Values are fundamental norms and
preferred behavior patterns, shared
by members of a society or a
subgroup which aim at integrating
and channeling the organized
activities of the members. A value
specifies whether to follow or not to
follow a particular behavior.
Mendoza (2002) cited that the Council on Social Work
Education identified and described six (6) values that are
shared by the social work profession.
These values are outlined below:
1. Right to Self-Fulfillment- Each person has
the right to self-fulfillment which is derived
from his/her inherent capacity and thrust
toward the goal;
2. Responsibility to Common Good- Each
person has the responsibility as a member of
the society to seek ways of fulfillment that
contribute to common good;
3. Responsibility of the Society- The society has
the responsibility to facilitate self-fulfillment of the
individual and the right to enrichment through the
contribution of its individual members
4. Right to Satisfy Basic Needs- Each person
requires for the harmonious development of his
powers socially provided and socially safeguarded
opportunities for satisfying his/her basic needs in
the physical, psychological, economic, cultural,
aesthetic, and spiritual realms.
5. Social Organizations required to facilitate
individual’s effort at self realization – The notion that
individual and society has the responsibility to provide
appropriate social resources, it is the right of the
individual to promote change in social resources that
do not serve his/her need-meeting efforts.
6. Self-realization and contribution to society- To permit
both self-realization and contribution to society by the
individual, social organization must make available
socially-provided devices for need-satisfaction as wide
in range, variety, and quality as the general welfare
allows.
Principles of Social Work
Social Work is based on respect
for the inherent worth and dignity of
all people and it is cultivated by
altruistic and democratic principles.
Friedlander (1958) and Biestek (1957)
as cited by Mendoza (2002) indicated
seven principles adhered by social
workers including the following:
1. Acceptance
- Respecting clients under different
circumstances
- Understanding the meaning and causes of
client’s behavior
- Manifests warmth, interest and concern
about the client and her/his situation
- Recognizing the individual or people’s
strengths and potentials, weaknesses,
and limitations.
2. Client’s participation in problem-solving
- Client is expected to participate in the
process.
- Gathers information in defining the nature of
the problem
- Participates in planning ways in resolving
such problems
- Identifying resources to solve
- Act through the help of different available
resources
3. Self-Determination
- The idea behind this principle is that the clients-
individuals, groups, or communities) who are in need
have the right to determine their needs and how they
should be met.
4. Individualization
- Recognizing and understanding the client’s own
unique characteristics and using different principles
and methods for each client.
- No two clients are exactly alike
- Social interventions differ for each client considering
their unique qualities and situations
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.
- Moreover, confidentiality entails privacy
6. Worker self-awareness
- Social worker is conscious about her/his
role in making use of her/his professional
relationship with the client in a way that
will enhance the client’s development
rather than his/her own.
- The social worker consciously examines
her/his feelings, judgments, biases and
responses whether these are
professionally motivated.
7. Client-worker relationship
- The purpose of client-worker
relationship is to help the client in
some area of his/her social functioning
in which, at the present he or she is
experiencing some difficulty, and
where the worker is in the position to
offer help.