Disclaimer: The contents of this module are a collection of reading materials

culled from various websites and books. Because of the importance of each

presentation to the Social Work Profession, this cannot be altered or

paraphrased. The authors should be given credit for their work, which is cited

in the reference section.

MODULE 1: THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND VALUE
FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION

OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE:

Social work philosophy is derived from the society of which it is a part. The belief
that man has worth and dignity underpins social work. This module explains the
philosophical and ethical foundations of the social work profession. It will go over
the significance of social work values in the aiding process. It will also get across the
various principles, each of which is endowed with a fundamental philosophy and
professional values. The practice of social work is guided by certain basic principles
or rules of action for the practitioner that emanate from such values, as opposed to
principles of action that are based on tested knowledge or general truths.

This module also provides an analysis of professional ethics, which covers the ethical
principles and rules of conduct that are generally accepted by members of a
professional group, based on the philosophy, values, and guiding principles of that
profession. This module also includes social functioning as a focus of concern for
social workers. It distinguishes social work from other professions and elaborates on
the specific job assignment of the social worker in society. It also emphasizes the
meaning of social functioning as defined by various theorists. Finally, this module
covers the three functions of social work, which are rehabilitative, preventive, and
developmental.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Capacitate the students with the values of social work.
2. Understand the principles of the profession.
3. Adhere to the social work code of ethics.
4. Understand the social work primary concern.
5. Become acquainted with the functions of social work.

CONTENTS: The module is divided into five lessons, namely:

Lesson 1 – Values of Social Work Profession
Lesson 2 – Principles of Social Work
Lesson 3 – Code of Ethics
Lesson 4 – Social Functioning (causes and responses)
Lesson 5 – The functions of Social Work

DURATION: 2 weeks
 LESSON 1: VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK
PROFESSION
OVERVIEW:

Social work is a values-based profession, which distinguishes us from many

other professions. Different values define who we are and what we do in social
work. The professional practitioner must adhere to an identifiable set of values
and demonstrate attitudes that stem from these values and determine the
professional's relationship with their colleagues, service recipients, and the
community. These attitudes must be professional, in other words, distinct from
lay attitudes and characteristics of a professional subculture.

A professional must have a set of skills that are the result of combining attitudes
and knowledge. Skills reflect the application of general concepts that are
characteristic of the profession's methods. The application of a method meets the
criteria of systematic procedure and seeks to add to the body of theory on which
professional practice and related disciplines are based, concepts that add to
professional knowledge, and by advancing evaluation of professional practice
effectiveness. Members of the profession must be organized and consider
themselves to be members of a group whose knowledge, skills, attitudes, and
standards of behavior they share and whose advancement they are committed
to. (Boehm)

LEARNING OUTCOME:

1. Understand the values of social work;

2. Learn the principles of the profession;
3. Learn the social work code of ethics;
4. Grasp the importance of being aware of your personal values
concerning with your professional values and principles;
5. Know its importance in the social work helping process; and
6. Assess certain situations on whether the professional values and
principles are being observed or not.
 ABSTRACTION:

Before we proceed, let us first examine the various definitions of the term "value."
Some definitions of value include the importance, worth, and usefulness of
something, as well as the principles or standards of behavior. It is also defined
as the worth that people place on certain things, systems, or people based on
their usefulness, truth, goodness, or beauty. According to William Gordon, to
value something is to prefer it, and the amount of money, effort, or sacrifice
required to obtain what is preferred is a measure of the extent of that preference.

The Curriculum Study sponsored by the Council on Social Work Education

described the following values shared in common by the whole profession. (TLM)

1. Each person has the right to self-fulfillment, deriving his inherent capacity
and thrust toward that goal.
2. Each person has the obligation, as a member of society, to seek ways of
self-fulfillment that contribute to the common good.
3. Society has the obligation to facilitate the self-fulfillment of the individual
and the right to enrichment through the contribution of its individual
members.
4. Each person requires for the harmonious development of his powers
socially provided and socially safeguarded opportunities for satisfying his
basic needs in the physical, psychological, economic, cultural, aesthetic,
and spiritual realms.
5. As society becomes more complex and interdependent, increasingly
specialized social organization is required to facilitate the individual’s effort
at self-realization. Although conflicts between individuals and society can
never be entirely absent, social organization should be such as to reduce
them to a minimum. A conception of the individual and society as
interdependent leads to the view that just as it is the responsibility of
society to provide appropriate social resources which do not serve his
need-meeting efforts. Concomitantly, it is the individual’s obligation to
satisfy his individual needs as much as possible in ways that contribute
to the enrichment of the society.
6. To permit both self-realization and contribution to society by the
individual, social organization must make available socially-provided
devices for needs satisfaction as wide in range, variety, and quality as the
general welfare allows.
 According to the Curriculum Study, these values cited constitute a
minimum commitment for the social worker. Implied in this values are the
following concepts:

