What Is Social

Work?

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
Overview
 About the Profession
 Origin and History
 Social Work in the UK
 Social Work: The Indian
Heritage
 Conclusion
About the Profession
 Social workers have played an important role in the
advancement of human civilization since long ago.
 They uphold social justice by reducing inequality and
promoting human rights. Social workers try to improve the
quality of life of unfortunate people in the society and help
them realize their true potential.
 This is done through counseling, mediating between the
needy and charitable organizations or the government,
and other activities.
 Social work helps to solve a lot of problems in the
society, and it contributes significantly towards the cultural
and moral advancement of humankind.
Need to Understand the History
 The diversity of social work represents a great
challenge for social work research, education and
practice in the rapidly internationalizing and globalizing
world.
 This challenge can be met successfully only with a deep
philosophical and historical understanding of the
characteristics of a particular country - and welfare
regime – including the specific traditions of welfare
systems and the position and role of social work within
them.
 Research into the philosophy and history of social work
strengthens this understanding through analyzing the
conceptual and genealogical fundamentals of the
traditions of social work.
 This kind of research contributes to the theoretical self-
conception of social work which is necessary for the
development of social work as a modern professional
 Origins and Modern
History of Social Work
 All major religions encourage people to help the poor, and
some of these religions were formed thousands of years ago.
Therefore, it can be said that social work originated in the
ancient times, when human beings started to perform charity
work
 In the western world, the first documented instance of
organized social work occurred during the 3rd century, right
after the Christian Church was legalized by Roman Emperor
Constantine I.
 The church set up hospitals, poorhouses, orphanages, and
homes for the elderly, and these establishments received
grants from the Roman Empire.
 By the 6th century, the church had developed an elaborate
system for distributing food and other consumables to the
poor
 Later on, it would encourage the European public to offer
 During the 19th century, the industrial revolution led
to a lot of social problems in England and the
United States, including poverty, diseases, mental
disorders, prostitution, and others.
 As such, there was a great need for social work.
 Churches and governments established effective
systems and laws to provide assistance for the
needy, and many individuals started to form groups
and organizations to perform social work.
 Social work, as a profession, originated in the 19th
century
Jane Addams, Mother of Social
Work
 Jane Addams was one of the first social workers in the US.
 When she was 27 years old, she visited the Toynbee Hall
settlement house in London, and she developed an aspiration to
open a similar house in Chicago. In 1889, she partnered with her
friend Ellen Starr to set up a settlement house called the Hull-
House
 They gave speeches about the social problems that were plaguing
their neighborhood, raised funds, and encouraged young women to
become volunteer social workers.
 After two years, the Hull-House was providing assistance to around
2,000 people every week. As she became more famous in
Chicago, she began to take on greater civic responsibilities, such as
founding a school of philanthropy, conducting investigations on
social problems, and campaigning for peace.
 For her extraordinary efforts in social work, Jane Addams was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1931.
Social Work in the
UK
 Social upheaval and mass migration contributed significantly
to the evolution of social work in the UK.
 The populations of cities were increasing dramatically during the
industrial revolution, and many people were afflicted by poverty and
diseases.
 The UK government responded by offering free treatment in hospitals,
and hospital almoners were recruited to help in the treatment of
patients.
 These almoners were regarded as social workers, and their roles
began to include other social responsibilities in the following years.
 Social work in the UK developed as a philanthropic activity on the
margins of statutory services, social work in the 20th century became
increasingly a professional activity, either carried out directly by the
state, or carried out by the voluntary sector on its behalf.
 Social work has been incorporated steadily into statutory
mechanisms since its 'high tide' in the 1970s
 Not only has the state won the right to intervene in the lives of
individuals, it has effectively taken control over how this should be
carried out and by whom.
 Voluntary social work agencies cannot now function without some
measure of control over their activities by the local authority and by
the legislature.
 Even in the era of "care in the community‟, it is the local authority
which inspects voluntary institutions and give out contracts for work
on its behalf.
Social Work: The Indian
Heritage
 India has a long history of Social Work of which it can be justifiably proud.
 The concept of concern for others, often in the form of charitable
giving, has been enshrined in Hindu scriptures since ancient times
 In addition to India‟s sacred texts, there have been many historic
individuals who have sought to provide help for the vulnerable and those in
need.
 Recent history has given us further examples of individuals who
have furthered the cause of Social Work in India.
 Raja Ram Mohan Roy sowed the seed of social and religious reform in his
work for the abolition of Sati, in addition to supporting widow remarriage
and women‟s education.
 Iswar Chandra Vidya Sagar also advocated for widow remarriage and
women's education, as well as economic self-reliance and an end to
polygamy.
 Gopal Hari Deshmukh promoted the establishment of dispensaries,
maternity homes, and orphanages.
 M.K. Gandhi worked tirelessly for the upliftment of women and dalits when,
alongside his fight for freedom from foreign rule, he also
Development of Social
work in India
 Pre- British Period to
1800 A.D
 Pre-british system was dominated by caste
system, upper caste protected lower caste people in time
of same difficulties, some of the important aspects are
as follows:
◦ Joint family: it is like a trust sharing common property. It
protected aged, children and women. It sarved as a social
trust.
◦ Village community: Indian villages were independent in
matters of food, clothing and shatter. The whole
community used to take each other.
◦ Village Temple:In every village there were temples.
People donated money to the temple and under this
system socially backward people were protected.
 During the British
Period
 Before the advent of the British, Indian practically
lived in village. Thus the economy of the village
was self-sufficient. But under the British rule only
Industries were allowed to develop.
 These economic and organization change
brought down the economic condition of Indians.
All the problems are chiefly related with health,
housing, child and woman welfare and labour,
recreation, crime and social disorganization. Due
to these problems the need for organized social
work was realized.
 Christian missionaries spread education, brought
the theory of equality, which in turn helped the
social reforms to attack the evil customs and
inequality.
 Raja Ram Mohan Ray started the brahma
samaj, Pandit Ramabhai started the Arya
Samaj, Swami Vivekananda established
Ramakrishna mission and Annie Besant started
home rule movement against British.
 Late Gandhi did a lot of work in the field of social
reform
 Due to the impact of the western education, and
Christian missionaries, a new term of social work
 Growth of professional training
in India

 Professional social work is of recent origin in India. During

1900 onwards, those who were engaged in social welfare
activities found the need of trained social workers.
 In India, professional social work owes its origin to a short-
term training course on social service organized by the
social service league at Bombay.
 Later, the first school of social work was started in 1936 by
Clifford marshal, who was a protestant missionary and
worked in Nagpada. He came to Indian in 1925 and felt the
need of trained social workers.
 Later on different schools of social work came into
existence in
Delhi, Calcutta, herknow, Varanasi, baroda, agra, adaipur
 After
Independence
 In the Independent India the source of all
welfare service are inherent in the
constitution.
 In order to supervise the social welfare
services, the central social welfare Board
has been established.
 The board assists in the improvement and
development of social welfare activities
 Thus, in Indian social work is gradually
emerging as a social oriented profession.
Conclusion
 Social work has come a long way to
become an important profession in the
modern society. The scope of
responsibilities of social work has
become wider over the years, and social
workers require more extensive training
to perform their duties effectively. As
social problems grow in the modern
society, social work will continue to gain
importance around the world.
SOCAIL WORK AS A
PROFESSION
 Definition.
• “Social work is a practice-based profession and an
academic discipline that promotes social change
and development, social cohesion, and the
empowerment and liberation of people. Principles
of social justice, human rights, collective
responsibility and respect for diversities are
central to social work.  Underpinned by theories
of social work, social sciences, humanities and
indigenous knowledge, social work engages
people and structures to address life challenges
and enhance wellbeing. The above definition may
be amplified at national and/or regional levels.”
 Introduction
• Social work and social welfare are
based on three premises:
– That the person is important
– That he or she has personal, family, and
community problems resulting from
interaction with others
– That something can be done to alleviate
these problems and enrich the
individual’s life
 Social Welfare
• The terms social work and social welfare are
often confused and sometimes used
synonymously.
• Social welfare has a broader meaning and
encompasses social work, public welfare, and
other related programs and activities.
• Social welfare is described as “the organized
system of social services and institutions,
designed to aid individuals and groups to
attain satisfying standards of life and health”,
(Friedlander, 1980).
 Social Welfare
• Social welfare encompasses the
well-being and interests of large
number of people, including their
physical, educational, mental,
emotional, spiritual, and economic
needs.
 Social Welfare
• Many professionals deliver social
welfare services, but social workers
have always been prominent welfare
service providers.
• The U.S. Labor Department projects
there will be more than 650,000 social
workers by the year 2005.
• Minimum traditional standards required
a Master of Social Work degree for the
professional social worker.
 Social Work
• Social work seeks to enhance the
social functioning of individuals,
singly and in groups, by activities
focused upon their social
relationships which constitute the
interaction between man and his
environment. (CSWE, 1959)
 Social Work
• These activities can be grouped into
three functions:
– Restoration of impaired capacity.
– Provision of individual and social
resources.
– Prevention of social dysfunction.
The basic functions of social work are
intertwined and interdependent.
 Social Work
• Restoration of impaired social functioning
may be subdivided into curative and
rehabilitative aspects. Its curative aspects
are to eliminate factors that have caused
breakdown of functioning, and its
rehabilitative aspects, to reorganize and
rebuild interaction patterns.
• Illustrations of restoration would include
assistance in obtaining a hearing aid for a
partially deaf child or helping a rejected
lonely child to be placed in a foster home.
 Social Work
• The rehabilitative aspect might be
helping the one child to
psychologically accept and live with
the hearing aid and supporting the
other child as he or she adjusts to the
new foster home.
• Provision of resources, social and
individual, for more effective social
functioning may be subdivided into
developmental and educational.
 Social Work
• The developmental aspects are designed to
further the effectiveness of existing social
resources or to bring to full flower personal
capacity for more effective social interaction.
• An example would be the services of a
Family Service Society that help Mr. and
Mrs. X, through individual and conjoint
interviews, to understand each other better
and to open the channels of meaningful
communication between them.
 Social Work
• The educational spectrum is designed
to acquaint the public with specific
conditions and needs for new or
changing social resources.
• Eg: Educating the family members of
the disabled about the services
available in the society and how to
pursue it. Explaining about the
importance of primary education for
the disabled children.
 Social Work
• The third function, prevention of
social dysfunction, involves early
discovery, control, and elimination of
conditions and situations that
potentially could hamper effective
social functioning.
• Two main divisions: prevention of
problems in the area of interaction
between individuals and groups; the
prevention of social ills.
 Social Work
• Premarital counseling is an example of
prevention. That through this process
couples will be able to anticipate possible
difficulties in marital interaction.
• Prevention of social ills ordinarily falls
within the area of community
organization.
• An example would be a community
developing a youth center for at risk
youths for the prevention of gang violence.
 Social Work
• Social work may be defined as an art, a
science, a profession that helps people to
solve personal, group (especially family),
and community problems and to attain
satisfying personal, group and community
relationships through social work
practice
• The major focus is on reducing problems
in human relationships and on enriching
living through improved human
interaction.
 Social Work
• Social work is an art; it requires great
skills to understand people and to help
them to help themselves.
• It is a beginning science because of its
problem solving method and its attempt to
be objective in ascertaining facts and in
developing principles and operational
concepts.
• It is a profession because it encompasses
the attributes of a profession.
 Distinguishing
Characteristics of Social
Work
• Use of the supervisory
• Focus is on the Use of the supervisory
wholeness and totality process provides for
of the person. guidance and direction
• Emphasis is on the of inexperienced
importance of the workers and for
family in molding and continuing growth of
influencing behavior. the experienced.
• Utilization of • Social work has a
community resources unique educational
program involving class
in helping people to
work and practical field
solve problems is very
work experience.
important.
 Distinguishing
Characteristics of Social
Work
• Traditional social
Traditional social • The relationship is
work emphasizes the key in the social
three basic work process.
processes: • Social work has an
casework, group orientation in
work, and psychiatric
community concepts and places
organization.
considerable stress
• Social work has on understanding
distinctive people.
professional bodies,
(NASW, CSWE).
 Distinguishing
Characteristics of Social
Work
• The social in social
The social in social • Most social workers
work emphasizes on are employed in
social interactions and agency settings.
resultant social • The basic aim of social
functioning and work is to help clients
malfunctioning. help themselves or to
• Social work recognizes help a community to
that social problems help itself.
and human behavior
• Traditionally, social
inhere to a considerable
workers have provided
degree in the social
institutions of humanity.
services to individuals
and families.
 Sociology and Social
Work
• The sociologist is • The social worker is
concerned about
particularly helping these same
concerned about the people to solve the
problems they have and
how, when, and why to improve social
people behave as functioning.
they do in association • The social worker tries
to understand the client,
with others. to make a diagnosis, and
• The sociologist is to proceed with
treatment, helping to
particularly solve the problems and
interested in the why change the situations
for better adjustments.
of human interaction.
 Psychiatry and Social
Work
• The psychiatrist • The social worker
deals with the focuses on problems
treatment of illness and strengths in
and the medical human relationships.
model. • The social worker
• Places stress on utilizes
intrapersonal environmental and
dynamics, often community
delving into and resources, usually
handling unconscious operating within the
motivation and conscious level of
related factors. behavior.
 Psychiatry and Social
Work
• Psychiatry tends to • Social work
focus on pathology concentrates on
strengths and the
and the healing of development of
illness. potential.
• The psychiatrist is • The social worker is
particularly especially concerned
interested in the about social
functioning involving
internal dynamics social and community
of individual and factors and
group behavior. interactions.
 Psychology and Social
Work
• Psychology is the study • The social worker
of the mind; it seeks to focuses on the person in
study, explain, and their environment.
change behavior. • The social worker is
• The psychologist is particularly interested
interested in in the social functioning
understanding the and relationships of
individual and their clients and in utilizing
behavior. community resources to
meet clients’ personal
• Their main focus is on and social problems.
individual behavior.
 Counseling and Social
Work
• School counselors are • The social worker tends
generally trained in to be more intensive,
educational works with the student
psychology, work tends longer, focuses on family
to be short-termed. constellation, and
utilizes community
• Marriage counselors resources.
receive graduate • Marriage counseling is
training from several
disciplines, including one particular emphasis
in social work practice.
social work.
• The social worker
• Rehabilitation usually assists with the
counselors are usually emotional and/or family
trained in educational problems, has fewer
psychology and utilizes cases, and works with
testing. clients more intensively.
Social Work in the World
Today
• Social work is becoming more important
because thousands of persons are benefiting
from its services and are telling their friends
and associates who have problems of its
many values and services.
• A prominent American made a statement
that what the United States needs most of all
to improve its foreign policy and relations is
to have trained social workers as State
Department attaches where each of the
official government representative works
and lives.
Social Work in the World
Today
• Trained social workers in foreign countries
would understand the people and work with
them where they are, helping them to help
themselves and interpreting the United States
in a much more favorable light than in the past.
• Social work is here to stay and that in decades
ahead it will likely grow and expand its
services, helping more people with personal,
family, and community problems, especially
related to adequate social functioning.
 SUMMARY
• Social welfare is an important aspect of the
modern way of life.
• Social work is a profession that focuses
particularly on helping people solve their
personal, family, and community problems
through enhancing social functioning.
• The basic functions of social work are (1)
restoration of impaired social functioning,
(2) provision of social services, and (3)
prevention.
• Social work shares some knowledge
and skills with sociology, psychiatry,
psychology, and counseling, but it
possesses distinguishing
characteristics that set it apart from
these disciplines.
• Social work is moving ahead as a
progressive profession in the helping
services arena.
References
 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_social_work_b
egin_and
• _who_is_the_founder_of_social_work
 http://web1.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/ce
ntral/core. htm
 http://www.maduraimessenger.org/printed-
version/2011/september/issues/
 http://web.archive.org/web/20071221085300/http://
www.socia
• lwork.ed.ac.uk/social/history.html
 http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/14826079?
access_key=key-
• b722i6riz25zyzprdsv
‘SOCIAL WORK METHODS AND AREAS ’
 METHODS OF SOCIAL
WORK
METHOD MEANS…..?
A particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching
something, especially a systematic or established one.
A particular way of doing something
A way, technique, or process of or for doing something.
A body of skills or techniques.
A discipline that deals with the principles and techniques of
scientific inquiry.
Approach, fashion, form, how, manner,methodology, recipe,
strategy, style,system, tack, tactics, technique, way.
 Being a scientific profession social work has its own
methodology.
Traditionally the methods of social work are divided as primary and
secondary.

