Unit 5: Social Work

Lesson 5.1
Basic Concepts in Social Work
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Explore 2

Discover 4
Defining Social Work 5
Basic Concepts of Social Work 7
Social Service 7
Social Action 7
Social Movement 7
Fields in Social Work 8

Wrap-Up 10

Try This! 11

Challenge Yourself 13

Reflect on This 15

Bibliography 16
Unit 5: Social Work

Lesson 5.1

Basic Concepts in Social Work

Introduction
Social work is a discipline that promotes community building, development, social change,
and empowerment among people. Through strategies and techniques, usually used within
and across communities, social workers are able to promote inclusion, well-being, peace,
and belongingness within groups. Social workers may be individuals who work
independently or as people who are part of an organization. In either case, each social
worker employs the same goals and values, which is to improve social functioning and
community life.

In this lesson, we will be discussing the basic concepts of social work. In particular, we will
tackle basic concepts in social work, its applications as a discipline, and its relevance in a
continuously changing world.

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Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competency

This lesson serves as a prerequisite lesson for the
In this lesson, you should be able to do the
following DepEd competency:
following:
● Define social work as a field of Identify the goals and scope of social work
(HUMSS_DIASS 12-le-16).
profession.
● Explain the basic concepts of
social work.
● Distinguish the various types,
forms, and dimensions of social
work.

Explore
Case Study 10 minutes

Instructions
1. Read and analyze the case study provided below.
2. Answer the guide questions that tackle the role of a social worker.

Wesley is a 17-year-old 12th-grade transferee student in the HUMSS strand. Due to the
pandemic, all face-to-face classes in his school were suspended, and students had no choice
but to adapt to an online learning set-up. Despite this, the teacher continues to require
activities that need group collaboration.

Being a transferee student, Wesley feels uncomfortable in actively participating or

interacting with his classmates even in an online environment. Even after months of having
online classes, Wesley still found it difficult to involve himself in group activities, so much so
that it has begun to affect his academic performance. In fact, it had been so difficult for
Wesley to be involved online that his quarterly average fell down by almost ten marks.

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Upon the investigation of their teacher, it turned out that since the beginning of online
classes, Wesley had been struggling to take care of his younger siblings at home. Both his
parents left them one year ago, and Wesley’s older sibling had been the only one providing
for the family. This left Wesley at home, tasked with taking care of the household and his
younger siblings. Doing domestic chores had been manageable for Wesley until the classes
shifted to online mode. When this happened, he had no choice but to commit to both his
duties at work and at school. Upon learning about his case, their teacher called upon the
help of a social worker to extend assistance to Wesley and his family.

Guide Questions
1. If you were a social worker, how would you address Wesley’s case?
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2. Does Wesley’s situation require a social worker’s help? Why is this so?
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3. Based on Wesley’s case, how would you define social work?

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Unit 5: Social Work

Discover

All societies in the world are regularly challenged by

Words to Remember
issues that affect individuals, families, and the
● social work – a social
community. These issues, when left unsolved, could
science discipline
affect personal development and community
associated with
dynamics, leading to more negative and
addressing
longer-lasting problems. As such, there is a need to
societal-level issues
utilize effective, research-based disciplines in order to
such as poverty among
appropriately prevent these problems from occurring
people and
and to establish well-being, collaboration, and growth
communities
within communities.
● profession – an
individual’s career
choice that may be
based on education,
interest, or skills
● society – a group of
people who live within
the same geographical
area, who are under
the same set of laws
and who share the
same way of life.

What concepts, activities, and perspectives are related

to social work?

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Unit 5: Social Work

Defining Social Work

In the Philippines, what do you visualize when you hear the words social work? You might
think of individuals doing house-to-house surveys or distributing government aid within
communities. However, there is more to social work than these notions. Defining social
work is a rather complex task. This discipline does not only involve conducting surveys or
distributing aid but also includes other responsibilities that affect individuals, families, and
communities.

According to the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), social work can be
defined as a “practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social
change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.’’
In addition, social work practice may also involve the understanding of human development,
behavior, family life, and social, economic, and cultural institutions, as well as the
interactions of all these components.

Professionals who are engaged in social work are called social workers. In the Philippines,
there are certain requirements to become a licensed social worker. In most cases, Filipino
social workers need to take up a degree in Social Work and pass the licensure exam
conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission. A social worker may choose to work
under any local government unit or a non-government institution, while some try to
establish their own organizations.

