Social Work & Social Work Providers

Table of Contents

Author Supplied Abstract.............................................................................................1

Author Supplied Keywords..........................................................................................2
Overview..........................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................8
Terms & Concepts............................................................................................................9

Author Supplied Abstract

Social work is one of the broadest fields in social and human services. In order to practice
social work an individual must earn at least a bachelors degree which in this field is
referred to as a Bachelors of Social Work or B.S.W. However, many agencies prefer that
a person have at least an M.S.W. or Masters in Social Work. The National Association of
Social Workers is the American organization which registers and certifies persons as
“Licensed Clinical Social Workers”.
The practice of social work encompasses so many areas of work that they are impossible
to summarize within the scope of this brief essay. Suffice it to say that social workers
serve in a wide range of capacities including clinical counselors, professionals in social
agencies, child welfare workers, and many other areas of human services.

Author Supplied Keywords

Assessment
Certification
Child Welfare Worker
Clinical Supervision
Diagnosis
Forensic Social Work
Interpersonal Counseling
Medical Social Work
Person Centered Planning
Play Therapy

Social Work & Social Work Providers

SOCIOLOGY & RELATED FIELDS> Social Work & Social Service Providers

Overview

The social work profession began in the 18th century in response to the changing needs of
modern civilization. Today, social workers are an invaluable part of the social services
landscape. They serve in child welfare agencies, mental health services, government
services and private practice. However, it is a long road to become a professional worker.
The very basic requirement one must earn is a four year B.S.W. or Bachelors of Social
Work. Beyond that, a person generally requires an M.S.W. or Masters of Social Work to
serve in a position of any authority or responsibility. In order to earn licensure as a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or LCSW an individual must be over 21 and have
approximately 3,000 hours of post-graduate work in the field. These hours must be
supervised by a registered, clinical social worker. Once the hours are complete an
individual applies to their State Examination Board to take the licensing examination.
Each state also has specific requirements for their social workers to maintain licensure
(just as they do with doctors or physical therapists). Extensive information on licensure is
available from the National Association of Social Workers – NASW.

Social Theory

The primary theoretical foundation that drives social work is that of developing
appropriate interventions. Historically, the focus of interventions has changed due to
different theoretical orientations. Some of the theories that have informed social work
include “…psychodynamic theory, cognitive_/behavioural theories, system theory, social
psychological theories such as different communication models, sociological theories
such as radical and Marxist perspectives, empowerment and advocacy and feminist
theories…” (Johnsson & Svensson, 2005, p.423).

Social work theory has examined the different reasons for social problems. Some of the
reasons they have proposed include structural problems – that is, social conditions lead to
social problems and psychological theories have provided an impetus to consider the
ways in which people interact as a focus of social unrest. This is a far more
‘individualistic approach and looks more at individuals and the ways in which they do, or
do not take responsibility in their lives. At the heart of social work, however, is the desire
to try and alleviate the social problems faced by many vulnerable people in society.
These include abused children, seniors, women who have violence in the home, people
who live in poverty and persons with disabilities.

The modern approach to social work theory is changing and moving towards something
called ‘evidence-based practice’. Johnsson and Svensson (2005) state:

One of the main discussions in social work today is about evidence-based

practice, and the connection between research and practice in social work.
This connection is often discussed both as a practical question, how it
should be done, and as a theoretical question, how it should be understood
(p. 421).

There are some who suggest that even with this evolution towards evidence-based work
that social work is not a field that is based in theory. Their assertion is that social work is
a practical endeavor that is focused on changing the situation in which people or
organizations find themselves. (Johnsson and Svensson, 2005). Lam (2004) disagrees.
She suggests that students in social work often find themselves in extremely vulnerable
and difficult situations and therefore try to focus on the practical rather than the
theoretical. This often gives the wrong impression that there is no social work theory to
ground their work. Her argument is that social work theory is actually highly complex
and this makes it difficult for students to retain all of this information and be effective in
the field on a practical level. “Even if students retain different theories well, the selection
and retrieval of these theories from a whole pool of knowledge is not a simple exercise”
(Lam, 2004, p.373).

Voss (2004) has conducted research into a new area of social work – teaching sensitivity
in a cross-cultural perspective utilizing alternative and complementary techniques. His
focus has been on understanding people from within their own cultural framework and
perceptions. This empowers social workers to utilize techniques that come from within
the person’s cultural perspective and not from the perspective of the cultural background
of the social worker. He has found that challenging students’ perceptions of different
cultures can be uncomfortable work for some students. Nevertheless, he believes it opens
their mind to new ways of practicing their profession.
 The last example I would like to share is something that I have found
useful while teaching race relations, a core diversity course in the
undergraduate social work curriculum and an interdisciplinary course,
which draws mixed majors from across the university. Invariably, I have
found my students confronting an energetic lull or dead-zone midway
through the course (Voss, 2004, p.23).

