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Social work

ContentsArticles

Introduction 1

Main article 2

Social work 2

History 6

History of social work 6

Contemporary professional development 10

Social work knowledge building 10

Qualifications 12

Qualifications for professional social work 12

Role of the professional 15

Role of the professional social worker 15

Types of International, Social and Community practice 18

Community practice 18

ReferencesArticle Sources and Contributors 20Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 21

Article LicensesLicense 22

Introduction 1

IntroductionNote. This book is based on the Wikipedia article, "Social work." The supporting articles are those referenced asmajor expansions of selected sections.

2

Main article

Social workSocial work promotes health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful occupations. These include(but are not limited to) work, leisure, self care, domestic and community activities. Social workers work withindividuals, families, groups and communities to facilitate health and well-being through engagement orre-engagement in occupation. Social workers are becoming increasingly involved in addressing the impact of social,political and environmental factors that contribute to exclusion and occupational deprivation.

HistorySocial work has its roots in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the resultant problems. Therefore, socialwork is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood in broader terms. The concept ofcharity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major ancientcivilizations and world religions.

Contemporary professional development

Social Work education begins in a systematisedmanner in universities, but is also an ongoing process

that occurs though research and in the workplace.

International Federation of Social Workers states, of social worktoday,

"social work bases its methodology on a systematicbody of evidence-based knowledge derived fromresearch and practice evaluation, including local andindigenous knowledge specific to its context. Itrecognizes the complexity of interactions betweenhuman beings and their environment, and the capacityof people both to be affected by and to alter themultiple influences upon them includingbio-psychosocial factors. The social work professiondraws on theories of human development, socialtheory and social systems to analyse complexsituations and to facilitate individual, organizational,social and cultural changes."[1]

A hopeful development for bridging this gap is the compilation ofcollections of "best practices" which attempt to distill researchfindings and the experience of respected social work practitioners,educators and researchers into effective interventions. Anotherimportant contemporary development in the profession is overcoming suspicion of technology and taking advantageof the potential of information technology.[2]

Social work 3

QualificationsProfessional social workers are generally considered those who hold a degree in social work. Often thesepractitioners must also obtain a license or be professionally registered.In some areas of the world, social workers education begins with a Bachelor of Social Work (BA, BSc, BSSW orBSW and some university conduct Diploma in Social Work Programme) degree. Some countries offer post-Graduatedegrees like the master's degree (MA, MSc or MSW and Post Graduate Diploma in Social work) or the doctoraldegree (Ph.D or DSW).In a number of countries and jurisdictions, registration or licensure of people working as social workers is requiredand there are mandated qualifications.[3] In other places, a professional association sets academic and experientialrequirements for admission to membership. The success of these professional bodies' efforts is demonstrated in thefact that these same requirements are recognized by employers as necessary for employment.[4]

Professional associationsThere are a number of associations for social workers, which exist to provide ethical guidance and other forms ofsupport for their members and social work in general. These associations/organizations are distinguished ininternational, continental or semi-continental, national and regional. The main international ones are the InternationalFederation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW).

Role of the professionalThe main tasks of professional social workers can include a variety of services such as case management (linkingusers/clients with agencies and programs that will meet their psychosocial needs), counseling (psychotherapy),human services management, social welfare policy analysis, policy and practice development, communityorganizing, international, social and community development, advocacy, teaching (in schools of social work), andsocial research.

See also• Relationship Education• Sociology• Social research• Social theory• Social change• Social development• Social justice• Social movement• Social planning• Human Rights• International Development• Social care• Gerontology: Social Work with Older Adults• http:/ / www. solutions4web. info/ 2580/ Dienstleistungen/ Social_Media. html -- Social Media

Social work 4

External links• The New Social Worker Online [5]

• Definition of Social Work [6] Adopted July 2000 by the International Federation of Social Workers. Germantranslation also available at: Austrian National Federation of Social Workers [7]

• Social Work & Society - Online Journal for Social Work and Social Policy. Open Access and Non-Governmental[8]

• HHSINC - Horizon Human Services, Inc. [9]

Further reading• Agnew, Elizabeth N. (2004). From Charity to Social Work: Mary E. Richmond and the Creation of an American

Profession. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252028759. OCLC 51848398.• Axinn, June and Mark J. Stern (2008). Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need (7th ed.).

Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 9780205522156. OCLC 86038254.• Balgopal, Pallassana R. (2000). Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees. New York, NY: Columbia

University Press. ISBN 0231108567. OCLC 43323656.• Barker, Richard (2009). Making Sense of Every Child Matters - multi professional practice guidance (1st ed.).

Bristol, UK: Policy Press. ISBN 1847420117.• Barker, Robert L. (2003). Social Work Dictionary (5th ed.). Silver Spring, MD: NASW Press.

ISBN 087101355X. OCLC 52341511.• Butler, Ian and Gwenda Roberts (2004). Social Work with Children and Families: Getting into Practice (2nd ed.).

London, England; New York, NY: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 1417501030. OCLC 54768636.• Davies, Martin (2002). The Blackwell Companion of Social Work (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK; Malden, MA:

Blackwell. ISBN 0631223916. OCLC 49044512.• Fischer, Joel and Kevin J. Corcoran (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and Research: A Sourcebook (4th

ed.). Oxford, UK; New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195181906. OCLC 68980742.• Greene, Roberta R. (2008). Social Work with the Aged and their Families (3rd ed.). New Brunswick, NJ:

Transaction Publishers. ISBN 9780202361826. OCLC 182573540.• Grinnell, Richard M. and Yvonne A Unrau (2008). Social Work Research and Evaluation: Foundations of

Evidence-Based Practice (8th ed.). Oxford, UK; New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195301526.OCLC 82772632.

