The document discusses several key principles of social work including individualization, acceptance, meaningful relationships, self-determination, communication, social functioning, and confidentiality. It also examines the relationships between social work and other disciplines like sociology, economics, political science, psychology, anthropology, folklore/folklife, and law. Finally, it defines some important terms in social work including "client" and "social service".

1. SOCIAL WORK
BY
AMIT KUMAR
PHD RESEARCH SCHOLAR
CENTRAL UNIVIERSITY OF JHARKHAND
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK
1. Principle of Individualizations
Students behave differently to different situations. Likewise, individuals are different
in their capacities, hobbies, emotional maturity, wealth, intelligence, etc. Here the
principle of individualization says that a social worker should recognize the uniqueness
of each individual while trying to help them. A social worker should treat each
individual and his/her problem differently
2. Principle of Acceptance
The principle of acceptance says that we must accept the client irrespective of his/ her
class, creed, position, color or status. Social Worker should accept the client as he/she
is, with all his/her limitations. Social work believes that every individual has worth and
dignity. Mutual acceptance between the worker and the client is essential to carry out
professional social work. In short, Social Worker displays an unconditional acceptance
of the client.
3. Principle of Meaningful relationship
Relationship, in social work, is a channel through which growth-oriented changes are
initiated. The relationship between the social worker and the client is known as rapport.
It is considered as the flesh and blood of the social work process. In social work, rapport
between the client and the worker is necessary to provide.
4. Principle of Self-Determination
Principle of self-determination gives right to self to take decision to solve the problems
faced by the client. Here the worker facilitates the client to take appropriate decisions
for him. He puts different alternatives in front of the client to solve his problems. Final
choice and decisions are left to the client. Responsibility to take decisions is really
vested in the hands of the client. The client himself / herself bears the pros and cons of
his/her decisions. A social worker believes that the client can find out solutions to
his/her problems.
5. Principle of Communication
Communication is the medium through which ideas, emotions, information, etc. are
transferred from one person to other person or groups. Communication is a major tool
as well as a principle to practise social work. A social worker should create an
environment in which the client will feel comfortable to express his/ her feelings.
6. Principle of Social functioning

2. Every individual has various roles to play in the society. The principle of social
functioning helps the clients to perform well in their social roles. The Social Worker
uses this principle for helping the client to become a responsible and law-abiding citizen
of a nation. The worker facilitates the client to discharge the social functions properly
even in adversities.
7. Principle of Confidentiality
Every secret is shared with someone only on the basis of trust. The clients also share
their secrets to the worker because of the trust he/she has. This principle entails the
Social Worker to keep the secrecy of information disclosed by the client. The worker
has to assure the client that the information disclosed will remain confidential.
RELATION OF SOCIAL WORK WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES
Social Work with Sociology
1. Both study human interactions, their conditions and consequences and factors which
influence to these.
2. Social work in its present for deals with the study of social problems and their scientific
solutions.
3. It tries to establish the integration and adjustment between the various units of society.
4. Social work is a socially oriented service.
Social Work with Economics
1. It is the study of general methods by which man co-operates to meet his material needs.
2. It studies the way of income generation by the humans, and how they use it for fulfilling
the needs.
3. It’s the income and wealth that decides your social network.
Social Work with Political Science
1. Political science is the science of state which study the organisation of people and
relationship with the government.
2. The people are somewhere structured in the form of political counterparts.
3. Both play their roles in solution of the problems.
4. Democracy is the key elements for the politics so that equality, liberty and fraternity
can be maintained.
Social Work with Psychology
1. One of the most important disciplines which had played vital role towards the
development of social work.
2. Social Work deals with the individual and social problems that prevent the harmonious
functioning of collective life, and for this we have to understand the problems of
humans. Psychology deals with study of human behavior.
3. Ultimately if you are helping the individuals to solve their problems, you are helping to
solve the problems of society, because it is the individuals which constitute society.
Social Work with Anthropology

3. 1. It is the scientific study of the physical, social and cultural development and behaviour
since their appearance in the earth.
2. It deals with man and races (the idea that the human species is divided into distinct
groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences) of mankind.
Social Work with Folklore and Folklife
1. It provides support to the social worker in proper understanding of customs, traditions,
faits and beliefs prevalent among the different groups and community, that are being
transferred from one generation to another.
Social Work with Law
1. It is the branch of knowledge which deals with the scientific study of law and its
enactment.
2. If you violate the rule then you will get punished. This discipline gives broader
information about the law which should be followed for better social functioning.
3. Crime and punishment are also within the scope of social work.
Some important terms in Social Work
CLIENT
1. Client
a. Micro: Individual or family which is seeking or being provided social services.
b. Mezzo: Group, organization or community that is seeking or being provided
social services.
c. Macro: Society, Community, social policy, social change, or research as the
entity being served or targeted.
2. The Canadian Association of Social Work (CASW) Code of Ethics (2005) defines a
client as “a person, family, group of persons, incorporated body, association or
community on whose behalf a social worker provides or agrees to provide a service or
to whom the social worker is legally obligated to provide a service”
SOCIAL SERVICE
Social service is the help given by the society for the immediate relief of certain problems
faced by the members. Social service is the temporary service given to an individual or group
in cash or in kind. It is a service given by a volunteer to a needy man. It does not help a
person to help himself. No training is required to practise social service. We need a good
mind to help a person who is in need of our help.
The major characteristics are
• it is as a temporary assistance.
• it is a voluntary service.
• it is a charity work.
• no need of specialized training.
• no remuneration.
• can be practised by any individual.