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Course Title: SOCIAL WORK
ADP 1st Semester
Lecturer Irsa Javeed
Note: This course outline to be taught as general course in other disciplines
Introduction:
This course is to provide basic knowledge about social work profession. It includes concept of social
work in relation to Islamic values and guides about scope of the profession. It also tells about primary
methods and specific principles applied in those methods during problem solving processes.
Learning Outcomes:
The objective of this course is to acquaint and familiarize students with the basic concepts and, scope of
Social work. It also equip students with basic knowledge of problem solving at individual, group and
community level through use of specific methods and techniques.
CONTENTS:
1. Concept and definition of social work
2. Social work as profession
3. Scope of social work
4. Islamic Values and social work
5. Historical background of social work
6. Social case work as method of social work
7. Stages of social case work
Mid Term Examination
9. Principles of social case work
10. Social group work as method of social work
11. Types of groups, stages of group development
12. Principles of social group work
13. Community development and stages of community development
14. Principles of community development
15. Secondary methods of social work
Final Term Examination RECOMMENDED READINGS
1. Ambrosino, R. (2005). Social work and social welfare introduction, Mexi: Thomson
2. Bogo, M. (2007). Social work practice. New Dehli: Rawat Publications. 3. Catherine N. D. & Karen MS.
(2012). Social Work Fields of Practice. Canada: John Wiley & Sons.
4. Gautam, P.R. & Singh, R.S. (2011), Principles and practices of Social Work, New Delhi: Balaji Offset. 5.
Hepworth, D. H. & Rooney, R. (2010). The Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and skills Belmont: Brook
cole.
6. Jane M. & Ronnie, E. (2006). Practice Skills in Social Work & Welfare. Chennai India: Allen& Unwin.
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Social Work
Social work is a helping profession that fundamentally and radically aims to assist individuals, groups,
and communities in coping with their complex socio-economic and psychological problems by enabling
themselves to solve their problems by helping themselves.
Social work provides service for the problematic person just like the following: Every profession has its
knowledge and practice based on which the professionals of that profession engage them in human
service and based on their expertise and educational activities. In the same way, social workers have to
practice social work based on social work educational activities.
Scholarly definition of Social Work by different authors
The current definition is given by Social Scientists Skidmore & Thackeray. They said, “Social Work may be
defined as an art, a science, a profession that helps people solve personal, group and community
problems and attain satisfying personal, group and community relationships through social work
practice, including casework and community organization, administration and research.”
According to W.A. Friedlander said, “Social work is a professional service based upon scientific
knowledge and skill in human relations, which assists individuals alone or in groups to obtain social and
personal satisfaction and independence.
According to NASW, The professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or
restore their social functioning capacity and create societal conditions favorable to this goal.
The following definition was approved by the IFSW (International Federation of Social Workers) General
Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014: “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 diversity are central to social work. Underpinned by social work theories,
social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to
address life challenges and enhance well-being; social work is a professional and academic discipline
that seeks to improve the quality of life and subjective well-being of individuals, families, couples,
groups, and communities through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, crisis
intervention, and teaching for the benefit of those affected by social disadvantages such as poverty,
mental and physical illness or disability, and social injustice, including violations of their civil liberties and
human rights. The profession is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and the well-being of oppressed
and marginalized individuals and communities.
Levels of Social Work
Generally, there are three levels of social work practice: micro, mezzo and macro social work. At each
level, social work professionals provide slightly different services to target populations.
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Micro Social Work: At the micro level, social workers provide one-on-one, family and small-group
services to individuals addressing a wide range of social issues. These may include housing support,
substance abuse counseling and mental health therapy.
Mezzo Social Work: Social workers who operate at the mezzo level work with groups of people, such as
in a school, prison, hospital or neighborhoods. They may help students struggling academically, address
substance abuse recovery with prison inmates or help coordinate care for patients who are admitted to
hospitals for long-term care.
Macro Social Work: Macro-level social work encompasses policy making, research and community based
initiatives. Social workers at this level of practice are more likely to focus on and help address larger
societal issues like homelessness, substance abuse, housing and more.
Nature/Features of Social Work
Social work is the helping profession. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance
human well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of all people, with a particular focus on those
who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.
There are five (5) distinct features of social work such as.
1) Social Work is a commitment to social betterment.