SOCIAL WORK METHODS

PRIMARY METHODS SECONDARY METHODS

Social Case Work Social Action

Social Group Work Social Welfare Administration

Community Organization Social Work Research

From the above illustrations we can understand that there are primary
and secondary methods in social work. The primary methods make
interventions directly with the clients. At the same time the secondary methods
indirectly assist the primary methods and also help the clients. Let us examine
each method.
 1.SOCIAL CASE
WORK
 Mary Ellen Richmond (1861-1928) the founding mother of Social
Case Work.
 While social case work was a primary method of intervention, it
was not until Mary Richmond published Social Diagnosis in 1917
that a formal definition for social case work began to formulate.

WHAT IS SOCIAL CASEWORK?

 Social case work is the method employed by social workers to help
individuals find solutions to problems of social adjustment that are
difficult for individuals to navigate on their own.

 Mary Ellen Richmond: ‘Social case work consists of those

processes which develop personality through adjustments
consciously effected, individual by individual, between men and
their social environment’.

COMPONENTS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK

1. The person
2. The problem
3. The place
4. The process
 PHASES OF SOCIAL CASE WORK
PROGRESS

According Mary Richmond (1917) there are

three phases of social case work practice: social
investigation or psycho-social study, diagnosis and
treatment or management. In contemporary social
case work practice these three phases have been
divided into five divisions namely-
1.Social investigation or Study,
2.Assessment,
3.Intervention,
4.Termination and
5.Evaluation.
AREAS/FIELDS/SETTINGS/ APPLICATIONS
OF SOCIAL CASE WORK

1. Medical Setting
2.Family Setting
3.Correctional Setting
4.Educational Setting
5.Child Welfare Setting
6.Corporate Setting
 Examples
• Counseling a runaway youth
• Helping an unemployed person secure training or
employment
• Counseling someone who is suicidal
• Placing a homeless and vulnerable child to adoptive or
foster home
• Counselling a teenage pregnant girl
• Counselling someone with an alcohol or drug problem
• Finding nursing home for a stroke victim who no longer
needs hospitalization
• Protective services to a person facing family
violence/abuse
 2.SOCIAL GROUP WORK
 Social group work was introduced to the social work profession when it
made its debut at the National Conference for Social Work in 1935. At this
conference, Newsletter (1935) introduced the concept of social group
work to the social work profession.

WHAT IS SOCIAL GROUP WORK?

 Social group work is a method of social work that helps persons to
enhance their social functioning through purposeful group experiences
and to cope more effectively with their personal, group or community
problems (Marjorie Murphy, 1959).

 Group work is a method of working with people in groups. A group can be

made up of two or more people. Group work is an approach aimed at personal
growth, enhancement of social functioning, and for the achievement of
socially desirable goals.
 TYPES OF GROUPS
• Social action group
• Support/Remedial/therapeutic/
treatment group
• Reciprocal groups
 PHASES OF SOCIAL GROUP
WORK
1. Forming the Group-Beginning
2. Exploration- Initial Session
3. Performing- Action Phase
4. Assessment- Evaluation
5. Termination- Separation
Problems that can be handled
using group work include
• Problems relating to addiction
• Problem relating to loss or
bereavement
 AREAS/FIELDS/SETTINGS/
APPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL
GROUP
1. Group Work in Community Settings WORK
Social Action Groups
Group Work with Disaster Victims
Groups Work Among the Substance Abusers
Group work among the caregivers
Group Work Among Young People in the Community

2. Group Work in Institutional Settings

Group Work and Child Welfare
Group work in juvenile homes
Group work with street children
Group work with parents of mentally challenged children
Group Work and Geriatric Care
Groups Work in Psychiatric Setting
Group Work in Hospitals

3. Group Work in Educational Settings

Student Friendly Environment
Camping and Indian Youth Organizations- NSS, NCC.
 3. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
Community organization viewed from a humanitarian
approach is meant to solve the problems of the community is as
old as society itself. But viewed as one of the methods of social
work profession it is of very recent origin.
WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION?
Murray G. Ross in 1955 defined community organisation as a process
by which community identifies its needs or objectives, orders (or ranks) these
needs or objectives, develops the confidence and will to work at these needs
or objectives, finds the resources (internal and/or external) to deal with these
needs or objectives takes action in respect to them and in so doing extends
and develops co-operative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the
community.
Community organization covers a series of activities at the community
level aimed at bringing about desired improvement in the social well being of
individuals, groups and neighborhoods.
In a more contemporary context, Murphy and Cunningham (2003)
have defined community organizing as “the systematic process for mobilizing
and advocating by using communal power”. They opine that “Organizing for
Community Controlled Development (OCCD).
 PROCESS OF
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION
1) Role Searching
2) Enlisting People’s Participation
3) Developing a Community Profile
4) Needs Assessment
5) Ordering/Prioritizing Needs
6) Problem Analysis and Redefinition
7) Formulation of Achievable Objectives
8) Development of Community Confidence and Willpower
9) Work Out the Alternatives
10)Selection of an Appropriate Alternative
11)Work Out a Plan of Action
12)Mobilisation of Resources
13)Implementation of Action
14)Evaluation of Action
15)Modification
16)Development of Cooperative and Collaborative Attitudes.
 AREAS/FIELDS/SETTINGS/ APPLICATIONS
OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
1. Urban/ Rural/ Tribal Community
Development
2. Working With the Community Power Structure.
3. Government/Non Government/ Corporate Sectors.
4. Models- Locality Development, Social
Planning/Policy, Social Action,Neighbourhood
Development Model,System Change
Model,Structural Change Model.
 4. SOCIAL ACTION
Social Action has been used to signify a wide range of primarily voluntary initiative to
bring out change in social systems, processes and even structure. Social workers, more
often than not, have divergent opinion about the scope and relevance of social action.
This ambiguity has even accelerated the debate whether to recognize social action as a
method of professional social work.
WHAT IS SOCIAL ACTION?
Mary Richmond, for the first time, in 1922, made use of the term social action in
social work. She has defined social action as “mass betterment through propaganda
and social legislation”.

Nanawati (1965) considered social action as “a process of bringing about the desired
changes by deliberate group and community efforts. Social action does not end with
the enactment and signing of social legislation, but that the execution of the policies
was the real test of success or failure of social action”.

Social action should not be seen only as a method but as an overriding philosophy
behind socialwork education in India.
-Armaity Desai
 PROCESS OF SOCIAL
ACTION
1. The Initiating set
2. The Legitimizers
3. The Diffusion set
4. Defining the need
5. Commitment to action
6. Goals
7. Means
8. Plan for action
9. Mobilizing and organizing
resources
10. Launching the program
11. Carrying out the program
12. Final evaluation
 AREAS/FIELDS/SETTI
NGS/ APPLICATIONS OF
SOCIAL ACTION
1)Prevention of needs.
2)Solution of mass problems.
3)Improvement in mass conditions.
4)Influencing institutions, policies and practices.
5)Introduction of new mechanisms or programmes.
6)Redistribution of power and resources.
7)Decision-making.
8)Effect on thought and action structure.
9)Improvement in health, education and welfare.
 5. SOCIAL WELFARE
ADMINISTRATION
Social welfare administration is a process by which we apply professional competence
to achieve certain goals. It is called a process of transforming social policy into social
action. It involves the administration of government and Nongovernment agencies.

