Subject Name Social Work

Paper Name History and Philosophy of Social Work

Paper co-ordinator Dr Ruchi Sinha
Content writer Dr Sandhya Limaye
Content Reviewer Prof Manish Jha
Module Name/Title Social Work Values
Module Id 29
Objectives • To create the awareness of social work values
among the learners
• To enable them to use social work value as a
guide to action
Keywords Values, Personal and professional values, value
clarification, Values in tension, core values

Introduction
Social work has undergone significant change over the past years. Social work is a value based
activity. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and
help meet the basic human needs of all people, especially to the needs and empowerment of people
who are vulnerable, oppressed. The values of social work have been positively influenced by anti-
discriminatory and anti-oppressive forms of practice. This requires social workers to account for
difference in their practice and work towards social justice for the marginalized and vulnerable
groups. It reflects that social workers need to be prepared not only to function in these difficult
ethical areas but also to work with and alongside others stakeholders who may have very different
value bases from themselves. Therefore, social workers need to explore and clarify their own values
before they faced with these challenges. A well-developed value base and an ability to reflect on
value questions is a necessary tool for a confident and competent practitioner (Beckett and
Maynard, 2005).
The learning outcomes for this module are-
1. To gain greater awareness and clarification of one’s own values.
2. To appreciate the importance of understanding the differences between one’s own values
and those of others.
3. To identify and understand the historical and current values of the social work profession.
4. To help the learner integrate social work value in all aspects of social work practice.
Values refer to the ideals to which an individual, family, group, organization, or community aspires
( Barsky, 2010, pp.22). It refers broad preferences concerning appropriate course of actions or
outcomes. Values identify what people believe are good or valuable. Thus, each one has set of
beliefs which influences their actions. All people have values, though different people may have a
different selection or ordering of values. Values identify a person’s sense of “what is good,” ethics
identify a person’s sense of “what is right” ( Dolgoff, Loewenberg& Harrington, 2009). Values are
priorities or ideals, whereas ethics are rules of behavior that should be based on these priorities or
ideals. In essence, ethics are “the application of values to human relationships and transactions”
(Levy, 1993, pp,1). Social Workers should be keenly aware of their values, beliefs, convictions,
feelings and attitudes so they do not impose them on clients.

Personal Values and sources

Personal values are neither right nor wrong, so we should not expect people to defend the
correctness their values. Values relate to what we think others should do, or what we ought to do.
They are personal to us, although we may realise that we share some basic values within our society
or with others across societies ( Parrott, 2010). For examples, some may have value of honesty
whereas others may have value of respect or diversity or privacy or safety. They are what they are,
and social work ethics tell us to respect all people, irrespective of whether their values are similar to
our own. People tend to see their own values as the best values. If people doubted their values were
the best, then they could change them. The social workers, who prefer to select social work as a
career, may have personal value of social justice or religious value of helping the poor, and feel
important to do something for the people who are excluded and marginalised. Thus, personal values
will influence one’s decision and choices that one make. Therefore, the student social worker need
to be aware and analyses their own personal values.
Sources of Values
What are the major sources from which we acquired our own personal values? We acquire a
particular value from our parents, grandparents, community, school, religious scripture, the legal
system, or public media. The family imbibed the values on us since childhood and expects us to
follow the “good action” according to the family. There are some specific values related to culture
for examples, strict separation of the sexes in public places and it influences us. The process, by
which individuals acquire the values of a particular society as a process of socialization, is ongoing
throughout our lives (Giddens, 2006). We are heavily influenced both by our past experiences and
our current understanding of ourselves and the society in which we live. As values form the core of
your identity then it can be assumed that you would be compelled to engage with any person who
challenged or questioned them ( Parrott,2010). By reflecting on the sources of our own values, we
will gain a better understanding of how values can be transmitted and how values develop within a
social context. Each individual has different values from other as each one has grew up in each one
family, cultures, and communities in which different from other families , culture, communities.
Besides personal values, each individual has family values such as unity, integrity; collectivism,
loyalty and culture values such as respect the elders, following rituals and so on. Once individual
gets job like social worker, the person has to learn to develop the professional values.
Professional Values
In a working context, it is necessary to have certain agreed standards of behavior and social work
profession is no exception. As a social worker, thinking critically about one’s values is vital to
one’s professional development. Values evolve, but because values are deeply held, value evolution
is typically a gradual process. Social work values define how the profession views people, its
preferred goals for clients and society, and its preferred means of achieving those goals.