• Mizrahi, Terry and Larry E. Davis (2008). Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th ed.). Washington, DC; Oxford,UK; New York, NY: NASW Press and Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195306613. OCLC 156816850.

• Popple, Philip R. and Leslie Leighninger (2008). The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social WelfarePolicy Analysis for Social Workers (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 0205485928.OCLC 70708056.

• Reamer, Frederic G. (2006). Ethical Standards in Social Work: A Review of the NASW Code of Ethics (2nd ed.).Washington, DC: NASW Press. ISBN 9780871013712. OCLC 63187493.

• Richardson, Virginia E. and Amanda Smith Barusch (2006). Gerontological Practice for the Twenty-FirstCcentury: A Social Work Perspective. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. ISBN 023110748X.OCLC 60373501.

• Sowers, Karen M. and Catherine N. Dulmus and others. (2008). Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work andSocial Welfare. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471752223. OCLC 155755265.

Social work 5

• Specht, Harry; Courtney, Mark E. (1994). Unfaithful angels : how social work has abandoned its mission. NewYork: Free Press. ISBN 0029303559.

• Statham, Daphne (2004). Managing Front Line Practice in Social Work. New York, NY: Jessica KingsleyPublishers. ISBN 1417501278. OCLC 54768593.

• Thyer, Bruce A. and John S. Wodarski (2007). Social Work in Mental Health: An Evidence-Based Approach.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley. ISBN 0471693049. OCLC 65197928.

• Turner, Francis J. (2005). Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier UniversityPress. ISBN 0889204365. OCLC 57354998.

• Wittenberg, Renee (2003). Opportunities in Social Work Careers (Revised ed.). Chicago, IL: VGM CareerBooks. ISBN 0071390480. OCLC 49959266.

References[1] "Definition of Social Work" (http:/ / www. ifsw. org/ en/ p38000208. html). IFSW General Meeting in Montreal, Canada, July 2000.

International Federation of Social Workers (http:/ / www. ifsw. org/ home). 04/10/2005. . Retrieved 2008-02-19.[2] Parker-Oliver, Debra; Demiris, George (April 2006). "Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty" (http:/ / lysander. naswpressonline. org/

vl=7534711/ cl=13/ nw=1/ rpsv/ cw/ nasw/ 00378046/ v51n2/ s4/ p127). Social Work (National Association of Social Workers) 51 (2):127–134. PMID 16858918. . Retrieved 2008-02-19.

[3] The National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2005). NASW Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http:/ / www.socialworkers. org.

[4] "Catholic Social Workers National Association" (http:/ / www. cswna. org). .[5] http:/ / www. socialworker. com[6] http:/ / www. ifsw. org/ en/ p38000208. html[7] http:/ / sozialarbeit. at/ def. htm[8] http:/ / www. socwork. net[9] http:/ / hhsinc. org

6

History

History of social workSocial work has its roots in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the resultant problems. Therefore, socialwork is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood in broader terms. The concept ofcharity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major world religions.[1]

Pre-Modern historyIn the West, when Constantine I legalized the Christian Church, the newly legitimised church set up poorhouses,homes for the aged, hospitals, and orphanages.[2] [3] [4] These were often funded, at least in part, from grants from theEmpire.[5]

By 590 the church had a system for circulating the consumables to the poor: associated with each parish was adiaconium or office of the deacon.As there was no effective bureaucracy below city government that was capable of charitable activities, the clergyserved this role in the west up through the 18th century.During the Middle Ages, the Christian church had vast influence on European society and charity was considered tobe a responsibility and a sign of one’s piety. This charity was in the form of direct relief (for example, giving money,food, or other material goods to alleviate a particular need), as opposed to trying to change the root causes ofpoverty.The practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern (19th century) and scientific origin.[6]

Modern historySocial work, as a profession, originated in the 19th century. The movement began primarily in the United States andEngland. After the end of feudalism, the poor were seen as a more direct threat to the social order, and so the stateformed an organized system to care for them. In England, the Poor Law served this purpose. This system of lawssorted the poor into different categories, such as the able bodied poor, the impotent poor, and the idle poor. Thissystem developed different responses to these different groups.

Social work involvesameliorating social

problems such as povertyand homelessness.

The 19th century ushered in the Industrial Revolution. There was a great leap intechnological and scientific achievement, but there was also a great migration to urbanareas throughout the Western world. This led to many social problems, which in turn ledto an increase in social activism.[7] Also with the dawn of the 19th century came a great"missionary" push from many Protestant denominations. Some of these mission efforts(urban missions), attempted to resolve the problems inherent in large cities like poverty,prostitution, disease, and other afflictions. In the United States workers known as"friendly visitors", stipended by church and other charitable bodies, worked throughdirect relief, prayer, and evangelism to alleviate these problems.[6] In Europe, chaplainsor almoners were appointed to administer the church's mission to the poor.

History of social work 7

Jane Addams (September6, 1860 – May 21, 1935)was a founder of the U.S.

Settlement Housemovement and is

considered one of the earlyinfluences on professionalsocial work in the United

States.

During this time, rescue societies were initiated to find more appropriate means ofself-support for women involved in prostitution. Mental asylums grew to assist in takingcare of the mentally ill. A new philosophy of "scientific charity" emerged, which statedcharity should be "secular, rational and empirical as opposed to sectarian, sentimental,and dogmatic.[8] " In the late 1880s, a new system to provide aid for social ills came in tobeing, which became known as the settlement movement.[9] The settlement movementfocused on the causes of poverty through the "three Rs" - Research, Reform, andResidence. They provided a variety of services including educational, legal, and healthservices. These programs also advocated changes in social policy. Workers in thesettlement movement immersed themselves in the culture of those they were helping.