1. The concept of human potentials and capacities. That man can fulfill himself
is premised on the belief that he is inherently endowed with potentials and
capacities.
2. The concept of social responsibility. That the individual has the obligation to
contribute to the common good, and society, on its part, has the responsibility
to facilitate the development of its members, gives a dual meaning to this
concept. Corollary to this is the concept of rights and responsibilities which
means that every right carries a corresponding duty ir responsibility.
3. The concept of equal opportunities. This concept is premised on the ideal of
social justice, two elements of which are fairness and equality. In addition, the
concept of “access” is critical, for even if opportunities do not descriminate
against any individual or group, lack of access, for one reason or another,
detracts from the meaning of this concept.
4. The concept of social provision. This concept is based on the premise that there
will always be people everywhere, at all times, wit unmeet needs or problems
which are beyond their own capacity to solve. Thus social provision refers to
the desirability of providing social resoureces for the satisfaction of human
needs for the goal of human welfare.

CORE VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION (NASW)

We have core values of the social work profession in addition to the generic values of
social work. The core values of social work are at the heart of the field's mission, and
they demonstrate what makes the role unique. The core values, as well as the NASW
code of ethics that stems from them, must be viewed in the context and complexities
of the human experience. The broad ethical principles based on social work core
values are listed below. These principles establish the ideals to which all social
workers and students of social work should aspire.

1. Service. The main focus of social workers is to uphold exemplary public

service by helping people in need address and overcome their social issues.
They must elevate public service above self-interest or personal gain.
Because of this belief, social workers often volunteer their professional
skills—in addition to their full-time work—with no
expectation for compensation.

2. Social Justice. Social workers advocate on behalf of

those who have no voice in society. They usually target
 problems related to poverty, unemployment, discrimination, harassment
and other forms of oppression. They also educate the public on sensitive
matters that correspond with social justice by encouraging the public to
embrace opportunities for diversity and inclusion. Social workers ensure
their clients have the right resources, services and information they need
to thrive.

3. Dignity and Worth of the Individual. Since everyone has their own social
and cultural values, professionals in this line of work have to be mindful
of them. Social workers must treat each person with dignity and respect
to help them reach their full potential. For example, a social worker might
encourage a client to address their personal challenges in the hope they
will become more socially responsible. Social workers have to be mindful
of their role to the people they serve and to society as a whole and seek out
fair solutions for all parties.

4. Importance of Human Relationships. Building positive, meaningful

relationships lie at the core of social work. Professionals understand that
human connection is critical when it comes to change. Social workers
engage clients with individuals, groups or organizations in the community
to provide the appropriate help. They aspire to restore functionality
between clients and their loved ones and society. Considering that social
work relies heavily on the ability to maintain good relationships with
people who may be averse and doubtful, social workers must be patient.

5. Integrity. To facilitate successful relationships and strengthen the lives of

others, social workers need to be trustworthy. They should always be
aware of the profession’s core values and ethical principles. By setting a
good example for their clients, social workers may help progress their
career competency, further support the organizations they’re affiliated
with, and create the best value for the people they serve.

6. Competence. Although many social workers hold an undergraduate or

master’s degree in social work, a fair share of their knowledge comes from
real-world experience. In accordance with the social work values in the
NASW Code of Ethics, each social worker must practice within his or her
scope of competence. Social workers must expand their knowledge for the
benefit of the people.

Social work ethics and core values are more than just following
rules, regulations and protocols. In a profession where the
clients are often vulnerable, it’s necessary for social workers to
be passionate about empowering those who are defenseless,
oppressed or impoverished.
 LESSON 2: SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES

ABSTRACTION:

Endowed with a fundamental philosophy and professional values, social work

practice is guided by certain basic principles or rules of action for the practitioner
(emanating from such values, as opposed to “principles” of action based on tested
knowledge or general truths). Let us go over some of the principles that social workers
employ in their work with people, whether they are working with them as individuals,
groups, or as a community. The following are the social work principles from De
Guzman and Mendoza's book.

Based on De Guzman’s Book Based on Mendoza’ Book

1. Acceptance 1. Acceptance
2. Individualization 2. Client Participation
3. Nonjudgmental Attitude 3. Client Self-Determination
4. Purposeful Expression of Feelings 4. Individualization
5. Controlled Emotional Involvement 5. Confidentiality
6. Self-Determination 6. Worker’s Self-Awareness
7. Confidentiality 7. Client-Worker Relationship

1. ACCEPTANCE

 It is based on the belief that every human being is born with that every human
is born with inherent worth and dignity, that he is intrinsically good and
naturally virtuous and therefore should be treated such.
 Clients are accepted for what they are irrespective of what they have done or
failed to do. Nevertheless, clients are held accountable for their actions and
must behave responsibly toward others.
 This principle requires social worker to extend unconditional love despite
awareness of the person’s failures and weaknesses. Love in this moral sense
is more an act of will rather than an emotional impulse. It sees the person as
a human being, strong in certain qualities but with his own limitations.
 It does not include anti-social or deviant attitudes of the client. The social
worker separates the individual from his deeds; he must be viewed
independently of his acts. The object of acceptance is not the good but the real
which means dealing with the client as he is in reality.
 2. INDIVIDUALIZATION

 This principle involves the recognition and understanding of each client’s

unique qualities and the differential use of principles and methods in assisting
each toward a better adjustment.

 This principle means that the worker recognizes that while human beings have
many things in common, there are also important individual differences that
must be accepted. No two persons are alike because each personality is the
product of genetics and the environment. Each individual has the right to be
his own person, separate and distinct from others, and to be treated and
regarded as such.

 Individuals may present the same problems to a worker, but the circumstances
of the problem, the client’s individual perceptions and responses, will be
different. This implies that the social worker must be skilled in differential
diagnosis so that the kind of help he will render to each and every client meets
the particular needs of each specific case or situation, using as much as
possible the client’s own resources (his capacities and capabilities).

3. NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE

 The principle of acceptance implies a non-judgmental stance on the part of the

social worker which may be expressed in his attitude of neutrality. The worker
does not use derogatory labels to identify his clients like prostitutes, thief,
retarded, murderer, etc. He may not even assume a condemnatory attitude
towards the client’s attitudes and behavior, his values, standards and actions,
even his lifestyle. He may not assign guilt or innocence on the client.

 The worker may not say outright that the client caused or created his problem;
his skills and techniques he uses should bring the client to the point of self-
discovery, or self-awareness, of self-recognition of his own failings or
innocence.
 4. PURPOSEFUL EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS and CONTROLLED
EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT

 These principles are like the two sides of a coin. The first refers to the client
and the second, to the social worker.
 Emotional expression on the part of the client enables him to release, express
his pent-up feelings. Only then he can view more objectively his problem, his
situation and his own place in the mix-up. The client’s expression of feelings
enables the worker to gain deeper insights in the client’s problem and become
more sensitive to his needs.
 It is purposeful because the worker by interposing relevant questions or
encouraging observations provides the direction which will enable him to
acquire better understanding and more knowledge of the situation. The client
should be able to share his private thoughts freely, especially the negative
ones. Verily, the need for man to express his feelings is a strong factor in the
solution of the difficulty he is encountering.
 The controlled emotional involvement or the professional non-involvement
refers to the social worker’s way of reacting to the client’s purposeful
expression of feelings. It implies professional detachment. It means that
although the worker must be sympathetic and understanding he must guard
against becoming emotionally involved with his client. Becoming emotionally
involved is likely to color what should be an objective viewpoint. The worker is
therefore advised to remain neutral but sensitive, understanding and
responsive.
 Sensitivity refers to the ability to perceive or respond to the client’s expressed
feelings, attitudes or behavior. The worker must understand the meaning of
these feelings and behavior in relation to the client and his problem and
respond in appropriate ways to the client’s feelings.

