Amity University

Define social work and make an appraisal of what social

work is trying to achieve in the global and Indian context?

Submitted by
Sakshi R Varshney (A1320216016)
Department name: Amity University of Social Science
Course: Masters in Social Work

Submitted toDr Satendra Raghbore

Dated September 21,2016

Table
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of

content

Introduction

History

What social is work?

Field of Practice for Professional Social Workers

5
6

Designations enjoyed by Social Work Professionals in different employment

sectors
7

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction
Social work is a discipline within human services. Its main goal is to assist
individuals and families with their needs and solve their problems using a
multidiscipline approach. In order to be effective, social workers work closely with
many agencies and professionals.
Social work is usually a part of the Human Services Department of a government. It
serves as a link between the governments clients and other government resources,
such as: manpower training leading to employment, welfare payments towards
financial assistance, legal consultation in dealing with legal problems, food and
water relief at times of drought, famine and war, etc.
As a social worker, we will also work closely with medical professionals in order to
provide medical care for clients; with school personnel to identify children who are
in need of help, and with counsellors and psychologists in order to provide
psychological counselling. Today the problems faced by individuals and families are
often complicated, and assistance from many agencies is needed.
As a social worker, you will also work closely with medical professionals in order to
provide medical care for clients; with school personnel to identify children who are
in need of help, and with counsellors and psychologists in order to provide
psychological counselling. Today the problems faced by individuals and families are
often complicated, and assistance from many agencies is needed. Social work
provides an important service to society. Individuals and families in need of help are
the focus of it, and are referred to as clients. As social workers, our goal is to help
clients live a productive life in their own community. In order to reach this goal, we
often enlist the assistance of family members, relatives, local religious leaders,
tribal leaders and elders, and other influential members of the community. Although
institutionalization may be necessary at times, it is a temporary solution. The goal is
to help clients return to normal life in a natural setting.
Today, social workers are not only the bridge linking clients to other helpers, they
also provide their clients with hope, and encourage their first steps towards a new
life. Social workers usually stand in the front line, and reach out to the clients soon
after problems occur. They provide an initial assessment of the situation and
mobilize other needed services.
Social work uses a team approach and is multi-disciplined. Its goal is to provide a
service to those who need help, especially the old, young, poor, abused, mistreated,
handicapped, jobless, the sick and the homeless. Its approach is to use available
resources to solve problems in order to empower clients to help themselves in the
long term

History
Social work has developed through centuries like any other discipline. This discipline
attained a professional status very recently. It was developed through the practice
of charity, social service, welfare measures, etc. Here we can go through the
evolution of social work in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America
(USA) and in India.
Formation of Charity Organization Societies The formation of charity organization
society was an important milestone in the development of charity programmer.
London Charity Organization Society was the first such organization formed in the
year 1869. They undertook the following strategies to help the needy effectively.

stopped giving doles.

coordinated the distribution of relief.
verified each application carefully.
conducted interviews to assess the genuineness of the applicants.
formulated plans for the treatments.

The practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern and scientific
origin, and is generally considered to have developed out of three strands.
1. Individual casework, a strategy pioneered by the Charity Organization
Society in the mid-19th century.
2. Social administration, which included various forms of poverty relief- 'relief of
paupers'. Statewide poverty relief could be said to have its roots in the
English Poor Laws of the 17th century, but was first systematized through the
efforts of the Charity Organization Society.
Social action rather than engaging in the resolution of immediate individual
requirements, the emphasis was placed on political action working through the
community and the group to improve their social conditions and thereby alleviate
poverty. This approach was developed originally by the settlement
house movement

Social Work Through the Ages

For centuries, churches and other religious organizations had taken up the cause of
helping the less fortunate through alms houses, orphanages, burials and caring for
the sick. Historically, the defined profession of social work is relatively new. In the
United States, it began during the late nineteenth century. Large numbers of

immigrants coming to this country ended up living in tenement housing in large

cities. Their lives were desperate and often in danger.

What is social work?