The purpose of social work values

It is important for each social worker to follow social work values and working from a professional
value base has a number of benefits which are given below:-
1. To provide a common set of principles, which social workers can use and develop as a
means of working in an ethical way with the clients.
2. They can be guides to professional behaviour;
3. They can maintain a professional identity;
4. They can protect the client from malpractice. ( Parrott, 2010).
Ethics guide action and are therefore reflections of value statements given flesh by being put into
action. It is of little use for social workers to have a professional value base which does not inform
and influence their practice as social workers. We can therefore understand social work ethics as
values put into action (Banks, 2006).

VALUES CLARIFICATION
Values clarification refers to a process of raising self-awareness by reflecting critically on deeply
held preferences, giving names to them, and examining the meaning of each of these values or
preferences and how they fit together as a system ( Barsky, 2010, pp 31). Values clarification is an
ongoing process. The professional social workers must ensure that they are using social work values
appropriately in their work with various clients. Values clarification, per se, does not tell people
what their values should be, but rather, what their values are. As a developing social worker, you
can use values clarification to gain a clearer and more specific understanding of your own
predilections. Ethical social work requires the disciplined use of self. If and when you find that your
values are inconsistent with those of your clients or the social work profession, you will be in a
better position to make conscious and deliberate decisions about how to resolve these value
conflicts ( Barsky, 2010, pp 31). As a social work student, thinking critically about your values is
vital to your professional development.
Values in Tension
One of the biggest challenges for social work students is to truly re-assess their values as they apply
to social work practice. Once you have defined your key values, consider where conflicts may exist
between them. By comparing pairs of values, you can identify potential tensions and contradictions
(Barsky, 2010,pp 34). For example, if someone has value of open communication and privacy. But
in certain situation, it becomes difficult for that person to follow both values at the same time. If
this person has crisis in his family, he may not want to share this information to his closed one. It
also reflects that this person may give more value to his privacy than the value of open
communication or he can decide the priorities of these two conflict values. This is common for
social workers to face such circumstances of conflicting values. For example, the social worker may
have competing loyalties or values between agency and client while working with [Link]
example is that in case of terminally ill persons can be used for medical experiments, the
conflicting values such as right to respect individual or collective good welfare of masses will
[Link] is better for social worker to explore the source of values, make highest priorities the
values and identify the potential conflicts.

“Appreciating others’ values” means striving to understand their ideals and deeply held preferences
( Barsky, 2010). The social workers should understand the other people’s including clients values
as values reflect what people view as good rather than what is right and therefore social workers
have to respect all people with their different values. When others have values that are similar to
our own, it is relatively easy to understand and demonstrate respect for their values. When others
have values that conflict with our own, we must resist the temptation to judge or condemn their
values. Attribution theory suggests that people have a tendency to assign positive thoughts and
feelings toward people with whom they agree, but negative thoughts and feelings toward people
with whom they disagree (Curtis, 1994). Therefore it is important for social workers to remember
not to have biases or make judgment or impose own values against the people who have different
values and it is tough job for them. None of us are perfect, so acknowledging mistakes and humbly
moving ahead is part of being a professional social worker. Social work values define how the
profession views people, its preferred goals for clients and society, and its preferred means of
achieving those goals (Levy, 1993).
Social work value
In its definition of social work, the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW),
describes social work values as follows:
“Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on
respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings . . . social
work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential.
Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work
action. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate
poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social
inclusion.” (IFSW, 2000) (cited in Barsky, 2010, PP 39).

In this context it is useful to list out briefly the important values that the profession of social work
accepts and espouses. The list given below has been adapted from the “Declaration of Ethics for
Professional Social Work, 2002” that was brought out by the Bombay Association of Trained
Social Workers ( Appendix III). These values are:-
a. The importance of the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, including the belief
that every individual is capable of change and development.
b. The important need for human beings to live in harmony with nature.
c. The importance of the basic right of every human beings to claim the fulfillment of his/her
basic needs (i.e. the need of food, water, health, livelihood, shelter, education, environmental
security, family and community identity and interdependence) as basic human rights.
d. The importance of democratic pluralism in the socio-economic systems such as family,
community, state, market and media.
e. The importance of equity and equality, non-hierarchy, non-discrimination in terms of race,
nationality, colour, caste, religion, tribe, language, regional origin, gender, sexual
orientation.
f. The importance of social, economic, political and legal justice that ensures universal and
equaitable access to essential resources and protective safeguards for marginalized people.
g. The importance of honesty, personal integrity and accountability in the work of a social
work professional.
h. The importance of solidarity and partnership with marginalized people.
i. The importance of people participation and the community’s/individual’s right to self
determination.
 j. The importance of fostering cooperation and collaboration as a higher value than
competition and confrontation as principles of interaction.
k. The importance of using peaceful and non-violent methods as preferable methods for
resolving conflicts with self, others and the environment.
( source: Joseph, J and Fernandes, G,2006, pp 27-28).
These are deontological values for the social work profession in India.

