Philosophical and Value Foundation of Social Work

Value: Defined as that worth which man attaches to certain things,

systems, or persons within the realm of usefulness, truth, goodness or
beauty.
Values are beliefs, preferences, or assumptions about what is
considered to be desirable or good for man. They are how “it should
be”. As such, value statements cannot be subjected to scientific
investigation, they must be accepted on faith. Thus, we can speak of a
value as being right or wrong only in relation to a particular belief system
or ethical code being used as a standard.
Knowledge: Refers to what, in fact, seems to be
established by the highest standards of objectivity and
rationality of which man is capable. Concerned with facts and
information. Knowledge statements are observations about the
world and man which have been verified or are capable of
verification. These assertions can be confirmed through objective
empirical investigations.
Skill: Ability, expertness, or proficiency gained from
practice and knowledge. Concerned with application, with doing,
but not just doing any which way, but ably, expertly, proficiently.
Professional Skill: Refers to one’s ability to apply the
knowledge and values of one’s profession in her work with people.
Developed not just by understanding of theory but also by practice.
Art: Social Work practice has been referred to as an art with
scientific and value foundation. Social worker has to use her skill in
using the relationship between the client and herself to achieve
certain objectives.
Foundation of Values, Knowledge and Skills was based from the Five Main
criteria of Boehm that distinguish profession to occupation are the
following:
1. A profession is expected to be responsible to the public interest and to
contribute through its services to the advancement of social wellbeing and
to be accountable to the public for the manner and standards with which it
conducts its activity.
Ex. In social work, it means helping people in the community to have
better lives and being accountable to them by making sure we do our job
well, following good standards and treating everyone with respect.
2. A profession should possess a relatively coherent, systematic and
transmissible body of knowledge rooted in scientific theories which
enables the practitioner of the profession to utilize concepts and principles
and to apply them to specific situations rather than the use as rule of
thumb.
Ex. Social workers use a set of organized and understandable ideas based
on science to help people. Instead of just following general rules, they use
these ideas to figure out how to best help each person and situation in a
thoughtful and individual way.
3. The professional practitioner must adhere to an identifiable body of
values, and display attitudes which stem from these values and which
determine the relationship of the professional person with his colleagues,
the recipients of his service, and the community.
Ex. In social work, it's important for the person helping (like a social
worker) to have strong values that guide how they treat others – whether
it's colleagues, the people they're helping, or the community. These
values shape their attitudes and how they build relationships with
everyone involved.
4. A profession must have a body of skills which is the result of the
knowledge and attitudes. Skills reflect the application of general concepts
and which are characteristics of the method of professions.
Ex. Social workers need to have a set of skills that come from what they
know and how they think about helping people. These skills are like tools
they use to make a positive difference, and they show how social work is
done in a thoughtful and professional way.
5. The members of the profession must be organized and considered
themselves as members of group whose knowledge, skills, attitudes and
norms of conduct they share and to whose advancement they are
dedicated.
Ex. Social workers form a group where they share what they know, the
skills they have, and the values they believe in. This group helps them
work together better and improve the way they help people, making sure
everyone benefits from their combined knowledge and dedication.

Dubois & Miley (2008, p.11) cited National Association of Social Workers
(NASW, 1981) the goals of social work profession in which eventually
translated its general purpose into more specific directions. These
purposes of the profession help social workers enhance their client’s sense
of competence, link them with the available resources and foster changes
to organizations and communities and social institutions responsive to
individual and societal needs.

Social work’s goals and purposes can be explained by these related

activities:
1. Enhancing people’s capacities to resolve problems, cope,
and function effectively.
 To accomplish this goal, social work practitioners assess
obstacles to client’s ability to function by identifying
resources and strengths, enhance skills in dealing with
complex and simple problems in living, develop plans for
solutions, and support clients’ efforts to create changes in
their lives and situations.

2. Linking Clients with needed resources.

 In a nutshell of the practice, achieving this goal means
helping clients locate the resources they need to deal more
effectively with their situations. In the midlevel, social
workers advocate policies and services that provide optimal
benefits, improve communications among human service
professionals who provide programs and services and identify
gaps and barriers in social services that need to be
addressed.

3. Improving the social service delivery network.

 This goal can be exercised by social workers by
ensuring that the system that delivers social services is
humane and adequately provides resources and services to
its targeted participants. In accomplishing this goal, social
workers advocate planning that centers on clients,
demonstrates effectiveness and efficiency, and incorporates
measures of accountability.

4. Promoting social justice through the development of

social policy.
 In developing social policies, social workers examine
social issues for policy implications. We social workers
provides suggestions for new polies and
recommendations for enhancing or eliminating policies that
are no longer relevant to present social issues. In achieving
this goal, Filipino Social Workers translated such policies to
programs and services that responds to social problems
effectively.
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
Social Work Philosophy: We believe in the inherent human worth and
dignity of every individual.
 Man has worth because he is capable of reason, rational analysis
and choice. Human being by his existence has dignity. In our society and
religion, we may see man has worth and dignity in terms of created in the
likeness of God.
Value Premises in Social Work
If social work is basically concerned with the quality of human life, it
cannot operate in unethical space. It must be based on certain beliefs
regarding what constitutes a good life, and what ethical considerations
would be necessarily related to the ways by which such a good life can be
sought and promoted.
The philosophy underlying social work practices derived from
certain universal values inherent in the nature of man. Many authors have
presented different formulations of those values but they basically stem
from three fundamental assumptions. They are:
 Respect for the dignity and inherent worth of man.
 Belief in the social nature of man as a unique creature
depending on other man for fulfillment of his
uniqueness.
 Belief in the human capacity for change, growth, and
betterment.
While the above value assumptions appear to be somewhat
abstract, they provide the general justification for social work’s
involvement in human problems. They also provide the moral
requirements which would have to be met if social work objectives are to
be fulfilled. Thus, guidelines of an instrumental nature are necessary.

I will be presenting a matrix which summarizes the philosophical

basis of social work and how it is related to values and concepts in the
values of social work profession.

The The Values Concepts in SW Views about

Philosophy of of Social the Values Man
SW Work of
Democratic Each person Concept of Natural vs.
Theory: has the right Human Transcendental Man is
 Man has to self- Potentials and part of nature. We can
worth fulfillment, Capacities study every aspect of
and deriving his man in terms of what
dignity. inherent science can offer.
 Man, capacity and  Transcendental
as thrust view holds that
having towards that science can never
worth goal. fully explain man.
because
he is
capable
of
reason,
 of
rational
analysis
, and
choice.
Humanism: Each person Concept of Man, as Social,
(Howard has the Social Asocial or Anti- Social
Mumford obligation, as Responsibility  As social, man
Jones) implies a member of wish to be in
that every society, to harmonious
human being seek ways of relationship with
by the mere self- others. 
fact of his fulfillment  As asocial, man
existence has that form groups for
dignity that contribute to their mutual
this dignity the common protection and
begins at birth. good. safety.
 As anti-social,
man is directed
towards self,
wants personal
gains at the
expense of
others.
Christianity: Society has Concept of Democracy’s View of
explains the obligation Equal Man
human worth to facilitate Opportunities.  He is capable of
and dignity in the self- This concept reason, rational
terms of man’s fulfillment of is premised on analysis and
having been the individual social justice. choice.
created in the and the right  Social believes in
image of God. to enrichment this premise – that it
through the is good and
contribution desirable for man to
of its fulfill his potential, to
individual realize himself and
members. to balance this with
equal effort to help
others do the same.
Each person Concept of
requires for Social
the Provision
harmonious
development
of his powers
socially
provided and
socially safe-
guarded
opportunities
for satisfying
his basic
needs in the
physical,
 psychological,
economic,
cultural,
aesthetic and
spiritual
realms.
Increasingly Concept of
specialized Social
social Provision
organization
is required to
facilitate the
individual’s
effort at self-
realization.
Permit both Concept of
self- Human
realization Potentials and
and Capacities and
contribution Concept of
to society by Social
the individual, Responsibility
social
organization
must make
available
socially-
provided
devices for
needs-
satisfaction.
Please note that this NOT a comparative matrix.
William Gordon as cited in Mendoza (2008) said that the
“Ultimate value of social work rest upon a conviction that it is
good and desirable for man to fulfill his potential, to realize
himself and to balance this with equal effort to help others do the
same”.
DOMINANT VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK

Social Defined as being taken by one’s fellows for what one is,
Acceptance or believes he is, and being treated in accordance with
his status, this value is facilitated by the following
intermediate values:
Smooth Interpersonal Relations (SIR), which is a facility
at getting along with others in such a way as to avoid
outward signs of conflict.

