Social Work as a Profession, Essay Example

Social work is best defined as being an activity performed by dedicated individuals, groups or communities to assist those people in society who are vulnerable or in need of assistance. The work comprises professional people who are skilled and trained in the application of counselling, social psychology and basic nursing skills.  The work may be carried out with individuals, groups or communities of people. The work is involved with dealing with the interactions of people and those institutions of society that have a direct relationship with how people conduct their lives. Social work may therefore be said to contain three specific purposes:

• to enhance the problem-solving, coping and developmental capacities of people;
• to promote the effective and humane operation of the systems that provide people
• with resources and services;
• link people with systems that provide them with resources, services, and opportunities. (Wright State University).

Conflicting purposes can arise between Social Workers, Nurses and Doctors. This is often caused through lack of communication, service integration and not working with a common set of patient records. Social Workers who are professionally trained do not need supervision apart from in special cases i.e. dealing with mental illness, terminal cases or other special illness where medical and psychiatric supervision might prove appropriate. .  “many users of social care and social work services have a lifetime history of disadvantaged economic, environmental and social circumstances” (Esther Coren).  Because of the complex nature of this work it has linkages to other professions that include the medical profession (specifically nursing), psychology, local government administration (social services).  Social Workers have been described as occupying the role of safety net for society. Social workers often act as barometers to society and the determination of people’s relationships with one another. In Britain the Association of Social workers has campaigned against such items as the demonization of the younger generation, the image that society is portraying of people with mental illness and how asylum seekers are being portrayed as people who are devious and socially undesirable. Finally, how the elderly people have been branded as undesirable and a cost burden to society.  Stereotyping is a dangerous consequence in society and history has taught us lessons about the ramifications of this if it goes unchecked.

Works Cited

Esther Coren, W. I. (2010, 6). SCIE Research briefing 33: The contribution of social work and social care to the reduction of health inequalities. Retrieved 11 9, 2010, from http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/briefings/briefing33/index.asp

Wright State University. (2010). Definition of social work. Retrieved 11 9, 2010, from http://www.wright.edu/cola/Dept/social_work/sw_definition.htm