Theory in social work provides a means of understanding social structure, social

processes and the ways in which people and organizations interact and connect with the
larger society. For example, Johnsson and Svensson (2005) discuss the relationship of
poverty to society. “All social processes occur on more than one level…poverty
that leads to malnutrition and lack of skills, which leads to marginalisation, which
leads to unemployment, which leads to poverty and so on. In that perspective, poverty is
a complex process where factors on different levels have to be taken into account” (pp.
422-423).

Roots of Social Work

There is research to suggest that social work has its roots in Victorian society. Nineteenth
century England was in many ways a very progressive time. There were advances in
medicine, new technologies were being invented and the notion of ‘comforting others’
became one of the principles of Victorian England. Webb (2007) states:

My contention is that certain key ideas emerge from this period that still
form the background horizons of our moral, scientific and practical
experiences in social work. The call to improve ordinary life and
encourage self reliance, for instance, as well as the ideals of benevolence
and compassion took root in late Victorian England with social work being
a key vehicle of transmission (p.41).

To a large degree, Victorian society was the beginning of what we often term as
‘modernity’. It was also a society of great contrasts. While there were many wealthy
people there were also the very poor. It is also worth mentioning that the beginnings of an
industrial society also brought great anxieties. Many people were forced out of the
countryside in order to find work in large, urban centers. This changed the fabric of the
British family and as such many found themselves having to work in factories for long
hours and very little pay. These kinds of changes created some of the social problems we
still see today – people feeling estranged from their work, familial disruption, difficulties
with raising children, concern over helping the poor and people with disabilities and
illnesses.

Charitable activities were thus caught up in the dislocating effects of

modernization. This is why a key emphasis was on the demarcation of the
casual poor*those who work sometimes and not at others*and the
fluctuating circumstances of poverty surrounding their disorderly life style
(Webb, 2007, p.43).
Another primary notion of Victorian society was that of ‘being civilized’. People who
held steady employment, families that led a proper domestic life and people who were
generally in ‘good standing’ (respected and respectable in Victorian terms) were thought
to be civilized. Yet, there was still the other side of Victorian life and as history has
demonstrated one of the most vicious criminals lived during that time – Jack the Ripper.
The ‘Ripper’s’ activities only highlighted the feelings Victorian society had for what they
termed the ‘underbelly’ of society – in other words, women who worked in the sex trade.
These were the uncivilized elements of Victorian society and many thought it necessary
to engage in social reform so that women did not have to resort to such extremes in order
to earn a living.

Originally named the ‘London Society for Organizing Charitable Relief

and Repressing Mendacity’, the Charity Organization Society, as it was
renamed in 1870, not only delineated the purpose of early social work, but
also epitomized the building of a very modern organization and
standardized casework practices, becoming the Family Welfare
Association in 1946 (Webb, 2007, p.44).

In the late 19th century, a British social worker by the name of Olivia Hill was considered
to be an important influence on the development of the field. Hill worked with people
who would have been considered outcasts by many others – people who were
unemployed, persons who were homeless and individuals who were thought to have no
skills and therefore no ability to contribute to society. She was especially devoted to
several housing projects which provided secure homes for people who would otherwise
be homeless. “The work of Octavia Hill also underlines the preoccupation with home and
dwellings by early social workers” (Webb, 2007, p.195).

van Wormer (2002) points out that the early part of the 20th century was a vibrant time in
social work history. In particular, three reformers proved to be extremely important to the
practice of social work. Alice Salomon of Germany, Eileen Younghusband of the United
Kingdom, and Edith Abbott of the United States are considered to be three of the
pioneers. In particular, they held an ‘international perspective’ which meant that they
believed social work has the potential to move beyond specific geographical boundaries,
a premise that continues to hold true today.

To a large degree, early social workers were dedicated to social reform and not just
helping individuals or groups of people who were vulnerable in society. This came from
the international perspective mentioned above. In today’s perspective, this would be
considered global awareness.

Everything is connected: future to the past, the parts to the whole, the
biological to the social, the inner to the outer (body, mind, etc.), personal
to political, the local to the global. The future of potential social work lies
in our grasping the essence of this awareness […] (van Wormer, 2002,
p.34).
Social Workers

Qualifications

In order to practice as a professional social worker today (as noted above in the
Overview), one must earn at least an M.S.W. (Masters of Social Work) and then spend
two years in post-graduate work under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker (LCSW). To become a LCSW one must pass a licensing examination. However,
this also implies that one must maintain licensure and in order to do that, social workers
must always participate in continuing education to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
Some might suggest that this is rather too rigorous, but others feel it is not rigorous
enough. There are those within social work who feel that the practice must raise its
standards in order to prove itself a worthy profession. “There is a classic lament often
made within the ranks, however, that social work needs to do more to develop its
professional scholarship” (Harington, 2006, p.91).

