by Social workers work in various fields of service such as community development; child protection; child and family welfare; youth programmes; disability; health; education; the workplace; and social policy development. Social Workers are sought after in any context related to people and their environments. Because the focus of social work is so broad, from everyday life to highly complex situations, practitioners deal with all kinds of people that are impacted by different aspects of situations.
Most social workers develop special expertise in their chosen areas, such as addressing the social needs of employees in large companies, working with the often neglected senior citizens of our country, helping communities find better ways to deal with problems such as crime and abuse of alcohol or drugs, and working with young people who are neglected or abused.
All social workers assist people in “direct” ways, for instance, by being involved in developing, empowering and changing individuals, families, groups and communities and indirectly through administering people-serving organisations; supervising or providing consultation to other professionals; and conducting research that could help the profession increase its knowledge about the interactions between people and society, and to learn better ways of intervention into difficult circumstances or when these transactions between people and their environments fail to occur.
Social Work as a multi-disciplinary profession
In addition to Social Work theory, the profession’s knowledge-base is derived from Psychology, Sociology and other related fields. During training, specific practice skills are developed through skills training workshops and field instruction placements at various organizations under the supervision of experienced social workers.
Registration as a Social Worker
All social workers, irrespective where they work or what services they provide, are required to register as social workers with the South African Council for the Social Service Professions (SACSSP). Registration is one way of ensuring a basic standard of professional conduct when someone practices as a social worker. Registration with the Council is compulsory. In view of the fact that social workers unite to address the needs and problems of people in society, they are encouraged to join the professional association which speaks with one voice on important social and professional issues.
Ethical Behaviour required of a Social Worker
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of professional social work is that professionals have the authority vested in them by the law and that their actions influence the lives of people. To ensure that people are protected against unethical practice and abuse of power, professionals must be familiar with basic principles and values about how to intervene in people’s lives. Therefore, prior to the commencement of the field work practice in the first year of study students are required to subscribe to the following declaration:
The most important principles are contained in a code of professional conduct, which all social workers must follow. Practitioners are sanctioned by the South African Council for Social Service Professionals should they not follow these principles in practice.
Social workers aspire and subscribe to the ethical values and principles of social justice; respect for people’s worth, human rights and dignity; maintaining high standards of competence; behaving with honesty and integrity; upholding professional standards of conduct; showing care and concern for others well-being; and elevating service to others above self-interest.
Social workers pursue these values by being aware of their own attitudes towards people and society, and by being open to changing themselves.
Social workers help relieve people’s suffering, fight for social justice, and improve lives and communities. Most people think of social workers when they think of poverty alleviation and child welfare. Many social workers do that kind of work and we do much more.
Some of society’s most notable helpers were social workers. Jane Addams is the founder of our profession. Frances Perkins was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor, and Dorothy Height and Whitney Young were both civil rights legends. All of these people were social workers. They made great contributions to our society during some of our most troubling times. These pioneers laid the path for social workers of today. They set a great example for our commitment to advocacy, social justice, and helping individuals, families, and communities who need us most.
We can be found in hospitals, helping people cope with acute conditions and chronic illness. We provide therapy and community health centers and help prevent students from dropping out of school. We help prisoners as they reenter communities and provide rehabilitative support in drug and alcohol centers.
We provide outreach and long-term care in nursing homes and homeless shelters. We are clinical therapists to members of the military and veterans. And we are first responders during natural disasters.
Social workers are executive directors of nonprofit organizations, community organizers, and professors. We are corporate leaders and members of Congress.
