SOCIAL WORK NOTES: BSWG 111
DEFINITION OFF SOCIAL WORK
The international Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of
Schools of Social Work (IASSW) Defines Social Work as follows;
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 behaviour and social systems, social work intervene at the points where people
interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are
fundamental to social work.
Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people
and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential,
enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem
solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of
the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of
values, theory and practice.
Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideas, and its values are based on
respect for the equality, worth and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century
ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human
potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social
work action. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to
alleviate poverty and liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social
inclusion. Social work values are embodied in the profession`s national and international
codes of ethics.
Social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge
derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge
specific to its context. It recognises the complexity of interactions between human beings and
their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple
influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws
on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex
situations and to facilitate individual, organisational, social and cultural changes.
, Social work addresses the barriers, inequality and injustices that exist in society. It responds
to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems. Social work
utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on
persons and their environments. Social work interventions range from primarily person-
focused psychosocial processes to involvements in social policy, planning and development.
These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work and
family treatment and therapy, as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources
in the community. Interventions also include agency administration, community organisation,
and engaging in social and political action to impact social policy and economic
development. the holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work
practice will vary from country to country and from time to time, depending on cultural,
historical, and socio-economic conditions.
ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS
Enabler:
In the enabler role, a social worker helps a client become capable of coping with situations or
transitional stress. A social worker conveys hope, reducing resistance and ambivalence,
recognizing and managing feelings, identifying and supporting personal strengths and social
assets, breaking down problems into parts that can be solved more readily, and maintaining a
focus on goals and the means of achieving them
Mediator:
The mediator role involves resolving arguments or conflicts micro, mezzo, or macro systems.
At the macro level, the mediator helps various subsystems within a community, or a
community and some other system, work out their differences. At the micro and mezzo
levels, mediation is helps in such areas as resolving divorce and child custody cases. A
mediator remains neutral and does not side with either party in the dispute
Integrator/Coordinator:
Integration is the process of bringing together various parts to form a unified whole.
Coordination involves bringing components together in some kind of organized manner. A
generalist social worker can function as an integrator/coordinator "in may ways, ranging from
