INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK

CHAPTER 1

Social work aims to help individuals and communities overcome obstacles through applying
scientific methods and principles of human rights and social justice. It involves understanding
individuals' needs in their social context and assisting them to access resources to better
participate in society. Definitions of social work emphasize helping people help themselves
by addressing problems in human relationships and social systems.

VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK

In order to reach the goals of social work, the social worker must convey certain values. This
is probably the reason why a wealth of literature exists on values in social work. Lee
(1994:131) demonstrates the central position of values in intervention, by means of a case
study where a client asks:

 “What kind of a social worker are you?

 Are you the kind that thinks they can fix things
 or are you the kind that tries to fix us?”

Therefore the values expressed by the social worker shape every facet of social work. The
complexity of the expression of values in South Africa is however endorsed by Payne
(1991:4) in that he points out that although much has been written about values, this has
been done in terms of Western culture and is therefore not necessarily applicable to non-
western cultures. It is impossible for social workers to maintain a neutral set of values.

It is from this perspective that the following introductory discussion on values in social
work will be presented, which will serve to make the reader aware of the complexity of
the expression of values in Southern Africa. It is however important that the content of this
chapter (values) be seen in terms of the definition and the goals of social work in South
Africa.24

DEFINITION OF VALUE ORIENTATED TERMS

Terms are used differently by different authors. What, for example, is classified by one writer
as a value will be conceptualised by another writer as a principle. For this reason the core of

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this chapter focuses only on the conceptualisation of professional values of the social worker.
For these introductory purposes however, it is still necessary to define a few simplified value
orientated terms.

Values:

These are ideals that one believes in and strives towards. It therefore involves preferences
for certain actions

Principles:

This refers to a foundation, conviction, point of reference and basis for discussion
(Lombard, Weyers & Schoeman 1991:76).

Attitude:

This is a favourable or unfavourable Tendency (propensity) to behaviour (Adler &

Rodman 1994:388).

Ethics: These are the values in action that influence preferences for behaviour in
relationships (Levy 1993:2). It is therefore about right and wrong.

RELIGION AND VALUES

For quite some while there was little comment from the welfare field regarding the influence
of religion on values in social work. In recent times only a few authors such as
Mupedziswa (1996:378-386) aired their views in this regard. The new constitution of
South Africa may possibly evoke more responses regarding this issue.

In Loewenberg (1988:15) reference is made to the Christian church as the mother of social
work. This reference is probably historically correct, but social work today is certainly not
only based on Christian values. A comment by Lombard in Grobbler & Schoeman (1980:6) is
also clearly from a certain time perspective. She suggests that in a Christian country such as
South Africa, Christian values and norms have, up till now, still exercised a necessary
meaningful influence upon social work this can also be related to Zambia.

In a democratic and multi-cultural South Africa where there is freedom of religion, the
focus ought not only to be on the influence of Christian values, but on religion in the broader
sense.

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Loewenberg (1988:5) emphasises the importance of acknowledging the impact that the
social worker‟s religion has on his/her expression of values. This author has conceptualised
three attitudes of social workers regarding the impact of religion on practice:

- Many social workers ignore religion as if it is irrelevant to the profession. This group
includes people who themselves practice, for example the Christian, Moslem or Jewish
religion.

- Another group of social workers, who are most probably in the minority, are opposed to
religion and are of the opinion that it is harmful to clients and in conflict with the goals of the
profession. This group of people usually do not practise any religion.

- The final group of social workers, less prominent in the literature but probably the largest
group, regard religion as central to their personal and professional lives.

Although some academics, social workers and students justify their entry into the profession
upon humanitarian grounds, the reality is that a large number of practitioners in South Africa
also justify their entry into the profession in terms of religious values. It would appear that
“to have a calling” (from a religious value orientation) is a factor that greatly motivates many
social workers and students to enter the field, while the literature disregards this factor. A
possible reason is that academics, in particular, view this “awareness of a calling” as in
opposition to and a threat to scientific practice and professionalism. Loewenberg (1988:149)
however warns that religiously orientated clients and social workers are not
unfashionable remains of a former era, but rather a living reality. Social workers (regardless
of what they believe in) must therefore acknowledge and understand the impact of religion on
their own and their client‟s value orientations.

Brammer et al. (1993:350) suggest that in order to understand the

impact of values on religion, the following components must be

distinguished:

- Religion (e.g. Christian, Moslem, Jewish)

- Denomination (e.g. DR-church, Catholic, Methodist)

- Commitment (e.g. the extent to which religion is practised)

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- Individuality (e.g. own opinions and attitudes)

This implies that although the impact of religion on values must be recognised and
understood, one should always strive towards the goals of social work. Just as a social
worker unlike a teacher, for example, cannot deal with a client in a proper manner, nor
can they deal with a client as a minister, pastor or any spiritual leader would.

