Section 2 Social Work Administration
Definition
Social work administration is a method of social work concerned with the provision and
distribution of societal resources so as to enable people to meet their needs and fulfill their
potentials toward empowering their lives. It is assumed that in transforming social policies into
programs and services, the social work administrator applies a synthesis of social work methods
in the administrative processes. As a secondary method in social work, administration, according
to Walter Friedlander, is based upon the principles and techniques of administration in general
but addressed to the specific social work tasks of defining and solving human problems and
satisfying human needs.
As a part of social work practice, the Code of Ethics equally applies to it. The same core values
such as the worth and dignity of persons, service, social justice, among others, apply to social
work administration. In administration, there are greater chances of ethical conflicts than being a
direct service worker, because of the greater number of stakeholders involved in the organization
and the need to meet numerous obligations within and outside the organization.
Major Characteristics of Social Work Administration
The characteristics of social work administration include the following:
1. The use of the principles and techniques of administration in general.
2. The use of the philosophy, aims, and functions of social work, its methods of social diagnosis,
analysis and synthesis of individual, group or community needs, and of generalizations for
change or development in agency functions and goal. Its primary focus is a helping process for
individuals, groups, and communities.
3. Working with people based on knowledge and understanding of human behavior, human
relations, and human organizations.
4. Methods encompassing not only in the services provided by the agency but also in the
administrative process and staff relations.
5. Ethics playing a significant role
Activities Undertaken in Social Work Administration
Harleigh Trecker spells out the following activities as major areas of administrative work and
responsibility:
1. Study and analyze the community.
2. Determine agency purpose as basis for clientele selection or people to be served.
3. Provide financial resources, budgeting, and accounting.
4. Develop agency policies, programs and procedures for the implementation of agency
purposes.
5. Select and work agency leadership, professional and nonprofessional staff, boards,
committees, and service volunteers.
6. Provide and maintain physical plant, equipment, and supplies.
7. Develop a plan, establish and maintain effective community relations, and interpret programs.
8. Keep complete and accurate records of agency operations and make regular reports.
9. Plan and conduct research on a regular basis.
10. Continuously conduct regular evaluation of program and personnel.
Importance of Social Work Administration
Social work administration is the keystone for maximizing the effectiveness of social work
programs in the solution of social problems and in the betterment of social conditions for all
people.
Social work administration provides the framework for social work practice that relates it to
other agency functions. The quality of social work practices is greatly influenced by social work
administration.
Aspects of Social Work Administration
The aspects of social work administration are:
1. Functions - The following are the social work administration functions:
a. The means by which identified social needs are dealt with by appropriate social services,
whether under public or private auspices.
b. The societal action for improved or new services needed by specific groups or the community
as a whole. There is decision-making at every level of administration.
2. Structure - The study of structure consists of:
a. Studying it in relation to the organization as an element of administration.
b. b. Knowing that the social welfare agency represents the organizational structure in social
work administration.
3. Process - Social work administration is a continuous, dynamic, and total process of bringing
together people, resources, and purposes to accomplish the agency goal of providing social
services.
As a process, it is based upon knowledge of human nature and human organization to establish
and maintain a system of participative and cooperative effort at all levels of the organization.
Trecker points out that as a process, social work administration has important dimensions that
include:
a. Central dimension - This is the task of work assignment within the agency structure. There is a
wide distribution of responsibility in the agency with the allocation of tasks and functions for
every level of work. The community in which the agency works affects agency purposes and
programs as it is the source of support as well as the object of service.
b. Psychosocial Dimension - This presupposes that people release their feelings and energies and
that these feelings and energies, when properly harnessed by administrators, constitute the
human resources in achieving agency goals.
Evaluation of Organizational Management and Leadership in Social Work Administration
Based on the field practicum evaluation guidelines used as reference, here are 10 areas for
evaluation:
1. Appropriate use of self in relation to the agency's organizational structure and individual staff
functions.
2. Effective communication and handling of conflicts.
3. Ability to initiate and maintain systems for implementing ideas.
4. Skill in assessing available information, including budgets, for planning.
5. Initiative in analyzing and designing program components.
6. Skill in utilizing management information technology.
7. Capacity to coordinate activities, develop leadership, and delegate tasks in working with staff,
committees, or coalitions.
8. Ability to overcome staff or organizational resistance to task completion.
9. Ability to monitor and evaluate outcomes and determine alternative strategies.
10. Capacity to strategically utilize self and a variety of leadership styles to mobilize others.