CORE VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK 2.

Concept of social responsibility-

an individual has the obligation to
Values are fundamental norms and
contribute to the common good and
preferred behavior patterns, shared by
society.
members of a society or a subgroup which
aim at integrating and channeling the 3. Concept of equal opportunities-
organized activities of the members. A value This is premised on the ideal of social
specifies whether to follow or not to follow a justice, two elements of which are
particular behavior. fairness and equality.
These values are outlined below: 4. Concept of social provision- This
is based on the premise that there will
1. Right to Self-Fulfillment- Each person
always be everywhere with unmet
has the right to self-fulfillment which is
needs or problems which are beyond
derived from his/her inherent capacity and
their own capacity to solve.
thrust toward the goal;
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK
2. Responsibility to Common Good- Each
person has the responsibility as a member of
Social Work is based on respect for the
the society to seek ways of fulfillment that
inherent worth and dignity of all people and
contribute to common good;
it is cultivated by altruistic and democratic
3. Responsibility of the Society- The principles. Friedlander (1958) and Biestek
society has the responsibility to facilitate (1957) as cited by Mendoza (2002) indicated
self-fulfillment of the individual and the right seven principles adhered by social workers
to enrichment through the contribution of its including the following:
individual members
1. Acceptance
4. Right to Satisfy Basic Needs- Each - Respecting clients under different
person requires for the harmonious circumstances
development of his powers socially provided - Understanding the meaning and causes of
and socially safeguarded opportunities for client’s behavior
satisfying his/her basic needs in the physical, - Manifests warmth, interest and concern
psychological, economic, cultural, aesthetic, about the client and her/his situation
and spiritual realms. - Recognizing the individual or people’s
strengths and potentials, weaknesses, and
5. Social Organizations required to limitations.
facilitate individual’s effort at self-
realization – The notion that individual and Sometimes, the personal experiences of the
society has the responsibility to provide worker may come in the way of accepting
appropriate social resources, it is the right of the client. For example, a worker who was
the individual to promote change in social abused by his alcoholic father during his/her
resources that do not serve his/her need- childhood may find it difficult to accept an
meeting efforts alcoholic client who has come for help in
6. Self-realization and contribution to restoring his/her family relationships.in this
society- To permit both self-realization and case, the social worker should not be
contribution to society by the individual, influenced by his childhood experience of
social organization must make available being abused by his alcoholic father whom
socially-provided devices for need- he hated and rejected or show hostility or
satisfaction as wide in range, variety, and indifference towards the client. Mutual
quality as the general welfare allows. acceptance is the beginning of the process
of establishing a strong professional
These values according to the relationship towards
Curriculum Study sponsored by the working out a solution to the client’s social
Council on Social Work Education as dysfunctioning
cited by Mendoza (2002) comprise a (http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/
minimum commitment from the social 123456789/17109/1/Unit-2.pdf).
worker and the following concepts are
implied in these values: 2. Client’s participation in problem-
1. Concept of human potentials solving
and capacities- This is premised on - Client is expected to participate in the
the belief that a person is inherently process.
endowed with potentials and - Gathers information in defining the nature
capacities. of the problem
- Participates in planning ways in resolving - Moreover, confidentiality entails privacy
such problems
- Identifying resources to solve 6. Worker self-awareness
- Act through the help of different available - Social worker is conscious about her/his role
resources in making use of her/his professional
relationship with the client in a way that will
3. Self-Determination enhance the client’s development rather
- The idea behind this principle is that the than his/her own.
clients individuals, groups, or communities) - The social worker consciously examines
who are in need have the right to determine her/his feelings, judgments, biases and
their needs and how they should be met. responses whether these are professionally
motivated.
Every individual has the right to assess what
is good for him and decide that ways and 7. Client-worker relationship
means to realize it. It emphasizes that the - The purpose of client-worker relationship is
social worker should not impose to help the client in some area of his/her
decisions or solutions on the client simply social functioning in which, at the present he
because the client has come to him for help. or she is experiencing some difficulty, and
No doubt, the client has come to social where the worker is in the position to offer
worker because he could not solve the help.
problem by himself. The social worker should
support and guide the client to develop
insights into his social situation in the correct
perspective and encourage and involve him
to take decisions that are good and
acceptable to him. In this way, the client is
helped not only to realize his potentialities
but also to fell independent and like a person
with worth and dignity.
(http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789
/17109/1/Unit-2.pdf)

4. Individualization Instruction:
- Recognizing and understanding the client’s Choose one Core Value set by
own unique characteristics and using Curriculum Study sponsored by the
different principles and methods for each Council on Social Work Education as
client. cited by Mendoza (2002). Discuss the
- No two clients are exactly alike Core Value based on your
- Social interventions differ for each client understanding and cite some examples
considering their unique qualities and from your previous encounters with
situations other people or recent news connected
to the topic. Write your answers in the
The principle reminds the social worker that box below.
while dealing with the client it is to be kept
in mind that the worker is not dealing with
an inanimate object or inferior being.
(http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/
123456789/17109/1/Unit-2.pdf)
Each individual responds and reacts to the
same stimuli in a different manner and gets
into or get out of different challenges,
problem and trouble situations in different
ways.

5. Confidentiality
- Client should be accorded with appropriate
projection, within the limits of the law, with
no any harm that might result from the
information given to the social worker
- The client should be assured that what he
or she divulges will be kept in confidence.