5. CLIENT SELF-DETERMINATION

 Self-determination is a derivative of the belief that man is endowed with a

reason and a free will. Client’s self-determination is the right and need of the
client to make his own choices and decisions in the process of receiving help.
The worker has a corresponding duty to respect that right, recognize that need
and help activate the person’s potential for self-direction.
 6. CONFIDENTIALITY

 Social workers believe that the clients have a right to keep their past behavior
and present troubles private. Confidentiality refers to the preservation of secret
information concerning the client which is disclosed in a professional
relationship.

7. CLIENT PARTICIPATION

 The client participation refers to the client part and active involvement in the
entire problem-solving process. From the time that the worker begins to gather
information, the client is asked to provide pertinent facts, to present his own
perceptions of the situation and is involved in defining the nature of the
problem. If there are many problems, he is involved in prioritizing these
problems. He participates in planning, thinking of possible solutions for the
problems, alternatives and finding his own resources which can be utilized in
problem-solving.
 The worker builds upon and utilizes the client’s strengths. Right from the start,
the social worker’s move should be to make the client understand that his
participation is expected and crucial in the problem-solving process.

8. SELF-AWARENESS

 This principle means that the social worker is always conscious that her role
is to make use of her professional relationship with her client in a way that
will enhance primarily the client’s development rather than her own.
 Being a human being herself, the social worker has complex personal
motivations. She is influenced by her own cultural beliefs and values. She also
has certain biases, prejudices and negative attitudes toward certain things. All
these may enter in her relationships with the clientele system she works with.
She should therefore sufficiently understand and face herself, and be
conscious of her own responses to her clients. She must always examine her
feelings, whether they are positive and negative, and whether her responses
and feelings are professionally motivated.
 The inability to control personal responses, even if they are positive responses,
can work to the disadvantage of the client. On the other hand, negative feelings
prevent a social worker from following the primary social work principle of
acceptance.
 The conscious use of one’s self is also part of this principle. The social worker’s
actions, gestures, behavior and expression reflects her discipline and
conscious use of self. It includes the capacity to set limits when necessary.
 There is also a need for the social worker to be conscious
of how she responds or reacts to manipulation by others.
By being conscious of this, then she can learn skill of
properly handling of certain acts that undermine her
professional role.
 9. CLIENT-WORKER RELATIONSHIP

 The relationship between worker and client is the means for carrying out the
social worker’s function. A professional relationship comes to be formed on
basis of expectations from the parties who compromise the relationship, such
as between the worker and the client, and moves in the direction of certain
goals or objectives which have been identified by mutual agreement.
 The purpose of worker-client relationship is to help the client in some area of
his social functioning in which at the present time he is experiencing some
difficulty, and where, the worker, usually representing a social agency, is in
some position to offer help. Direction refers to where the relationship between
worker and client should move in order to achieve its purpose. Expectations
have to be clarified.
 LESSON 3: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

ABSTRACTION:

Ethics is the science that treats of morals and right conduct. Professional
ethics is a system of ethical principles and rules of conduct that are generally
accepted by members of a professional group, based on the philosophy, values,
and guiding principles and rules of conduct for the professional group's
guidance, as well as unwritten principles and rules of conduct that usually have
the same force as the Code. They act as a compass for the practitioner in her
professional relationships – with her client, with her colleagues and profession,
with her agency, and with the public.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

1. American Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (adopted
in 1979)
2. Philippine Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics (revised in 1998/
adopted in 1964)
3. The Ethics of Social Work – Principles and Standards by International
Federation of Social Workers (adopted 1994)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS CODE OF ETHICS

(PASWI)

We, the members of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc.

believing:

 In the inherent dignity and worth of all persons, emanating from a Supreme
Being who directs our actions of love for one another;
 That every human being has natural and social rights, capacities and
responsibilities to develop his full potentials as a human being;
 In the human being’s capacity to change and recognize the value of unity in
diversity, individual differences and pluralism in society;
 In free men and women living in a free society where poverty, in all its forms,
is neither a fate nor a punishment, but is condition that can and must be
changed;
 In the family as the basic unit of society and its vital role in the growth and
development of the individual, the family system, and
community;
 That the government, the private sector and the public
have a joint responsibility to promote social justice and
 to ensure political, economic and social well-being of all people;
 In the role of social workers as agents and advocates of change and in the
promotion of professionalism, responsibility and accountability; and,
 That our professional practice is deeply rooted in our cultural values,

