The Pros And Cons Of Social Work

This piece of writing is going to demonstrate an understanding of diversity, difference and also discuss the implications for social work practice. It will include an understanding of theories and concepts in relation to diversity where it will address the needs of diverse communities, individuals and groups, exploring differences in relation to culture, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, social class and economic wellbeing. It will also demonstrate an understanding of principle of working in an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory way.

As discussed by Williams & Bell (2015), the evolving identity of social work has been continually unclear among the general public and social workers themselves. Theoretically social work practice is thought to have abandoned its original ideals of community focus and collective betterment shifting its concentration to individualistic approaches. Since its inception, beginning with settlement houses and charity organizations in the 19th century, social work practice has endeavored for recognition as a profession in its own right not as a supplement to other professions in a secondary manner such as assisting doctors or lawyers etc.

Social work refers to the profession in which there is a “distinctive emphasis... on the interface between individuals and their social environment” (Toseland & Rivas, 2005, p. 5). The profession was created as a response to a need or concern (Johnson & Yanca, 2010, p. 4). Common human needs include: food, shelter, clothing, health care, opportunities for emotional and intellectual growth, as well as meaningful relationships (Johnson & Yanca, 2010, p. 6). As Johnson and Yanca (2009) state, social work is only one of several social functioning professions and continues to develop from influences from the past and present (p. 10). The profession itself mainly focuses on social welfare, as its purpose is to “promote human and community well-being” (Schriver, 2011, p. 3).

Many experts call social workers the “jack of all trades” of the modern society. This comes from the fact that these professionals assist their clients in almost every accept of life. For one thing, they promote good mental health since they can help patients with psychological conditions and substance abuse problems. They can also help in improving physical wellbeing since they can guide their clients to the right healthcare facility and assist them in obtaining financial help to fund their treatment. Of course, they can help people who are going through socio-economic difficulties by steering them to organizations who can best assist with their financial needs.

Compared to this time last year, I have more self-confidence when identifying as a social worker. Even though I had previous work experience in the field, I internally referred to myself as a student. Since completing my foundation year of field, I have embraced the term social worker professionally and personally. Professionally, I am constantly aware of the core values my title encompasses while assisting the clients whom I serve. These core values have developed in my own personal beliefs and moral systems. Recognizing people’s strengths and systems that incorporate their lives that reflect avenues to which may rely on the assist of a social worker. Compared to this time last year, I am able to assist clients with identifying their strengths, systems, assessments, and interventions to a presenting problem.

I think kids have the ability even better than fashion designers to know when someone is poor. I worked really hard to not show anyone how much my family was struggling financially. Kids whose parents were on welfare often got mad fun of because of how they dressed. I remember being on free lunch at school and often bringing change extra so I could get slightly better food. My parents drove around one car that they shared and it was really beaten up. I used to be so embarrassed to ride in it. Everything they had were gifts or hand-me-downs from their parents. I did not need for everyone to tell me we were poor, I lived it and knew it.

First, I was correct about my own understanding of what a social worker is required to do. “[Social workers] act as allies to some of the most vulnerable populations in the United States, including people who are young, elderly, economically disadvantaged, and physically or mentally disabled” (Lin et al. 7). This quote made me smile because I have never given a thought about how important this job might be and how valuable a social workers help might be to some people. “Social workers may be engaged in a variety of occupations ranging from hospitals, schools, clinics, police departments, and public agencies, court systems to private practices or businesses” (Leaver 969). This quote from another scholarly journal provided proof to me that I was correct about my assumptions about the social work career but it also brought out some new information to me. I was already aware that social workers can work in hospitals, schools, and clinics but I never knew that they can also work in the police departments, public agencies, and court systems. This new information was fascinating to me because I was never aware that a social worker could work in even more