Six Core Values

The NASW Code of Ethics (1999) identifies six core values for the profession: (1) service; (2)
social justice; (3) dignity and worth of the person; (4) importance of human relationships; (5)
integrity; and (6) competence. This is important for social worker to understand the scope of each
core value in order to integrate it into professional value.
(1) Services
The value of service suggests that social workers give high priority to helping others. By valuing
service, social workers subjugate their personal desires in order to focus on the needs, interests, and
wishes of the people they serve. When a social worker says that she chose this profession because
helping others is meaningful work, she is expressing service as a value ( Barsky, 2010, pp. 40).
Thus, the primary job of social worker is to help people in need and address the social problems.
(2) Social Justice
Social justice refers to a world in which everyone is treated [Link] valuing social justice, social
workers’ social change efforts are focused on issues of social injustices such as discrimination,
poverty, unemployment, oppression, lack of opportunity, and social exclusion. Thus, social worker
strive to ensure access to relevant information, resources, services, equality of opportunity and
meaningful participation in decision making and can promote equality, respect, fairness, and
inclusion throughout their practice.
(3) Dignity and Worth of the Person
Social workers value the dignity and worth of all individuals, meaning that everyone deserves
[Link] workers treat each person in a caring and respecting individual differences
and cultural diversity and promoting client’s socially responsible self- determination. Honoring
client self-determination shows the utmost respect for the client’s strengths, dignity, and autonomy.
Social workers seek to enhance client’s capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own
needs.
(4) Importance of Human Relationships
Social workers must understand the importance of human relationship as an important vehicle for
change. Social workers help clients by developing affirming relationships with them and engage
clients as partners in the helping processes. Developing a positive therapeutic relationship with
clients is a fundamental component of the helping process (Rogers, 1957 cited in Barsky, 2010).
Clients who feel valued and respected will be more open, confident, and willing to take the risks
that are involved in any change process.
(5) Integrity
Integrity refers to the importance of honesty, reliability, and responsibility. Social workers are
aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles and act honestly and responsibly and
being accountable for their action. The client should not be exploiting and should get confidence to
work with social worker in a positive environment. Thus integrity is vital to building trust.

(6) Competence
Competence means having the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness required to perform social
work tasks in an effective manner. The specific skills and knowledge required depend on the
specific tasks to be undertaken. Social worker should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of
the profession.

(7) Human Rights

Human rights refer to the system of privileges, civil liberties, and entitlements that every person
should enjoy by virtue of his or her status as a human being ( Barsky, 2010). The value of human
rights is related to the value of dignity and worth of the person, as treating people with respect
includes respect for their human rights. The Council on Social Work Education suggests that human
rights include the rights to freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and
education (Council on Social Work Education, 2008). The value of human rights overlaps with
social justice in the sense that social workers advocate and take action against forces that oppress
people or deny them their rights.

In India, the families and communities are important contexts which lead emphasizes on duties
rather than rights. Besides, the humanism of the Bhakti (devotion) movement, Swarajya( self rule)
and Lokniti ( people’s policy) of the Sarvodaya ( well being of all ) movement and socialism,
secularism and democracy promoted by the Constitution of India, are among the ideologies that
have shaped social work values in India ( Josantony&Fernandes, 2006) .

SUMMARY
This module talks about the importance of understanding the values- personal as well as
professional values for social workers. Such knowledge enables social workers to understand the
basic practice principles upon which social work is based and to act appropriately while working
with marginalized and vulnerable population.

Prepared by:
Dr. SandhyaLimaye
Associate Professor,
Center for Disability Studies and Action,
School of Social work,
Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai