THE DEFINITION,

GOALS, SCOPE,
CORE VALUES,
AND PRINCIPLES
OF SOCIAL WORK

AERON CARL
MACEDA
 DEFINITION OF SOCIAL
WORK
– THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SOCIAL SITUATION REQUIRE SOCIAL WORK TO BE
RESPONSIVE. DYNAMIC, AND VISIONARY, THE METHOD OF HELPING AND
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE CIVILIZATION
CAME AND IT GRADUALLY DEVELOP THROUGH TIME AS IT STRIVES TO FIND
MEANING AND RELEVANCE. THERE WERE DEBATES ON THE FUNDAMENTAL
FEATURES OF SOCIAL WORK YET EFFORTS TO DEFINE THE TERM BACAME
DIVISIVE. THE STRUGGLE IN DEFINING SOCIAL WORK HOWEVER DID NOT
PREVENT SOCIALWORK PRACTITIONERS FROM PROVIDING A CLEAR
PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL WORK BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED AS A FRAME OF
REFERENCE IN THE FIELD OF PRACTICE. IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT THAT
SOCIAL WORKERS MUST BE INVOLVED NOT JUST WITH THE PERSONS
EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS BUT ALSO ON THE SOCIETAL FACTORS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM WHICH MAY SHED LIGHT IN APPRECIATING
THE REALMS OF SOCIAL WORK.
– 1) IN HELPING SITUATION, THE SOCIAL WORKER IS CONCERNED WITH
ENABLING OR FACILITATING CHANGE, INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE MAY APPROPRIATELY OCCUR AS PART OF THE SOCIAL
WORK PRACTICE
– 2) THE SOCIAL WORKER IS IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING PEOPLE OR
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS FAMILY, CHANGE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL
FUNCTIONING IT IS NOT TO FOCUS ON THE WHOLE PERSON BUT ON
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
– 3) APPLYING THE SOCIAL SYSTEMS THEORY, SOCIAL WORK BE VIEWED AS
A PROFESSION THAT HELPS PEOPLE INTERACT MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH
THEIR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT THE FOCUS IS PLACED ON THE INTERFACE
OR THE MEETING PLACE OR THE TRANSACTION OF PERSON AND THE
ENVIRONMENT (WILLIAM GORDON, AS CITED BY MORALES AND SHEAFOR,
1983)
– 4) IN HELPING PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS OF IMPROVED SOCIAL
FUNCTIONING THE SOCIAL WORKER MUST HAVE HANDLES IN FORTIFYING
AND SECURING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ATTAIN THE GOALS OF
– Various groups also made an effort to define social work.The national association of social workers
(NASW) in the US defined social work as the professional activity of helping individuals,groups or
communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions
favorable to the goal.
-The united nations of economics social and cultural organization (UNESCO) Considers social work as
a field within human services and a part of services of the government.It considers social work as an
important service to the society focusing on individuals and families in need of help (UNESCO, 2000).
-the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) defines social work as a practice-based and
academic discipline that promotes change and social development.Accordingly,the principle of social
justice,human rights,Collective responsibility,and respect for diversities are vital in the discipline and
in the field of work.
-the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) adheres to the definition of IFSW and
recognizes that social work is a practical profession designed at helping people address their problems
and matching them with the resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION PROMOTES SOCIAL CHANGE,PROBLEM SOLVING IN HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS,AND THE EMPOWERMENT AND LIBERATION OF PEOPLE TO ENHANCE WELL-
BEING. UTILIZING THEORIES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS,SOCIAL WORK
INTERVENES AT THE POINTS WHERE PEOPLE INTERACT WITH THEIR
ENVIRONMENTS.PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE FUNDAMENTALS
TO SOCIAL WORK (IFSW IASSW,2004 AS CITED IN COX AND PAWAR,2006).
-ACCODING TO MORALES AND SHEAFOR (1983),THERE ARE THREE SIGNIFICANT
CHARACTERISTICS IN THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK,NAMELY: (A)FUNDAMENTAL GOALS
OF THE PRACTICE ACTIVITY,(B) SETTINGS WHERE THE PRACTICE OCCURS,AND(C) THE USE
OF A GENERALIST OR SPECIALIST APPROACH BY THE SOCIAL WORKER.THE DISCUSSION
BELOW IS ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK.
-BARKER(1999) AS CITED BY COX AND PAWAR (2006) DESCRIBES SOCIAL WORK AS AN
“APPLIED SCIENCE” OF HELPING PEOPLE ACHIEVE AN EFFECTIVE LEVEL OF PSYCHOSOCIAL
FUNCTIONING AND EFECTING SOCIETAL CHANGES TO ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL
PEOPLE.IN THE PHILIPPINES,MENDOZA (2002) DEFINED SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
WHICH IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERSON”S ADJUSTMENT TO HER\HIS ENVIRONMENT AND
SHE REFERRED THIS AS PERSONS “SOCIAL FUNCTIONING”.
GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK
-THE GOAL ON CARRING
CARING REFERS TO THE HEART OF SOCIAL WORK AND ITS FOCUSSES ON THE WELL-BEING
OR THE WELFARE AND COMFORT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY THE GOAL ON
CARING INVOLVES THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRISONS,THE
UPGRADING AND HUMANIZING SERVICES IN NURSING HOMES AND JUVENILLE
FACILITIES,AND THE CONSTANT ADVANCEMENT OF CARE GIVEN TO POPULATIONS IN NEED.
– THE GOAL ON CURING
CURING REFERS TO THE ASPECT OF TREATING PEOPLE WITH
PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL FUNCTIONING, THIS COVERS A RANGE OF
ALDING TECHNIQUES FOR INDIVIDUALS. FAMILIES, AND GROUPS,
TECHNIQUES COMPOSE OF A POPULAR COUNSELING, APPROACHES
COMPRISING OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS, FAMILY THERAPY,
BHEAVIOR MODIFICATION, REALITY THERAPY, AND GESTALT THERAPY
AND UNPOPULAR APPROACHES SUCH AS ROLFING THERAPY,
PSYCHOMOTOR THERAPY, AND PSYCHODAMA.
– SOCIAL WORK AS A SECONDARY DISIPLINE
SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES, THEY PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SERVE AS LINK TO THE
OUTSIDE WORLD, COMPRISING OF THE FAMILY, POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES
AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICE NETWORK THAT WILL PROVIDE
SUPPORT UPON RELEASE, IN TERMS OF INDUSTRY, SOCIAL WORKERS
ACT AS A SUPPORT TO BOTH THE MANAGERS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF
THE COMPANIES.
 PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
– WORK
SOCIAL WORK IS BASED ON RESPECT FOR INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF ALL
PEOPLE AND IT IS CULTIVATED BY ALTRUISTIC AND DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES,
FRIENDLANDER (1958) AND BIESTEK (1957) AS CITED BY MENDOZA (2002)
INDICATED SEVEN PRINCIPLES ADHERED BY SOCIAL WORKER INCLUDING THE
FOLLOWING
1. ACCEPTANCE-THE INVOLVES RESPECTING THE CLIENTS AS THEY ARE UNDER
ANY CIRCUMTANCES AND UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING AND CAUSES OF CLIENTS
BEHAVIOR.
– 2. CLIENT’S PARTICIPATION IN PROBLEM SOLVING A CLIENT IS MADE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT S\HE IS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
THIS BEGINS IN GATHERING OF INFORMATION THEN IN DEFINING THE NATURE OF
THE PROBLEM.
3. SELF DETERMINATION THE IDEA BEHIND THIS PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE CLIENTS
(INDIVIDUAL, GROUPS, OR COMMUNITIES) WHO ARE IN NEED HAVE THE RIGHT TO
DETERMINE THEIR NEEDS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE MET.
4.INDIVIDUALIZATION THIS INVOLVES RECOGNIZING AND UNDERSTANDING THE
CLIENTS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC
– 5. CONFIDENTIALITY THIS MEANS THAT THE CLIENT SHOULD BE ACCORDED WITH APPROPRIATE
PROTECTION, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW, FROM ANY HARM