In America, the various approaches to social work led to a fundamental question – issocial work a profession? This debate can be traced back to the early 20th century debatebetween Mary Richmond's Charity Organization Society (COS) and Jane Addams'sSettlement House Movement. The essence of this debate was whether the problemshould be approached from COS' traditional, scientific method focused on efficiency andprevention or the Settlement House Movement's immersion into the problem, blurringthe lines of practitioner and client.[10]

Even as many schools of social work opened and formalized processes for social work began to be developed, thequestion lingered. In 1915, at the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, Dr. Abraham Flexner spoke onthe topic "Is Social Work a Profession?" He contended that it was not because it lacked specialized knowledge andspecific application of theoretical and intellectual knowledge to solve human and social problems.[11] This led to theprofessionalization of social work, concentrating on case work and the scientific method.

American HistoryFollowing European settlement of northern America, the only social welfare was in the area of public health. Whenepidemics occurred, quarantine facilities were built to prevent contamination. As populations grew, Almhouses werebuilt to house vulnerable people with no other support, including people with a long term illness or older peoplewithout families. The first recorded Almshouse was built in 1713 near Philadelphia by William Penn, and was onlyopen to Quakers. A second one was built nearby in 1728, this time with public money. In 1736 New York openedthe Poor House of the City of New York (later renamed Bellevue Hospital) and in 1737 New Orleans opened theSaint John's Hospital to serve the poor of the city [12] .Over the next 80 years, the facilities began to change. The precursors to modern hospitals began to form on thegrounds of Almshouses, while the Almshouses themselves focused more and more on vulnerable people.Modern social work in America has its roots in the mass migrations of the 19th Century. Many of the migrantslanded in New York and moved to other eastern cities, where mass crowding lead to social problems and ill health[12] . Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was the United States' first female doctor [13] who set up the New York Infirmary forIndigent Women and Children in 1853. The dispensary was run to assist the poor communities of East Side, and itsoon diversified beyond a basic pharmacy, providing social assessments and support to local families. In 1889 JaneAddams was a young medical student who set up Hull House in Chicago to work with poor and immigrantcommunities. The house was both a community service centre and a social research program. Precursors to modernsocial work arose in Blackwell's infirmary and in Hull House as health professionals began to work with socialdeterminants of poor health [12] .The first professional social worker to be hired in the United States was Garnet Pelton, in 1905 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Garnet retired after six months due to contracting tuberculosis in the course of her work. She was replaced by Ida Cannon who worked in the role for a further forty years. Dr. Richard Clarke Cabot was the a key

History of social work 8

advocate in the creation of the role, as he believed there to be a link between tuberculosis and social conditions. BothPelton and Cannon had trained as nurses before taking up the role. Cabot was in charge of the outpatient ward of thehospital, and together with the newly created social workers, they redefined the way in which health and wellbeingwas managed. The economic, social, family and psychological conditions that underpinned many of the conditionsthat patients presented with were recognised for the first time. Social workers would work in a complementaryrelationship with doctors, the former concentrating on physiological health, and the latter on social health. Inaddition to this, he saw that social work could improve medicine by providing a critical perspective on it whileworking alongside it in an organisational setting.This approach soon spread through other American hospitals, and in 1911, there were 44 social work departments in14 different cities. Two years later, the number of social work departments had grown to 200.

Professionalisation

After 1905, most social workers were trained as nurses. The American Association of Hospital Social Workers wasset up in 1918 to increase the links between formal education and hospital practice. In 1929 there were ten universitycourses in medical social work. Around this time, psychiatry and psychology began to compete with social work asthe complementary discourse to medicine in hospitals. Social work practice adapted to this by aligning itself moreclosely with psychoanalytic ideas, and became less concerned with living conditions and social health. While thisdetracted from the social concerns, it added a more scientific basis to dealing with patients, and challengingbehaviours were more likely to be seen as a mental disfunction than poor moral character. [12] The increase of socialspending after World War Two saw another rise in the number of social workers.NOTE: In their 2002 article, "What is Humanistic Sociology"--appearing in The American Sociologist (Volume 33,No. 4)--William Du Bois and R. Dean Wright see the creation of the discipline of social work as a political effortwithin the establishment of sociology to keep its original action-oriented, "change the world" mentality separate fromthe "rational, masculine science of 'real' sociology (p. 7).

Australian HistorySocial work as a profession in Australia developed later than in England or America, with the first professionalsocial workers being hired in the 1920s. Social work training began in Australia in 1940 at the University of Sydney.The profession took direction from the established schools in England until the 1960s, when a more American modeltook hold. Most high level training and theory was imported from abroad until the 1980s. Some Australian socialwork writers such as Jim Ife has criticised the impact that this has had on Australians being able to develop culturallyappropriate theories and practices. Since the 1990s, Australian social work has increasingly affiliated itself withPacific Islander and New Zealand approaches [14] .Social Work has been a mostly public sector or not-for-profit sector profession in Australia, with private practicebeing rare. The profession has experienced changes in two different direction in the last 30 years. One is a pulltowards a more managerial, professionalised model, and the other is to a more community based, deprofessionalisedapproach. Further to this has been the trend by large organisations to replace the "jack of all trades" social workapproach with less highly trained, more technical positions. Since the 1990s, other reactions to managerial control ofsocial work have followed theories of feminism, ecological sustainability and critical theories.[14]

English HistoryThe growth of social work in England as a discipline had similar parallels to the American experience of mass migration and social upheaval. The Industrial Revolution was a major cause of these changes, as social and economic conditions changed, resulting in the massive growth of cities. The first social workers were called hospital almoners, and were based in medical institutions. The Royal Free Hospital hired Mary Stewart as the first almoner in 1895. Her role was to assess people requesting treatment at the hospital to ensure that they were considered

History of social work 9

"deserving enough" of the free treatment. The role soon developed to cover the provision of other social programs,and by 1905 other hospitals had created similar roles. By this time, the Hospital Almoners Council had been formedto oversee the new profession [12] .

References[1] "Religion" (http:/ / www. globalenvision. org/ forteachers/ 28/ 1258/ ). Middle School Lesson Plans. Global Envision. . Retrieved 2008-04-09.[2] [By Alexander Clarence Flick (1909). The Rise of the Mediaeval Church and Its Influence on the Civilisation of Western Europe from the

First to the Thirteenth Century. http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=ApLaUMO0ZycC][3] [G. KALANTZIS (2006). THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDICINE IN BYZANTIUM (330-1453 AD) http:/ / www.

ishm2006. hu/ scientific/ abstract. php?ID=138][4] [C. GILLEARD (2007) Old age in Byzantine society Ageing & Society (2007), 27 : 623-642 Cambridge University Press http:/ / journals.

cambridge. org/ action/ displayAbstract;jsessionid=4A665169DCB94F67A7CF47ECC60F22C0. tomcat1?fromPage=online& aid=1316632][5] Burckhardt, Jacob (1967). The Age of Constantine the Great. Random House (Vintage).[6] Huff, Dan. "Chapter I. Scientific Philanthropy (1860-1900)" (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ chapts/ 1-1. htm). The

Social Work History Station (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ central/ core. htm). Boise State University. . Retrieved2008-02-20.

[7] "Social Work History" (http:/ / www. socialwork. ed. ac. uk/ social/ history. html). University of Edinburgh. . Retrieved 2008-02-20.[8] Huff, Dan. "Chapter I.2 Missionaries & Volunteers" (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ chapts/ 1-2. htm). The Social

Work History Station (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ central/ core. htm). Boise State University. . Retrieved2008-02-20.

[9] Huff, Dan. "Chapter II. Settlements (1880-1900)" (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ chapts/ 2-1. htm). The Social WorkHistory Station (http:/ / www. boisestate. edu/ socwork/ dhuff/ history/ central/ core. htm). Boise State University. . Retrieved 2008-02-20.

[10] Parker-Oliver, Debra; Demiris, George (April 2006). "Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty" (http:/ / lysander. naswpressonline. org/vl=7534711/ cl=13/ nw=1/ rpsv/ cw/ nasw/ 00378046/ v51n2/ s4/ p127). Social Work (National Association of Social Workers) 51 (2):127–134. PMID 16858918. . Retrieved 2008-02-19.

[11] "From Charitable Volunteers to Architects of Social Welfare: A Brief History of Social Work" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/20070205223657/ http:/ / www. ssw. umich. edu/ ongoing/ fall2001/ briefhistory. html). University of Michigan. . Retrieved 2007-02-20.

[12] Gehlert, S. in Gehlert, S. and T.A. Browne (2006). Chapter Two: The Conceptual Underpinnings of social work in health care. Handbook ofHealth Social Work. New Jersey:WILEY

[13] M. A. Elston, "Blackwell, Elizabeth (1821–1910)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 29Dec 2008 (http:/ / www. oxforddnb. com/ view/ article/ 31912,)

[14] Ife, J. in Mayadas, N., Watts, T., Elliott, D. (1997). Chapter Twenty Two:Australia International handbook on social work theory andpractice. Greenwood Publishing Group

10

Contemporary professional development

Social work knowledge buildingThe International Federation of Social Workers states, of social work today,

"social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived fromresearch and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. Itrecognizes the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and thecapacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them includingbio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws on theories of human development andbehaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organizational,social and cultural changes."[1]

The impetus for both movements was the glaring reality of social problems and the question over how to best attackthem. This debate is arguably the earliest example of a larger debate within social work – how is knowledgeacquired? This debate pits positivism against post-positivism in the pursuit of achieving respect as a profession. Thepositivistic argument asserts knowledge has to be observable and testable (quantitative), free from bias, andultimately replicable if it is to have any merit. Post-positivists argue there is no way to completely eliminate bias, andknowledge can be obtained via qualitative research methods.The debate reached its greatest intensity in the 1980s, reflecting the debate within the larger world of the socialsciences. Subsequently, most of those interested in social work knowledge building have joined in a consensus thatboth perspectives are necessary to fully understand the complex realities encountered by social work practitioners.Today, most text books intended for social work research courses, while they may devote more pages to quantitativeapproaches, also include one or more chapters on qualitative approaches, and make an effort not to favor one overthe other.[2]

Meanwhile, practitioners, and often educators in social work practice, have felt left out of the debate. A frequentcomplaint was that social work programs were favoring research over practice skills in faculty hiring, thusweakening their ability to teach practice skills to new practitioners. The reliance among practitioners on sharedpractice wisdom, and the development of skills and techniques through clinical supervision and mentorship was notconsidered as valid as knowledge building by either camp. There have been attempts to bridge the gap betweenpractice-based knowledge and knowledge obtained through more formal research approaches. One such strategy issingle-subject research--also known as Single Subject Design (SSD), in which the clinician, working together withthe client, carefully specifies a target of intervention, then measures its frequency, duration, intensity, or any relevantcharacteristics during a baseline period when no intervention is tried. Following this, an intervention is introduced,and measurement of the target problem is continued. Two claims made for SSD were that it would improve clinicalwork, since effectiveness of interventions could be determined, and that single cases could be aggregated intoresearch reports, which, published, would constitute an empirically verified set of interventions for clinical use.Although SSD has been championed by social work graduate programs for more than two decades, there is littleevidence that it has been widely adopted by social work practitioners.The current state of social work professional development is characterized by two realities. There is a great deal of traditional social and psychological research (both qualitative and quantitative) being carried out primarily by university-based researchers and by researchers based in institutes, foundations, or social service agencies. Meanwhile, the many social work practitioners continue to look to their own experience for knowledge. This is a continuation of the debate that has persisted since the outset of the profession in the first decade of the twentieth

Social work knowledge building 11

century.[3] One reason for the practice-research gap is that practitioners deal with situations that are unique andidiosyncratic, while research deals with regularities and aggregates. The translation between the two is oftenimperfect. A hopeful development for bridging this gap is the compilation in many practice fields of collections of"best practices," largely taken from research findings, but also distilled from the experience of respectedpractitioners.

Further reading• Specht, Harry; Courtney, Mark E. (1994). Unfaithful angels : how social work has abandoned its mission. New

York: Free Press. ISBN 0029303559.

References[1] "Definition of Social Work" (http:/ / www. ifsw. org/ en/ p38000208. html). IFSW General Meeting in Montréal, Canada, July 2000.

International Federation of Social Workers (http:/ / www. ifsw. org/ home). 04/10/2005. . Retrieved 2008-02-19.[2] Council on Social Work Education (http:/ / www. cswe. org)[3] Parker-Oliver, Debra; Demiris, George (April 2006). "Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty" (http:/ / lysander. naswpressonline. org/

vl=7534711/ cl=13/ nw=1/ rpsv/ cw/ nasw/ 00378046/ v51n2/ s4/ p127). Social Work (National Association of Social Workers) 51 (2):127–134. PMID 16858918. . Retrieved 2008-02-19.

12

Qualifications

Qualifications for professional social workProfessional social workers are generally considered those who hold a professional degree in social work. In anumber of countries and jurisdictions, registration or licensure of people working as social workers is required andthere are mandated qualifications.[1] In other places, the professional association sets academic and experientialrequirements for admission to membership.

United StatesA social worker, practicing in the United States, usually requires a doctoral degree (Ph.D or DSW), master's degree(MSW) or a bachelor's degree (BSW or BASW) in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)accredited program to receive a license in most states. In some areas, however, a social worker may be able toreceive a license with a bachelor's or even associate's degree in any discipline. The National Association of SocialWorkers (NASW) is the largest organization of professional social workers in the United States.Depending on the university, the four year degree may be structured in different ways and draws upon many fields,including social work theory, psychology, human development, sociology, social policy, research methods, socialplanning and social administration.A person with a BSW is considered a "generalist" and the MSW is considered "a specialist or advanced generalist"; aPh.D. or D.S.W. (Doctor of Social Work) generally conducts research, teaches, or analyzes policy, often in highereducation settings.Various states in the United States "protect" the use of the title social worker by statute. Use of the title requireslicensure or certification in most states. The licensure or certification also requires a prelicensure examinationthrough the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards), with the exception of the State of California, who createsand administers their own licensing exam. Over half of all states offer licensure at various levels of social workpractice, and clinical social work is regulated by licensure in all states. The pass rate for the Master's level licensingexam is around 74%.[2] A range of products and services exist to assist students in preparing for the exam includingpractice tests, study guides, private tutoring and prep classes.[3]

CanadaA four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is required for entry into the field. A Masters Degree in Social Work(MSW) is usually required to provide psychotherapy treatment. In Canada social workers may provide treatment butcannot diagnose. Some provinces require registration in order to legally use the title "social worker". Some provincesalso require an exam prerequisite for certification through the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards).

United KingdomThe main qualification for social work is the undergraduate Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc or BSW) in social work,offered at British universities from September 2003 onwards. There is also available a master's degree (MA, MSc orMSW). These have replaced the previous qualifying award, the postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (DipSW),which was first awarded in 1991 and will be phased out across the UK by 2009. Prior to this, the recognisedqualification was the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW), awarded between 1975 and 1991.

Qualifications for professional social work 13

Purporting to be either a social worker or a student social worker without registering with the Social Work Registerand holding or undergoing training for the recognised qualifications is now a criminal offence. Social workers mustrenew their registration every three years. These regulations offer protection to vulnerable people by guaranteeingthe professional regulation of people working as social workers. They also promote workforce development, as allsocial workers must participate in at least fifteen days of professional training over a three year period in order to beeligible for renewal of their registration.Lay practitioners in the United Kingdom, often referred to as Social Services Assistants or Care Workers, areunregistered social workers that often do not hold any formal social work qualification. This is not the case inScotland where the scope of registration for social service workers [4] is more advanced. Within the mental healthsector in the United Kingdom, social workers can train as an Approved Mental Health Professional. With theimplementation of the Mental Health Act 2007, this had replaced the previous Approved Social Worker role and isopen to other professionals such as community psychiatric nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists, whilstmaintaining a social work ethos. AMHPs are responsible for organising and contributing to assessments under theMental Health Act 1983, as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007.After qualifying, social workers can undertake further training under the social work 'Post-Qualifying Framework'.Before 2007, there were four awards available under this framework:• Post-Qualifying Award - for advanced social work practice and management• Mental Health Social Workers in England and Wales can now train to become an Approved Mental Health

Professional or AMHP.• Child Care Award - qualification to work with children and young people• Practice Teaching Award - qualification to work as a tutor, supervisor and assessor for social work students on

their work placementIn 2007, the General Social Care Council and UK partners implemented a new framework which unified theseawards in a simpler structure allowing broader study to count towards three levels of social work award: specialist,higher specialist, and advanced.

AustraliaA four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is required for entry into the occupation of Social Worker in Australia,although some universities also offer a two-year, accelerated, graduate-entry BSW. Whilst there are no legalregistration requirements, most employers stipulate that applicants must be eligible for membership of the AustralianAssociation of Social Workers (Australia) [5] (AASW). Only graduates of courses recognised by the AASW areeligible for membership. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is an ongoing requirement of accreditedmembership of the AASW and must incorporate accountability, gaining new knowledge and information & skilldevelopment (CPE Policy 2006, AASW). A person with overseas qualifications can apply for consideration ofrecognition of their qualifications via a formal application for assessment by the AASW.

Qualifications for professional social work 14

ScandinaviaSocionom is the Swedish and Danish term for a person with a degree in social work and related subjects. In Swedenthe "socionom"/Bachelor of Social Work education is 3.5 years.

References[1] The National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2005). NASW Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http:/ / www.

socialworkers. org.[2] http:/ / www. aswb. org/ SWLE/ passrates. asp[3] Scott Miller, MSW http:/ / www. socialworkexamprep. com/[4] http:/ / www. sssc. uk. com/ All+ about+ Registration/ What+ are+ the+ timescales+ for+ registration/ What+ are+ the+ timescales+ for+

registration. htm[5] http:/ / www. aasw. asn. au/

15

Role of the professional

Role of the professional social worker

This subarticle is kept separate from the main article, Social work, due to size or styleconsiderations.

Professional social workers have a strong tradition of working for social justice and refusing to recreate unequalsocial structures. This means going beyond state sponsored practices which merely cater to individual needs. Socialwork maintains this radical kernel with the objective of transforming society as a whole. Today many social workersinternationally have strong connections with social and political movements for the emancipation of the oppressed.The main tasks of professional social workers are case management (linking clients with agencies and programs thatwill meet their psychosocial needs), medical social work, counseling (psychotherapy), human services management,social welfare policy analysis, community organizing, advocacy, teaching (in schools of social work), and socialscience research.Professional social workers work in a variety of settings, including: non-profit or public social service agencies,grassroots advocacy organizations, hospitals, hospices, community health agencies, schools, faith-basedorganizations, and even the military. Other social workers work as psychotherapists, counselors, or mental healthpractitioners, normally working in coordination with psychiatrists, psychologists, or other medical professionals.Additionally, some social workers have chosen to direct the focus their efforts on social policy or academic researchtowards the practice or ethics of social work. While the emphasis has varied among these task areas in different erasand countries, some areas have been the subject of controversy as to whether they are properly part of social work'smission.

United StatesIn the United States of America, leaders and scholars in the field of social work have debated the purpose and natureof the profession since its beginning in the late 1800s. Workers, beginning with the settlement house movement,have argued for a focus on social reform, political activism, and systemic causes of poverty. Social workers of theSettlement House Movement were primarily young women from middle-income families and chose to live inlower-income neighbourhoods to engage in community organizing. These workers sometimes received stipends fromcharitable organizations and sometimes worked for free. In contrast to the settlement house movement, the friendlyvisitors were women from middle-income families who visited (but did not reside among) families in lower-incomeneighbourhoods. Friendly visitors emphasized conventional morality (such as thrift and abstinence from alcohol)rather than social activism.Others have advocated an emphasis on direct practice, aid to individual clients and families with targeted material assistance or interventions using the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental diseases DSM-IV. While social work has been defined as direct, individual practice in the last quarter of the twentieth century, there is a growing resurgence of community practice in social work. Of broad and growing significance are the relationship counseling and Relationship Education movements which seek to assist in interpersonal social skill building which can be of great societal value in promoting marriage and family stability. Relationship education and counseling primarily aid

Role of the professional social worker 16

the majority of individuals who are free of pathology or who have found that DSM-IV based services are ineffectual.This majority can benefit from education and exposure to relationship skills that have not otherwise been discussedand distributed by social services in this time of weakened family, church, and societal conventions. Another newdevelopment in social work is the focus on informatics (Parker-Oliver & Demiris, 2006). For many social workers,the use of any online technology is problematic due to persistent concerns about privacy. However, other socialworkers recognize that clients are going on line for many purposes. Some schools of social work, such as Universityof Southern California are offering courses to build informatics skills at the graduate level.Community practice is the new term of art for what used to be known as "macro practice" social work. Communitypractice includes working for change at the systems level, including human services management (administration,planning, marketing, and program development); community organizing (community development, grassrootsorganizing, policy advocacy); social policy and politics; and international social development.The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest and most recognized membership organization ofprofessional social workers in the world. Representing 150,000 members from 56 chapters in the United States andabroad, the association promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW alsoseeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its work and advocacy.Although membership is generally not required for licensure, NASW survey data give a rough idea of how socialworkers are employed in the US. According to NASW:

Nearly 40% of NASW members say that mental health is their primary practice area. The health sectoremploys 8% of NASW’s members, and 8% practice in child welfare or family organizations. Six percent ofNASW members say school social work is their primary practice area, and another 3% work primarily withadolescents. (NASW, 2005) These figures are significantly confounded by the fact that NASW members areprimarily licensed practitioners working in the clinical arena, and the fact that many social workers in the fielddo not actually hold a degree in social work. NASW is usually concerned with issues like licensing,reimbursement, etc., that are not relevant to child welfare practice, for instance.

Within the mental health field, social workers may work in private practice, much like clinical psychologists ormembers of other counselling professions often do. Social workers are often in the position of recommending the useof psychopharmaceutical agents, though not prescribing them. The increasingly widespread usage of these agents inthe U.S. has received little scrutiny by the NASW, despite that fact that these drugs are prescribed far more heavilyin the U.S. than anywhere else in the world. Social workers in private practice may take direct payments from clientsand may also receive third-party reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs such asMedicaid. Insurance reimbursement for mental health services involves the designation of the recipient of services asmentally ill, or more specifically a label is assigned from the DSM-IV, the diagnostic and statistical manual ofmental illness. This assignment, when recorded to an individual's medical history can prove to be a significantimpediment to future pursuits. It can raise the cost to the individual for health or nursing home insurance; it can bethe basis of denial for life insurance; and it can limit an individual's professional choices, such as in health care,motor vehicle operation, or airplane piloting.Private practice was not part of the social work profession when it began in the late 1800s. It has been controversialamong social workers, some of whom feel that the more lucrative opportunities of private practice have led manysocial workers to abandon the field's historic mission of assisting disadvantaged populations. The private practicemodel can be at odds with the community development and political activism strains of social work.Social workers in mental health may also work for an agency, whether publicly funded, supported by private charity,or some combination of the two. These agencies provide a range of mental health services to disadvantagedpopulations in the US.Some social workers are child welfare workers, a role that looms large in the public's perception of social work. Thisrole contributes to a negative view of social work in the U.S., since child welfare authorities can remove abused orneglected children from the custody of their parents, a practice that is fraught with controversy and sometimes with

