PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK

1. PRINCIPLE OF REQUEST:
Prior to the deadly situation Covid19, Aslam was
labourer by profession. Being a daily-wager, he used to work and
buy food for his survival on a daily basis and was able to
contribute to his family a little. The lockdown and a break to the
construction work, refrained him from doing any work and earn
money. It made the situation even worse, as he had to use all his
savings for the purchase of food items. Such situation made him
depress up to a traumatized situation. Therefore, he discussed his
complication with someone close to him and he suggested Aslam
to seek help from a professional Social worker. He came to me and
requested for my assistance.
2. PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTANCE:
When Aslam took an appointment and consulted me,
he requested for my help. He explained that due to pandemic, a
labourer, who was already living hand to mouth, now, has left with
nothing. Consequently, he had gone into depression. Being a
professional social worker, I took his current situation under
consideration and accepted his case, so that I may help Aslam to be
stable again. For the pursuit of best results, it is essential for me
and Aslam to accept each other. Aslam should accept me as a
professional social worker who is trying to help him overcome his
problematic situation. He was referred to me by one of his
acquaintance. I keenly listened to his problem, frequently asked
questions and demanded him to be comprehensive while
explaining his misery, so he may see that I am thoroughly
concerned and possess the potential to lend him a helping hand. I
acknowledge a fact that it is necessary for a social worker to
present himself / herself in a way that the client sees a capability in
 the worker, in this manner, the client cooperates and the process
can be carried out in a better way.
3. PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUALITY:
Being a professional social worker, I respect Aslam as
an individual and admit that every profession requires equal
respect, keeping in consideration that Aslam has been a labourer
by profession before getting to the misery. He deserves worth,
dignity and value and should not be looked down upon, just
because he could not discover a method out of his problem.
Being a social worker and studying various cases, I
realize that a general response such a miserable person gets from
the community is of degrading nature, the person then develops an
inferiority complex that he has a poor image and human being
without worth.
I am quite hopeful that given a right environment and
encouragement Aslam has a potential to come out of his
undesirable situation with dignity and respect.
Previously, I encountered a similar problem where the
client’s job was terminated due to the lockdown imposed by the
government as an SOP for coronavirus spread. The client was
financially stable but not emotionally as he had to pay for his
father’s diabetic treatment and dialysis. He was depressed due to
loss of his job. I did his counseling by explaining him that this
situation has actually proved to be a blessing in disguise for him as
he could now work on online forums by staying at home and can
earn a better amount of money. Moreover, he can be safe from the
deadly wave of Covid19, do multiple jobs rather than one, attend
to his father himself and keep himself from the tiring job of an
office. Therefore, he got an increment in his earning and was able
to give quality time to his family and the father who was ailing.
 Similarly, I have assisted Aslam to cease from taking
the mental pressure in the first place. He can think of some other
jobs that are originating as the nature of jobs has also shifted
around the globe. I presented him various options that people used
to go for the grocery purposes to different malls, marts and
markets, due to the lockdown, online grocery has taken a hike.
Aslam can join any company for this purpose and work as a
delivery person. It is less tiring in comparison to the work of a
labourer and he will get a handsome amount of money. Another
good option is that he can take the help of females at home and use
their skills of sewing. Handmade clothe masks are selling as hot
cakes these days. He can then sell them to various medical shops
and in the market. This may give him a good amount of money
with less investment and the job does not require a lot of time.
Such actions will boost confidence in Aslam and he may not let
himself down. Thus, his individuality can be preserved.
4. PRINCIPLE OF COMMUNICATION:
As the case surrounds the current situation of Aslam
as a client, therefore, he is of paramount importance. I, being the
social worker, was responsible to initiate and continue the process
of communication as I had to make him feel comfortable, so, the
process can be executed smoothly. During some consultations, I
noticed that most troubles arise due to the lack of efficient
communication factors.
I focused on both verbal and non-verbal
communication factors displayed by Aslam, so that we can reduce
the amount of misconceptions. Communication is a factor that can
make or break the situation during a social work. There are a few
human limitations as the difference between the background and
mental level of Aslam and mine. In order to eradicate these
 obstacles, I managed a proper environment by arranging the
meeting in my office with least amount of noise, made him seated
and my staff presented him water and a cup of tea as per Aslam’s
choice. I made every effort to make him feel respected and at ease,
thereby, he could express his thoughts, feelings and facts related to
his issues. I held a writing pad and started asking Aslam a series of
questions like:
 What is the undesirable situation that has caused him misery?
 From how much time he is jobless?
 How much money he is left with?
 How he tried to manage the food items after losing his job?
 Is there any other skill that he has mastered and can use for
his living?
 How many family members do Aslam has?