According to a research by Morales and Sheafor (1983 cited in Dela Cruz et al. 2016), social
work addresses four core areas, particularly the facilitation of change, helping social
institutions, establishing professional linkage between people and the social environment,
and resource generation and allocation for improved social functioning of individuals and
communities. Let us discuss each of these core areas.

● Social work facilitates change. In each helping situation, the social worker is
concerned with enabling or facilitating change. Social workers partner with
individuals, communities, and organizations to improve the quality of life of their
beneficiaries.

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● Social work helps social institutions. As the basic unit of society, families are a
significant component in well-being and social functioning. Social workers help
address issues in social relationships that affect life at the individual, family, and
community levels.
● Social work establishes professional linkages between people and the social
environment. Social workers help address systemic issues that affect community
life. Addressing these issues is critical in ensuring that individuals are safe and
healthy. For example, social workers can partake in various programs that address
violence against women and children in the community.
● Social work improves social functioning through resource generation. In helping
people to achieve their goals of improved social functioning, the social worker must
find means to get the needed resources to help their clients. An example of this is
seeking the help of professionals who are able to help, pro bono, in fighting against
certain legal or criminal injustices.

Social work is a discipline distinct from other social science disciplines because its
responsibility is to ensure that social services are delivered (Zastrow 2017). As such, social
workers are not expected to treat mental disorders, like what psychotherapists do.
Nevertheless, social workers are expected to collaborate with professionals in other
disciplines to ensure the best outcomes for individuals and communities.

Check Your Progress

What does a social worker do in your community? Are their
responsibilities in line with the definition of social work?
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Basic Concepts of Social Work

In order to understand social work and its attendant responsibilities, it is essential to explain
specific concepts involved in social work, including social service, social action, and social
movement. These four concepts could also be considered as primary activities involved in
social work.

Social Service
A social service (otherwise known as social welfare) refers to a type of publicly-funded or
private service that caters to disadvantaged or vulnerable groups by means of short-term
and long-term programs on various social agendas, including education, healthcare, legal
aid, and housing. The goal of any social service is to extend help to the target population so
that social challenges may be tempered or lessened. In the Philippines, an example of social
service is the subsidy on public hospitalization for indigent families. Because of the subsidy,
poor families only need to pay minimal fees, if not free, when they seek health services from
public hospitals in the Philippines.

Social Action
Social action refers to the ability of people, ideally led by social workers, to redistribute
power and resources in order to empower the community. It is essential that community
members participate in social action in order to drive success. Examples of social action
include mobilizations, clean-up drives, community meetings and decision-making, and
advocacy work.

Social Movement
A social movement is a long-term advocacy participated by members of the community
who have committed to work hard in bringing about social change. Unlike social actions that
vary in duration, a social movement spans months or even years. It is also formed and
regulated by an organized body and a leadership hierarchy, much like any other
organization. At the moment, a number of social movements in the Philippines tackle
environmental sustainability and preservation. The usual goal of such movements is to
decrease carbon footprints and promote sustainable living within a period of several years.

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Fields in Social Work

Social workers are found in many settings. These include schools, communities, and other
public and private agencies. Different activities are carried out in these settings. The
following table discusses some of these fields and corresponding activities.

Table 1. The different fields of social work activities

Fields in Social Work Description

Administration and Social workers in the field of administration and

Management management are involved in ensuring that the delivery of
social services is in line with social policy. They also work
to plan programs that provide social services to
beneficiaries.

Advocacy and Community Social workers mobilize communities. They also serve as
Organization advocates or champions for an individual or community’s
rights for social justice.

Aging Social workers help older adults manage the difficulties

of aging. They make sure that the specific needs of older
adults are met to help them navigate aging with dignity.

Child Welfare Social workers in child welfare attend to the needs of

most youth and families. They are tasked with giving an
environment for children and youth that provides safety
and positive growth.

Developmental Disabilities Social workers also help families of children with

developmental disabilities to be aware of their rights. In
this field, social workers teach parents to be advocates of
positive social change. They also link with external
institutions to help differently-abled children live with
some degree of independence.

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Fields in Social Work Description

Healthcare Social workers in this field help families to seek medical

and health support from relevant groups, charities, and
institutions.