Role of the professional social worker 17

scandalous incompetence. Many child welfare workers in the US do not in fact have social work degrees (though allcaseworkers in most states have at least a Bachelor's degree in a related field).Some states restrict the use of the title social worker to licensed practitioners, who must hold a degree in the field.Such restrictions are a high legislative priority of NASW.

United KingdomIn the United Kingdom and elsewhere, a social worker is a trained professional with a recognised social workqualification, employed most commonly in the public sector by local authorities.Spending on social services departments is a major component of British local government expenditure.In Social care UK, the title "social worker" is protected by law (since 1 April 2005) and can be used only by peoplewho have a recognised qualification and are registered with the General Social Care Council (in England), theScottish Social Services Council, the Care Council for Wales (Welsh: Cyngor Gofal Cymru), or the Northern IrelandSocial Care Council.The strategic direction of statutory social work in Britain is broadly divided into children's and adults' services.Social work activity within England and Wales for children and young people is under the remit of the Departmentfor Children, Schools and Families while the same for adults remains the responsibility for the Department of Health.Within local authorities, this division is usually reflected in the organisation of social services departments. Thestructure of service delivery in Scotland is different.Within children services some social workers are child protection workers, a role that looms large in the public'sperception of social work. This role contributes to a negative view of social work in the UK since child protectionworkers for local authorities can remove suspected abused or neglected children from the custody of their parents, apractice that is fraught with controversy and media criticism.In mental health care, social workers can train to become an Approved Mental Health Professional, involved in theapplication of the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007) in England and Wales.Though now open to other professions, this involves a contributing a social care perspective to Mental Health Actassessments and is predominantly a social worker role.In 2007, the General Social Care Council launched a wide-ranging consultation, in concert with a number of othersocial care organisations, to agree a clear professional understanding of social work in the UK [1]

Further reading• Specht, Harry, and Courtney, Mark E., "Unfaithful angels : how social work has abandoned its mission", New

York : Free Press ; Toronto : Maxwell Macmillan Canada ; New York : Maxwell Macmillan International, 1994.ISBN 0029303559

References[1] GSCC Roles and Tasks of Social Work consultation page (http:/ / www. gscc. org. uk/ News+ and+ events/ Consultations/ Roles+ and+

Tasks+ of+ social+ work/ )

18

Types of International, Social andCommunity practice

Community practiceCommunity Practice is a branch of social work in the United States that focuses on larger social systems and socialchange, and is tied to the historical roots of United States social work. The field of community practice social workencompasses community organizing, social planning, human service management, community development, policyanalysis, policy advocacy, evaluation, mediation, electronic advocacy and other larger systems interventions. In thefield of social work, community practice is often contrasted with direct practice social work, in which social workerswork directly with individuals solving micro-level problems. Community Practice has been referred to in the past asMacro Practice, though Community Practice is now the standard term in the United States.Community Practice has considerable overlap with many other applied social sciences, such as urban planning,economic development, public affairs, rural sociology and nonprofit management. Community Practice socialworkers typically have a Masters in Social Work (MSW). There are several MSW programs in the United States thatoffer Community Practice Concentrations, while many other MSW programs offer specializations in one or severaltypes of community practice, such as social services administration or policy analysis. The professional group ofcommunity practitioners is the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA),which publishes the leading journal in the field, The Journal of Community Practice.

Schools of Social Work with Community Practice Concentrations• Arizona State University• Azusa Pacific University• Boston University School of Social Work• Case Western Reserve University• Georgia State University• Hunter College of the City University of New York• University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

• University of Denver Social Work Doctoral Program• University of Michigan• University of Minnesota School of Social Work• University of North Carolina• University of Oklahoma• University of Tennessee• University of Texas at Arlington• University of Texas at Austin• Wayne State University• Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Community practice 19

External links• Association for Community Organization and Social Administration [1]

• Journal of Community Practice [2]

University of Oklahoma

References• Hardcastle, D., Powers, P. & Wenecour, S. (2004). Community Practice: Theories and Skills for Social Workers.

Oxford University Press• Weil, M. (2005) The Handbook of Community Practice. Sage Publications.

Further reading• Specht, Harry; Courtney, Mark E. (1994). Unfaithful angels : how social work has abandoned its mission. New

York: Free Press. ISBN 0029303559.

See also• List of community topics• Community development• Community building• Community economic development• Community service• Community engagement

References[1] http:/ / www. acosa. org/[2] http:/ / www. haworthpress. com/ store/ product. asp?sku=J125

Article Sources and Contributors 20

Article Sources and ContributorsIntroduction  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=365604263  Contributors: RichardF, X!

