of the
social worker as someone who works with or counsels individuals has been a
recurrent and powerful notion in social work throughout its history (Young
husband, 1959). It has also been closely associated with some of the key values
of social work and in particular recognizing the inherent worth of the
individual and respecting the person. Counseling and casework of course also
appeals to those whose view of social work as a whole is one in which helping
or supporting individuals is a key component. There is also implicit in the
role of the social worker as counselor or caseworker the idea that change will
be involved in the behavior or outlook of the client or service user. It is the
loss of the casework or counseling role which has been seen to be a major issue
for social work as provided through public services.
b.
The social worker as advocate: Advocate on behalf of the poor and socially
excluded. The social worker can also be viewed as an advocate on behalf of the
poor or socially excluded. The advocacy role can also be played for individuals
or groups such as families or communities and in some respects the advocacy
role can also be associated with community work. The social worker in this role
can give assist or support individuals or groups by giving voice or assisting
them to give their own voice to their wishes, needs and aspirations. The advocacy
role still privileges the notion of a close relationship between client/service
user and social worker.
c.
The social worker as partner: Partner working together with disadvantaged or
disempowered individuals and groups. The social worker can also be viewed as a
partner of and working for disadvantaged or disempowered individuals or groups.
Again, there is a close relationship between the social worker and those s/he is
supporting. In reference to both the social worker as advocate and social
worker as supporter, the empowerment of the client or group is an important and
major objective.
d.
The social worker as assessor of risk and of need: Assessor of risk or need for
a number of client groups; also associated with surveillance. This role may
conflict with counseling. Increasingly, social workers have been given a major
role in the assessment of need and risk over a number of client groups. The
concern has been that whereas assessment is an important task for social
workers it may well be at the cost of other activities important for social
workers such as fulfilling the casework role and working with individuals,
families and groups. Similarly, the assessment role may also be seen to be
associated with a policing or surveillance role (Garrett, 2004). A fracture in
the relationship between the client/service user and the social worker may well
appear. The possible confusion and ambiguity in role has also been explored in reference
to the mental health role carried out by social workers (Myers, 1999).
e.
The social worker as care manager: Care manager who arranges services for users
in a mixed economy of care, but may have little direct client contact. Social
workers may also have a role as care manager. They may be involved in arranging
care for clients/service users but be involved in very little direct contact with
the clients whose care they are organizing. In the mixed economy of care, social
workers may arrange care for individuals which is carried out by non qualified social
workers or those working within the voluntary or private sectors.
f.
The social worker as agent of social control: Agent of social control who helps
to maintain the social system against the demands of individuals whose behavior
is problematic. The function of social
work, particularly from a radical perspective, can be seen to be a conservative
force in perpetuating a social and economic system which accounts for the
inequalities and disadvantage experienced by many. So too can the social worker
be viewed as an agent of social control. In the broad sense this can be taken
to refer to the role the social worker may play in maintaining the social
system in general. One of the responses to our small consultation suggested
that if social work did not exist then there would be a breakdown in the social
system. In the narrower sense, the social worker can be considered as playing a
control role in the responsibilities s/he is required to fulfill in relation to
social work with offenders, or with those whose behavior is problematic.
There is no suggestion in this report that social workers at any one time fulfill only one of these roles. Social workers may play all of these different roles in varying degrees of mix at any time in their career. The difficulty for many social
There is no suggestion in this report that social workers at any one time fulfill only one of these roles. Social workers may play all of these different roles in varying degrees of mix at any time in their career. The difficulty for many social
Workers
and social work commentators are that the mix may have swung more away
From
the casework or counseling role involving direct work with clients to one in
Which
there is less and less such direct involvement? Social workers may have
Become
more social care managers, risk assessors and controlling or surveillance
Agents
(Jordan and Jordan, 2000; Jones et al., 2004).
The role of social workers is affected by
changes in social context:
•
Demographic changes, especially the ageing population and falling family size,
that will affect the ability of families to provide care for dependants.
•
Poverty and social exclusion are seen by some commentators to make the
continued provision of social work especially important.
•
Internationalization of social problems with increased migration and the tendency
of social problems to cross national borders.
•
Modern communications technologies radically affect record keeping in the
social services. They may also offer increasing opportunities for new forms of
information provision, remote services and self help.
REFERENCES
ADSW (Association of Directors of Social Work). (2004)
21st Century Social Work: The Role of the Social Worker.
Barclay, P. M. (chair) (1982) Social Workers: Their
Role and Tasks, London, Bedford Square Press.
IASSW (International Association of Schools of
Social Work). (2001) International Definition of Social Work.
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), Definition of Social
Work, 2000 http://ifsw.org/policies/definition-of-social-work/
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