International Social Work International social work requires collaboration with

governments and agencies from different parts of the
world. They also work in various settings that include
communities, refugee camps, and orphanages.

Justice and Corrections Social workers in this field can be found in courts, women
and children protection, police departments, and
correctional facilities.

Mental Health and Clinical Clinical social workers’ task is to provide mental health
Social Work help in various settings. In the Philippines, they either
work with government agencies or nongovernment
organizations to provide intervention in communities.

Public Welfare Social work in public welfare deals with the logistics of
providing services and programs, particularly in terms of
income and monetary support.

Check Your Progress

Can fields in social work overlap? Explain your answer through
relevant examples.
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Wrap-Up
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● Social work is a practice-based discipline that promotes social change,
development, and empowerment among people and communities.
● Social service refers to a type of publicly-funded or private service that caters to
disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.
● Social action refers to the ability of people, ideally led by social workers, to
redistribute power and resources to empower the community.
● A social movement is a long-term advocacy participated by members of the
community who have committed to work hard in bringing about social change.
● Social workers may be involved in various fields, including healthcare, child
protection, justice and corrections, public welfare, and mental health.
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Try This!
A. True or False. Identify whether each of the following statements is true or false.

_______________ 1. Social work, as a scientific discipline, does not require any creative
approach.

_______________ 2. Social work cannot be viewed as a profession because it is a

theoretical discipline.

_______________ 3. Andy always encourages his fellow neighbors to participate in any

social work activity as it allows its professionals to fulfill their studies
and help the community become more active.

_______________ 4. Social work involves the understanding of human development and

behavior and social, economical, and cultural interactions.

_______________ 5. Social work services are only required in lower-income but not in
high- and middle-income communities.

_______________ 6. International social work requires collaboration with governments

and agencies from different parts of the world.

_______________ 7. Clinical social workers are only able to provide services in rural
settings.

_______________ 8. Unlike social movements that vary in duration, a social action spans
months or even years.

_______________ 9. Social workers serve as advocates or champions for an individual or

community’s rights for social justice.

_______________ 10. Social workers working in justice and corrections can be found in
courts, women and children protection, police departments, and
correctional facilities.

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B. Identification. Identify what is being asked in each statement. Write the correct answer
on the provided space before each number.

___________________ 1. Mariz is a social worker who works at the Pasig City Regional
Trial Court. One of her tasks is to assist women who are
victims of abuse and violence. What type of social work does
her job exhibit?

___________________ 2. Which type of social work specializes in helping families

improve the safety and well-being of children?

___________________ 3. Sandra is an Australian volunteer social worker in Mindanao.

She works with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development in helping communities that are affected by
war. Sandra’s job specializes in this type of social work.

___________________ 4. Which type of social work provides senior adults with

services so they can live independently?

___________________ 5. Which type of social work enables persons with disabilities to

perform their role and exercise their legal rights?

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Challenge Yourself
Short Response Essay. Give a brief scenario of how social work can be applied in the
following settings.

1. school
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2. indigenous communities
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3. remote provinces
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Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify it based on your needs.
Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight

Proficiency Proficiency

Content The content does not The content The content

provide realistic somehow provides provides realistic ×3
situations. realistic situations. situations.

Organization The content is The content is clear The content is clear,

disorganized and but some parts are organized, and easy
hard to understand. disorganized or to understand. ×2
difficult to
understand.

Technical The content has five The content has two The content has no
or more technical to four technical technical error.
×1
errors in spelling and errors in spelling and
grammar. grammar.

Total Possible Score 18

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Reflect on This
As a Humanities and Social Science student, which particular areas of social work interest
you? Explain your answer through the use of personal examples.

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Bibliography
Farley, O. William, Larry Lorenzo Smith, and Scott W. Boyle. Introduction to Social Work.
Prentice Hall, 2011.

Global Definition of Social Work. (n.d.). International Federation of Social Workers. Accessed
January 15, 2021, from
[Link]

Morales, Armando, and Bradford W. Sheafor. “Social work: a profession of many faces.”
Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1992.

NASW - National Association of Social Workers. “Types of Social Work.” Accessed January 15,
2021. [Link]

"What is Social Work?" Social Work License Map. October 27, 2020. Accessed January 15,
2021.
[Link]

Zastrow, Charles. Empowerment Series: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare:
Empowering People. Cengage Learning, 2016.

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