Social work  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=372120750  Contributors: 14kbowen, 4drenalin3, Acather96, Addshore, Adopotato, Ahubling, Ajossi, Alan Liefting, Alansohn,Alexius08, Almalakhov, Altenmann, Amatulic, Amitch, AnakngAraw, Anaxial, Andycjp, Anticent, Aptdwn26, Argon233, Artichoker, Auric, AxelBoldt, BRUTE, Baldymoon, Bdodo1992,Beetstra, Benjiboi, Biederman, Billinghurst, Bissinger, Bobo192, BoomerAB, Bshumy, Buchanan-Hermit, Camembert, Cantor, Capricorn42, CarbonNot Silicon, Ccr1311, Cgarvin,ChiragPatnaik, Chriswiki, CiTrusD, Ciphers, Ckatz, Closedmouth, Clutch, Cmichael, Cole Gale, Courcelles, Cprompt, DPeterson, DR04, DVD R W, Danny-w, Dantheox, Ddegroot53,Deborah909, Dekimasu, Dillardjj, Discospinster, DivineAlpha, Dr adventure, Dr.P.Madhu, DrDalton, DrRonLechnyr, Drewclayton, Drtabazan, DynSkeet, EME44, Earlypsychosis, Eduardo1971,Ehagan1, El C, Element cezet, Eloquence, Emo Elli, Encephalon, Entheta, Epbr123, EricLexie, Esperant, Eubulides, Euku, Eyebeeuk, Fainites, Fala1385, Fasten, Ffaarr, Fluence, Flyer22,FreplySpang, Gabbe, Gabriel Kielland, Gail, Garzo, Gilliam, Gioto, Glane23, Goateed, Gogo Dodo, Graniterock, Grizzly, Gsociology, Gtstricky, HIinNYC, Habituspraxis, Hehkuviini, HenryFlower, Heron, Homebuilding, Homeoffice, Huntthetroll, Ice Vision, Ice tres, IceColdLemon, Indefatigable, Iniendrumimaigal, Iridescent, J.delanoy, Jacaranda1, Jackol, Jackthecat001, Janeissfeldt, Jeff3000, Jmdickman, Joaoluiscarreira, JoeSmack, JohnWilsoniv, Joho123, Jonathan B Singer, Jongleur100, Jraines8, Justinfr, Jwestbrook, Karl, Karneson99, Keilana, Kenosis,Kidlittle, Killiondude, Kjkolb, Knotwork, Koyaanis Qatsi, Kubigula, Kukini, Kurieeto, Kuru, LarryQ, LeaveSleaves, Light current, Lightmouse, Ling.Nut, Llywrch, Loki1138, Lord of the Isles,MECU, Macallen, Madhero88, Malcolma, Mangomoose2, Mareklug, Marschalko, Martarius, Martrn, Mashford, Mattg82, MatthewJS, Mattyku, Mav, Max Neill, Mayumashu, McSly, MessageFrom Xenu, Mgclape, Michael Hardy, Mifter, Mikemdoc, Missionary, Misza13, Mjmaudy, Mladifilozof, Moverton, Mrbadger79, Myanw, Natgoo, NawlinWiki, Noohgodno, NorthernThunder,Nv8200p, Orelena, Orphan Wiki, Ortolan88, Pandaplodder, Paul foord, Pax85, Pax:Vobiscum, Philip Trueman, Philippe, Piano non troppo, Pile-Up, Pini00001, Piotrus, Polylerus, Porkipine,Pperos, Prakash m philip, RK, RadioActive, Rajeevmass, Rajpurohit Rajesh, Rakkar, Ravichandar84, Rcronk, Red Thunder, Red nick, Refsworldlee, Remixed, Requestion, Rettetast, Rgamble,Rhodochrosite, RichardF, Riversider2008, Rjwilmsi, Rmhermen, Robh21, Robin Patterson, RoyBoy, S, SVdPLosAngeles, SamDavidson, Sbharmony, Scarykitty, SchuminWeb, Sciurinæ,Scobles, Scottalter, Sdreeben, Seaphoto, Searching for Orion, Secretlondon, Shanoman, Shirik, SimonP, SiobhanHansa, Sjsmith9, Sky83, SmartGuy, Snwexler, Someguy1221, Somno, Sophielle,Spcummings, Springatlast, Sss180b, Sternmusik, Student7, TUF-KAT, Taranet, TastyPoutine, Tawker, The Thing That Should Not Be, The tooth, The upright man, Thingg, Tide rolls,Timothyjwood, Tkjainbkn, Tnlicsw@comcast.net, Tomsega, TravelingCat, Twirligig, TylerDurden1963, Uncle G, Unnyn, Ursasapien, Uzerbaaji, Vanillacreem, Versus22, VictorAnyakin,Victuallers, Vincej, Waltuc, Waves00, Whicky1978, Wickethewok, Wikiklrsc, Wikipelli, Wintonian, Withkamlesh, Wmhouse, Woohookitty, Wrexsoul, Wuhwuzdat, Zaloom, 686 anonymousedits

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Social work knowledge building  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=360657757  Contributors: Funandtrvl, J04n, Jmdickman, Nyttend, UnitedStatesian, Ursasapien, Wikiklrsc

Qualifications for professional social work  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=365331227  Contributors: Amphalumpa, Eastlaw, Funandtrvl, Jacob Lundberg, Jongleur100,Scottmillerlmsw, Somno, Ursasapien, 6 anonymous edits

Role of the professional social worker  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=369267576  Contributors: Amphalumpa, Exit2DOS2000, Funandtrvl, Levineps, R'n'B, Rjwilmsi,Scarykitty, SocialCare, Somno, Springatlast, Ursasapien, Wikiklrsc, 3 anonymous edits

Community practice  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=360551125  Contributors: Bobblehead, CQ, Celiseo, Cryptic C62, Diwakarvk, Dwi1645, Fasten, Gwguffey, Ice tres,Jmdickman, Mifter, MuHaMaat, RockMFR, Ursasapien, Wikiklrsc, 13 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 21

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Czythumbur.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Czythumbur.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: PITERImage:Charity to Street Arab.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Charity_to_Street_Arab.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AndreasPraefcke, Anne97432,SherurcijImage:Jane Addams profile.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Jane_Addams_profile.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: MoffettImage:Splitsection.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Splitsection.svg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Crotalushorridus at en.wikipedia

License 22

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unportedhttp:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/