SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION

The national Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2005) defines social work as a helping profession in which individuals, groups and/or communities are assisted by social workers to enhance or restore their capacity to function socially. NASW further notes that:

Social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; providing counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in relevant legislative processes (p. 1).

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of social work as a profession, focusing specifically on the attributes needed to be an effective social worker and the knowledge and values dilemmas that social workers often face in their practice. The paper ends with a series of conclusions formulated on the basis of the reviewed literature.

Attributes Required For Social Work as a Profession

Ginsberg (2000) has noted that social workers practice their profession in a variety of settings. These include: family services agencies, children's aid agencies, general and psychiatric hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, welfare administration agencies, federal and provincial departments. Further, there are increasing numbers of social work professionals in private

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nt was a major contributor to workers' difficulties in terms of application of academic knowledge. Green, Bretzin, Leininger and Stauffer (2001) reported that one characteristic that good social workers should have is that of understanding research but states that existing research shows that this is one area where most workers fall far short. Specifically, the authors state that the motivation to develop the research skills and understanding needed is typically low as is achievement in the area. The result is that many social workers do not have the knowledge they need to evaluate new theories and ongoing research in the existing knowledge base. This, according to Green et. al, can seriously interfere with their social work practice. Knowledge and Value Dilemmas The profession of social work is associated with a wide and diverse range of tasks. Social workers can help parents cope with children who are acting out or help children cope with abusive parents. Social workers counsel people facing various types and kinds of crises. They serve as aftercare or case, or child welfare workers. They support various psychiatric and medical services, provide services for people with developmental disabilities, work with the elderly and adv

Category: Psychology - S