Social services and social work:
Is there a difference?
Priscilla Welikala
It is important to identify the difference between social services
and Social Work as Social Work is accepted as a Profession in many
countries, though it is not so in Sri Lanka yet. However great strides
are being taken in the Field of Social Work Education to conduct
professional courses from the Diploma, Bachelors and the Masters level
by the National Institute of Social Development which has been declared
a degree granting Institute.
The question arises as to whether sufficient awareness has been
created at higher levels as to the importance of Social Work Education
and the contributions professionally trained persons could make in the
field of social development. This lack of awareness has prompted many to
continue to look at working with people as a social service activity
where no training is necessary.
People attending to social service |
Social services are as old as civilization. It dates back as far as
human beings showed concern for each others welfare and this was
associated with the care and welfare of the unfortunate or those who
lacked even the basic necessities of life. It is also considered a
meritorious act which will ensure to the giver a better life after
death. In addition to merit it gives social recognition and publicity
and also helps a category of individuals to keep themselves gainfully
occupied in a merit giving activity.
There are many volunteers in the field of social services and a very
good example is seen in the Boards of Management in almost all the
Voluntary residential Children’s Homes. They are dedicated individuals
who spend quite sometime in this service and also find the necessary
finances and other material needs for the use of children to supplement
what they get from the government.
Though volunteerism has been accepted for ages, now the time has come
to view this in the light of the Social Work Profession, as any human
being is a resource whose potentials must be maximized.
Social Work as a Profession focuses on “releasing human power” in
individuals and enabling them to become self reliant and contributing
members of society. This view is very different to just helping and
meeting material needs as very often done in Social Services as against
Social Work which views “Helping people to Help themselves.” This means
quite a lot. People must be helped in a professional way to enhance
their potentials to be able to help themselves.
In order to do this trained social workers work with people in ways
that strengthen their competencies, link them with needed resources and
intervene in promoting environmental changes to meet the needs of
people. This involves social work education and training which goes to
prepare social work professionals in the field of social work. Social
work has the attributes of a Profession.
They are (1). Systematic body of knowledge and theory (2).
Professional. Authority (3). Sanction of the Community (4). Regulative
code of Ethics (5). A Professional sub culture. As explained by T Legatt
in an article “Teaching as a Profession” he has explained the
characteristics of a Profession thus:
1. Practice is founded upon a base of theoretical, esoteric knowledge
2. The acquisition of knowledge requires a long period of education
and socialization
3. Practitioners are motivated by an ideal of altruistic service
rather than the pursuit of material and economic gain
4. Careful control is exercised over recruitment, training,
certification and standards of practice
5. The colleague group is well organized and has disciplinary powers
to enforce on code of ethical practice.
In countries where social work is accepted as a profession, a licence
to practice is a requirement. It is new as a Profession and it is more a
product of the twentieth century. It is a practice profession guided by
its principles and values and gives a prime place to the worth and
dignity of all human beings. Social Workers strongly believes that all
people have a right to be respected irrespective of class, caste or any
ethnic group and this helps in building trust and confidence which leads
to a professional relationship. This relationship helps to guide
individuals to effect positive changes to become self reliant and lead
an acceptable quality of life in society.
This difference in view between Social Services and Social Work must
be acknowledged and accepted and action has to be taken to effect a
paradigm shift to enable volunteers in the field without social work
education and training to look at their services from a different
perspective. Policy changes must be effected to give the due place to
trained Social workers for other wise the resources utilized in
preparing qualified social workers will be wasted. In Sri Lanka
Professional training in the field of Social Work started in the 1950s
as the Institute of Social Work and now it is time that action is taken
to show its impact and the positive contributions it can make towards
the development activities of the country.
The Social Work Profession has very close affiliations to the Mahinda
Chinthanaya which is an important policy guide for all activities
concerning people. It emphasizes the importance of serving people and
treating the people with respect and upholding their worth and dignity.
The Social Work Profession too upholds these views about people. Unlike
other professionals who look at individuals that come within their
particular area of expertise, a social worker is expected to look at the
totality of the person keeping in mind the person-in- environment
concept.
Understanding the multifaceted nature of the problems faced
interventions are made at micro, Mezzo and macro levels to enable the
individual to understand the situation and enhance ones own capacities
to be able to help oneself. A change in the attitudes of people are very
necessary to help them to look at themselves in a more positive way and
to maximize their own potentials instead of depending on dole outs to
maintain themselves. It is important to value the resources within ones
reach and in the environment and what contributions they can make to
enhance their standard of living. Infra structure development is
important but that alone is not sufficient if people fail to take
ownership to sustain and maintain them. In this area of working with
people the social work Profession can make great contributions and this
resource which is available must be maximized.
While understanding the difference between Social Services and Social
Work as a Profession, those working as Volunteers offering social
services must be given an orientation to social work principles and
values to help them to view social services from a different
perspective. At the same time it is important to effect positive changes
at policy level to give its due place to social work professionals who
can make a positive contribution towards people’s development. |