The Nature of Social Work Introduction

The Module All information needed for the social work programme is in the HANDBOOK and on Moodle! Take responsibility for familiarising yourself with this and for your own learning Reminder, of timetable, seminars, reading ITC and practice learning block. Assessment for this module consists of an assignment, attendance at class and ITC classes. Check due dates and information in the handbook and on moodle. Nominate your class rep so we have a two way communication system going.

They are not on ration But you have to work for it!

The Nature of Social Work Introduction Today we look at the meaning of social work! What is social work? Why do you want to be a SOCIAL WORKER Reflective thinking- Why it’s important in aiding in becoming a competent professional!

What is Social Work? Social Work does not take place in a Vacuum! Competence requires integration of knowledge, Skills and values Requires ability to transfer these aspects into practice Requires reflective and analytical thinking to ensure action and not reaction It’s not a mechanical procedure- there is no manual –but it about ability to assimilate the knowledge, skills and ethics.

Competent Practice Integrates the following

The Main Concepts To help us understand let’s examine the following What is social work- definition ? What do social workers do- examples? Reflect on what has motivated you to become a social worker? Is it a skilled task, common sense or practical experience? Explain the difference between talking to a friend and talking to a social worker?

What is Social Work? Social Work integrates the following Social Change By reinforce those aspects of society that promote social welfare Social Care By seeking to change negative aspects in society.e.g. Poverty & Discrimination

A Definition Of Social Work “The Social Work Profession promotes social change and problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.” From the International Definition of Social Work - Adopted by the IFSW General Meeting in Montréal, Canada, July 2000

Definition of Social Work-cont Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice. Adopted by the IFSW General Meeting in Montréal, Canada, July 2000

The international Federation of Social Work States-"social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation. It recognizes the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and that people are affected by them. It draws on theories of human development, social theory and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organizational, social and cultural changes”.

Does that sound Complicated? Where are you at with all of the things on that list? Empowerment and liberation! Do you have the skills of change agent and enhancing well being! Do you know what it would mean to promote social justice, theories of human behaviour and social systems, ? Do you know what knowledge, what skills and how to addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments.

What Social Workers Do? Social work is a profession committed to the pursuit of social justice It’s about the pursuit of social welfare and social change. It’s about improving the quality of life of individual's It’s about development an individual’s full potential BUT ALSO It’s also about developing groups and communities. Thus, Social Workers draw on social sciences to aid their knowledge base to solve social problems.

So it’s not just about fixing sorting or doing things to people!

It about relationships with People! Forming relationships with people, adviser, advocate, counselor, mediator, social controller and protector of the vulnerable. It has it’s roots in the struggle of society dealing with poverty and the problems that result. Assisting individuals to live successfully in society by working with them to find solutions to problems. Working with those who want services, and those who don’t. Social workers assess needs and the risks Plan individual packages of care, support, and responsibilities with individual's.

It’s a Professional and Academic discipline It uses research to develop practice and improve the life of individuals, groups and society. Research from social policy, sociology, psychology and from within the profession It uses theories from these disciplines as well as economics, education, medicine and politics. It involves relationship building and the promotion of anti-oppressive and anti- racist dialogue. Social workers are organised into local, national, continental and international professional bodies

Changing Lives- States Report of the 21 st Century Social Work Review (Scottish Executive 2006)

Changing Lives Maintain There are three main functions that define what social workers do. They intervene between the state and the citizen - assessing and determining eligibility services and assessing risks which determine the need for statutory intervention They maximise the capacity of people using services Contribute to policies and practice that support social and personal well-being –enabling the development of services Social Workers need to have empathy, respect, warmth & genuineness! Need to establish a therapeutic relationship A person centred approach, taking account of the client's perspective Plan, manage the care and safeguard vulnerable individual's who need protection or are in danger or are at risk of causing significant harm to themselves or others.

BASW :Code of Ethics for Social Work Key principles - Respect for human dignity and cultural diversity Value every individual their beliefs, goals, preferences and needs Respect for human rights and self determination Partnership and empowerment with users of services and with carers Ensuring protection for vulnerable people Social justice Promoting fair access to resources Equal treatment without prejudice or discrimination Reducing disadvantage and exclusion Challenging the abuse of power Service Helping with personal and social needs Enabling people to develop their potential Contributing to creating a fairer society Integrity and Competence Honesty, reliability and confidentiality Maintaining and developing competence to provide a quality service Ref –BASW- British Association of Social Workers

Things that motivate individual's to become a Social Worker! To help/ empower people To make a difference to people To advocate for justice for people A desire to work with people in challenging and changing circumstances A desire to work to provide good services A desire to change current services A desire to change society

Skilled Task or Common Sense! Theorist would argue that there are 3 different approaches to welfare and these involve skills Social Welfare- individual activity geared towards meeting the social welfare needs on an individual basis. Social Change- A system that promotes co-operation in society so oppressed and disadvantaged can gain power over their own lives. Social Stability- An approach geared towards promoting and facilitating personal growth to enable people to deal with their suffering and disadvantage.

