Functions of Social work

Function of social work refers to the natural activity of social work or the statements of how social work operates.
According to Proff. P.D. Mishra social work operates to assist individuals in adjusting to the institutional frame work of the society
and attempts to modify the institutional frame work itself in appropriate areas. 
He classified the functions of social work into the following 4 major categories:
1.Curative Function :  
The services provided under curative functions are–medical and health services, services relating to psychiatry, child guidance, child
welfare services, services for the handicapped or disable in the form of protection and rehabilitation. These kinds of services aim to
cure the physical, social, material, psychological sickness of individuals in the society.
2.Correctional Function :
The correctional function of social work has three broad areas, such as:
a) Individual reform service which includes prison reform, probation, parole and other related services.
b) Services for improving social relationship which includes family welfare services, school social work, industrial social work etc.
c) Services for social reform that includes employment services, prevention of commercial sex work, beggary prohibition services and
removal of untouchability etc.
3.Preventive Function:
It includes life insurance services, public assistance, social legislation, adult education and prevention of diseases etc. This type of
function basically deals with the services relating to the prevention of problems like insecurity, unlawfulness, ignorance, sickness etc.
It is directed towards the elimination of those factors in the social environment or those deficiencies in the development of personality
that prevents the individual from achieving a minimum desirable standard of socio-economic life.
4.Developmental Function :
Developmental function includes the tasks of socio-economic development activities such as: education, recreational services, urban
and rural development programmes and programmes of integration etc which are primarily concerned with the development of
individuals, families, groups and communities.
The basic functions of social work can be divided in 3 broad interdependent and interrelated categories, viz;
1. Restoration of social functioning
2. Provision of resources and
3. Prevention of social dysfunction.
1. The restoration of impaired social functioning is the oldest and most commonly known function of social work profession. This
function is subdivided into curative and rehabilitative aspects. The curative aspects are to eliminate environmental factors that have
caused break down of social functioning of individuals, groups or communities and the role of the rehabilitative aspects is to recognize
and rebuild interaction patterns in the society. As mentioned earlier, social work tries to intervene at the point where the individual
interacts with his environment. The environmental factors hindering the functioning of a person may be social, economic, political or
cultural. This function emphasizes at problem solving through modification in the psycho-social environment of individual and groups
and through bringing about changes in the attitude of recipients of the services. Therefore, if a person becomes dysfunctional due to
any of the above mentioned environmental factors, the first task at hand will be to restore the person’s normal functioning. The second
task will be to assess the damage caused by the dysfunction and strategies are devised to rehabilitate the person socially and bring him
back to the normal mainstream.

2. Provision of Resources is further subdivided into developmental and educational. The developmental aspects are designed to extend
effectiveness of existing social, human and material resources or to bring about full utilization personal capacity for more social
interaction. The educational functions are designed to make the public aware about specific conditions and needs for new and
changing resources and approaches.

3. The prevention of social dysfunction involves early detection, control and elimination of conditions and situations that could
obstruct effective social functioning. The main two divisions are preventions of problems in the area of human interaction (individuals
and groups) and secondly, prevention of social ills. Although it is a very important function of social work, it is neglected in most
situations. Social work has generally concentrated on the curative and rehabilitative function and has worked on the problem solving
model. However, keeping in the mind the rapidly changing social scenario, it has become imperative to adopt the preventive approach
to social work. The profession should ensure that problems are neither created nor eliminated at the very beginning. For this function
the social workers play a crucial role of conscientization, capacity building and organizing people so that they themselves can prevent
social dysfunctions. In the present day context, social work has to emphasize on the aspects of change. It is increasingly being realized
that the main cause of dysfunction lies not with the people but with the systems within which they operate. Either the people do not
get and environment or resources required for proper social functioning or they do not have access to the resources to fulfill their
needs. Therefore, there is a need to challenge and change the system so that people get a favourable environment to function. In a
nutshell, it can be said that the function of social work should shift from a status quo service oriented approach to change oriented
development approach.
Social Work Competencies The nine Social Work Competencies are listed below. Programs may add competencies that are
consistent with their mission and goals and respond to their context. Each competency describes the knowledge, values, skills, and
cognitive and affective processes that comprise the competency at the generalist level of practice, followed by a set of behaviors
that integrate these components. These behaviors represent observable components of the competencies, while the preceding
statements represent the underlying content and processes that inform the behaviors.

