This document defines social work and outlines its core values, principles, philosophy, goals, scope, and methods. Social work aims to promote social justice and empowerment through addressing life challenges. It is guided by principles of dignity, worth, human relationships, and competence. The goals of social work are to enhance social responsibility, self-reliance, and provide equal opportunities. The scope of social work involves various services across individual, family, community, and societal levels.

1. Definition, Values, Principles,
Philosophy, Goals and Scope of
Social Work
Rambabu Botcha
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
RGNIYD

2. Definition of Social Work
• “Social work is a practice-based profession and an
academic discipline that promotes 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 knowledges, social
work engages people and structures to address
life challenges and enhance wellbeing.

3. Characteristics of a Profession
• Determination of own standards of education
and training which is usually long, extended and
formal;
• Systematic body of knowledge that may be
imparted;
• Set of technical skills, which may be specially
acquired;
• Enforcement of minimum qualifications for
entering and thus, achieving professional status;

4. Characteristics of a Profession
• Code of ethics
• Professional practice often being legally
recognized
• Some form of licensure and licensing and
admission boards/ recruitment boards by the
members of the profession
• Norms of practice enforced by the profession
being more stringent

5. Characteristics of a Profession
• Existence of professional associations and the
members of other occupations;
• Formal channel of communication between
the professionals, e.g. a newsletter, journal,
meeting, seminars and conference;
• Primary orientation to community interests;
• Fulfilment of a societal needs; and
• Rewards, which primarily symbolize work
achievement

6. NASW
• The National Association of Social Workers
(NASW) has a strict code of ethics that defines
a set of values, principles, and standards to
guide professionals in the delivery of services
that address the complexities of the human
experience.

7. Core Values of Social Work
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)-USA
stated in its code of ethics that professional social
workers should follow these six core values while
performing their duties. The core values are:
• 1. Service
• 2. Social Justice
• 3. Dignity and Worth of the person
• 4. Importance of human relationships
• 5. Integrity and
• 6. Competence.

8. Core Values of Social Work
• The Core Values of social work based on which the
code of ethics of SOSW, IGNOU has been drafted and
provides twelve core values.
• Besides the six values of NASW code of ethics,
additional six values that are found in the SOSW code
of ethics are:
• 1. Cultural Sensitivity,
• 2. Hard Work,
• 3. Patriotism,
• 4. Loyalty to the profession,
• 5. Responsibility and Commitment and
• 6. Teachership.

9. Principles of Social Work
• Fallowing and practicing Values
• Purposeful expression of feelings
• Controlled emotional involvement
• Acceptance
• Individualization
• Non-Judgemental Attitude
• Client’s Self Determination
• Confidentiality

10. Principles of Social Work
• Clients : Confidentiality
• Colleagues/Co-workers : Respect and Fairness
• Professionals : Accepted behaviours/morals
• Practice Setting: Responsibility
• Social Work Profession : Service, developing
the body of knowledge
• Broader Society : Commitment towards
welfare of all sections of the society

11. Philosophy of Social Work
• Helping the helpless to help themselves, some
basic tenets of social work philosophy are:
• Belief in the dignity and worth of an individual
• Belief on individual freedom
• Inter-dependency between the individual and the
society
• Collective responsibility
• Recognition of the concept of welfare state
• Belief in democratic values
• Positive Change

12. Goals of Social Work
• Promote social justice to provide equal
opportunities.
• Enhance social responsibility and mutuality, so
that people are collectively responsible for the
type of society they want and are willing to
work towards it.

13. Goals of Social Work
• Develop self-reliance and autonomy so that
people are participated in controlling their life
situation and destiny.
• Remove deficits from the social systems,
which prevent self-actualization and develop
own capacity for self-actualization.

14. Goals of Social Work
• Build the basic structures of society including
the family and the small community where
people’s basic needs are fulfilled.
• Develop knowledge, vanish ignorance and
raise consciousness.
• Maximize people’s growth to a healthy life and
opportunity for preserving it

15. Six Methods of Social Work
• Social Case Work
• Social Group Work
• Community Organisation
• Social Action
• Social Work Research
• Social Welfare Administration

16. Components of Good Practice in
Social Work

17. Scope of Social Work
• The agencies-NGOs, GOs, Other CSO
• The ways-(Methods) CW, GW, CO, SA, SWR,
SWA
• The various types of services (fields of social
work)- to Individuals, families, groups,
communities
• Levels of Social Work: Micro, Mezzo and
Macro

18. Scope of Social Work
• Public Assistant
• Social Security
• Family Welfare Services
• Child Welfare Services
• Youth Welfare Services
• Women Welfare
Services
• Community Welfare
Services
• Labor Welfare Services
• Welfare services for the
Handicapped
• Welfare Services to the
Aged
• School Social Work
• Correctional Services
• Welfare for the Weaker
Sections