WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?

REPUBLICT ACT 4373 (1965) “SOCIAL WORK LAW”

The profession which is primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed at facilitating
and strengthening basic social relationships and the mutual adjustment between individuals and their
social environment for the good of the individual and of society by the use of social work methods.

2014 Global Definition of Social Work (Approved by the IFSW General Meeting and the IASSW General
Assembly in July 2014)

“Social Work is 1. practice-based profession and an 2. academic discipline that promotes 3. social change
and development, social cohesion, and the 4. empowerment and 5. liberation of people. Principles of 6.
justice, human 7. rights, 8. collective responsibility and respect for 9. 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 well-being”.

BASIC CONCEPTS RELATED TO SOCIAL WORK DEFINITION; INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF:

RA 4373 (1965) “SOCIAL WORK LAW)

GLOBAL DEFINITION BY THE IFSW & IASSW (2014)

SOCIAL WELFARE ?

Broadest sense: covers everything that men do for the good of society.

Gertrude Wilson: an organized concern of all people for all people.

Walter Friedlader: organized system of social services and institutions, designed to aid individuals and
groups to attain satisfying standards of life and health.

Elizabeth Wickenden: includes those laws, programs, benefits and services which assure or strengthen
provisions for meeting social needs recognized as basic to the well-being of the population and the
better functioning of the social order.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONING

Rationale:

1. Defines the nature and scope of social work

2. Gives meaning and reason for being to the social work profession

3. Distinguishes social work from all other professions

4. Keeps workers focused on social work objectives and mission

5. Clarifies workers’ perspectives of social work tasks and functions

6. Guides workers in identifying effective tools and methodologies

7. Ability of an individual to meet role expectations associated with a particular status or role
 8.  A client’s ability to accomplish the activities necessary for daily living and to fulfil major social
roles as required by a particular subculture or community

9.  The relation between the activity of people and the demand from the environment

Social functioning problems are caused by any of the following:

1) Personal inadequacies – due to physiological factors like poor physical condition, wrong attitudes,
poor or unrealistic perception of reality, ignorance, and lack of skills.

2) Situational - refer to the lack of resources and opportunities in society, the existence of resources or
opportunities, which, however, are beyond the reach or coping capacities of people, and the existence
of an unjust or exploitative situation in the workplace, or in the community.

Person-in-Environment/Person-in-Situation

 The person responds within the context of the environment

 The person is a product of his past experiences, is being shaped by present socio-politico-economic
realities equipped with potentialities for becoming.

 The person’s environment is made up of both internal and external elements.

External

 Physical characteristics of the environment

 Geographical location

 Weather and climate

 Natural resources

 Socio-political-economic-cultural conditions

Internal

 Perceived situation as sensed and interpreted in the mind of the person

 Thoughts and feelings about the environment which uniquely define his/her situation

The person as a Bio-psychosocial and Spiritual Being: the person is a total being made up of several
aspects

Biological – supports the biological integrity and functioning of the person.

Social – systems within which a person lives, relates, and is influenced.

Psychological – support the person’s ability to mobilize his/her internal and external resources to satisfy
personal needs and avoid internal and external threats.
Spiritual – activities related to the persons search for meaning to life and existence.

SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE

VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE

1) Residual social welfare– conceives social welfare structure as temporary, offered during emergency
situations and withdrawn when the regular social system (family, economic system) is again working
properly.

- often carry the stigma of “doles” or “charity”.

2) Institutional social welfare – sees social welfare as a proper, legitimate function of modern society.

- That some individuals are not able to meet all their needs – considered “normal” condition, and
helping agencies are accepted as “regular” social institutions.

Social Welfare Programs Categories:

1) Social security – refers to the whole set of compulsory measures instituted to protect the individual
and his family against the consequences of an unavoidable interruption or serious diminution of the
earned income disposable for maintenance of a reasonable standard of leaving.

Examples:

Social insurance, provident funds

SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE

2) Personal social services – refer to service functions which have a major bearing upon personal
problems, individual situations of stress, interpersonal helping or helping people in need, and the
provision of direct services in collaboration with workers from government and voluntary agencies.

Examples:

Programs for counselling, therapy and rehabilitation

Programs for providing access, information and advice

Institutional services

Child protective services

Programs for the treatment of deviants

3) Public Assistance – refers to material/concrete aids/support provided, usually by government

Social Services
refers to the programs, services and other activities provided under various auspices, to concretely
answer the needs and problems of the members of society.

- variety of programs among which were social/public assistance, social insurance, child welfare,
corrections, mental hygiene, public health, education, recreation, labor protection and housing.