The document discusses the roles, functions, competencies, and careers of social workers. It outlines 10 main roles of social workers including advocate, counselor, mediator, researcher, educator, manager, case manager, facilitator, community change agent, and broker. It also discusses 3 main functions of social work as restorative, preventive, and developmental. The document then lists 10 core competencies and various areas of specialization and careers in social work such as child and family social work, medical social work, and hospice social work. Finally, it outlines some of the rights and responsibilities of social workers.

1. Lesson 7: Professionals and Practitioners in
Social Work

2. Roles, Functions and Competencies of Social Workers
Roles of Social Workers
1.) Advocate - in the advocate role, the social
worker fights for the rights of those
disempowered by society with the goal of
empowering the client. The social worker speaks
on behalf of clients when others will not listen or
when clients are unable to do so.

3. 2.) Counselor - in the role of counselor, the social
worker helps clients express their needs, clarify
their problems, explore resolution strategies, and
applies intervention strategies to develop and
expand the capacities of clients to deal with their
problems more effectively. A key function of this
role is to empower people by affirming their
personal strengths and their capacities to deal
with their problems more effectively.

4. 3.) Mediator - in the mediator role, the
social worker intervenes in disputes
between parties to help them find
compromises, reconcile differences, and
reach mutually satisfying agreements.
The mediator takes a neutral stance
among the involved parties.

5. 4.) Researcher - in the researcher role, a social
worker evaluates practice interventions and
with others evaluates program outcomes. The
researcher critically analyzes the literature on
relevant topics of interest and uses this
information to inform practice. A researcher
extends and disseminates knowledge, and seeks
to enhance the effectiveness of social work
practice.

6. 5.) Educator - in the Educator role, social
workers are involved in teaching people
about resources and how to develop
particular skills such as budgeting, the
caring discipline of children, effective
communication, the meaning of a
medical diagnosis, and the prevention of
violence.

7. 6.) Manager - as managers,
social workers are better able
to influence policy change
and/or development, and to
advocate, on a larger scale, for
all underprivileged people.

8. 7.) Case Manager - in the role of a Case
manager, the social worker locates services
and assists their clients to access those services.
Case management is especially important for
complex situations and for those who are
homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or
mental health issues, are disabled, victims of
domestic or other violent crimes, or are
vulnerable children.

9. 8.) Facilitator - in this role, social workers
are involved in gathering groups of
people together for a variety of purposes
including community development, self-
advocacy, political organization, and
policy change. Social workers are
involved as group therapists and task
group leaders.

10. 9.) Community change agent - as a community change
agent, the social worker participates as part of a group
or organization seeking to improve or restructure
some aspect of community service provision. A change
agent, working with others, uses a problem-solving
model to identify the problem, solicit community input,
and plan for change. A community change agent acts
in a coordinated manner to achieve planned change at
multiple levels that helps to shift the focus of
institutional resources to meet identified goals.

11. 10.) Broker - in the role of a broker, a social
worker is responsible for identifying, locating, and
linking clients to needed resources in a timely
manner. Once the client’s needs are assessed and
potential services identified, the broker assists the
client in choosing the most appropriate service
option and assists in negotiating the terms of
service delivery. In this role the social worker is
also concerned with the quality, quantity, and
accessibility of services.

12. Functions of Social Work
1.
Restorative/curative/remedial/rehabilitativ
e functions - to assist individuals and
groups to identify and resolve or
minimize problems arising out of
disequilibrium between themselves and
the environment.

13. • curative aspect - seeks to remove
factors which have caused the
breakdown in the person's social
functioning.
• rehabilitative aspect - tries to put
back the person to a normal or
healthy state of social functioning.

14. One example for curative aspect is helping a
girl who engages in prostitution for a living to
change her ways through counseling
relationship and effecting necessary changes in
her home or environmental conditions. the
rehabilitative aspect could involve helping her
avail herself of opportunities for schooling,
skills training, and legitimate employment.

15. 2. Preventive function - to identify
potential areas of disequilibrium between
individuals or groups and the environment
in order to prevent occurrence of
disequilibrium. This involves early
discovery, control and elimination of those
conditions or situations which may have a
harmful effect on social functioning.

16. Examples of this function include
counseling on premarital and other
family problems, sex education of youth
to prevent early marriage, sexual abuse;
and working for the enactment of laws
and policies that would help prevent
abuse of women and children.

17. 3. Developmental function - to seek out,
identify and strengthen the maximum
potential in individuals, groups and
communities. The aim is both to help the
individual make maximum use of his
potentials and capacities as well as to
further the effectiveness of available social
or community resources.

18. Examples of developmental function
would include helping unemployed
and underemployed breadwinners to
avail themselves of opportunities for
skills training while at the same time
providing necessary supportive
services.

19. Competencies of Social Work Practice
1. Identify as a professional social worker and
conduct oneself accordingly.
Social Workers:
a) advocate for client access to the services of
social work;
b) practice personal reflection and self-correction
to assure continual professional development;

20. c) attend to professional roles and
boundaries;
d) demonstrate professional demeanor in
behavior, appearance, and
communication;
e) engage in career-long learning; and
f) use supervision and consultation.

21. 2. Apply social work ethical principles
to guide professional practice.
Social Workers:
a) recognize and manage personal
values in a way that allows
professional values to guide practice;

22. b) make ethical decisions by applying standards of
the NASW Code of Ethics, and, as applicable, of the
International Federation of Social
Workers/International Association of Schools of
Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of
Principles;
c) tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts;
and
d) apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at
principled decisions.

23. 3. Apply critical thinking to inform and
communicate professional judgments.
Social Workers:
a) distinguish, appraise, and integrate
multiple sources of knowledge, including
research-based knowledge, and practice
wisdom;

24. b) analyze models of assessment,
prevention, intervention, and evaluation;
and
c) demonstrate effective oral and written
communication in working with
individuals, families, groups,
organizations, communities, and
colleagues.

25. 4. Engage diversity and difference in
practice.
Social workers:
a) recognize the extent to which a
culture’s structures and values may
oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or
enhance privilege and power;

26. b) gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate
the influence of personal biases and values in
working with diverse groups;
c) recognize and communicate their
understanding of the importance of difference
in shaping life experiences; and
d) view themselves as learners and engage
those with whom they work as informants.

27. 5. Advance human rights and social and economic
justice.
Social workers:
a) understand the forms and mechanisms of
oppression and discrimination;
b) advocate for human rights and social and
economic justice; and
c) engage in practices that advance social and
economic justice.

28. 6. Engage in research-informed practice
and practice-informed research.
Social workers:
a) use practice experience e to inform
scientific inquiry; and
b) use research evidence to inform
practice.

29. 7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the
social environment.
Social workers:
a) utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the
processes of assessment, intervention, and
evaluation ; and
b) critique and apply knowledge to understand
person and environment.

30. 8. Engage in policy practice to advance social
and economic well-being and to deliver
effective social work services.
Social workers:
a) analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies
that advance social well-being; and
b) collaborate with colleagues and clients for
effective policy action.

31. 9. Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Social workers :
a) continuously discover, appraise, and attend to
changing locales, populations, scientific and
technological developments, and emerging societal
trends to provide relevant services; and
b) provide leadership in promoting sustainable
changes in service delivery and practice to improve
the quality of social services.

32. 10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals,
families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Engagement:
Social workers:
a) substantively and effectively prepare for action with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities;
b) use empathy and other interpersonal skills; and
c) develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and desired
outcomes

33. • Assessment:
Social workers:
a) collect, organize, and interpret client data;
b) assess client strengths and limitations;
c) develop mutually agreed-on intervention
goals and objectives; and
d) select appropriate intervention strategies.

34. • Intervention:
Social workers:
a) Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals;
b) Implement prevention interventions that enhance
client capacities;
c) Help clients resolve problems;
d) Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients; and
e) Facilitate transitions and endings.

35. Evaluation:
Social workers:
a) Critically analyze, monitor, and
evaluate interventions.

36. Areas of Specialization in which Social Workers Work
1. Social Worker in the Government
The Social Work in Government (SWG)
Committee was formed to address and promote
the variety of roles and responsibilities social
workers play in the public sector. The
membership reflects those presently working in
government, have interest in working in
government or just want to know more.

37. 2. Social Work in Correctional Facility
The Social Worker who works in the Corrections field is
going to have to draw upon a very different set of skills and
have an emotional makeup that is considerably different
from those who work in other environments. Many prisons
that employ Social Workers require a series of psychological
tests to determine if the Social Worker has the appropriate
mentality to work within a prison with all its unique rigors.
However, the rewards for those who feel draw to working
with convicts helping them to gain skills to become useful
members of society are as rich as any in the field of Social
Work.

38. 3. Social Work in Hospitals
The Medical Social Worker performs a variety of roles in
the hospital. Helping people to gain access to federal
Medicare and Medicaid coverage is one such duty.
Working with patients to deal with the stresses and
emotional difficulties that occur due to invasive but
necessary medical procedures is another example of the
way in which Medical Social Workers help hospitals to
function at a higher degree of efficiency as well as
deliver a higher quality of service.

39. 4. Social Work in Organizations
An emerging field of Social Work is within
organizations who wish to decrease worker
stresses and increase worker efficiency as well as
happiness. By understanding how to change
workplace culture and facilitate communication
within organizations, the Social Worker can make
a significant contribution to the effectiveness of
workers and organizations as a whole.