1. Pakikisama
2. Euphemism - are commonly employed in various
contexts, such as in polite conversation, to address
sensitive topics, or to convey information in a more
 tactful manner. (Ex. A euphemism for "ugly" might be
to say someone has "unique features" or "distinctive
characteristics."
A euphemism for "I don't like the way you talk" could be
to say "I find our communication style doesn't quite
align" )
3. The use of a go between (tulay)
Amor Propio, refers to sensitivity to personal affront and
functions to protect the individuals against loss of social
acceptance
1. Hiya
Emotional Facilitated through the following: sacrificing individual
Closeness and interest for the good of the family, parental striving to
Security in a give their children an education even at great cost to
Family themselves, older children sacrificing for the younger
siblings, and mothers especially making sacrifices for
the family.
Authority Value The belief that families will remain close if someone
exerts firm authority, and that such person must be
respected and obeyed. Respect for traditions and
rituals no matter how impractical they have
become. Eg. Panalangin, Bahala na.
Personalism This value attaches major importance to the
personal factor which guarantees intimacy, warmth,
and security of kinship and friends in getting things
done. Eg. Tiwala, Kilala, walang pakialam,
choosing officers for organizations: many will
vote for those whom they know personally.
Utang na Loob Literally means debt of gratitude. It is granted when a
transfer of goods or services takes place between
individuals belonging to two different groups. It compels
the recipient to show gratitude properly by returning a
favor with interest to be sure that he does not remain in
the other’s debt.
Patience, A cultural belief that a person must suffer before he
Suffering and can gain happiness, and related to it is that which
Endurance many still believe, that women, particularly, must suffer
in silence. Eg. Many suffer poverty and think it is a test
and if they pass it, they will be rewarded.
SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES
Several classifications of moral principles have been formulated by
many writers in social work. Perhaps the most well-known would be those
of Florence Hollis.
(Principles and Assumptions Underlying casework Practice in Social
Work and Social Values) and those of Felix Biestek (the casework
Relationship).
Using Biestek classification, a brief analysis of the intermediate
principles will be presented here.
A. The Principle of Acceptance
Is a clear derivative of the basic value of respect for individuals. It
requires that a social worker extend unconditional love to their clients.
 Love as referred here is predominantly an act of will and not an
emotional impulse; it is an expression of the social work’s obligation
to treat others as they would like to be treated – that is to recognize,
respect, and support man’s uniqueness and worth.
B. Principle of Non-judgmental Attitude
Is a companion principle of acceptance. This means that clients are
the ultimate judges of their own behavior and the motivations that
underlie them. The inherent difficulty in the implementation of this
principle lies in terms of its requirement to combine a realistic view of
human behavior and to abstain from allocating praise and blame for it
to the client. These difficulties in some instances prevent social
workers from forming professional judgments regarding their
client’s problems. What this principle warns us about is: Avoid the
temptation of playing God.
C. Principle of Individualization
Like acceptance, the principle of individualization implies a more
absolute standard of practice that is attainable by any social worker.
The principle is derived from the value of the uniqueness of
individuals. Hence, failure to recognize that every human situation is
unique, that no two individuals are alike, and to see that situations or
problems through the eyes of the person experiencing it, constitutes a
denial of that uniqueness and detracts from the respect due to the
individual. And yet, that same uniqueness entails constraints on
one person being able to enter fully into the experiences of
another.
D. The Twin Principle of “Purposeful Expression of Feelings”
and “controlled Emotional Involvement”
Constitutes two sides of a coin. Both relates to the mutuality inherent
in the relationship between the helper and the person being helped, and
are concerned with rights in this situation of the client and the obligation
of the worker. Purposeful expression of feelings acknowledges
the importance of the right of the client to express and share
his private thoughts and feelings. This principle also stresses the
difference which stems from such expression and sharing reflecting
the individuals own authentic needs rather than being a response to
what the social worker would like to look for or hear.
Hence, controlled emotional involvement requires that the social
worker suspend the fulfillment of his desires and relate instead to the
needs of the client. Some workers have some difficulty in trying not to
over-identify and go to the other extreme wherein communication. What is
being pointed out here is inappropriate involvement, and that any
discussion during the interview should be geared towards what will
be helpful to the client.
E. The Principle of Confidentiality
One way which confidentially could be described would be the
people’s rights over the “property” of their secrets. Secrets in this
context do not necessarily concern some particularly dramatic event in an
objective of a person’s life in which he himself attaches particularly
importance which he values as reflections of his identity. The
importance attached to this principle of “self-determination” in social work
is only matched by the degree of confusion has to do with confidentiality is
a basic value or an operationally useful principle.