A primary issue with respect to qualifications is the broad arena in which social work is
practiced. Efforts take place on the local, regional, national and international levels.
Therefore, some might suggest that depending on where the social worker is employed
that they should have to meet different standards and qualifications. Marsh & Triseliotis
state: “This takes us back to the need for practitioners to be thoroughly steeped in their
own discipline. It simply is not enough to be qualified and then well-versed in agency
policy and practice” (as cited in Skinner& Whyte, 2004, p.368).

Another key to improving upon and raising the standards of social work is research both
quantitative and qualitative. Research is one of the keys to the strength of any academic
discipline. It provides for in-depth studies on the subjects which are crucial to the
understanding and development of the particular field.

Research is an essential response to developing strategies in settings in

which social work required to act and passing the learning on to another
generation of practitioners. It can be applied to evaluate programmes and
test theory and to explore the many narratives that make up the voices
contingent on practice (Harington, 2006, p.92).

Clinical and Direct Practice

The following is a list of ‘some’ of the major fields of social work: assessment and
diagnosis, case management, clinical supervision, counseling or psychotherapy,
psychoanalysis, crisis intervention, family therapy/family interventions, group therapy or
other group work, child welfare, adoption, child abuse, foster care, disability services,
domestic violence, family planning, employee assistance programs, medical social work,
forensic social work, school social worker, substance abuse, aging or gerontology,
nursing homes, hospices, anti-poverty, housing and homelessness, violence prevention,
person centered planning, play therapy, psychosocial and psychoeducational
interventions, relationship counseling and interpersonal counseling, relationship
education, immigrant and refugee services and supports, anti-racism, lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender supports. While this list may seem daunting, it is important to
take into account that this is not even an all inclusive list.

The practice of social work is so diverse that trained social workers have an enormous
range of opportunities from which to choose. Yet, social work is also one of the most
emotionally taxing professions in our modern world. They often serve in some of the
most difficult environments such as dealing with domestic violence, child abuse, and
sexual assault / trauma. Social workers are trained to separate their own personal feelings
and experiences from those of their clients. Still, their jobs are often stressful and there is
a high rate of burn-out in the social work profession.

One of the most delicate areas of social work practice is trauma. Social workers are often
called on to work in abusive and difficult situations (as noted above). As one social
worker states, although this work can be emotionally taxing and sometimes question our
faith in humanity, the opposite is also true.

As awful as trauma can be, for the client, for the student, for the social
worker, as many times as I shake my head in disbelief at the atrocities
humans inflict on each other, I have just as many stories of people
surviving abusive situations, thriving, and finding lost voices, jeopardized
spirits, buried strengths (Cleamans, 2008, p.238).

Another area that has made a profound impact on social work was the passage of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This pioneering piece of legislation provided the
foundation for greater integration and independence for persons with disabilities. The
legislation is primarily based on the ‘minority model’ which sees ‘disability’ as the
barriers to full participation in society and not located in the person’s body. Social
workers serve as an important medium between employers and persons with disabilities
who have traditionally faced huge barriers to employment, such as persons with
psychiatric disabilities. Social workers have the knowledge and expertise to assist with
integration strategies and techniques (O’Brien & Ellegood, 2005).

Applications

Social Workers as Advocates

As mentioned earlier in this paper, social work has its roots in ‘charitable’ work but this
also implies, at least to some degree, that they served as social advocates. The early
foundations of social work provided a voice for people who were voiceless in society and
to a large degree they continue to do so. “Whether translating research findings for public
consumption, or arguing for a policy position that reflects social work values, social
workers engaged in cause advocacy need rhetorical skill” (Lens, 2005, p.231).

Given that the world is now dealing with issues such as the global economy and
globalization, social workers are faced with issues they have never deal with before.
Huge numbers of people are moving through and across borders but not always in a
positive pattern. For example, two of the most horrific effects of globalization is human
trafficking and child labor (Polack, 2004). As well, modern warfare is far more complex
and survivors of campaigns such as Desert Storm and the current wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan leave often leave veterans with highly complicated emotional and physical
scars.

While we often sit back and marvel at our technological innovations, modern society is
also extremely stressful and many people cannot cope. Divorce rates are high, millions of
people are unemployed, there are hundreds of thousands of homeless children and youth
who make a living in the sex industry. Modern society often exacts a heavy toll on many
of us – both those who are successful in life and those who are not. The latter feel the
constant pressure to keep producing results at their work, and those without jobs feel a
sense of utter hopelessness (Gorin, 2007).