40. 5. Social Work in Schools
School Social Workers help students and families
overcome the social, behavioral, emotional, or
economic problems that prevent learning. They
interview students to determine problems, use
professional judgment to assess conditions, refer
for appropriate professional or community
services, and follow up to assure that services are
provided and that conditions improve.

41. 6. Social Work in The Community
Community social workers help
communities function. Some work directly
with individuals, conducting needs
assessments and making referrals to
resources in the community. Others assess
needs on a larger scale. They may plan and
administer programs.

42. 7. Social Work in Foundation/Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs)
Social workers who are found in NGO’s are
examples of social work in foundation. Other
examples of NGO’s are “Cribs Foundation” and
“Save the Children Foundation”, where some
social worker in foundation help in achieving
the goals of the foundation they work with.

43. Careers in Social Work
1. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Child, family, and school social workers offer assistance
to children and youth as well as to their parents and
guardians. Many are in child welfare. They work with
families where there has been abuse, or where there is
serious mental or physical illness. They may help parents
find resources they need so that the children can stay in
the home or return to the home. Sometimes this is not
feasible; then they have a hand in finding other
placements.

44. Social workers also work with children who
are in stable home environments. They respond
to crises in the classroom and assess and
counsel school children who are experiencing
stress, acting out, and/ or being targeted by
bullies; some conduct groups targeted toward
prevention. They also conduct trainings, make
referrals, and serve on interdisciplinary teams.

45. 2. Community Social Workers
Community social workers help
communities function. Some work
directly with individuals, conducting
needs assessments and making referrals to
resources in the community. Others assess
needs on a larger scale. They may plan
and administer programs.

46. 3. Medical and Health Social Workers
Medical conditions affect far more than the body.
They can result in an onslaught of emotional,
financial, and social needs. Social workers are adept
at helping people meet these sorts of needs – and so
we find social workers in many locations where
health services are delivered. They are known as
medical and health care social workers. They may
serve as case managers, patient navigators, and
therapists.

47. 4. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
work with clients who have mental conditions and/or
addictions. Often it is an “and” – in schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder, rates of substance abuse are well
above the norm. Trauma disordered individuals also
turn frequently to alcohol and other drugs of abuse.
Social workers, with their knowledge of humans
systems, can be especially effective at addressing co-
occurring disorders.

48. 5. Military and Veterans Affairs Social Workers
Military social workers support military families
when men or women are deployed and also when
they return. Young children frequently act out when
a parent leaves. Family members of all ages fear that
the person won’t come back. There are role
adjustments to be made. When the person does
return, there is another adjustment process.
Teenagers may feel they don’t really know their
parent.

49. 6. Hospice Social Workers
Hospice social workers assist those who are nearing the end of
life and those who are living with chronic illnesses. They also
offer support to their families. This support can take many
forms. It may mean making sure that patients have access to
the resources that will make them as comfortable as possible
physically. It may mean providing for their emotional and even
spiritual needs. Social workers may act as navigators and care
coordinators. They help patients and families understand their
options, identify services they need, and fill out the necessary
paperwork. They also help them fill out other important forms
like advanced directives.

50. Rights and Responsibilities of Social Worker
Social Worker
- Is a profession concerned with helping individuals,
families, groups and communities to enhance their
individual and collective well-being. It aims to help
people develop their skills and their ability to use their
own resources and those of the community to resolve
problems. Social work is concerned with individual and
personal problems but also with broader social issues
such as poverty, unemployment and domestic violence.

51. RIGHTS of Social Worker...
• Exercise professional discretion and
professional judgement.
• Redirect or refuse service on
justifiable grounds, provided clients are
redirected to appropriate support.
• Safety in professional practice.

52. • Freedom from discrimination in the
workplace.
• Freedom from unjust repercussions or
victimisation for their ethical practice.
• Reasonable working conditions and
continuing professional education and
training.

53. • Hold membership of a union and/or
obtain industrial advice
• Support from the profession when
acting in an ethically obligatory or
permissible way
• A culturally safe and respectful
workplace

54. • Hold cultural, religious or spiritual
world views and for these to be
acknowledged in the workplace and
professional contexts to the extent that
they do not impinge on the other
guidelines in this Code
• Make a complaint on justifiable
grounds.

55. RESPONSIBILITIES of Social Worker…
• Conducting interviews with individuals and
families to assess and review their situation;
• Undertaking and writing up assessments
(sometimes in collaboration with other
professionals), which meet specified standards
and timescales;
• Offering information and support;

56. • Organizing and managing packages of
support to enable people to lead the fullest
lives possible;
• Recommending and sometimes making
decisions about the best course of action for
a particular person or family;
• Liaising with, and making referrals to, other
agencies;

57. • Participating in multidisciplinary teams and
meetings regarding, for example, child
protection or mental health;
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing
reports for legal action;
• Giving evidence in court;
• Participating in training, supervision and
team meetings.