- IN TERMS OF YOUTH AND GROUP SERVICES, SOCIAL WORK OFFERS RECREATIONAL AND
EDUCATIONAL
FACILLITIES SUCH AS ‘YMCA’ AND SCOUTING AND SETTLEMENT HOUSES.
OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CRAFTS, SPORTS, CAMPING, FRIENDSHIP GROUPS, DRAMA, MUSIC,
INFORMAL COUNSELING, AND OTHER GROUPS OF PARTICIPATION ARE ALSOPROVIDER.
- IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND RETARDATION, SOCIAL WORK REFERS TO : (a) INITIALLY, THE
INSTITUTIONALIZING OF THE VICTIMS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT IN HOSPITALS; (b) DUE TO
THE INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PATIENT, THE
MOVEMENT TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZE BY BRINGING THEM TO FOSTER HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL CARE
CAME IN FRUITION.
- 6 . WORKER SELF- AWARENESS THIS MEANS THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER IS CONSCIOUS ABOUT
HER/HIS ROLE IN MAKING USE OF HER/HIS PROFFESIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLIENT IN A
WAY THAT WILL ENHANCE THE CLIENT’S DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN HER/HIS OWN. THE SOCIAL
WORKER CONSCIOUSLY EXAMINES HER/HIS FEELINGS, JUDGMENTS, BIASES, RESPONSES WHETHER
THESE ARE PROFESSIONALLY MOTIVATED.
7. CLIENT- WORKER RELATIONSHIP THE PURPOSE OF THE CLIENT-WORKER RELATIONSHIP IS TO HELP
THE CLIENT IN SOME AREA OF HER/HIS SOCIAL FUNCTIONING IN WHICH, AT THE PRESENT, SHE/HE
EXPERIENCING SOME DIFFICULTY, AND WHERE THE WORKER IS IN THE POSITION OF THE OFFER HELP.
 GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK
– THE PRACTICAL MISSION OF SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION IS TO DEVELOP HUMAN BEINGS AND ASSIST OTHER INSTITUTIONS
IN ATTAINING THE BASIC HUMAN NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND IN EMPOWERING THE LOST, THE LEAST, AND THE LAST.
CATALYZING THE MISSION OF THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION ARE THE GOALS OF THE SOCIAL WORK. MORALES AND
SHEAFOR (1983) SPECIFIED THREE (3) DISTINGUISHING GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK NAMELY; CARING, CURING, AND CHANGING.
THESE GOALS ARE OUTLINED AND DESCRIBED BELOW;