Definitions:
Social Work includes all voluntary attempts to extend benefits in response to needs
which are concerned with social relationship and which avail themselves of scientific
knowledge and methods. given by Cheyney Alice (1526)
Social work is a form of professional service comprising a composite of knowledge
and skills, parts of which are and of which are not distinctive of social work, which
attempts on one hand to help the individuals satisfy their need in the social milieu
and on the other to remove as far as possible the barriers witch obstruct people
from achieving the best of which they are capable. Given by Clarke (1947)
Social work is a welfare activity based on humanitarian philosophy, scientific
knowledge and technical skill for helping individuals or community, to live a rich and
full life given by Indian Conference of Social Work (1957)
Social Work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or
communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating
societal conditions favorable to this goal. Social Work practice consists of the
professional application of Social Work values, principles, and techniques to one or
more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; counselling and
psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or
groups provide or improve processes. The practice of Social Work requires
knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic, and cultural
institutions; and of the interactions of all these factors given by National
Association of Social Work

What is the nature of good practice? For example, is helping a client obtain her
pittance from welfare or overturning the system to demand fair treatment for all
good practice? Philosophy of science is developed largely in academic settings to
address a variety of complex ideas, not people or things as such. This separation is
unfortunate, because social work has much to learn about its scientific bases and
how these influence its practice and its evaluation choices; and philosophy of
science may benefit by the posing of new kinds of socially useful questions

involving living people, semi-living organizations, and comatose nations., while at

the same time providing others with coverage in depth on these same topics.

What is my personal philosophy of social work?

My philosophy of social work has something to do with systems theory, person-inenvironment, and professional and personal ethics.
Being a student, my philosophy would include a discussion about issues associated
with power differentials and empowerment. These are always a part of my thought
processes and weigh heavily in how I interpret the dynamics of human interactions.

Social workers attempt to relieve and prevent hardship and suffering.

They have a responsibility to help individuals, families, groups and
communities through the provision and operation of appropriate services
and by contributing to social planning. They work with, on behalf of, or in
the interests of people to enable them to deal with personal and social
difficulties and obtain essential resources and services. Their work may
include, but is not limited to, interpersonal practice, group work,
community work, social development, social action, policy development,
research, social work education and supervisory and managerial functions
in these fields. The field of practice for professional Social Worker is
expanding day by day.

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in

human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to
enhance wellbeing. utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems,
social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their
environments. To impart education and training in professional social work in
order to provide manpower in social welfare, development and allied fields.

To help students develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and values appropriate

to the practices of social work profession

To enable students, develop critical thinking and ability to apply theoretical

knowledge in practice of social work.

To facilitate interdisciplinary approach for better understanding of social

problems and issues of development.

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human
relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance wellbeing.
utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at
the points where people interact with their environments.

Field of Practice for Professional Social Workers

Addiction / Substance Abuse
Child Welfare
Clinical / Mental Health
Correctional Institutions/ Prisons
Child Protection Services
Elderly Care
Family Welfare and Planning
Human Resource Management
Medical Social Work
Mental Health
Mental Retardation
Management of Social Services
Mother & Child Health
Policy & Planning Services
Poverty eradication
People with Special Needs etc.
Social Work as profession in India has already passed its infancy long back and in
the last few decades it has emerged as one of the most demanding profession in
India. In India a person holding a Bachelor (BSW) or Master (M.A in Social
Work/MSW) degree in Social Work is generally considered a professional social
worker. As far as Indian scenario is concerned professional social workers can be
found in direct practice in administrative, management and policy planning
positions in various Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as
well as in government ministries. Both Governmental and Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) have a lot to offer, if you are willing to work hard and in any

given conditions. International organizations too are socially aware and hence a
number of opportunities are available in international social work. Industrial and
commercial units too are looking to hire social workers. A degree or diploma in
Social Work is creating large number opportunities for the millions of Indian youth in
various sectors.

7
Designations enjoyed by Social Work Professionals in different
employment sectors
Governmental Sector
Lecturer/Professor
Director
Research Officer/Researcher
Welfare/Development Officer (like Child/Youth/Women/Labor etc.)
Community Development Officer
Jail Probationary/Welfare Officer
Urban Planners etc.
Non-Governmental Sector
Project Director
Program Director
Program Officer
Program Coordinator
Assistant Coordinator
Program Manager
Block/District/State/Zonal/Regional Coordinator
Counselor
Social Scientist
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Research Officer/Researcher
MIS Coordinator
Area Manager
Fund Raiser

Social Worker
Supervisor
Resource Mobiliser
Training Coordinator
Development Professional
Consultant etc.

Conclusion

Professional social workers are found in every facet of community lifein old age
homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, prisons, corporations
and in numerous public and private agencies that serve individuals and families in
need. Social work is not just about doing good deeds and helping the underprivileged. Over a period of time, it has evolved into a profession. Correctly it is not
a conventional career. But with issues of disability, drug misuse, poverty, mental ill
health, problems associated with aging etc. rising constantly, social work has
become a vital need of our society today. If we are willing to take up a profession for
emotional fulfillment and if our purpose of working is not just financial, this would
be the ideal career for us.

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Bibliography

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work

2. http://www.unesco.org/education/mebam/module_3.pdf

3. https://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/Social-Work-Assorted-Definitons/pdf?
dl&preview