Social workers are often the people who come to the rescue of others. They work in a
multiplicity of roles and provide outreach, comfort, support, compassion, and a helping
hand. They make it possible for people to negotiate the justice system, understand
criminal charges, deal with immigration issues and find a place to stay when home is
unsafe. They are often the unsung heroes of social advocacy in our society. This is a
difficult and often emotionally-taxing role. In addition to their already complex roles,
social workers often serve as advocates for new policies, procedures and laws to protect
the most vulnerable in society. In many ways, social work serves as a compass for the
moral values of our society. “There are many forums for cause advocacy. Social workers
can testify at a public hearing, lobby public officials, answer questions posed by a
reporter, or make presentations to a community organization…” (Lens, 2005, p.231).

Conclusion
Social work is an extremely complex and highly diverse field of practice. This brief
review merely touches on the surface of what social workers do and the history of their
field. The field of social work trains professionals to work in a wide range of roles but
they usually work with persons who are the most vulnerable in society. They intercede on
behalf of persons who cannot advocate for or help themselves. Thus, they perform an
extremely important role in society. Social workers can also be highly specialized just as
doctors are. They can focus on criminal work, the justice system, the correctional system,
social welfare, working with children, etc. They have a wide choice of roles and positions
open to them especially in today’s modern society.
Terms & Concepts
Assessment is the process of documenting, usually in measurable terms, knowledge,
skills, attitudes and beliefs
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or
organization.
Child Welfare Worker is used to describe a someone who works for government-run
services designed to protect children and encourage family stability.
Clinical Supervision is used in counselling, psychotherapy, and other mental health
disciplines as well as many other professions engaged in working with people. It consists
of the practitioner meeting regularly with another professional, not necessarily more
senior, but normally with training in the skills of supervision,
Diagnosis is the identification, by process of elimination, of the nature of anything.
Forensic Social Work is a branch of Social work that deals with the practice of social
work in criminal and civil law settings. Forensic social workers are employed in a variety
of settings, such as psychiatric hospitals, state and municipal agencies and by law
enforcement departments.
Interpersonal Counseling can be defined as a relatively short-term, interpersonal,
theory-based process of helping persons who are fundamentally psychologically healthy
resolve developmental and situational issues.
Medical Social Work s a sub-discipline of social work. Medical social workers typically
work in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or hospice, have a graduate degree in the field
(Masters degree in social work (MSW or MSSW), and work with patients and their
families in need of psychosocial help. Medical social workers assess the psychosocial
functioning of patients and families and intervene as necessary.
Person Centered Planning is a process designed to assist someone to make plans for
their future. It is used most often as a life planning model to enable individuals with
disabilities to increase their personal self-determination and improve their own
independence
Play Therapy is generally employed with children ages 3 to 11, play provides a way for
children to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-
healing process. As children’s experiences and knowledges are often communicated
through play, it becomes an important vehicle for them to know and accept themselves
and others.

Bibliography

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Polack, R. J. (2004). Social justice and the global economy: New challenges for social
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Voss, R.W. (2004). Reclaiming our mojo: Challenging the notion of nontraditional versus
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O'Brien, G., & Ellegood, C. (2005). The Americans with Disabilities Act: A decision tree
for social services administrators. Social Work, 50( 3), 271-279. Retrieved August
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Skinner, K., & Whyte, B. (2004). Going beyond training: theory and practice in
managing learning. Social Work Education, 23(4), 365–381. Retrieved August
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Webb, S. A. (2007). The comfort of strangers: social work, modernity and late Victorian
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Webb, S. A. (2007). The comfort of strangers: social work, modernity and late Victorian
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Suggested Reading

Adams, R. (2008). Empowerment, Participation and Social Work. Palgrave MacMillan,

New York, N.Y.
Banks, Sara. (2008). Ethics and Values in Social Work, Palgrave MacMillan, New York,
N.Y.

Burke, P., & Parker, J. (2006). Social Work And Disadvantage: Addressing the Roots of
Stigma Through Association. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.

Dominelli, L. (2008). Anti-Racist Social Work. , Palgrave MacMillan, New York, N.Y.

Figueira-McDonough, J. (2006). The Welfare State and Social Work: Pursuing Social
Justice. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California.

Glicken, M. D. (2006). Social Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Social

Welfare, Social Issues, and the Profession. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks,
California.

Essay by Ilanna Mandel, M.A.

Ilanna Mandel is a writer and editor with over seventeen years of experience, specifically
in the health and education sectors. Her work has been utilized by corporations, non-
profit organizations and academic institutions. She is a published author with one book
and numerous articles to her credit. She received her MA in Education from UC Berkeley
where she focused on sociology and education.
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