Social Work - Values and goals

Anoma Jayawardena

The government and other organizations have implemented various kinds of programs to increase human development of the people who are in the IDP Camps in the North and East. Already the government is resettling the refugees. Due to this situation the Sri Lankan government has to protect and care about the people in the country.

Further government is expecting to improve people’s welfare efforts, especially on the part of government and institutions, to ensure that the physical, social, and financial conditions under which people live are satisfactorily. According to this situation, social work will be useful for governmental and nongovernmental sectors for the development of the people. Therefore this article attempts to give an idea as to how social work can help in this situation.

What is Social Work?

Social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people to enhance the capacity of people to

 address their own needs promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of

* Individual

* Family

* Group

* Community

Organization and communication to promotes the responsiveness of organization communities and other Institute to interact needs and social problem group is useful unit in the society.

Social Work is very difficult to difficult to define why its related every area and broad field but international Association of social work has a define that academic and practitioners of social work have been working together.

Its define social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationship and empowerments and liberation people to enhance well-being, make the most of theories of human behaviour and social system and also get involved at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are elemental to social work became we clarify

Social work is a profession that can challenge you and help you to make a difference for others.

Its goal is to improve the overall functioning and well-being of all people.

Societal Why necessary of the social work

Social work is a form of social intervention which encourages social interventions to response to individual needs, enabling individuals to use their resource and in turn to contribute to them. It holds that the capacity and dignity of the individual are enhanced by participation in the life of the community.

To achieve this end, it contributes to adjustment in the distributions of power and resources and attempts to help people, whether as individuals or groups, to have sufficient control over their lives to increase their opportunities for personal choice and self-realization.

This is definition produced by CCETSW 1975. Why they are explaining like that, why this professions is necessary to the persons in the societies and communities, its functioning and creating societal conditions favourable to that goal.

And social work practice consist in the professional application of social work values, principle and techniques to one or more of following ends; helping people obtain tangible service; counselling and psychotherapy with individuals, families and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health service and participating in relevant legislative processes.

Social work is purposefully and ethical application of personal skills and interpersonal relationship towards enhancing the personal social functioning with family groups.

Social Work Goals. The four major goals of the social work profession include:

* enhancing the lives of individuals, groups, families, and communities;

* preventing, resolving, or minimizing human problems;

* planning, formulating, and implementing social policies, services, resources, and programs needed to meet basic human needs and support the development of human capacities; and

* Identifying and eliminating social and economic injustices.

Social workers have a special concern for the poor, the marginalized, and the vulnerable.

Social Work with People.

Social workers work with people in various social configurations:

* Individuals

* Groups

* Families

* Communities

* Organizations

Social work is both an art and science.

A past student explained it this way, “to be a social worker is to be like an artist with the right strokes on a canvas and like a scientist with the correct formula for reaching out and providing what is needed for others.”

Where do Social Workers Practice?

Almost every where

Social workers can be found in

They practice as school social workers, mental health counsellors, community planners, administrators, child protective service workers, advocates. Wherever there are people, there are social workers to be found.

They are in hospitals, working everywhere from the obstetrics unit to intensive care. There are social workers in the schools, helping children, teachers, and parents cope with a variety of problems.

They work in mental health clinics and in psychiatric hospitals.

There are social workers in the public agencies, from the employment office to the social services unit. Every private family service agency has social workers helping with everything from counselling to finding housing or transportation.

Social workers are deeply involved in child welfare, providing essential foster care and adoption services.

They are increasingly in the work place, helping employees solve personal problems and employers resolve personnel problems.

There are social workers in the universities, teaching and doing research.

There are social workers helping the elderly and helping military.

Unique Features of Social Work

* Utilizes a liberal arts foundation

* Builds on its specialized knowledge base

* Is directed by a Code of Ethics & Core Values

* Has a holistic view of human problems and strengths, using methods to help individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

* Values the dignity and worth of every person

* Uses hands-on experience through Field Placements (internships)

* Has a dual perspective: the person and the impact of the environment.

What are the values of Social Work

Service: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.

Social Justice: Social workers challenge social injustice.

Dignity and Worth of the Person: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.

Importance of Human Relationship: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.

Competence: Social workers practice within their areas of competence, and develop and enhance their professional expertise.

Social Workers help Individuals and families at every age.

They may implement counselling or help someone who is grieving over the loss of a loved one or anything in-between.

Social Work Issues. They work with different issues confronting people such as:

* domestic violence

* substance abuse

* mental and health challenges (such as schizophrenia, depression, cancer and diabetes)

* adjustments to life transitions (such as divorce and unemployment)

* experiences with traumatic events (such as rape, child sexual abuse, and the aftermath of natural or manmade disasters) Social worker is a profession for those with a strong desire to help people lives to function the best way they can in their environment.

Social workers profession is to enhance human well- being and help meet the basic human needs of people; to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs; promote social justice and social change.

Other types of social workers include social work planning and policy makers.

The writer is a Social Worker - Women In Need

References data from Internet)