DO HEREBY DECLARE that we will abide by these standards of

ethical conduct:

Relative to Self and the Profession:

 To conduct myself in a manner consistent with the philosophy, principles,

values, and beliefs of the social work profession;
 To act at all times with honesty, openness, and transparency in all my
professional transactions;
 To constantly work towards my own professional advancement so as to
contribute to the promotion of the social work practice;
 To contribute time and professional expertise to activities that promote respect
for the integrity and competence of social workers;
 To share research knowledge and practice wisdom to colleagues and other
professionals;
 To be vigilant and act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified practice of
social work;
 To support the professional association duly organized and constitute for the
professional welfare of all social workers;
 To respond and volunteer my professional services in times of emergency;
 To uphold and protect the dignity and integrity of the profession; and
 To promote cultural values that will enhance the practice of social work
profession.

Relative to Clients:

 To uphold the basic human rights of clients and serve them without
discrimination;
 To accept primary responsibility and accountability to clients, respecting their
right to self-determination and observe confidentiality in all my dealings with
them;
 To seek out the marginalized and ensure equal access to the resources,
services and opportunities required to meet basic needs; and,
 To expand choice and opportunity for all persons, with special regard for
disadvantaged or oppressed groups or persons.
Relative to Colleagues:

 To acknowledge and respect the professional expertise of other disciplines,

extending all necessary cooperation that will enhance effective services;
 To bring any violation of professional ethics and standards to the attention of
the appropriate bodies inside and outside the profession, and ensure that
relevant clients are properly involved; and
 To advocate with legislative and policy bodies for the welfare of all colleagues
 LESSON 4: SOCIAL FUNCTIONING: SOCIAL
WORK’S FOCUS OF CONCERN

ABSTRACTION:

According to William Schwartz, "every profession has a specific function to

perform in society: it receives a specific job assignment for which it is held
accountable." Thus, we know that a person suffering from a physical ailment
consults a doctor, a person accused of committing a crime consults a lawyer,
and a person seeking spiritual guidance consults a religious leader such as a
priest or minister. What about social workers, though? What is their specific "job
assignment" in society? With so many people, groups, and organizations
assisting others with a wide range of issues, how can we define the role of social
workers? Do social workers have competencies which these other individuals
and groups do not have?

The reality is that there is still a lack of clarity regarding social workers'
"professional job assignment." This lack of clarity exists not only among the
general public, but also among social workers. Many social workers are exploited
by others because of the image of "helpfulness" of social workers, an image that
evolved from the Judeo-Christian roots of the social work profession. Their
exploitation is frequently traced back to a social worker's own misunderstanding
of what should be the focus of their concern. Let us take a look at some different
writings about the primary concern of social workers.

Werner Boehm (1958)

Social work seeks to enhance the social functioning of individuals, singularly and in
groups, by activities focused upon their social relationships which constitute
interaction between individuals and their environments. These activities can be
grouped into three functions: restoration of impaired capacity, provision of individual
and social resources, and prevention of social dysfunction.

William Schwartz (1961)

The general assignment for the social work profession is to mediate the process
through which individuals and society reach out for each other through a mutual
need for self-fulfillment. This presupposes a relationship between people and their
nurturing group which we would describe as "symbiotic"—each needing the other for
its own life and growth, and each reaching out to the other with all the strength it
can command at a given moment. The social worker's field of
an intervention lies at the point where two forces meet the
individual's impetus toward health, growth, and belonging; and
the organized efforts of society to integrate its part into a
productive and dynamic whole.
William Gordon (1969)
The central focus of social work traditionally seems to have been on the person-in-
his-life situation complex – a simultaneous dual focus on man and his
environment. This focus has been concentrated at some times on the side of the
organism as interpreted by psychological theory and at other times on the side of the
environment as interpreted by sociological and economic theory. The mainstream of
social work, however, has become neither applied psychology not applied sociology.
Emphasis has been on individualizing the person-situation complex to achieve the
best match between each person and his environment, in which either behavior or
environmental situation may deviate widely from the typical or normative. We
conclude, therefore, that the central target of technical social work practice is
matching something in person and situation- that is, intervening by whatever
methods and means necessary to help people be in situations where their capabilities
are sufficiently matched with the demands of the situation to make a go of it.

