What Is Social Work?

Introduction:

Social work is a practice-based profession that promotes social change, development, cohesion and
the empowerment of people and communities.

Social work practice involves the understanding of human development, behavior and the social,
economic and cultural institutions and interactions. Social work professionals working with families
and institutions have helped to provide and advance the following social impacts:

 Civil Rights

 Unemployment Insurance

 Disability Pay

 Workers’ Compensation

 Reduced Mental Health stigma

 Medicaid and Medicare

 Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.

Levels of Social Work:

Generally, there are three levels of social work practice: micro, mezzo and macro social work. At
each level, social work professionals provide slightly different services to target populations.

1
  Micro Social Work:

At the micro level, social workers provide one-on-one, family and small-group services to
individuals addressing a wide range of social issues. These may include housing support,
substance abuse counseling and mental health therapy.

 Mezzo Social Work:

Social workers who operate at the mezzo level work with groups of people, such as in a
school, prison, hospital or neighborhoods. They may help students struggling academically,
address substance abuse recovery with prison inmates or help coordinate care for patients
who are admitted to hospitals for long-term care.

 Macro Social Work:

Macro-level social work encompasses policy making, research and community based
initiatives. Social workers at this level of practice are more likely to focus on and help
address larger societal issues like homelessness, substance abuse, housing and more.

History of Social Work

The practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern and scientific origin and is
generally considered to have developed out of three strands. The first was individual casework, a
strategy pioneered by the Charity Organization Society in the mid-19th century, which was founded
by Helen Bosanquet and Octavia Hill in London, England. Most historians identify COS as the
pioneering organization of the social theory that led to the emergence of social work as a
professional occupation. COS had its main focus on individual casework. The second was social
administration, which included various forms of poverty relief – 'relief of paupers'. Statewide
poverty relief could be said to have its roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century but was
first systematized through the efforts of the Charity Organization Society. The third consisted of
social action – rather than engaging in the resolution of immediate individual requirements, the
emphasis was placed on political action working through the community and the group to improve
their social conditions and thereby alleviate poverty. This approach was developed originally by
the Settlement House Movement.

This was accompanied by a less easily defined movement; the development of institutions to deal
with the entire range of social problems. All had their most rapid growth during the nineteenth
century, and laid the foundation basis for modern social work, both in theory and in practice.

2
Professional social work originated in 19th century England, and had its roots in the social and
economic upheaval wrought by the Industrial Revolution, in particular, the societal struggle to deal
with the resultant mass urban-based poverty and its related problems. Because poverty was the
main focus of early social work, it was intricately linked with the idea of charity work.

Other important historical figures that shaped the growth of the social work profession are Jane
Addams, who founded the Hull House in Chicago and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931; Mary Ellen
Richmond, who wrote Social Diagnosis, one of the first social workbooks to incorporate law,
medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and history; and William Beveridge, who created the social welfare
state, framing the debate on social work within the context of social welfare provision.

Scope of social work:

The scope of social work refers to the degree to which we can intervene in social work. It could also
refer to the sectors or fields in which social work methods, tools, and approaches can be used. The
scope of social work as a career ranges from a single person to a major organisation like UNO. The
scope of social work can be broadly classified into three categories:

 Non-governmental, semi-governmental, and governmental agencies that provide social

3
 The methods by which they provide services, such as Case Work, Group Work,
Community Organization, Social Action, Social Research, and Social Welfare Administration and
 The various types of services (fields of social work) that they provide to different individuals,
groups, and communities while keeping in mind the following criteria.

With changes in its objectives and the changing socioeconomic context, scope of social work has
shifted. The profession is becoming more well-known for its one-of-a-kind services to the
public, and it is increasingly being asked to execute new and varied duties. The primary goal of
social work is to resolve psychosocial issues that block an social advancement. As one of
the newest fields of study,

social work is gradually encompassing all aspects of human existence. As a result, its scope is
gradually broadening. Its focus has recently expanded to include international and inter-racial issues.
In the following ways, it relates with practically all of society's groups:

1.Public Assistance:

It is a type of assistance provided in response to the applicants' economic social requirements. It is

2. Social Insurance:

As with government help, certain life events, such as old age, unemployment, industrial
accidents, and occupational diseases, are also covered by social insurance. It does not require a
means test. Benefits are only available to individuals who pay a specified level of contribution under
this system of service. It is partially funded by the government. In practice, social insurance covers
risks such as medical care in the event of illness, medical care and cash allowances in the event of
work-related, pension during incapacity, pension during old age after retirement, and cash
allowances to the wife and other defendants in the of death. The applicants' benefits are pre-
determined in this case.

3. Family Welfare Services:

Family is both an institution and a group of people. Among all social institutions, it is the oldest and
most lasting. In the context of human, it is the first and most significant of all types of relationships.
In the field of family organization, social work plays an important role. It gives financial support and
counselling to the family in areas such as marriage, health, economic issues, and raising

4
siblings. The social worker, with his or her knowledge of human relationships, is responsible for
developing a harmonious relationship between the person and his or her family. As a result, social
workers must play an important role in family organisation.

4.Child Welfare Service:

Many children's welfare services are also provided by social workers. Residential institutions for
their care and protection, as well as education and rehabilitation of socially impaired children,
such as orphans and children of unmarried mothers, are among them. Temporary homes for,
daycare centres, recreational and cultural institutions, and holiday houses for children from
low-income families are all part of the Child Welfare Agency.

5.Community Welfare Service:

Another essential unit in social work practise is the community. The establishment of
urban community development centres dealing with welfare aspects of slum improvement
such as slum clearance, sanitation, health education and care, seeking employment for women,
dormitories and night shelters for migrant homeless people, holiday homes for children,
and community welfare service in rural areas, among other things, are all part of the
community welfare service.

6.Labor Welfare Service:

In terms of its definition, the word "labour welfare" is somewhat broad. Due to varying societal
practises and levels of industrialization, it can be interpreted in a variety of ways. According to the
ILO study, "worker welfare" refers to "services, facilities, and amenities that may be
established in the vicinity of undertakings to enable those employed there to perform their
work in a healthy, pleasant environment with amenities conducive to good health and high morals."
For labour welfare, social work has a wide range of applications, including family management
counselling, safety maintenance counselling, labour rights advocacy, health education, and value
education, among others.

7. Welfare Service for the Handicapped:

Handicapped persons or the disable are another needy part of the Indian population. Hence, social
work or social welfare has a strong role in working for them. The welfare service for disabled
includes institution for the care and rehabilitation of physically and mentally retired, hostels for the
working handicapped, small production units for the differently able, special schools for

5
mentally retire children and orthopaedically challenged and counselling service for mentally
depressed etc.

8. Welfare Services for the Aged and Infirm:

People in their later years require a variety of services from society. In this regard, social work plays
a larger role in understanding their needs and working toward a happy ending by ensuring that they
have a satisfied and comfortable life. Running an old age home, recreational facilities, physical
support, and psychological support are all examples of social work activities for the elderly and
infirm.

9. Youth Welfare Service:

Youth is a stage of life in which a person can contribute their best to the betterment of society and
their own well-being through training and development. Self-expression, companionship,
community life, and national service should all be part of a young person's life.

6
References:
 https://socialworklicensemap.com/become-a-social-worker/.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work#History.
 https://www.studocu.com/in/document/jamia-millia-islamia/history-and-philosophy-of-social-
work/objectives-and-scope-of-social-work/21752031.