CULTURE AND VALUES

Payne (1991:4-6) highlights the diversity of culture and the influence that this has on
people‟s values. This author refers to examples, such as the Western social worker who
emphasises the importance of individual rights. In some cultures however individual
rights are not important, but rather the duties and responsibilities with regard to the
individual‟s family network. Egan (1994:52-53) stresses the importance of understanding
cultural diversity such as gender, sexual orientation, politics, population group etc.

This means that the social worker must be aware of his/her own values and prejudices
and show understanding of the client‟s values. This should lead to culturally appropriate
(culturally friendly) intervention.

In practice this means that clients should be individualised in terms of the manner in which
they express their values. It should therefore be possible, for example, to refer to a middle
class black man as this individual. This individualisation of the client should however not
be viewed in the same sense as individuality in a value context (as with the above-mentioned
example provided by Payne). Since culture plays such an important role in social work, it will
be discussed more fully in a subsequent chapter.

LEVELS OF VALUES

Bernstein & Gray (1996:88-90) distinguish certain levels of values. Differences in the values
of the respective levels can result in conflict, for example, differences between the values of a
worker and a client or differences between the values of the worker and the
organisation.

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Societal values: These are usually reflected through the government, in terms of the policy
and welfare model which it subscribes to, for example a residual (welfare is a privilege) or
institutional model (welfare is a right).

Professional values: The values of the profession, which are reflected through respect for the
person and social entitlement. Social workers are held accountable for the expression of
their values by means of the ethical code.

Values of the organisation: This is demonstrated by means of the policy of the

organisation involved, for example, by only providing social relief for a limited period.
This reflects the organisation‟s value of encouraging independence.

Values of the client: Clients have their own frame of reference regarding values, which in the
light of their problematic nature need to be reconsidered.

Social workers own values: This is that which the worker as a person believes in, their own
ideals and what they as human beings strive towards.

PROFESSIONAL VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK

No profession can exist without a fundamental basis. The social work profession is built on a
basic philosophy that is fundamentally based on a particular view of humanity and life. The
social worker‟s view of humanity and life contributes towards achieving the goals of social
work.

For this reason, considerations such as equity, equality and social justice are not
regarded as values, but rather as goals of social work. With this background in mind an
introductory discussion on a few of these professional values will be provided with reference
to the work of Brown (1998) et al

Belief in the potential of people

The social worker must believe that people are capable of change, growth and development.
Therefore peoples abilities must continually be expanded.

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Affirming human dignity

The unique ability of people to accept personal responsibility, is taken into account. There is
belief in the person rather than in the intervention, by respecting the person‟s ability to take
decisions.

Acceptance

People have the right to be accepted for what they are. The person must be seen within the
context of his/her circumstances. Unacceptable behaviour is viewed as the manifestation of
a process of dynamic causal factors.30

Non-judgemental

The client and his/her situation are viewed objectively and this must be reflected in the
worker‟s attitude towards the client.

Individualising

People‟s needs and situations are unique, in that they are experienced differently by
different people. The value of the individual must be re-established.

Right to self-determination

People want to be in the position to make decisions themselves, which effect their lives.
People have the potential to promote their own interests.

Self-help

People should be granted the opportunity to accept responsibility for doing something
themselves to improve their circumstances.

Address real needs

The needs addressed must be those which the people themselves have identified and not that
which has been forced upon them.

Involvement with others

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People want to feel that they belong to a group or community. Opportunities must therefore
be created so that the individual can become involved with others.

Partnership

The individual, group or community together with the social worker are partners in the
intervention process. All parties therefore must have an interest in the intervention and
accept responsibility for it by means of the division of roles.

Responsible change

Social work implies, amongst others, change. Intervention with a view to change must
however be applied in a responsible manner so that it will in no way be disadvantageous to
the person.

Meeting on own level

People must be met on their level of functioning, which is familiar to them. This does not
mean that the social worker has to sacrifice his/her own identity, but must rather make
him/herself understood by the client and move through the intervention at the client‟s pace.

Confidentiality

People find it difficult to share confidential information with outsiders. Information effecting
clients must therefore be handled with great prudence. (Many training institutions have the
practice whereby students take an oath or declaration of confidentiality.)

Controlled emotional involvement

Subjective elements are involved in every relationship including professional relationships.

The social worker however should not become subjectively involved in an uncontrolled
manner in the clients situation, as this can be at the expense of level-headedness and sound
judgement, which can be to the detriment of the client or the situation.

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