Harriett Bartlett (1970)

Social Functioning is the relation between the coping activity of people and the
demand from the environment…. This dual focus ties them together. Thus, person
and situation, people and environment, are encompassed in a single concept, which
requires that they be constantly reviewed together.

Louise C. Johnson (1989)

Social workers become involved when individuals are having difficulty living with
other people, in growing to maximize their potential, and in meeting the demands of
the environment. Harriett Bartlett has described this situation as "people coping"
and “environmental demands.” The bringing together of these two aspects of living
in society can be termed social functioning. The core of the social work endeavor is
the worker and the client interacting concerning problems in social functioning;
problems in social functioning are the reasons for the worker-client interaction.
Thus, the ultimate goal of social work practice is the enhancement of the social
functioning of individuals.

The preceding descriptions are consistent with the viewpoint that the focus of social
work, social functioning, refers to the interaction between an individual and his or
her situation or environment. Because social functioning is such an important
concept in social work, you should be very clear about what it entails. You've
probably noticed how different authors use the phrases "person and situation" and
"person and environment." It is permissible to use either of these two. Nonetheless,
let me distinguish between the terms "situation" and "environment."
 What is Social Environment?

The social environment is a network of overlapping social systems and situations,

including ecological systems, cultures, and institutions whereas a social situation is
an impinging segment of the social environment. A social institution is a smaller,
more immediate environment that "has meaning for the individual and that is
uniquely perceived and interpreted by him, in which he has one or more status –
roles and identities is group member and a role performer." One example is the
"family situation" where one functions as a wife, mother, and bread winner. An
aggregate or complex of social situations (in each of which the individual functions
as a group member and has a role, identity, and role set) constitutes the individual's
total situation or his/her milieu. Norton (1978) identifies two distinct sets of
influences that make up a person’s social environment: the nurturing environment
and the sustaining environment.

One’s nurturing environment (or immediate environment) is composed of family,

friends, neighbors, and close associates at work or school. These are people with
whom a person interacts frequently and often in an intimate manner. It is in and
through these relationships that a person develops a sense of identity, belonging,
and self-worth. These relationships have a profound effect on one’s functioning.

A person’s sustaining environment is made up of the people through which one

encounters the wider community and broader society such as the people who
represent political organizations, economic resources, labor unions, the media,
educational systems, health care facilities, and human services programs. (A social
worker and a social agency are also part of this sustaining environment.) Ideally, the
individual is accepted, respected, and valued within both environments, but this is
often not the case.

Social work, therefore, has a dual focus--- how people cope with their life tasks and
the demands made by the situations or environment on people. We know that a
person’s coping capacity is influenced by his/her physical condition, attitudes,
values, knowledge, skills, and perceptions of reality. The worker must understand
this because this may explain social functioning problems. On the other hand, it may
be a social situation that is not functional.
A social situation is considered functional when it is experienced as livable
and favorable, supportive, and facilitative of well-functioning human beings
and their environing social and ecological perspectives. When, therefore, is a
social situation dysfunctional? Social workers must engage in situational
assessments when working with their clients and should have a framework for
analyzing social situations.

A social situation is considered dysfunctional “when it is structurally and

culturally inadequate or disorganized; is aimless, unfocused, ambiguous,
contradictory; threatening or harmful; lacks needed resources and
opportunities; presents insurmountable barriers; stimulates unacceptable
stress or impulses; generates severe interpersonal role and value conflicts;
requires performance, knowledge, and skills that are beyond an individual's
capacity or ability; and does not validate identity.

In short, social functioning is what results from the interaction between the two
forces--- the individual’s coping capacities and the demands of his/her
situation/environment. The social worker’s “job assignment” involves “mediating”
(Schwartz) or “matching” (Gordon), or striking a balance between people’s coping
ability and situational/environmental demands (Bartlett).

