HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
MODULE 08
Professionals and Practitioners in Social Work
Welcome!
This module introduces you the roles, functions, and competencies of social
work. Furthermore, this module presents the areas of specialization and career
opportunities of social workers.
Objectives:
At the end of this module you will be able to:
1. Show an understanding of the roles and functions of social workers
2. Identify specific work areas in which social workers work.
3. Identify career opportunities for social workers.
Please be reminded that at the end of this module you should comply the following:
1. Activities
2. Answer the quiz.
Preliminary Activity
What department does the logo belongs to?
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Development of the Lesson
To understand fully the coverage of this lesson, read silently the material.
Social work as a profession focuses on the individual’s social functioning.
According to Mendoza(1999),social functioning is an effect of an individual’s
performance in her/his multiple roles in the society
A social dysfunction occurs when there is a mismatch between the requisites of
the role and the individual ability to function and if the environment fails to provide the
necessary resources for the performance.
List of Social Worker Roles
Advocate
Counselor
Mediator
Researcher
Educator
Manager
Case Manager
Facilitator
Community change agent
Broker
Advocate
In the advocate role, the social worker fights for the rights of those
disempowered by society with the goal of empowering the client. The social worker
speaks on behalf of clients when others will not listen or when clients are unable to do
so.
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Couselor
In the role of counselor, the social worker helps clients express their needs,
clarify their problems, explore resolution strategies, and applies intervention strategies
to develop and expand the capacities of clients to deal with their problems more
effectively. A key function of this role is to empower people by affirming their personal
strengths and their capacities to deal with their problems more effectively.
Mediator
In the mediator role, the social worker intervenes in disputes between parties to
help them find compromises, reconcile differences, and reach mutually satisfying
agreements. The mediator takes a neutral stance among the involved parties.
Researcher
In the researcher role, a social worker evaluates practice interventions and with
others evaluates program outcomes. The researcher critically analyze the literature on
relevant topics of interest and uses this information to inform practice. A researcher
extends and disseminates knowledge, and seeks to enhance the effectiveness of
social work practice.
Educator
In the Educator role, social workers are involved in teaching people about
resources and how to develop particular skills such as budgeting, the caring discipline
of children, effective communication, the meaning of a medical diagnosis, and the
prevention of violence.
Case Manager
In the role of a Case manager, the social worker locates services and assists
their clients to access those services. Case management is especially important for
complex situations and for those who are homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or
mental health issues, are disabled, victims of domestic or other crimes.
Community Change Agent
As a community change agent, the social worker participates as part of a group
or organization seeking to improve or restructure some aspect of community service
provision. A change agent, working with others, uses a problem-solving model to
identify the problem, solicit community input, and plan for change. A community change
agent acts in a coordinated manner to achieve planned change at multiple levels that
helps to shift the focus of institutional resources to meet identified goals.
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Facilitator
In this role, social workers are involved in gathering groups of people together for
a variety of purposes including community development, self-advocacy, political
organization, and policy change. Social workers are involved as group therapists and
task group leaders.
Broker
In the role of a broker, a social worker is responsible for identifying, locating, and
linking clients to needed resources in a timely manner. Once the client’s needs are
assessed and potential services identified, the broker assists the client in choosing the
most appropriate service option and assists in negotiating the terms of service delivery.
In this role the social worker is also concerned with the quality, quantity, and
accessibility of services.
Manager
As managers, social workers are better able to influence policy change and/or
development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all underprivileged people.
Social work is an active profession with a wide array of responsibilities in the
areas of caring curing and changing
Functions of Social Work
1. Rehabilitative Function-refers to restorative,culturative and remedial actions
2. Preventive Function-detects impeding imbalance between the individuals or
group with the environment
3. Developmental Function-ascertains and strengthens the full potential in
individuals, groups and communities
Specific Area of Social Worker
- Child, Family and School Social Worker
- Community Social Worker
- Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker
- Medical and Health Social Worker
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Military and Veterans Social Worker
- Psychiatric Social Worker
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Medical and Health Social Worker
Works in hospital settings and helps navigate the emotional, financial, and
physical struggles that a serious medical condition can cause an individual or family. •
Provides counseling and practical assistance (connecting clients to resources)
Psychiatric Social Worker
Works with disturbed children and adolescents with behavioral problems,
children with learning problems. Make an assessment of the factors contributing to the
problems. Conduct family therapy and other kinds of intervention. Helping psychiatrist
assess new referrals. Liasoning with teachers and educational psychologists.
Community Social Worker
Helps plan, coordinate, and organize efforts related to infrastructure,
volunteering, and fundraising within specific communities. Works with community-
based nonprofit organizations to help heal neighborhoods in the wake of tragedies and
natural disasters.
Child, Family and School Social Worker
Deals with all sorts of situations such as helping a child who has experienced
trauma or abuse; Counseling students at school who are experiencing grief over the
death of a friend, family member; Helping parents find the right resources for their child
who is suffering from a severe mental illness.
Hospice and Palliative Social Worker
Help or care for someone who is seriously or terminally ill. They help provide
relief from pain; improve quality of life; assist with difficult decision-making; help family
and friends of an ill individual
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
Assists individuals who struggle with addiction, substance abuse or mental health
problems. • Provides short- and –long term solutions for victims and their families.
Military and Veterans Social Workers
Helps both the soldiers and their families with post-traumatic stress, role
adjustments, the implications and stressors of returning home, and any substance
abuse that may occur as a result of combat.
Gerontological Social Worker
Deal with care of old people in old people’s home
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Analysis, Application and Exploration
Based on what you have read about accomplish the following activity
Name:_________________________________________Date:_________________
Grade & Section: ________________________________Score:_________________
Activity 1.1
Crossword Puzzle
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Generalization
Social workers have roles, functions and competencies. Furthermore, social workers
work in different areas of specialization.
Assignment
For your assignment, research the following:
Name:_________________________________________Date:_________________
Grade & Section: ________________________________Score:_________________
1. Who are the clienteles and audiences in social work?
2. What are their characteristics and needs?
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Congratulatory Note
CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!!
Keep up the good work!!!
Reminder:
All exercises and activities done should be submitted before start of the succeeding lesson/s. You may now
proceed to the EVALUATION of the lesson covered in this module!
References
Dela Cruz et al. Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences. Phoenix
Publishing House. Quezon City: 2016
https://ehs.siu.edu/socialwork/undergraduate/careers.php
HUMSS7
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Name:_________________________________________Date:_________________
Grade & Section: ________________________________Score:_________________
Quiz No. 8
Identification
Identify what is being asked.
1. An effect of an individual’s performance in his/her multiple roles in the
society.
2. Occurs when there is a mismatch between the requisites of the role and the
individual ability to function and if the environment fails to provide the
necessary resources for the performance.
3. In this role the social worker fights for the rights of those disempowered by
society with the goal of empowering the client.
4. A key function of this role is to empower people by affirming their personal
strengths and their capacities to deal with their problems more effectively.
5. Function of social work that detects impeding imbalance between the
individual or groups with environment.
6. Ascertains and strengthens the full potential in individuals, groups and
communities
7. Function that refers to restorative, culturative and remedial actions
8. Helps plan, coordinate, and organize efforts related to infrastructure,
volunteering, and fundraising within specific communities.
9. They help provide relief from pain; improve quality of life; assist with difficult
decision-making; help family and friends of an ill individual
10. Deal with care of old people in old people’s home
