Social Work Principles

1. Acceptance of people as they are.

• respecting the client under any circumstances
• meeting and interacting with the client non judgmentally
• manifests a genuinely warm interest and concern in the client and his situation
• recognizing that people have strengths and weaknesses, and capacities and limitations

2. Participation of the client in problem-solving.

• client is asked to provide pertinent facts, present his own perceptions of the situation, involve in problem identification, and if there are many problems, client is involved in prioritizing problems
• client  participates in planning ways of resolving the problem
• worker builds upon and utilizes client's strengths

3. Self-determination as a right of the client.

• client has the right to determine what he needs and how they should be met
• worker does not do everything for the client, for she knows that client is capable for "self-help"
• worker will not manipulate but will guide client to look at problems objectively
• client develops self-respect and self-confidence when he realizes that he is able to solve his problems

4. Individualization

• recognition and understanding of each client's unique qualities and the differential use of principles and methods 
• worker should relate to each client as an individual in a situation
• individuals may present same problems but circumstances of the problem, perceptions and responses will be different

5. Confidentiality

• provide client protection
• what the client tells the worker is not discussed with others except when this is done within the context of professional relationships, for the purpose of helping the client, eg. case conference
• requesting of information about the client from another professional or agency are not prepared without the permission of the client, eg. what wife tells the worker is not shared with husband without her permission

6. Worker Self-awareness

• worker must always be conscious that her role is to make use of her professional relationship with her client in a way that will enhance the client's development rather that her own
• worker must examine feelings whether her responses and feelings are professionally motivated
• no one is completely free of biases: it is important to be aware of this and be able to control them so that they do not interfere professional practice

7. Client-worker Relationship

• professional relationship: controlled and purposive
• does not just happen, formed on the basis of expectation from the parties who compromise the relationship
• moves in the direction of certain goals or objectives which have been identified by mutual agreement

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