TERM PAPER
(Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social
Sciences)
Submitted by:
Athea S. Lecaros
12 HUMSS-A
Submitted to:
Ms. Larissa M. Faustino
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?
Social work is both an academic and a professional field. Social work is a discipline that teaches the
theory, techniques, and practice of the profession. Social work, like many other social science
disciplines, investigates human behavior in a social setting. Individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities can be served by social workers in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals,
mental health clinics, domestic violence shelters, senior centers, elected offices, private practice,
advocacy organizations, and a variety of other public and private agencies. The ultimate purpose of
social work is to improve people's well-being and level of functioning, as well as to bring about good
social change through changing social conditions and developing more compassionate practices and
policies for vulnerable groups.
There are three goals of social work, the goal of caring, curing and changing.
The goal of caring The goal of curing The goal of changing
Scope of social work
• Child development/ child welfare
• Medical social work
• Clinical social work
• Administrative and management
• International social work
• Social work in acute psychiatric hospital
• Social work as community organizer
Principles are declarations of what to do and what not to do in order to achieve the best results while
conducting social work. They serve as reference points for professionals performing fieldwork.
There are seven principles adhered by the social workers:
1. Acceptance- In order to achieve the optimum results, both the client and the social work practitioner
must accept each other. The client must accept the worker because the worker is assisting the client in
overcoming his or her problem condition.
2. Individualization- At the foundation of social work practice is a belief in the uniqueness of the
individual and his or her intrinsic value. Each individual's nature is capable of integrating and directing its
own forces in a manner distinct from that of any other individual's nature.
3. Confidentiality- This principle serves as a solid foundation for the appropriate application of social
work intervention. It contributes to the development of a solid worker-client relationship.
4. Self-determination- It emphasizes that the social worker should not force decisions or solutions on
the client merely because he or she has sought assistance from him or her.
5. Workers self-awareness- Enhancing the social workers’ self-awareness, would develop a better
understanding of how their thoughts towards certain issues including corporal punishment, came about.
6. Client's participation in problem-solving- Client participation is both a value and a strategy in social
work, involving clients in decisions influencing their lives.
7. Client-Worker Relationship- When working with clients, a major skill that social workers must utilize
in facilitating the client's growth or change process is to earn their trust, confidence, and respect.
Core Values in Social Work
Professional ethics are rooted in the heart of social work. Core values have ethical requirements each
social worker should strive to follow. These legal provisions help social workers identify professional
obligations and legal conflicts of interest.
It is composed of six core values:
• Service
• Social justice
• Dignity and worth of the individual
• Importance of human relationships
• Integrity
• Competence
Social work core values are more than just following rules, regulations and protocols. In a profession
where the clients are often vulnerable, it’s necessary for social workers to be passionate about
empowering those who are defenseless, oppressed or impoverished.
Social work as a profession has evolved over time, this profession aims to help individuals fit better into
their environment while changing the environment so that it works better for individuals. Social work
like other applied social sciences, help individuals cope with anxiety, stress, depression, help client gain
access to community resources. The roles of the social work provide direction for professional activities.
The role of the social work is generally interwoven with functions. The function is the main activities
performed by the social worker. The following are the role of the social worker:
• Advocate • Case manager
• Counselor • Community change agent
• Mediator • Facilitator
• Researcher • Broker
• Educator • Manager
Steps or Processes of Social Work
Deciding on Evaluation
Assessment Planning Intervention
Outcomes
To sum it all up, social work is one of the most important activities toward establishing a better society,
and social workers who work in this field are the pillars, the foundations that make the community a
better place for present and future generations who will benefit from today's advancements, due to the
heroes who call themselves "Social Workers." In addition, social workers may assist their clients in
accessing the inner superpower they already possess. They have the ability to enhance skills that their
customers were previously unaware of. If you want to assist people, if you want to be a voice for the
voiceless, if you want to be the peacemaker, if you want to be the person who never gives up on
someone, then you have the potential to be a Social Worker, a hero. You don't require super strength,
invisibility, telepathy, or any of the other abilities that most heroes have. All you need is a kind heart
that is willing to help.