2) A goal of enhancing social function
3) An action orientation
4) An application to diversity
5) A versatile practice perspective
Aims and Objectives of Social Work
There are five (5) distinct objectives of social work such as.
1) To promote an effective & human service system
2) To enhance problem-solving, coping & development capacities,
3) To link people with resources, services & opportunities,
4) To develop & improve social policy
5) Caring, curing & changing society
Basic/Primary Methods of Social Work
The primary methods are also called direct helping methods. Here, the social worker intervenes directly
with the client(s) who need the professional services of a social worker at the individual, group and
community level. Primary means basic to something, or before all others. These are Social casework,
Social group work and community organization.
a) Social Casework
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b) Social Group Work
c) Community Organization
2.Auxiliary/Auxiliary Methods of Social Work
These are those methods that are intended to support the primary techniques. Here, the social worker
indirectly deals with the client’s problem.
a) Social Welfare Administration
b) Social Work Research
c) Social Action
Historical Development of Social Work
Social work has developed through centuries like any other discipline. This discipline attained a
professional status very recently. It was developed through the practice of charity, social service,
welfare measures, etc. Here we can go through the evolution of social work in the United Kingdom (UK),
the United of America (USA) and in India.
1. The evolution of social work in the United Kingdom
The need to help other people is stressed by the major religions. During the Elizabethan period the
needy people were helped by the authorities. Such charity works are called 'relief of the paupers'. The
Victorian reformers who were distressed by poverty, child neglect and other social ills were pioneers in
many of today's social welfare services, although they too had called such services by various other
names such as organized charity or philanthropic work or 'relief of destitution. The history of social work
in the UK had gone through various phases
a) A.D 1200 to 1500
From the beginning of religion the priests assumed leadership in providing protection for the helpless
widows, orphans and the sick. Charity was promoted primarily by the desire to receive the grace of God
to secure the merits of good deeds for eternal life. In the beginning of the 14th century the poor were
divided into two categories; able-bodied and destitute.
b. A.D 1501 to 1600
Citizens were discouraged from giving alms to the able-bodied beggars. In 1531 Henry VI issued license
for begging in restricted areas, punishment was given to those who violated the law-In 1572, Queen
Elizabeth introduced general tax for the protection of the poor and appointed overseers of the poor.
Thus the government was held responsible for the maintenance of the poor.
The church, especially monasteries played the role of relief centers to the destitute and the disabled.
Alms were collected and distributed by the parish and other clergymen who knew the individual and his
situation. The churches did not make any effort to provide any permanent remedy for improving the
conditions of the poor. Later the responsibility was shifted from the church to the Government.
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C. A.D 1600 to 1800
Elizabethan Poor Law introduced in 1601 was a landmark in the history of organized social welfare. This
law ensured many relief provisions for the eligible poor. The law also insisted the able bodied beggars to
work in 'work houses'. The poor were divided into three categories: able bodied, impotent poor and the
dependent child. The overseers of the poor were responsible for the execution of the poor law. They
verified eligibility and selected the applicants. The work house act passed in 1692 made provisions for
the training of the inmates of work houses.
The table given below shows the classification of poor based on Elizabethan Poor
Abled Bodied Poor
to receive alms.
Forced to work in the house of corrections or in the work house, not eligible
Impotent Poor Unable to work and placed in alms houses (sick. old, blind, deaf etc.)
Dependent Child
Orphans, the deserted, children from very poor families.
SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
In recent years, there has been fact that tackling social problems and helping individuals in the present
society demand special knowledge, and skills in addition to personal qualities of sympathy, understanding
and self sacrifice. The necessary knowledge and skills can be obtained through training. Also, it is
considered that since the work of helping people is an essential social function and social workers should
be paid for their services Generally medicine, law and technology are known professions and in these
categories social work also has established its relevance and has all the features required for a profession
But there is a debate about calling social work as a profession. It seems, therefore, essential to define and
explain 'profession
Meaning of profession:
A profession is an which requires a higher educational qualification, degree. diploma or certificate.
Sometimes, it is taken as an occupation involving some ethics for working. A profession keeps a body of
knowledge and skills, an area of operation, a code of ethics, and a certain degree of organization among
the members of the profession Miller son discussed following traits in a profession which he has found
from other twenty one (21) writers:
•
•
•
•
•
Skills based on theoretical knowledge.
Provision of training and occupation.
Tests of the competence of members • Organization.
Devotion to professional code of conduct
Altruistic Service.
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