F. The Principle of self-determination

There are questions as to whether self-determination is a basic value or
an operational principle. In the application of this principle, there has been
a gradual shift from a view which is an expression of negative freedom –
that is, as reflecting the individuals rights to manage his own life and
to make decisions concerning it, to its being regarded as manifestations
of positive freedom – that is, of human need for an extension of the
range of choices available both within the personality and in the external
environment.
The implications of the worker’s concern will be practice would be that
the focus of the worker’s concern will be on the client’s need for the
worker’s guidance on how he, the client, can become more effective in
self-determination.
SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES (MENDOZA, 2008)
“Endowed with a fundamental philosophy and professional values, the
practice of social work is guided by certain basic principles or rules of
action for the practitioner” (Mendoza, 2008). In order for you to acquaint
and familiarize with the principles of social work, I offer you the acronym
of PASWICC, which stands for the social work principles.
 Participation of the Client in Problem-Solving
This principle discuss that the client is there, and has a part in
the entire problem-solving process. From the time that the
worker begins to gather information, the client is asked to
provide pertinent facts, to present their own
perceptions of the situation, and is involved in
defining the nature of the problem, and if there are many
problems, the client is involved in the prioritizing
these problems (Mendoza, 2008). The client participates in
planning ways of resolving the problem, in thinking of
possible alternatives and is also asked to look into their own
resources and which of these can be applied to problem solving.
The social worker builds upon and utilizes the client’s strengths
where clients understands from the beginning that his
participation is expected. An outcome principle is the principle
of self-determination.
 Acceptance of people as they are.
The principle of acceptance, does not mean approval of deviant
attitudes or behavior. Mendoza (2008) elucidated that “The
object of acceptance is not the good but the real”, which
means dealing with the client as he is in reality.
Acceptance also means that we recognize that people have
strengths and weakness, and capacities and limitations. Part of
acceptance is also the personal discipline with which the
worker is able to accept people’s eccentricities, their biases
and prejudices. When the worker and client have mutual
acceptance, then “rapport” or a positive client worker-
relationship already exists.
 Self-Determination as a right of the client
This principle is where the client (individual, group or
community) who is in economic, personal, or social need, has
the right to determine what his needs are and how they should
be met. In here, the worker does not do everything for the client,
for the worker knows that the clients are capable of “self-help”.
In this purpose, the client will be able to develop or regains their
self-respect and self-confidence when they realize that they are
able to solve their own problems. In the context of working with
groups, the social worker will respect the rights of groups to
determine their own goals, means and objectives. In the
same way, a social worker in a community, the worker respects
the right of the community, its institutions, organizations and
groups, to decide what actions to undertake to meet the welfare
needs of the community. In this essence, the social worker who
perform an “enabling” role is particularly meaningful to the
principle of self-determination.
 Worker Self-Awareness
In this principle of social work, the worker should be conscious
that the role is to make use of professional relationship with
their clients in a way that will enhance primarily the client’s
development rather than their own. Social workers must always
examine their feelings, whether they are positive and
negative and whether responses and feelings are
professionally motivated. No one is completely free of
biases. What is important is to be aware of these an be
able to control them so that they do not interfere with
professional practice. A self-discipline is crucial to the principle
of worker self-awareness. The inability to control personal
responses, even if they are positive responses, can work to the
disadvantage of the client. The conscious use of one’s self is also
part of this principle. The worker’s goal is for the client
to ultimately learn to “internalize” limits, so that they
themselves develop self-discipline. Lastly, this principle works on
the need for the worker to be conscious of how they respond
or even reacts to manipulation by others.
 Individualization of clients
The principle of individualization involves “the recognition and
understanding of each client’s unique qualities and the
differential use of principles and methods in assisting each
toward a better adjustment. The right of human beings to be
individuals and to be treated not just as a human being but as
“human being with personal differences”. In addition, this could
also be applied by the worker by recognizing that human
beings have many things in common and those important
individual differences should be accepted. Some social workers
in the field, validated the sayings that “every individual is
unique, because there is always uniqueness in each inheritance
and uniqueness in every environment”. This principle tells us to
appreciate the fact that no two individuals are exactly alike
(not even identical twins), the client’s individual perceptions
and responses, will always be different. Take note of this quote
“I know we have the same problems, but your plan will
never work in our place”.
 Confidentiality
This principle of confidentiality is to provide client
protection. Trust is an important element in a client-
worker relationship. This principle means that what the client
tells the worker, stays with the worker and not discussed with
others, except when this is done within the context of
professional relationships and for the purpose of helping the
client, for example, you are in a case conference with other
professionals which involves the client’s intervention. Letter
requesting information about the client from another
professional or agency are not prepared without the client first
giving his permission.
 Client-Worker Relationship
This principle puts emphasis on professional relationship, the
phrase where “social work problem-solving takes place within a
meaningful worker-client relationship”, and it gives the meaning
of carrying out the social work functions. Every relationship
is characterized by a dynamic interaction between human
beings, but a professional relationship is different from
ordinary relationships in that it should have the element of
being controlled and purposive. A purposive worker-client
relationship allows for some degree of subjective
feelings which cannot be entirely removed in any
relationships. Like many other social work literatures, they
have used the “controlled emotional involvement”
phrase, the social worker’s humanity prevents her
from remaining uninvolved in her close relationships with
others. In this principle, we can also experience ambivalence, it
is based on the proposition that the human mind functions in a
dualistic way, that conflict between its opposing tendencies,
within one’s self. Transference and Counter-transference
concepts can be explained in this link
https://www.socialworkdegreeguide.com/faq/what-is-
countertransference/, this is very vital in helping your client
and to stay objective as a social worker.