1. THE GOAL ON CARING CARING REFERS TO THE HEART OF SOCIAL WORK AND IT FOCUSES ON THE WELL-BEING OR THE
WELFARE AND COMFORT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY. THE GOAL ON CARING INVOLVES THE ENHANCEMENT OF
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRISONS, THE UPGRADING AND HUMANIZING SERVICES IN NURSING HOMES AND JUVENILE
FACILITIES, AND CONSTANT ADVANCEMENT OF CARE GIVEN TO POPULATIONS IN NEED. THE CARING PORTIONS IS
SIGNIFICANTLY NECESSARY IN THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTION OF SOCIAL WORK’S ROLE IN THE SOCIETY. THE NEED FOR THE
CARING FUNCTION INCREASES AND IT IS REALIZED THAT IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL WORK THE CURATIVE FUNCTION IS
INADUQUATE IN OUR GOAL TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION OF PEOPLE IN NEED. IN THE CONTEXT OF A MORE COMPLICATED
AND PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL SITUATION, WE EXPECT AN INCREASED NUMBER OF MORE DISTURBED CLIENTS IN MANY
SOCIAL INSTITUTION WHICH REQUIRE THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE CARING ASPECT OF SERVICES.

2.THE GOAL ON CURING CURING REFERS TO THE ASPECT OF TREATING PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL FUNCTIONING. THIS
COVERS A RANGE OF AIDING TECHNIQUES FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND GROUPS. TECHNIQUE COMPOSE OF ; (a) POPULAR
COUNSELING APPROACHES COMPRISING OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS, FAMILY THERAPY, BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, REALITY
THERAPY, AND GESTALT THERAPY, AND (b) UNPOPULAR APPROACHES SUCH AS ROLFIN THERAPY, PSYCHOMOTOR THERAPY,
AND PSYCHODRAMA. THE ABOVE TECHNIQUES ARE INDIVIDUAL –FOCUSED APPROACHES WHICH MAY NOT AUTHOMATICALLY
PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF HELPING CLIENTS TOWARD SOCIAL FUNCTIONING. IT IS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE THE
PARTICIPATION OF THE CLIENTS IN THE HELPING PROCESS AND CREATE AN APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

3.THE GOAL ON CHANGING

- CHANGING REFERS TO THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOCIAL REFORMS. THIS GOALCOME
FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT THERE IS A PERSISTENCE OF POVERTY, ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES
ADD IN THE WORSENING OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
 SCOPE OF SOCIAL WORK
– ADOPTION AND SERVICES TO UNMARRIED PARENTS, FOSTER CARE,
RESIDENTIAL CARE, SUPPORT IN OWN HOME, AND PROTECTIVE SERVICESTHE
WIDE RANGES OF HUMAN PROBLEMS CREATE A WIDENED SCOPE AND FIELD OF
SOCIAL WORK. THE SCOPE OF SOCIAL WORK INCLUDES CHILD DEVELOPMENT,
MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK, CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK, ADMINISTRATIVE AND
MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL WORK, INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK, SOCIAL WORK
IN ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, AND SOCIAL WORK AS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER (LISHMAN ET AL… 2014)
MORALES AND SHEAFOR (1983)INDENTIFIED AND DESCRIBED THE FIELDS
INCLUDED IN THE ARE OF SOCIAL WORK, WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. SOCIAL WORK AS A PRIMARY DISCIPLINE
– IN TERMS OF CHILD WELFARE, SOCIAL WORK OFFERS ,