Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | 页面 12

Social Work and Volunteerism

In instances however where there is neglect, omissions, avoidance and
complications in a dysfunction, the social worker’s code of conduct requires
that he acts to protect the vulnerable in society.
One distinctive art and science in social work is the use of self in a professional
relationship with the client and community to achieve the goal of using the
help. What does this mean? Unlike the doctor that draws on medicine,
surgery and implants, the social worker’s main tool of intervention is the
fostering of a professional relationship that imbues the motivation for change
which comes from the person or community being helped. It is a science as
it draws on social science theory that says that human behaviours are affected
and changed in a more sustained way through relationships and not just by
money thrown at a problem. It is also an art as the process of working with
others requires the social work activities to be highly adaptable, flexible and
personalised. So social workers receive training to apply the science and
exercise the art.
Social workers are trained in a body of knowledge, equipped with a set of
skills and subscribe to a code of conduct and ethics. This sets the profession
apart from a volunteer, another profession and demands a set of commitment
and professional code of behaviour.
Another distinction about social work is its ability to operate much like a
helicopter with a capability to delve deep to address an issue and individual
cases, and yet transcend the individual cases to see trends and patterns to
advocate for changes in processes and systems to make them more responsive
to those they serve.
Social workers have breadth and depth when working with a community to
improve the well being of people. Their collective knowledge, insights and
skills always add value to policy formulation in addressing structural and
systemic concerns that affect people and provide better policy outcomes.
Trained to work with individuals, with groups and with communities, social
workers can work with most situations that require someone to work alongside
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