Chapter Seven: Introduction and Social Workers

Question 1

Why did the view on volunteers change in the 1980s?

Answer 1

Governments cut back social welfare spending.

Question 2

How did the view on volunteers change in the 1980s?

Answer 2

It was assumed volunteers would fill any service gaps that resulted from cuts.

Question 3

What are professional helpers?

Answer 3

They are people who are paid, provide knowledge, have training and relevant experience.

Question 4

What do professional helpers use?

Answer 4

Planned, systematic, measurable, and scientific methods.

Question 5

What are professional helpers guided by?

Answer 5

A specific code of ethics.

Question 6

What are the titles of professional helpers?

Answer 6

Social workers and social service workers

Question 7

What are the titles of non-professional helpers?

Answer 7

Lay helpers, volunteers, self-help groups, family caregivers, peer counselors, friends, and any informal helper.

Question 8

What are non-professional helpers?

Answer 8

They are people who receive little to basic training and are recognized for their natural helping skills.

Question 9

What do care team meetings do for the tension between professional and non-professional helpers?

Answer 9

They bring professionals and non-professionals together.

Question 10

What are care team meetings?

Answer 10

When agency workers form to coordinate services for clients with a variety of needs.

Question 11

Why might someone invite a volunteer, family member, or friend to a care team meeting?

Answer 11

For moral support or practical assistance.

Question 12

How did social workers educate the public about poverty?

Answer 12

Through social reform movements.

Question 13

Who do social workers work alongside?

Answer 13

Psychologists, child-care workers, and guidance counsellors.

Question 14

Social workers make up the _______ in the Canadian social welfare system.

Answer 14

Largest single occupational group.

Question 15

Who do social workers work directly with?

Answer 15

People who are disadvantaged.

Question 16

What do social workers provide?

Answer 16

Input on the development and delivery of income security programs and social services, alongside material aid and counselling.

Question 17

Where are social workers employed?

Answer 17

Hospitals, private practice, religious organizations, voluntary agencies, etc..

Question 18

What are the social workers core values?

Answer 18

Respect for persons, social justice, and service to humanity.

Question 19

What guides professional practice?

Answer 19

Confidentiality, integrity, and competence.

Question 20

Where does knowledge come from for social workers?

Answer 20

The shared experience of workers, individual professional experiences, applied research, and different fields.

Question 21

What does the crossover between different fields and social work provide?

Answer 21

A highly interdisciplinary knowledge base.

Question 22

How many social workers work in healthcare and social service agencies?

Answer 22

More than three-quarters.

Question 23

What is the dominant scope of practice for social workers?

Answer 23

Person-in-environment.

Question 24

What is person-in-environment?

Answer 24

When you look at how external factors can help or hinder individual well-being.

Question 25

What do social workers need to learn about to practice person-in-environment?

Answer 25

Clients’ level of functioning, how external forces can affect that functioning, and how a client interacts with their environment.

Question 26

What skills are required to some degree for most activities involving social workers?

Answer 26

Assessment, intervention, and evaluation.

Question 27

Who is being helped at the micro level?

Answer 27

Individuals, families, and small groups.

Question 28

Who is being helped at the mezzo level?

Answer 28

Social welfare organizations.

Question 29

Who is being helped at the macro level?

Answer 29

Social problems and political issues.

Question 30

What did Anne Westhues find regarding social work education?

Answer 30

Gender and racism are the most covered topics.

Question 31

What topics are increasing in coverage in the classroom?

Answer 31

Sexual orientation, aboriginal issues, and older adults.

Question 32

How have social work educational programs responded to the constant changes in our diverse culture?

Answer 32

Attracting more visible minorities and making changes to the CASW’s code of ethics.

Question 33

What do social workers need to learn to do in terms of their practice?

Answer 33

Address client’s needs, meet demands for services, take social action, and provide effective service.

Question 34

Why might it be difficult for social workers to learn these things in terms of their practice?

Answer 34

Needs are becoming increasingly complex, social welfare services are shrinking, and social problems are more widespread.

Question 35

What is the CASW and what does it do?

Answer 35

A federation that plays a leadership role in advancing the social work profession and creating national standards.

Question 36

How do legislation and regulation limit what social workers can and can not do?

Answer 36

Through social work acts, scope of practice statements, and documents that specify qualifications.

Question 37

How have policies to save money affected social work in terms of healthcare?

Answer 37

Social workers may be supervised by non social workers in healthcare settings because workers from various disciplines are grouped under generic titles.

Question 38

How have policies to save money affected social work in terms of social agencies?

Answer 38

They are hiring more people with fewer credentials or little to no training.

Question 39

Why has the social work identity been redefined over the past couple of years?

Answer 39

The regulation of restricted practice activities: practices that only certain groups or professionals can carry out.

Question 40

What are some challenges for social workers and social service workers?

Answer 40

Work overload, job insecurity, lower pay, fewer benefits, stress and burnout, work-life conflicts, and general dissatisfaction with work.

Question 41

Why are people attracted to this field of work?

Answer 41

People think the work is meaningful, flexible schedules, promotion of teamwork, and dynamic work environments.