A key concept in our understanding of person-situation interaction is the concept of

a social role (defined as the socially organized pattern of behaviors and activities
expected from an individual occupying a certain position in the society). All human
interactions involved the performance of certain social roles (e.g., child, parent
employee, patient, etc.) so that it would be correct to say that social functioning is
the result of an individual's performance of his/her social roles.

CAUSES OF AND RESPONSES TO SOCIAL FUNCTIONING PROBLEMS

Social functioning (or social role performance) problems may be caused by factors in
the person (e.g., his/her physical condition, attitudes, values, perceptions of reality,
etc. which affect one’s “coping”), factors in the situation or environment (e.g. lack of
resources or opportunities, expectations that are beyond the individual’s coping
capacities), or factors in both the person and the situation or environment. Given
these, social workers’ efforts are aimed at changing the nature of the person-situation
interaction. Specifically, social work intervention is always directed toward
enhancing or improving the individual’s social functioning through any of the
following ways:

1. Changing strategies directed toward the individual if

personal inadequacies or sometimes pathologies are making it
difficult for the individual to cope with the demands of his/her
situation or environment;
2. Changing strategies directed toward the environment if it is the latter that is beset
with inadequacies, or if the situation is such as to be beyond the coping capacities
of the individual; and

3. Changing strategies directed toward the interaction of the individual and the
environment.
 LESSON 5: THE FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL
WORK

ABSTRACTION:

In 1958 the Commission on Practice of the U.S. National Association of Social

Workers came up with a statement of what has since been accepted as the three
purposes or functions of social work.

l. Restorative. To assist individuals and groups to identify and resolve or minimize

problems arising out of a disequilibrium between themselves and the environment.
This is referred to as the restorative/curative/remedial as well as rehabilitative
function of social work. The curative aspect of social work seeks to remove factors
which have caused the breakdown in the person's social functioning. The
rehabilitative aspect tries to put back the person to a normal or healthy state of
social functioning. One example of the curative aspect is helping a girl who engages
in prostitution fora living do change her ways through a counseling relationship
and effecting necessary changes in her home or environmental conditions The
rehabilitative aspect could involve helping her avail herself of opportunities for
schooling, skills training, and legitimate employment. The curative and
rehabilitative aspects of social work, as reflected in this example, are interrelated.

2. Preventive. To identify potential areas of disequilibrium between individuals or

groups and the environment in order to prevent the occurrence of disequilibrium.
This is referred to as the preventive function of social work which involves the early
discovery, control, and elimination of those conditions or situations which may
have a harmful effect on social functioning. Examples of this function would
include counseling on pre-marital and other family problems, sex education of the
youth to prevent early marriage, sexual abuse, etc; and working for the enactment
of laws and policies that would help prevent abuse of women and children.

3. Developmental. To seek out, identify, and strengthen the maximum potential

in individuals, groups, and communities. This is referred to as the developmental
function of social work. The aim is both to help the individual make maximum use
of his own potentials and capacities as well as to further the effectiveness of
available social or community resources. This social work function usually has an
educational aspect. Examples of the developmental function would include helping
unemployed or underemployed breadwinners to avail themselves of opportunities
for skills training while at the same time providing necessary
supportive service. Examples of the latter are daycare and/or
supplemental feeding for their children; full or partial financial
assistance during the period of their training; and helping an
entire community confronted by a serious malnutrition
problem by linking the community to available resources; or, in the absence of
such re, sources, mobilizing the residents to take action on the problem.

These three social work functions are interrelated. In actual practice, many
social workers in the Philippines, regardless of the field or setting that employs
them, usually perform all functions. The following illustration shows that
different factors can block or impede a social work client's self-realization. In
work, these factors are dealt with through the exercise of the profession’s three
functions.

Figure I. Functions of Social Work

Self-realization

Should you have questions or need clarification, you may reach your
teacher at [email protected], 0951-312-5730, or 177-114.

Stay Safe. God bless!

 References

1. De Guzman, Leonora Serafica, Introduction to Social Work, New Day

Publishers, 1992

2. https://online.yu.edu/wurzweiler/blog/six-core-values-of-social-work

3. http://www.paswi-national.org/?file=about-us/code-of-ethics

4. International Federation of Social Workers

5. Mendoza, Thelma Lee, Social Welfare and Social Work, Rev. Ed., Mega books

Co., 2002

6. National Association of Social Workers page