WHAT IS SOCIAL WELFARE ADMINISTRATION?

Herleigh Tracker (1971) interprets social welfare administration as a “process of
working with people in ways that release and relate their energies so that they use
available resources to accomplish the purpose of providing needed community services
and programmes.”
John C Kidneigh 1950 : social work administration is “the process of transforming
social policy into socialservices ……..a two-way process:

1)transforming policy into concrete social services, and

2)the use of experience in recommending modification of policy”.
 PROCESS/ FUNCTINS/ SCOPE OF SW
ADMINISTRATION
1. P- Planning
2. O- Organizing
3. S- Staffing
4. D- Directing
5. Co- Coordinating
6. R- Reporting
7. B- Budgetting
8. E- Evalution
9. F- Feedback
 6. SOCIAL WORK
RESEARCH
Social Work Research is the application of research methods to the
production of knowledge that Social Workers need to solve problems they
confront in the practice of Social Work.

WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH?

G R Madan in Indian Social Problems Vol-2 (Page No-18): Social Work

Research is the systematic critical investigation of questions in the social
welfare field with the purpose of yielding answers to problems of social work
and of extended.

In brief “it helps Social Workers to find ways and means of enhancing
social functioning at the individual, group and social levels.
 THE RESEARCH
PROCESS
 Stage I : Selection and Formulation of Problem
 Stage II : Formulation of Hypothesis
 Stage III : Formulation of Research Design
 Stage IV : Collection of Data
 Stage V : Analysis and Interpretation of Data
 Stage VI : Generalizations.
 AREAS/FIELDS/SETTINGS/
APPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL
WORK RESEARCH
1.Social Work Theory
2.Social Work Practicum
3.Social Work Profession
 CONCLUSION
The discipline of social work has a long history
of evolution from charity-based tradition to the
autonomous profession of today. The concern for
professionalizing and acadamizing social work across
the globe became a significant issue in the beginning
of the twentieth century in the west including Europe
and the US. From the west, social work as a
professional discipline has spread all over the world.
 REFERENC
ES
1. Prof. Gracious Thomas (2010). Origin and Development of Social Work.
Indira
Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

2. Prof. Gracious Thomas (2010).Case Work and Counselling: Working with

Individuals. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

3. Prof. Gracious Thomas (2010).Social Group Work: Working with Groups.

Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

4. Prof. Gracious Thomas (2010). Community Organization Management

for Community Development. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New
Delhi.

5. Prof. Gracious Thomas (2010).Social Work Research. Indira Gandhi

National Open University, New Delhi.
ROLE OF SOCIAL
WORKER
List of Social Worker
Roles
Advocate
Counselor
Mediator
Researcher
Educator
Manager
Case Manager
Facilitator
Community
change agent
Broker
 ADVOCATE
In the advocate role, the social
worker fights for the rights of
those disempowered by society
with the goal of empowering the
client. The social worker speaks
on behalf of clients when others
will not listen or when clients are
unable to do so.

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vocate-9054104
 COUNSELOR

In the role of counselor, the social

worker helps clients express their
needs, clarify their problems,
explore resolution strategies, and
applies intervention strategies to
develop and expand the capacities
of clients to deal with their problems
more effectively. A key function of
this role is to empower people by
affirming their personal strengths http://www.cliparthut.com/counselor-clip-art-
clipart-uaf2Lp.html

and their capacities to deal with their

problems more effectively.
 MEDIATOR

In the mediator role, the social

worker intervenes in disputes
between parties to help them
find compromises, reconcile
differences, and reach mutually
satisfying agreements. The
mediator takes a neutral stance
among the involved parties.

http://www.fotosearch.com/ILW504/r
uggia0488c/
 RESEARCHE
R
In the researcher role, a social worker
evaluates practice interventions and with
others evaluates program outcomes. The
researcher critically analyze the literature
on relevant topics of interest and uses
this information to inform practice. A
researcher extends and disseminates
knowledge, and seeks to enhance the
effectiveness of social work practice.

https://www.fau.edu/ssw/organization
s/sowsa.php
 EDUCATO
R
In the Educator role, social
workers are involved in
teaching people about
resources and how to
develop particular skills such
as budgeting, the caring
discipline of children, effective
communication, the meaning
of a medical diagnosis, and
the prevention of violence. http://www.onlinebusiness.newstipstricks.com/how-can-you-do-more-to-
inspire-your-employees/
 CASE
MANAGER
In the role of a Case manager, the social
worker locates services and assists their
clients to access those services. Case
management is especially important for
complex situations and for those who are
homeless or elderly, have chronic
physical or mental health issues, are
disabled, victims of domestic or other
violent crimes, or are vulnerable children

. http://donnienicole.com/2010/06/21/project-organization-
financial-documents/
 COMMUNITY
CHANGE AGENT
As a community change agent, the social

worker participates as part of a group or

organization seeking to improve or restructure

some aspect of community service provision.

A change agent, working with others, uses a

problem-solving model to identify the problem,

solicit community input, and plan for change. A

community change agent acts in a

coordinated manner to achieve planned

change at multiple levels that helps to shift the

focus of institutional resources to meet http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/neighborho

od-clipart-7367249

identified goals.
 FACILITATO
R
In this role, social workers are
involved in gathering groups of
people together for a variety of
purposes including community
development, self advocacy,
political organization, and policy
change. Social workers are
involved as group therapists and http://www.utsab.org/joomla25/index.php/events/12-
gbm/event_details
task group leaders.
 BROKER
In the role of a broker, a social worker is
responsible for identifying, locating, and
linking clients to needed resources in a
timely manner.
Once the client’s needs are assessed and
potential services identified, the broker
assists the client in choosing the most
appropriate service option and assists in
negotiating the terms of service delivery. In
this role the social worker is also concerned
http://pixshark.com/office-
with the quality, quantity, and accessibility administration-clipart.htm

of services.
 MANAGER

As managers, social workers are

better able to influence policy
change and/or development, and to
dvocate, on a larger scale, for all
underprivileged people.

http://masspeaceaction.
org/4081
 SOCIAL WORK IN
DISABILITY
• Professional social work is
based on problem solving and
change management
• The aim of social worker is to
work in partnership with
service users, families, carers,
staff and service providers to
identify needs, provide
practical and emotional
support and empower service
users and their families to
enhance their quality of life.
 Medical SOCIAL WORK
IN REHAB
• Social workers work alongside people
with disabilities and families to realize
social inclusion, community living,
employment, family support, and
rehabilitation
• Disabled individuals are commonly
depicted as suffering subjects,
characterized by the devastating changes
and crises for both themselves and their
families
 SOCIAL WORK IN
REHAB
• Addresses the issue of grief, loss and
bereavement associated with mental
and physical disability
• Practice with people with disabilities
attempts to take into account their
abilities instead of disabilities in
service planning, delivery, and
assessment
 Areas of Social Work
Intervention in the field of
Disability
• Maximizes clients’ involvement in exploring
an expanded range of options and choices;
• Prepares clients to be more effective in
dealings with professionals, bureaucrats and
agencies that often do not understand nor
appreciate their need for self-determination
• At the organizing level, mobilizes and helps
to empower groups of people with
disabilities to consider policy and program
alternatives that can improve their situation
• Social Work bases its interventions on a
systematic body of evidence based knowledge and
practice. The primary area of Social Work
intervention is therapeutic work
• Participation in Person-Centred Plans with service
users their families and other team members.
• Administration and report writing.
• Referral to and liaising with other relevant
internal and external services and resources
• Maintaining communication and networking with
relevant people and services.