Social Work

Social work is a helping profession that fundamentally and radically aims to assist individuals, groups,
and communities in coping with their complex socio-economic and psychological problems by enabling
themselves to solve their problems by helping themselves.

Social work provides service for the problematic person just like the following: Every profession has its
knowledge and practice based on which the professionals of that profession engage them in human
service and based on their expertise and educational activities. In the same way, social workers have to
practice social work based on social work educational activities.

Scholarly definition of Social Work by different authors

The current definition is given by Social Scientists Skidmore & Thackeray. They said, “Social Work may be
defined as an art, a science, a profession that helps people solve personal, group and community
problems and attain satisfying personal, group and community relationships through social work
practice, including casework and community organization, administration and research.”

According to W.A. Friedlander said, “Social work is a professional service based upon scientific
knowledge and skill in human relations, which assists individuals alone or in groups to obtain social and
personal satisfaction and independence.

According to NASW, The professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or
restore their social functioning capacity and create societal conditions favorable to this goal.

The following definition was approved by the IFSW (International Federation of Social Workers)
General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014: “Social work is a practice-based
profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion,
and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective
responsibility and respect for diversity are central to social work. Underpinned by social work theories,
social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to
address life challenges and enhance well-being; social work is a professional and academic discipline
that seeks to improve the quality of life and subjective well-being of individuals, families, couples,
groups, and communities through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, crisis
intervention, and teaching for the benefit of those affected by social disadvantages such as poverty,
mental and physical illness or disability, and social injustice, including violations of their civil liberties and
human rights. The profession is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and the well-being of oppressed
and marginalized individuals and communities.

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.

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.

Nature/Features of Social Work

Social work is the helping profession. The primary mission of the social work profession is to
enhance human well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of all people, with a particular
focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

There are five (5) distinct features of social work such as.

1) Social Work is a commitment to social betterment.

2) A goal of enhancing social function

3) An action orientation

4) An application to diversity

5) A versatile practice perspective

Aims and Objectives of Social Work

There are five (5) distinct objectives of social work such as.

1) To promote an effective & human service system

2) To enhance problem-solving, coping & development capacities,

3) To link people with resources, services & opportunities,

4) To develop & improve social policy

5) Caring, curing & changing society

Basic/Primary Methods of Social Work

The primary methods are also called direct helping methods. Here, the social worker intervenes directly
with the client(s) who need the professional services of a social worker at the individual, group and
community level. Primary means basic to something, or before all others. These are Social casework,
Social group work and community organization.

a) Social Casework

b) Social Group Work

c) Community Organization
2.Auxiliary/Auxiliary Methods of Social Work

These are those methods that are intended to support the primary techniques. Here, the social worker
indirectly deals with the client’s problem.

a) Social Welfare Administration

b) Social Work Research

c) Social Action

Historical Development of Social Work

Social work has developed through centuries like any other discipline. This discipline attained a
professional status very recently. It was developed through the practice of charity, social
service, welfare measures, etc. Here we can go through the evolution of social work in the
United Kingdom (UK), the United of America (USA) and in India.
1. The evolution of social work in the United Kingdom

The need to help other people is stressed by the major religions. During the Elizabethan period
the needy people were helped by the authorities. Such charity works are called 'relief of the
paupers'. The Victorian reformers who were distressed by poverty, child neglect and other
social ills were pioneers in many of today's social welfare services, although they too had called
such services by various other names such as organized charity or philanthropic work or 'relief
of destitution. The history of social work in the UK had gone through various phases
a) A.D 1200 to 1500

From the beginning of religion the priests assumed leadership in providing protection for the
helpless widows, orphans and the sick. Charity was promoted primarily by the desire to receive
the grace of God to secure the merits of good deeds for eternal life. In the beginning of the
14th century the poor were divided into two categories; able-bodied and destitute.
b. A.D 1501 to 1600
Citizens were discouraged from giving alms to the able-bodied beggars. In 1531 Henry VI issued
license for begging in restricted areas, punishment was given to those who violated the law-In
1572, Queen Elizabeth introduced general tax for the protection of the poor and appointed
overseers of the poor. Thus the government was held responsible for the maintenance of the
poor.
The church, especially monasteries played the role of relief centers to the destitute and the
disabled. Alms were collected and distributed by the parish and other clergymen who knew the
individual and his situation. The churches did not make any effort to provide any permanent
remedy for improving the conditions of the poor. Later the responsibility was shifted from the
church to the Government.
C. A.D 1600 to 1800
Elizabethan Poor Law introduced in 1601 was a landmark in the history of organized social
welfare. This law ensured many relief provisions for the eligible poor. The law also insisted the
able bodied beggars to work in 'work houses'. The poor were divided into three categories: able
bodied, impotent poor and the dependent child. The overseers of the poor were responsible for
the execution of the poor law. They verified eligibility and selected the applicants. The work
house act passed in 1692 made provisions for the training of the inmates of work houses.
The table given below shows the classification of poor based on Elizabethan Poor

Abled Bodied
Poor Forced to work in
the house of
corrections or in
the work house,
not eligible to
receive alms.

Impotent Poor Unable to

work and
placed in alms
houses (sick.
old, blind, deaf
etc.)

Dependent Child Orphans, the

deserted,
children from
very poor
families.