I kept on writing his responses on my notepad. Moreover,

I made clarifications regarding the situation by keep on rephrasing
Aslam’s statements and asking that am I getting him right? If he
negated, I asked him to elaborate for me once more. If he gave his
assurance, we moved further in the deconstruction of the problem. Such
actions helped me and Aslam to be on the same page. Moreover, I
noticed the non-verbal gestures portrayed by Aslam, when he was going
into the depth of his issue, he starting shaking his left leg, and he
touched his hair frequently. These body gestures helped me study his
emotional state and I offered him to sip the water, so he may feel better
and we may work for the solution to his problem together. It helped me
in securing a good reputation in front of my client. The meeting was so
comprehensive in its nature that only one meeting was enough to
understand the problem and assuring Aslam that I have got the proper
understanding of his concern. It was the perfect method to eradicate any
misconceptions, as the communication was effective and trouble-free.
Through this process, the worker client connection was well recognized
and strengthened.

5. PRINCIPLE OF CONFIDENTIALITY:
As a strong base for effective use of social work
Intervention, the principle of confidentiality is vital. It helps to
create a strong worker client connection. In order to help, the
worker requires every bit of information ranging from simple facts
to anything very confidential. I wanted Aslam to trust me in this
matter; therefore, I presented him my card and explained him that I
am a social worker by profession and not doing this work
voluntarily. As per rules of my work, I am bound to keep any
secretive information regarding him in secrecy. Moreover, my
office has a permanent address; he can always find me here, even
after the solution to the problem. I assured that I am not among
those who may flee, create any sort of discomfort or disclose his
information to shake his stature.
Furthermore, I made him understand that I cannot
share his personal details with anyone else, regardless whatever the
situation is. It is due to the fact, it may prove hazardous for my
reputation both inside and outside my working circle. On the other
hand, today someone has referred him to me, upon getting settled
with his problem; Aslam may refer someone to me if his
experience proved to be trustworthy and worthwhile.

6. PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION:
 Self-determination comes under the domain of
Aslam’s right. As every individual has a right to assess what is
good for him and decide the methods and means to realize it. I
presented him some other ways to earn money after losing his job
in the pandemic crisis. Although, Aslam was unable to find a
solution for his undesirable situation, I cannot impose any
decisions or solutions by my own. I have to provide him room for
taking decision on his own. My duty is to present him the correct
perspective, encourage and involve him to take the decision that
coincides with his priority and comfort. When I gave him options
of the current running occupations like delivery person, making the
clothe masks at home and selling them, I asked him to give any
other options he may have encountered. He felt self-governing like
a person with dignity and respect, thereupon, he gave an option
that he is good at cooking and as restaurants have a huge amount
of orders these days, people need cooked food, he can easily work
at a nearby restaurant. They may provide him with food twice,
leftover for the family members and wage on daily basis. By
selecting a solution himself, Aslam’s self-respect was not
compromised rather he felt confident and emotionally stable as
well. My role was to provide the right direction and assuring him
that his problem will surely be eradicated.

7. PRINCIPLE OF NON-JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE:

Being non-judgmental is the prerequisite for the social
work. Therefore, I began my professional connection with Aslam
without any biases. I didn’t take it into consideration that there is a
class difference, language barrier or didn’t present any other
judgmental attitude. I refrained from making any opinions in
relation to Aslam, regardless bad or good. Non-judgmental attitude
 enabled me to build the professional connection on a sound footing
as I and Aslam felt free in understanding of each other.

8. PRINCIPLE OF CONTROLLED EMOTIONAL

INVOLVEMENT:
The principle of controlled emotional involvement
helps in creating a quality professional connection between the
social worker and the client. I acknowledge a fact that I should
develop an emotional balance while interacting with Aslam. It
protected me from either getting too personally involved in
Aslam’s problem or being too objective. If there is an uncontrolled
emotional involvement, it may result in two cases that are
unacceptable and against the professional requirement.
If I had shown excessive identification with Aslam’s
problem or have drawn certain similarities with respect to our
situations or personalities, then I would have started sympathizing
in excess and indulging in Aslam’s life and began imposing my
options and solutions on him. Resultantly, it may have interfered
with the professional connection and judgments in relation to
Aslam’s problem and such acts of mine could have hindered
Aslam’s right to self-determination and independence.
Apart from this inclination, I refrained from being too
objective and detached that Aslam may have found that I am not
interested in him and his situation. If I would have shown a certain
detachment from his situation, Aslam may have kept the
confidential information, would have started feeling worthless and
helpless. Such instances may have resulted in a premature end to
the professional connection. Therefore, I presented a balance in
understanding of the predicament and refrained from showing pity
or appearing to be indifferent. Such an emotional balance and
equilibrium developed a sense of self-worth in Aslam, he got
emotionally stable after telling me his undesirable situation, as I
assured him that he may get out of the situation very soon. When I
started giving options and asked him to contribute and select a
method for himself, a boost in confidence was evident through his
facial expressions and body language. He felt at ease and we were
able to work out through the situation effectively.