58. Ethical and Unethical Behavior of Social Workers
Social Work Ethics: 5 Common Dilemmas and How to
Handle Them Responsibly
The National Association of Social Workers
(NASW) Code of Ethics is a set of guiding principles to
assist social workers in making decisions in the best
interests of their clients, even if they might contradict
what we might do in our personal lives. These
decisions are not always easy – especially when two
guiding principles come into conflict.

59. These conflicts are called ethical dilemmas.
They occur when a specific situation calls for
the worker to prioritize one ethical principle
over another or if one’s personal values come
into conflict with the best practices outlined
by our profession. Today we’ll explore some
more common situations faced by social
workers in practice.

60. Receiving Gifts
Whether it’s the holidays, a special occasion,
or some other milestone, your client may try to
thank you for your hard work by giving you a
gift. These situations are much more
complicated than they seem because there are
cultural, societal, and relationship factors to
consider on top of the bond you and your
client share.

61. Ethical values and principles involved
a. Importance of Human Relationships –
Rejecting the gift may taint the rapport you’ve
built, perhaps over several years, or leave the
client feeling like you are personally rejecting
her.
b. Integrity – Part of our job is to serve as role-
models by maintaining healthy and appropriate
boundaries in professional relationships.

62. Involuntary Commitment
Regardless of your social worker
breed, at some point you will come
across a client who intends to harm
himself or someone else. These are
some of our most challenging
moments as helpers.

63. Ethical values and principles involved
a. Dignity and Worth of the Person – We want to
protect the client’s right to decide how to live his life.
That said, it should be noted that the Code specifically
states, “Social workers may limit clients’ right to self-
determination when, in the social workers’
professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential
actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk
to themselves or others.” (NASW Code of Ethics 1.02
Self-determination)

64. b. Importance of Human
Relationships – There is a chance
the decision to breach
confidentiality will ruin the
rapport you have established with
that client.

65. Breaches of Confidentiality with Minor Clients
There comes a point in every adolescent
therapist’s career when you hear these words:
“You’re not gonna tell my mom, are you?”
However soul crushing this may be, you are
required by law to report not only to the
parent(s), but to the Department of Social
Services or Law Enforcement.

66. Ethical values and principles involved
a. Dignity and Worth of the Person – We want to
support the right to self-determination, even our
youngest clients.
b. Importance of Human Relationship – Breaching a
child’s confidentiality may impact their trust moving
forward.
c. Integrity – We must behave in a trustworthy manner,
not only with our clients, but with their families and the
communities we serve.

67. Commission of Illegal Acts
Sometimes good clients do bad things. In
cases of child abuse or neglect, reporting
a client’s behavior is a no-brainer. Other
times, however, the rules are a little grey.
This is especially common for social
workers who are working with clients
who are incarcerated or abusing drugs.

68. Ethical values and principles involved
a. Dignity and Worth of the Person – As the
NASW Code of Ethics states, social workers
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.

69. b. Importance of Human Relationships –
Trust is paramount to a client-worker
relationship. Reporting on your client’s
illegal activities is in direct conflict with that.
c. Integrity – We must practice in a way
that is honest and responsible. We are also
beholden to the laws and policies of the
agencies and communities we serve.

70. d. Social Justice – Sometimes the
law may seem unfair or your
client’s situation may feel
precarious, especially if he has
experienced discrimination or
injustice in the past.

71. Interacting on Social Media
Ten years ago it was considered unethical to
email our clients. Now our Code of Ethics
specifically addresses the best practices for
conducting therapeutic services over the
internet. One issue that remains sticky is
social media. What should a social worker do
if a client tries to “Friend Request” her on
Facebook?

72. Ethical values and principles involved
a. Dignity and Worth of the Person – You want
to respect your client’s right to self-
determination.
b. Importance of Human Relationships – Social
media is a ubiquitous part of modern culture,
particularly for younger clients. Your client
may feel personally rejected or slighted by your
decision not to “friend” them.

73. c. Integrity – Social workers must act in a way
that is consistent with agency policies, even if that
creates a bump in the smooth working
relationship you have with a client. Some things
to consider are how your client’s perception of
you may be impacted by the things they learn
about you through social media and what your
comfort is with them being able to see your
personal information and activities.

74. d. Competence – In addition to being a
competent social worker, you need to be
a competent user of technology. Handling
this ethical dilemma involves working
knowledge of the privacy capabilities and
limitations of both the devices and
applications involved.