After observing the video recommended for this discussion, there are various types of characteristics for a person to possess when taking part in the social work field. As in the article, “Social work practice: Cases and principles,” social workers are devoted to “serve and altruism” by assisting clients at hand, and social workers putting their wants and best interest aside (Bisman, 1994, p. 25). What is most important is the attention, and resources necessary for clients. When listening to each of the three professional social workers, they focused on important aspects of this profession that revolves towards a client. Social workers are to assist to each client’s needs. A client’s need for guidance, resources, and clarification of issues

The way helping agencies and social workers might have a negative impact on this population is by placing a label on them. Many agencies that target to assist this population needs by putting a classification and with the it carries negative views that pushes away this group. As well as the lack of understanding stressors of acculturation in migrating to a foreign country (Martinez, Zatz, Charis,2012.) In addition, some agencies lack awareness of their personal beliefs, biases and assumptions of the specific group ( Sue et al., 1992.) Furthermore, agencies lack to value the groups culture, uniqueness and goals of undocumented immigrants ( Arrendondo et al, 2006.) Unfortunately, the ultimate impact that this label has it hits their personal

I personally view social work as a structured, multi-faceted platform that provides necessary, practical assistance and aid to those who direly need it. This comes in numerous different forms and reaches across all walks of life, but ultimately, the unequivocal similarity that all social workers in any branch of social work share is the ability to plant and foster the seeds of positivity and growth in even the darkest, bleakest of places. I have experienced the transformative power of this very work firsthand and, frankly, I believe social work to be one of the most admirable and necessary professions to exist. As the late journalist Alexander Chase so aptly put it, “Social work is a Band-Aid on the festering wounds of society.” It is the role

This research paper provides an opportunity to demonstrate the understanding of the profession of social work and discuss potential strengths and challenges faced in the beginning exploration of the social work profession.(Group Practice Handbook pg 4)Social work practice supplies transferable knowledge, values and skills for the interactive approach. The main goal of the social work profession is to improve human well-being and help meet the necessities of all people, with percise attention to the needs and liberation of people who are impotent, distressed, and living in poverty.(NASW)

Each Social Service that is received by the individual, family or group is a service that is vital to the function of their everyday life. Each assessment was done to obtain information of what Social Services the individual, family, and group utilize to discovery the pros and cons of benefits. After obtaining results a program can be developed, to service clients better.

Being a social worker, you will encounter many diverse cultures and ethnicities. Some situations will be easy to handle while other may be difficult and have a social worker not know the right things to say. In the field of social work, there will be situations like the one presented in the reading ‘“Hanging in there” When Differences Between Client and Worker Are at Issue” where I may be uncomfortable about the topic at hand. If I was the student talking to Mr. Curtis I truly think I would react the same way the student did in the story. Being a different ethnicity from the client and growing up in a generation where things are not as bad as they once were I possible could not relate to where Mr. Curtis is coming from.

16. Why do people leave this field or company? People do and have different reasons for leaving their jobs. It's hard to sum up why people leave the field of social work because different thing happen to different people causing different outcomes in their life. But two reasons kathy could think of on the top of her head was low paid and high stress. At the start pay is low but increase well you move up. So some people don't have the patience to wait and move on to different jobs. Well being a social work is often stressful with the things that happen and the things that we have to do and see. So some people can't handle it and move on to new things in their life.

Throughout the semester, I learned valuable lessons and skills that would aid me in becoming a successful social worker. In addition, working on the public issue project provided me with the opportunity to put what I learned into action. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to put what I learned in the classroom to use while working in the community with a group of women, as a team, to accomplish a set goal. Over the last several years, through observation, I saw the homeless population grow in the downtown Atlanta area and sometimes wondered what I could do to help aid in their well-being, especially in the winter months when they were living on the streets with little clothing. I recognized the problem, assessed the issue and came up with a goal. The public issue project gave me the opportunity to not just think about helping the homeless stay warm., but to do something to contribute keeping them warm. I learned the importance of setting a plan, putting it into action to reach a goal. Therefore, I choose to do a coat and blanket drive, as my public issue project, for those living on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia during the winter months.