This essay will discuss the role of a social worker as well as demonstrate the importance of set professional values within the profession of social work. The term social work can refer to many things; there is no one objective definition of social work. Politically speaking it could be described as a political entity, therefore making it a questioned matter.
However according to the international association of schools of social work and the international federation of social workers, social work has clearly been described as a line of work which encourages and promotes social change in today’s society as well as promoting problem solving in terms of human relationships. Social work intervenes at the point where one interacts within their primary environment; this has a synoptic link to empowerment and liberation of the community to enrich safety and welfare.Relating back to the question social workers have to possess set professional values and principles. Social workers ought to promote advocacy, human rights and social justice as these are fundamental principles and values to social work. Social work developed out of humanitarian and egalitarian principles, its foundations are based on respect, equality and social justice for all people.
Ever since the early development of the National Association of Social Work in 1955, the profession of social work has concentrated on meeting human needs and increasing human potential.In addition, social work attempts to relieve poverty and to support vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion and equality. Therefore one can state social workers today assist people with practical or emotional problems that may trigger concern. This could include helping to arrange services which support and advise individuals on welfare benefits, or helping people with emotional impact of an illness. This has a synoptic link to the Care Standards Act 2000.
To go into detail one can look at the activities social workers carry out on a daily basis. Descriptively speaking social workers carry out activities such as assessing the needs and circumstances of individuals who request or are mentioned for community or social work help. Social workers also take part in solving relationship issues as well as facilitative activities which help individuals mix within society. Such supportive activities are carried out at the level of the individual, community or family group.This is linked to the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995.
Furthermore social workers also assess the nature and risk of vulnerable individuals who may be exposed to any sort of danger whether emotional or physical. Relating back to the question social workers should use their set professional values when practising social work, by doing so social workers promote equality and treat each service user equally, therefore not judging them based on their race, colour or culture.However on an analytical point values are referred to as a set of beliefs and principles, such values are moulded into one through primary and secondary socialisation, culture and religion. One can become naturally accustomed to their own values resulting in a failure to understand the fact that they play a huge role in influencing ones actions. However in context of social work, set professional values should not have any influence by religion or culture.
The set professional values refer to a set of fundamental moral and ethical principles to which social workers are dedicated to.Social workers have a responsibility to support and abide by the code of ethics when carrying out duties to people who are in need of social work services. The code of Ethics is synoptically linked to equality and rights legislation such as Equality Act 2010 and Carers (equal opportunities) Act 2004. Ethically speaking the values of a social worker should give the social worker the ability and commitment to act ethically, as this is a vital aspect of the social work profession, as well as the service which is offered to those who engage with social workers.
Furthermore the core value of social work practise is in respecting human rights and promoting social justice. To exemplify this one can look at attempting to maximize the happiness of each individual. This could also be one of the values of a social worker as such value is linked to advocacy and equality. By possessing set professional values a social worker has a guide to action, as well as a frame work for making sense of professional practise.Social workers should uphold the value of their profession, be trustworthy, maintain professional boundaries, make professional judgments as well as be professionally accountable. Arguably speaking without a set of professional values social workers can make decisions which could be influenced by their own culture, religion and personal values, resulting in biased decisions, therefore one can state that set professional values make the profession of social work in today’s society fair, equal and available to any individual, community or family group.
Furthermore it could be argued that the role of a social worker has changed since the past twenty years, Legislation plays a huge part in the profession of social work. In the past fifty years social workers were mainly determined by the political and organisational laws of the agency in which social workers were employed. Therefore a change in legislation meant a change in a social workers professional role. To exemplify this one can look at the Children Act 1989.Before introducing the Children Act 1989, the law as it then existed seemed to limit parents challenging social workers, also magistrates seemed to look over and rubber stamp decisions as oppose to calling social workers to solve the problem. After the introduction of the children’s act social workers and other child welfare professionals were expected to intervene in family and domestic issues.
This indicates that before 1989 social workers had no overall authority to intervene in anything unless the government ordered social workers to do so.
