Social Work as a Profession – BMS Notes
Social workers work in several service areas, including social policy development, youth programmes, disabilities, health, education, and the workplace, as well as community development, child protection, and child and family welfare. In every setting where people and their surroundings are involved, social workers are in high demand. Social workers engage with a wide range of individuals who are affected by various parts of circumstances due to the wide scope of their profession, which encompasses both regular life and very complicated situations.
Most social workers gain specialised knowledge in the fields they work in, such as meeting the social needs of large corporations’ workforces, assisting our nation’s elderly population—who are frequently ignored—assisting local governments in finding more effective solutions to issues like drug and alcohol abuse and crime, and working with neglected or abused children.
All social workers provide assistance to people in “direct” ways, such as through developing, empowering, and changing individuals, families, groups, and communities. Indirect ways include managing organisations that serve people, supervising or counselling other professionals, and conducting research that could advance the field’s understanding of how people interact with society and how to intervene more effectively in challenging situations or when these interactions between people and their environments break down.
The multidisciplinary field of social work
The knowledge foundation of the profession is drawn from Psychology, Sociology, and other relevant subjects in addition to Social Work theory. Specific practise skills are taught throughout training via seminars on skills training and field instruction assignments at different organisations, all under the supervision of social workers with experience.
Getting Registered as a Social Worker
All social workers must register as such with the South African Council for the Social Service Professions, regardless of where they work or the services they provide (SACSSP). One method of guaranteeing a minimal level of professional behaviour for social workers in practise is registration. Enrollment in the Council is mandatory. Social workers are urged to join the professional organisation that speaks with one voice on significant social and professional issues, given that they band together to solve the needs and problems of people in society.
A social worker must act in an ethical manner
The fact that professionals are endowed with legal power and that their activities have an impact on people’s lives may be the most distinctive aspect of professional social work. In order to safeguard individuals against unethical behaviour and power abuse, professionals need to understand fundamental concepts and values about when and how to interfere in people’s lives. Therefore, students must sign the following statement before beginning their fieldwork practicum in their first year of study:
The most crucial guidelines are included in a code of professional behaviour that social workers are required to abide by. Should practitioners fail to adhere to these standards in their profession, they risk sanctions from the South African Council for Social Service Professionals.
The ethical values and principles of social justice, respect for people’s worth, human rights, and dignity, upholding high standards of competence, acting honourably and morally, demonstrating care and concern for others’ well-being, and placing service to others above self-interest are all things that social workers strive for and uphold.
In order to uphold these ideals, social workers must be conscious of their own views toward other people and society and be willing to change.
Social workers endeavour to enhance lives and communities, advocate for social justice, and lessen the suffering of others. When most people think of child welfare and poverty reduction, they think of social workers. That kind of work is done by many social workers, but we do much more.
Social workers were among the most illustrious benefactors in society. Our profession was founded by Jane Addams. Civil rights icons Whitney Young and Dorothy Height served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s secretary of labour, while Frances Perkins was his counterpart. These individuals were all social workers. During some of the most trying moments in our history, they made significant contributions to our society. Today’s social workers follow in the footsteps of these pioneers. They serve as a fantastic model for our dedication to social justice, activism, and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community.
We assist patients in hospitals with both acute ailments and long-term illnesses. Our services include counselling, community health clinics, and assistance in preventing school dropout. We support rehabilitative efforts in drug and alcohol treatment facilities and assist ex-offenders in their reintegration into society.
In nursing homes and homeless shelters, we provide outreach services as well as long-term care. For veterans and service members, we are clinical therapists. And when there is a natural calamity, we are the first to react.
Social workers have positions as lecturers, community activists, and executive directors of charitable organisations. We head corporations and serve in Congress