The Practitioners of Social Work

1. THE PROFESSIONALS
AND
PRACTITIONERS IN THE
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIAL
WORK

2. SOCIAL WORKER
•The social worker 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.

3. SOCIAL WORK
•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.

4. DEFINING THE ROLES, FUNCTIONS, AND
COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Social worker features as a helping
profession which “ has a dual aim of
helping individuals fit better into their
environments (micro practice), and
changing the environment so that it
works better for individuals (macro
practice).

5. ROLES OF SOCIAL WORK
The roles are generally interwoven
with functions but Dubois and Miley
2008, have provided elements that
can be distinctively viewed as roles
rather than functions.

6. FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
Enabler – helping people find solutions
They are brokers or
advocates in case
management.
They are teachers in
terms of information
processing.

7. FOR FORMAL GROUPS
AND ORGANIZATIONS
Facilitator – in aid of organizational
development
They are conveyer or
mediator in aid of
creating networks. They are trainer for
professional
development.
They are teachers in
terms of information
processing.

8. FOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY
Planner – facilitating research and
planning
They are activist in
aid of social action.
They conduct outreach
in aid of community
education.

9. WITHIN THE SOCIAL
WORK PROFESSION
Colleague / Monitor – in aid of professional
enculturation and socialization
They are catalysts for
community service.
They are researcher-scholars in
aid of knowledge development
and capacity building.

10. MODERN ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS
Case Management
Case management is
when social
workers help their
clients navigate the
social service system.
This may involve
providing information
and resources,
connecting clients
with community
services, and
teaching them how to
advocate for
themselves.
Direct Practice
Direct practice in
social work involves
many
responsibilities,
including
maintaining
immediate contact
with clients and
connecting them
with the services
and resources they
need.
Policy Building
Social workers are
deeply involved in
both the creation
and implementation
of policy through
direct contact with
the most vulnerable
segments of the
population

11. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
• Counsel with individuals, facilitate groups, work with
families, refine agency procedures, initiate new programs,
lobby for legislative changes, organize community action,
educate the public, conduct needs assessments, and
evaluate practice and programs at various system levels
and targets of change or social transformation;
• Enhance social functioning of individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities;

12. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
• Link clients systems with needed resources;
• Improve the operations of social service delivery network;
and
• Promote social justice through development of social
policy

13. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
Consultancy
Refers to
professional
activities through
which social
workers and their
clients plan,
initiate, and pursue
actions towards
desired change.
Resource
Management
Refers to the act of
coordinating,
systematizing, and
integrating
resources and
services needed to
support social
functioning,
meeting needs and
resolving
Education
Refers to the
provision of
knowledge and
critical information.
Refers to the act of
coordinating,
systematizing, and
integrating
resources and
services needed to
support social
functioning,
meeting needs and
resolving

14. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Foundational Abilities and Skills
• Think critically
• Build and sustain
relationships
• Execute empowering
processes
• Use practical methods
• Analyze policies
• Communicate effectively
• Strong cultural and
intercultural competence
• Good computer literacy
• Conduct research
• Do social planning
• Perform crisis intervention
• Sound time management

15. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Functional Competencies
• Handle case management with various clients and
population group.
• Perform direct practice depending on the needs of
the client and the environment in which the social
worker operate.
• Conduct mediations among parties especially where
one party is socially disadvantages.

16. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Functional Competencies
• Make referrals to appropriate agencies and service
sectors needed by the client.
• In gerontological context, perform program planning
and administration in numerous settings.

17. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Functional Competencies
• In mental health setting, function are cases
managers, advocates, administrators, therapists, and
to use research as basis for problem-solving and
choice intervention in empirically based practice.
• In school system, analyze the transactions between
students, teachers, parents, and the school system.

18. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Functional Competencies
• In the judicial system, make system more fair and
beneficial to both convicted criminals and their
victims; and
• Pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and
oppressed individuals, eliminating economic
inequalities and poverty.

19. COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL WORK
Generic Competencies
• Empathic
• Compassionate
• Observes confidentiality
• Has a sense of humor
• Listening Skills

20. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
OF SOCIAL WORK
Professional social work requires full
professional training with college degree
and in a number of cases, requires a
person to have a master’s or doctor’s
degree in social work.

21. FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE
This includes services to families
in situations that seriously
disrupt family life such as
physical or mental illness ,
unemployment, divorce, in aid
of improving client’s family life.

22. FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE
In child welfare programs or
services such as adoption,
daycare, foster child care, and
care for children with disabilities
and aiding physically or
emotionally abused children
and their family.

23. HEALTH
Social workers help patients and
their families in clinics,
hospitals, and other health-care
facilities. they provide
physicians information about
the social and economic
background of patients;

24. HEALTH
Help patients and their families deal
with the impact of illness and death
and counsel patients who have
been discharged to help them
return to everyday life; provide
counseling in maternal and child
care; the care for dying patients and
victims of certain diseases like HIV
or cancer.

25. MENTAL HEALTH
Social workers provide aid
to people suffering from
mental and emotional
stress and many other
services similar to the ones
offered by medical social
workers. Psychotherapy

26. CORRECTIONS
Social workers in corrections are
involved with programs
concerned with the prevention
of crime and the rehabilitation
of criminals and provide counsel
to people who are on probation
or parole.

27. SCHOOLS
Social work in school is part of
the program on all levels, from
preschool through college. It
includes services to students in
special schools for individuals
with emotional disturbances or
physical disabilities.

28. SCHOOLS
Social workers in schools
provide vocational counseling,
school adjustment counseling,
and help with behavioral
management and personal
problems. They also assist
students who have learning
difficulties and help them work
to their potential.

29. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OF
SOCIAL WORK
Social work careers span a wide variety of
job opportunities in both public and private
practice. Social workers can directly work
with people they serve and it is common
for them to volunteer their services.

30. HARTMAN (2015) CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
•Administrators
•Supervisors
•Planners
•Researchers
•Teachers
•Child Welfare
Administration
•Elderly Care
Services

31. HARTMAN (2015) CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
•Clinics and
Community
Treatment Centers
•Public Housing
Projects
•Work-related Services
•Health Counseling
•Retirement Planning
•Social Planning
Practitioners
•Researchers

32. DUBOIS AND MILEY (2008) CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES
• Home Health
• Aging Services
• Mental Health
• Criminal Justice
• Rehabilitation
• School-linked Services
• Forensic Social Work
• Corporate- based
employee assistance
• International Practice
• Service Centers

33. The number of social work professionals
in the Philippines are much smaller but
they are present in a variety of settings,
including hospitals, retirement homes,
mental health clinics, schools, non-profit
agencies, and government offices.

34. RIGHTS,
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
ACCOUNTABILITIES OF
SOCIAL WORK

35. The social work profession facilitates social change and
development, social cohesion, and the empowerment
and liberation of people. Principles of social justice,
human rights, collective responsibility and respect for
diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by
theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and
indigenous knowledge, social work engages people
and structures to address life challenges and enhance
well-being (March 2013)

36. RIGHTS OF SOCIAL WORK
•right to fulfill its
professional
mandates
•to live by its values

37. RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOCIAL WORK
•Accountable to the
client, the general
public, society
•Help children
•Assist life-threatening
problems
•Aid people in
overcoming addiction
•Protect and uphold
respect for people
•Promote Social Justice

38. RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOCIAL WORK
•Apply the professional values and principles
set out above to their practice
•They should act with integrity and treat
people with compassion, empathy, and care.

39. ACCOUNTABILITY OF SOCIAL WORK
•Accountability of social worker is to the
clients, colleagues, employers, professional
associations, and to the law.

40. ACCOUNTABILITY OF SOCIAL WORK
Social workers are accountable for their
actions to the values and principles of the
profession, which require them to act in a
reliable, honest, and trustworthy manner.
They are answerable to their clients.

41. CODE OF ETHICS OF
SOCIAL WORK
The code of ethics specifies the standards
of ethics, conduct, and performance
expected of registered social workers.

42. VALUES AND THEIR
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

43. VALUE: SERVICE
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS’ PRIMARY GOAL IS TO HELP
PEOPLE IN NEED AND TO ADDRESS SOCIAL PROBLEMS
•Social workers elevate service to others above
self-interest. Social workers draw on their
knowledge, values, and skills to help people in
need and to address social problems. Social
workers are encouraged to volunteer some
portion of their professional skills without
expecting significant financial return (pro bono
service).

