Introduction to Social Work
What is 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
 Social work may be defined as an art, a science, and a profession that helps
people solve personal, group (especially family), and community problem and
attain satisfying personal, group, and community relationships through social
work practice
Name Principles of Social Work?
 social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities
Why do we term social work as an art, professional and science at the same time?
 Social work is an art; it requires great skills to understand people and to help
them to help themselves
 It is a science because of its problem-solving method and its attempt to be
objective in ascertaining facts and in developing principles and operational
concepts
 It is a profession because it encompasses the attributes of a profession
what are distinguishing characteristics of social work
 Focus is on the wholeness and totality of the person
 Emphasis is on the importance of the family in molding and influencing behavior
 Utilization of community resources in helping people solve problems is very
important
 Use of the supervisory process provides for guidance and direction of
inexperienced workers and for continuing growth of the experienced
 Social work has a unique educational program involving classwork and practical
field work experience, which go hand in hand
 Social work has distinctive professional bodies: the NASW and the CSWE
 The relationship is the key in the social work process
 The term social in social work emphasizes stress on social interaction and
resultant social functioning and malfunctioning
Name three traditional processes of social work?
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o
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Clinical work - involves a close, face-to-face relationship mainly on an
individual-to-individual basis in working with people and their problems.
Group work - utilizes the group as the tool to bring about desired changes
in social functioning with troubled persons.
Community organization - is the intergroup approach toward facing and
solving social pathologies. It aims to increase understanding of community
needs and helps provide for them. Social workers often play an advocate
role to strengthen and improve community resources and bring desired
social changes.
Name international professional bodies/institution the deals with social work
 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was established in 1955 - This
organization is doing much to raise the standards of social work practice, recruit
qualified persons for professional training, and interpret practice and values of
social work to the public.
 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) was established in 1952 - Is
responsible in helping improve training facilities, standards, and programs as
well as helping with recruitment, public relations, and strengthening social work
practice.
Name local professional bodies/ institution the deals with social work
 Association of Schools of Social Work in Tanzania –(ASSWOT) - Regulates the
social work education in Tanzania
 Tanzania Association of Social Workers (TASWO) - TASWO is a Professional
organization of Social Workers legally registered by government in 1982.
What is Social Work Practice
 Social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values,
principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends:
o helping people obtain tangible services;
o counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups;
o helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health
services; and
o participating in legislative processes
Which Knowledge Social Work Practice need
 human development and behavior; social, economic, and cultural institutions;
and of the interaction of all these factors
Who is a Social Worker?
 Social workers are professionals who aim to enhance overall well-being and
help meet basic and complex needs of communities and people. OR
 A social worker is a professional who helps individuals and families improve their
quality of life by ensuring access to basic needs such as food, shelter and safety.
They work to achieve better lives for their clients by analyzing the environment,
relationships, systems and policies that impact their clients' lives
 Social workers meet with clients and build relationships based on trust and
compassion. They identify the issues their clients are facing and implement
solutions such as physical relocation, therapy, coordinating medical treatment
and assisting with employment.
What are common challenges that social workers help client with?
– poverty,
– mental illness,
– abuse,
– addiction
– unemployment,
– and trauma.
Where do social workers work?
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Schools
Hospitals
Mental health clinics
Senior centers
Prisons
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–
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Military
Corporations
Public
and
agencies
Private practices
private
Who is a client in social work?
 Is a person who is receiving the benefits, services, etc., of a social welfare agency,
a government bureau, etc. OR
 Is 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”
Name types of clients in social work
 Voluntary clients are those who freely choose to participate in social work
services
 Involuntary clients are those who have been pressured or even forced into
services by others who have power over them.
What are Functions of Social Work?
1. Restoration of social functioning - subdivided into curative and
rehabilitative aspects. The curative aspects are to eliminate environmental
factors that have caused break down of social functioning of individuals,
groups or communities and the role of the rehabilitative aspects is to
recognize and rebuild interaction patterns in the society. Rehabilitative to recognize and rebuild interaction patterns in the society
2. Provision of resources - subdivided into developmental and
educational. developmental aspects are designed to extend effectiveness of
existing social, human and material resources or to bring about full
utilization personal capacity for more social interaction. educational
functions are designed to make the public aware about specific conditions
and needs for new and changing resources and approaches
3. Prevention of social dysfunction - involves early detection, control
and elimination of conditions and situations that could obstruct effective
social functioning. The main two divisions are preventions of problems in
the area of human interaction (individuals and groups) and secondly,
prevention of social ills. For this function the social workers play a crucial
role of capacity building and organizing people so that they themselves can
prevent social dysfunctions