The________ emphasizes empowering people and communities to achieve social justice, equality, and overall well-being (________).
philosophy of social work
National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2021
The philosophy of social work emphasizes empowering people and communities to achieve social justice, equality, and overall well-being (National Association of Social Workers [NASW],
2021).
This approach is grounded in a framework of professional values, theoretical knowledge, and essential skills that define the ethical and practical nature of the profession_______). These components ensure that social workers perform their duties with both competence and integrity, especially when serving diverse and often marginalized populations (_______.
Banks, 2012
Healy, 2014)
Social work values act as a moral foundation for practice, highlighting principles such as service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, Integrity, and competence (NASW, 2021). These values help guide practitioners in advocating for equal rights and supporting vulnerable groups (Reamer, 2018). Furthermore, they motivate social workers to actively challenge discrimination and oppression while promoting respect for cultural and individual differences (Payne, 2015). By living out these values, social workers help build a fairer and more compassionate society (Healy, 2014).
The knowledge that informs social work practice includes insights from fields like sociology, psychology, political science, and theories of human behavior to understand individuals within their environments (Thompson, 2016). Social workers need to be informed about human rights, cultural diversity, social systems, and evidence-based interventions to make sound professional decisions (Payne, 2015). Knowledge in social work also involves understanding ethical principles and the necessity of ongoing learning to remain effective in a constantly changing world (Banks, 2012). This comprehensive knowledge base equips professionals to develop plans that empower clients and promote inclusion (Reamer, 2018).
PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
SOCIAL WORK
Components of a Profession:
Values
Knowledge
Skills
Social work skills are the tools that enable practitioners to put their values and knowledge into practice effectively (Healy, 2014). Important skills include communication, critical thinking, empathy, advocacy, problem-solving, and cultural awareness (Thompson, 2016). These skills are essential for building trust with clients, assessing their needs, and implementing meaningful interventions (Payne,
2015). Additionally, social workers often collaborate with other professionals and community members to achieve holistic and lasting outcomes (Banks, 2012).
That worth which man attaches to certain things, systems, or persons within the realm of usefulness, truth, goodness or beauty.
• Formulations of preferred behavior held by individuals or groups… their preference for certain means, ends, conditions in life, which are accompanied by a strong feelings.
• Are actually the source of our attitudes and determine our relationship with others.
Value
refers to what is thought to be, as confirmed by reality.
• Refers to what, in fact, seems to be, established by the higher standards of objectivity and rationality of which man is capable.
• Concerned with facts and information
Knowledge
Crucial to any profession
• Ability, expertness, or proficiency gained from practice and knowledge (dictionary defined)
• Art is often used in place of skill
• Social work practice has been referred to as an ‘art’ with scientific and value foundation
Skill
- refers to one’s ability to apply the knowledge and values of one’s profession in her work with people.
Professional Skill
- encompassing term referring to the body of principles on which are rooted the professional’s attitudes and guides professional conduct or behavior.
“Philosophical Foundation”
- refers to one’s ability to apply the knowledge and values of one’s profession in her work with people.
Professional Skill
SOCIAL WORK GUIDING PRINCIPLES
A. Acceptance
B. Individualization
C. Non-judgmental attitude
D.Purposeful expression of feelings/Controlled emotional Involvement (client and worker)
E. Self-determination
F. Confidentiality
-the starting point of the client-worker relationship
-based on the belief that every human being is born with inherent worth and dignity
-requires that social worker extends unconditional love to those seeking help.- love in this sense means critical love. (“_____”)
Acceptance
agape
basic tenet of social work practice - “no two persons are alike” because each personality is the product of genetics and the environment.
-implies that social worker must be skilled in differential diagnosis.
Individualization
- the worker does not use derogatory labels to identify his clients
Non-judgmental attitude
is purposeful because the worker interposing relevant questions or encouraging observations provides the direction which will enable him to acquire better understanding and more knowledge of the situation.
-enables the social worker to gain deeper insights in the client’s problem
- on the part of the client: enables him to release, express his pent-up feelings
-on the part of the worker: professional non-involvement refers to the social worker’s way of reacting to the client’s purposeful expression of feelings. - implies professional detachment.
Purposeful expression of feelings/Controlled emotional Involvement (client and worker)
- the ability to perceive or respond to the client’s expressed feelings, attitudes or behavior.
sensitivity
refers to the right and need of the client to make his own choices and decisions in the process of receiving help.
- the person’s right to self-determination is limited by his capacity for positive and constructive decision-making, by the framework of civil and moral law, and by the function of the agency.
Self-determination
- the ability to perceive or respond to the client’s expressed feelings, attitudes or behavior.
sensitivity
refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the client which is disclosed in a professional relationship
- secrets include those feelings, events and aspects of a person’s life.
Confidentiality
• Based on the belief than man has worth and dignity.
Implied in the values of Social Work are the following concepts.
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
The concept of human potentials and capacities.
The concept of social responsibility
The concept of equal opportunities
The concept of social provision
• - man can fulfil himself is premised on the belief that he is inherently endowed with potentials and capacities.
The concept of human potentials and capacities