44. VALUE: SOCIAL JUSTICE
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS CHALLENGE SOCIAL INJUSTICE
•Social workers pursue social change, particularly
with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed
individuals and groups of people. Social workers’
social change efforts are focused primarily on
issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination,
and other forms of social injustice. These
activities seek to promote sensitivity to and
knowledge about oppression and cultural and
ethnic diversity.

45. VALUE: SOCIAL JUSTICE
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS CHALLENGE SOCIAL INJUSTICE
• Social workers strive to ensure access to
needed information, services, and resources;
equality of opportunity; and meaningful
participation in decision making for all
people.

46. VALUE: DIGNITY AND WORTH OF THE PERSON
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS RESPECT THE INHERENT DIGNITY
AND WORTH OF THE PERSON
•Social workers treat each person in a caring and
respectful fashion, mindful of individual
differences and cultural and ethnic diversity.
Social workers promote clients’ socially
responsible self- determination. Social workers
seek to enhance clients’ capacity and
opportunity to change and to address their own
needs.

47. VALUE: DIGNITY AND WORTH OF THE PERSON
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS RESPECT THE INHERENT DIGNITY
AND WORTH OF THE PERSON
•Social workers are cognizant of their dual
responsibility to clients and to the broader
society. They seek to resolve conflicts between
clients’ interests and the broader society’s
interests in a socially responsible manner
consistent with the values, ethical principles, and
ethical standards of the profession.

48. VALUE: IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS RECOGNIZE THE CENTRAL
IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
•Social workers understand that relationships
between and among people are an important
vehicle for change. Social workers engage people
as partners in the helping process. Social workers
seek to strengthen relationships among people
in a purposeful effort to promote, restore,
maintain, and enhance the well- being of
individuals, families, social groups, organizations,
and communities.

49. VALUE: INTEGRITY
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS BEHAVE IN A TRUSTWORTHY
MANNER
•Social workers are continually aware of the
profession’s mission, values, ethical
principles, and ethical standards and practice
in a manner consistent with them. Social
workers act honestly and responsibly and
promote ethical practices on the part of the
organizations with which they are affiliated.

50. VALUE: COMPETENCE
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE: SOCIAL WORKERS PRACTICE WITHIN THEIR AREAS
OF COMPETENCE AND DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL
EXPERTISE
•Social workers continually strive to increase
their professional knowledge and skills and
apply them in practice. Social workers should
aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of
the profession.

51. ETHICAL STANDARDS
The following ethical standards are relevant to the
professional activities of all social workers. These
standards are concerned with the social workers’
ethical responsibilities: (1) to clients; (2) to
colleagues; (3) in practice settings; (4) as
professionals; (5) to the social work profession;
and (6) to the broader society.

52. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
1. Social workers are expected to uphold human
rights in their practice.
2. Social workers should respect the rights and
dignity of people.
3. Social workers should respect relationships of
people who use their services.
4. Social workers should promote social justice.

53. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
5. Social workers should comply with the laws
and regulations governing their practice.
6. Social workers should carry out their duties
professionally and ethically.
7. Social workers should demonstrate ethical
awareness.

54. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
8. Social workers should act in the best interest
of people who use their services.
9. Social workers should communicate with
people who use their services, careers, and
professionals.
10. Social workers should seek informed consent
of people who use their services.

55. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
11. Social workers should keep accurate records.
12. Social workers should deal appropriately with
health and safety risks.
13. Social workers should willingly collaborate,
delegate, and manage appropriately.
14. Social workers should undertake research
ethically

56. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
15. Social workers should maintain high standards of
personal conduct.
16. Social workers should act with integrity. This means
that they should not abuse the relationship of the
trust with people using their services; they should
recognize the boundaries between personal and
professional life, and they should not abuse their
position for personal benefit or gain.

57. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
17. Social workers should provide accurate information
about their conduct and competence.
18. Social workers should treat information about
people who use their services as confidential except
in situations that call for greater ethical
requirement such as preservation of life.
19. Social workers should act within the limits of their
professional knowledge, skills, and experience.

58. GUIDELINES FOR
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
20. Social workers should keep their professional
knowledge and skills up to date so that they are
able to provide appropriate services.
21. Social workers should demonstrate professional
accountability.