Social Work: An Introduction

SOCIAL WORK is a value-laden profession. Its philosophical evolution and historical development as a voluntary humanitarian activity trace it to its present status as a profession. As charity work, it was primarily motivated by the religious teachings of the Jews and Christians. Its religious base, the belief that man was created after the image and likeness of God, provides the philosophical foundation of the profession, that man was imbued with inherent worth and dignity and therefore deserves every other human being’s respect. 

As a creature of God, every man is a unique individual yet depends on others for his self-realization. This makes him a social being. Man is also believed to possess the capacity to grow, to develop, and to change – attributes that provide the rationale for social work goals and activities. Because of these fundamental beliefs and assumptions, social work is committed to the value that “it is good and desirable for a man to fulfill his potential, to realize himself, and to balance this with equal effort to help others do the same.”

The seven guiding principles of the profession: acceptance, non-judgmental attitude, individualization, purposeful expression of feelings, controlled emotional involvement, confidentiality, and client self-determination – flow logically from the major premises of social work. These values dictate how the worker should regard and relate to the persons that need help.

References:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply