The Essence Of Social Work
June 1, 2008The Social Work profession is committed to reducing human suffering, enhancing the quality of life, and confronting the causes of social injustices that occur throughout the world around us. This commitment inspires social workers to develop skills that promote change on all various levels. Whether it is dealing with an ill person, a homeless person, or a person who has undergone domestic violence. The Social workers are trained specifically to provide direct services to individuals, such as:
- families
- groups
- and communities.
They learn to confront and change the problems that are causing the injustices, the discriminations, and the oppressions. For the essence of their work is all about the help that they are able to supply to those whom are going through such difficult times with in their lives. LeRoy Schultz, a professor of Social Work at West Virginia University stated in his Social Work Journal that, “The greatest obstacle to achieving social justice is the limited amount of social resources available. The social worker providing information as an expert witness can serve to advance social justice. Courts deal with objectivity and not agency needs when a person is charged with a criminal offense (Barth & Sullivan, 1985). Therefore, one of the professional services provided when courts or the defense or prosecution need assistance is evidence from a social worker not attached to the agency which starts a court action.”
One of the hardest things for a social worker to have to deal with is leaving their work at work, and not bringing it home with them. For each and every single Social Worker that is out there and trying to help improve upon peoples lives, no matter who they are, they are going to have to deal with some traumatic cases. In all different areas within the field of Social Work, the cases almost always 
have an impact, and In all honesty no matter how traumatic the case is, it is always going to leave the imprint on the Social Worker and on their Career. A Social worker forms a bond with the person of whom they are trying to help, and no matter who you are in life once a bond has been formed you are never going to forget that person you have made that connection with. In most cases the Social Worker can see a littler deeper than what is just sitting on the surface of the person of whom they are assisting, they begin seeing inside of them and who they truly are. This is where it then becomes difficult, that once your work has been done for the day and you return home, you are expected to leave the cases alone, to ignore them and to move one with your OWN life. Fighting Monsters, a social worker from England, Uk explains, ” Sometimes, I just want to -do- something, but have to walk away. I think those are always the hardest situations and those are the people that sometimes I think about when I’m going to sleep at night.I know I shouldn’t. I’ve been given and have given out the advice a million times about not taking work home with you – but I suppose there must be a way to stop thinking without stopping caring.”
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I think that’s really good summation of the ideals of social work and you’re doing some great work here!
As I wrote, I think when you can hook down the ‘leaving things at home’ skill, then the work becomes a lot easier – it’s just a matter of whether you want it to be easy. I’m always try to remind myself only to take responsibility for the things that I am responsible for – if that makes sense.
If I make a decision, I have to ride it out, but if I see someone in a difficult position and I can’t do anything about it – I can’t be responsible for that.
Of course, that is much easier said than done!
(oh, and a minor correction – I’m actually from England, UK rather than New England, US..but a lot of the work we do comes from the same base and certainly the ethos and essence of social work crosses international boundaries!).
That was great! im looking forward to hearing more from you!