Social Work & Social welfare This model works with individuals on their personal situation on meeting their needs Recipients are often stigmatised and disadvantaged and meeting short term and long term needs in the goal Social Workers seek to readdress the inequalities with the individual by meeting needs Work is geared to addressing the balance of inequality through individual work rather than grouping people together. But it is concerned with the welfare of group’s and communities as this effects individuals.

Social Work and Social Stability. Role of the social worker is to contribute to the social stability of a society. To ensure the social order is not threatened. To protect the status quo of those who are privileged and in positions of power. It’s about helping people adjust to their social circumstances. The belief is that society as a whole has the same basic goals, interests and there is common political and legal values. The social worker occupies a position of power and is seen as the expert in the person’s problem.

Social Work and Social Change Society is made up of social divisions and conflicts of interests e.g. Race, Class, Gender. Members of oppressed minorities whose problems come from the structure of society rather than their own personal failings. The task is to support oppressed groups and individuals within them in order to challenging the effects of discrimination and disadvantage. Working towards social change rather than helping people to adjust to disadvantage they find themselves in.

Difference between talking to a Social Worker & a Friend ! Social Work addresses complex, multiple transactions between people and their environments. This involves a “Professional Relationship”, a “power relationship” and “professional boundaries”. It focuses on problem solving and change and has a statutory element to it. As we must work within the law thus the elements of Care or Control are always to be balanced. Social Workers are Change Agents as they change the lives of individuals, families and Communities. Thus we work within an interrelated system of Values, Theory, Knowledge and Practice and this requires learned skills

Models and Development of the Practitioner Remember social work practice is rooted in the law and policy. While it can challenge or work against these factors it cannot go beyond them altogether. Social workers are paid employees. Actions are constrained by policies, values and aims of the organisation. So all three models need to be understood and worked with (welfare,change and stability). There is a degree of common sense,but it is about integrating and applying knowledge, skill and values. This is not something that happens over night and will take 4 years to acquire.

Questions What sort of knowledge and Theory is required to do the job? How does this relate to the other modules you will study? What do you understand by the terms Adult learning and reflective thinking? In what way are they part of the skills you will need?

OVERVIEW OF THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED SOCIAL WORK Homelessness, Housing, Violence, Criminal justice Drug use Disability, Older people Mental health, Children Community care Residential care Value base of social work Anti oppressive knowledge Health, Education Law, social policy Knowledge Use of self, communication skills and ability to form relationships Social work theory, methods and research Reflective analytical abilities Organisational knowledge, procedures, funding, resources, constraints Government drives, Politics, Policy

The Links to other Modules SOCIAL WORK Homelessness, Housing, Violence, Criminal justice Drug use Disability, Older people Mental health, Children Community care Residential car e Social Welfare and social policy Politic and Government reform Sociological Ideological perspectives, Marxism, conservatism, liberalism Psychology Human development, life span development Research and social science knowledge Law and legislation Sociological, Society, Rules, moral codes Economics and Economic reform

Adult Learning and Reflective thinking Kolb’s Learning Cycle -based on experiences gained through life and work are crucial to learning. The approach influences the practice learning experiences you will have on the course Learning as a cyclical process and is not fixed but forms and reforms through life By reflecting on our learning we gain further understanding and this aids our development of emotional intelligence and analysis Given reflection is Reflective is Cyclical this prompts the process to start again.

Kolb(1984) and Gibbs (1988) Highlighted reflective learning was about experiential learning as this encourages deeper learning that would be retained. Gibbs highlighted learning by doing into 4 stages Learners need to be fully involved in the experience. They must make time and space to reflect on it. The need opportunity to form and re-form their ideas and integrate them into taught theories. Through problem solving and dialogue a change occurs in the learner and learning takes place

Learning Style- What's yours! To assist you with your learning some theorist would claim it helps if you connect learning to a process and a learning style. Each of learn in different ways Some people like to watch Some like to be active Some like to think Some motivated by experiences and feelings

Learning Theory Suggests a four phase Cycle of learning that are connected to the four modes of learning styles. Activists Feel Reflectors Observe Theorists Think Pragmatists Do

Developing Reflection The course aims to integrate your taught learning with your practice learning These stages involve us in understand ourselves --this is essential to becoming a professional. Identifying your learning style is a good starting point in this journey Complete the learning style questionnaire to identify your learning style- on moodle! Next week seminar – reading is on moodle come prepared and answer the questions

Directed Reading This will back up the initial points made in this lecture and prepare you for next weeks seminar. Chapter on Personal and Professional Development. Joyce Lishman (moodle). Hare, I (2004): Defining Social Work for the 21 st Century in The International Journal of Social Work (47(3) moodle From -Social Work Themes Issues and critical Debates. Adams,Dominelli, & Payne Chapter on Social Work and Society.Chris Jones (on moodle) Chapter on Values Ethic and Social Work. Steven Shardlow

Directed Reading Alan Keith-Lucas Giving and Taking Help (1972) A short History of Helping Schon, D (1991): The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Ashgate. Basic Books Thompson, N (2009): Understanding Social Work (3 rd Ed). Basingstoke, Palgrave- there will many chapter from this book that you will find useful