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its
ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social
workers understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in
practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction between personal and
professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions influence their professional
judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession’s history, its mission, and the roles and responsibilities of the
profession. Social Workers also understand the role of other professions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers
recognize the importance of life-long learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and
effective. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice.
Social workers: • make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations,
models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context; • use
reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations; • demonstrate
professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication; • use technology ethically and
appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and • use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice Social workers understand how diversity and difference characterize and
shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the
intersectionality of multiple factors including but not limited to age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender,
gender identity and expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual
orientation, and tribal sovereign status. Social workers understand that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences
may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers also
understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures
and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and
power. Social workers: • apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life
experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels; • present themselves as learners and engage clients and
constituencies as experts of their own experiences; and • apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of
personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice Social workers understand that every
person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of
living, health care, and education. Social workers understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations,
and are knowledgeable about theories of human need and social justice and strategies to promote social and economic justice and
human rights. Social workers understand strategies designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods,
rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural human
rights are protected. Social workers: 8 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards SOCIAL WORK COMPETENCIES • apply
their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels;
and • engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice. Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed
Research and Research-informed Practice Social workers understand quantitative and qualitative research methods and their
respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice. Social workers know the principles of logic,
scientific inquiry, and culturally informed and ethical approaches to building knowledge. Social workers understand that evidence
that informs practice derives from multi-disciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also understand the processes for
translating research findings into effective practice. Social workers: • use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry
and research; • apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings;
and • use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery. Competency 5: Engage in
Policy Practice Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by
policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of
social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers
understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the
historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also
knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Social workers: • Identify social policy at the
local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services; • assess how social welfare and
economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services; • apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate
for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Competency 6: Engage with Individuals,
Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the
dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human
behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and
constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to
engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional
Behavior Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic,
and Environmental Justice Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice Competency 5:
Engage in Policy Practice Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency 7:
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups,
Organizations, and Communities Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards 9 Social workers understand how their personal experiences and
affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value
principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and
other professionals as appropriate. Social workers: • apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-
environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and • use empathy,
reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies. Competency 7: Assess Individuals,
Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the
dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and
apply this knowledge in the assessment of diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities. Social workers understand methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice
effectiveness. Social workers recognize the implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the
importance of inter-professional collaboration in this process. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and
affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making. Social workers: • collect and organize data, and apply critical
thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies; • apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,
person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and
constituencies; • develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs,
and challenges within clients and constituencies; and • select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research
knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies. Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups,
Organizations, and Communities Social workers understand that intervention is an ongoing component of the dynamic and
interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities. Social workers are knowledgeable about evidence-informed interventions to achieve the goals of clients and
constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human
behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to effectively intervene with clients and
constituencies. Social workers understand methods of identifying, analyzing and implementing evidence-informed interventions to
achieve client and constituency goals. Social workers value the importance of interprofessional teamwork and communication in
interventions, recognizing that beneficial outcomes may require interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and inter-organizational
collaboration. Social workers: • critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of
clients and constituencies; • apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other
multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies; • use inter-professional collaboration as
appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes; • negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and
constituencies; and • facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals. Competency 9: Evaluate
Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing
component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families,
groups, organizations and communities. Social workers recognize the importance of evaluating processes and outcomes to advance
practice, policy, and service delivery effectiveness. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social
environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in evaluating outcomes. Social workers understand qualitative and
quantitative methods for evaluating outcomes and practice effectiveness. Social workers: • select and use appropriate methods for
evaluation of outcomes; • apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other
multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes; • critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and
program processes and outcomes; and • apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro
levels.