DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
WORK
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Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people
and is cultivated by altruistic and democratic principles. Friedlander (1958)
and Biestek (1957) as cited by Mendoza (2002) indicated seven principles
adhered to by social workers including the following:
1. Acceptance
2. Client’s Participation
3. Self-Determination
4. Individualization
5. Confidentiality
6. Worker self-awareness
7. Client-worker relationship
2.
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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1. ACCEPTANCE – This involves
respecting the clients as they are under
any circumstances and understanding
the meaning and causes of the client’s
behavior.
-Social worker manifest warmth, interest
and concern
-recognizing people’s strengths and
potentials, weaknesses and limitations
3.
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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2. CLIENT’S PARTICIPATION IN
PROBLEM-SOLVING – A client is made to
understand that he/she is expected to
participate in the entire process.
-Gathering information from a client
-Defining the nature of the problem
-Planning and identifying resources to
solve
-Act through the available resources
4.
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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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3. SELF-DETERMINATION – The idea
behind this principle is that the clients
(individuals, groups, or communities)
who are in need have the right to
determine their needs and how they
should be met.
5.
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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4. INDIVIDUALIZATION – This involves
recognizing and understanding the
client’s own unique characteristics and
using different principles and methods
for each client.
-Clients have differences
-Social work interventions differ for
each client
6.
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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5. CONFIDENTIALITY – This means
that the client should be accorded with
appropriate protection, within the limits
of the law, from any harm that might
result from the information he/she
divulges to the worker.
-Needs privacy
-Workers must find an available vacant
room
7.
DISCIPLINE OF SOCIALWORK
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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6. Worker Self-Awareness – This means
that the social worker is conscious about
his/her role in making use of his/her
professional relationship with the client in
a way that will enhance the client’s
development rather than her/his own.
-Social Worker examines his/her feelings,
judgement, biases, and responses
8.
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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
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7. CLIENT-WORKER RELATIONSHIP – The
purpose of a client-worker relationship is to
help the client in some area of her/his social
functioning in which, at present, he/she is
experiencing some difficulty, and where the
worker is in the position to offer help.
-Care is provided
-Experiences are shared
-Belonging is created
