UNISWA

THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONBy Ms. L.P. MabundzaIn the country of Swazilandsocial work has for a long timebeen seen as an activity that iscarried out by everyone who cares oreven has the time energy to providea service to those who are poor andliving in the margins of society. Thisapproach has led many to believe itis the way it should be. The ‘crisis’in social work is mainly a matter of professionalidentity that impacts on recruitment, retention and theunderstanding of the profession’s basic aims as statedby Asquith, Clark & Waterhouse (2005) and Unison,(2004). Currently in Swaziland we are experiencing acrisis in social work. Asquith et.al. (2004) states thatwhere there is seen to be a ‘crisis’ in social work, it takesa number of forms and includes:•A crisis in professional identity;•The erosion of professional boundaries;•The lack of professional recognition;•A shortage of qualified social workers;•The growth of para-professionals;•The failure to recruit;•High turnover rates and concern at the numbersleaving professional social work in local authoritysettings;•Working conditions;•Much ‘social work’ is being carried out by nonqualifiedworkers/careers;•The lack of resources necessary to allow social workto be effectively practicedIn Swaziland the crisis manifests in terms of ……..Who is a Social Worker?Without a clear understanding of the principles andfundamentals that govern social work one will notappreciate the sensitivity of social issues. There is anurgent need for social work to clarify its professionalidentity and its distinctiveness compared with otherprofessions especially in this country. This needs tobe viewed with reference to the changing nature of therelationship between worker and client as well as thenature of social problems that social workers have todeal with. According to the United States of AmericaNational Association of Social Workers (NASW) 2005,social workers promote social justice, social change withand on behalf of clients (Clark, 2002) as well as helppeople overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges:poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physicalillness, divorce, loss, unemployment, educationalproblems, disability, and mental illness. They helpprevent crises and counsel individuals, families, andcommunities to cope more effectively with the stressesof everyday life. As stated by the NASW (2005), thesensitivity of helping people overcome some of life’smost difficult challenges cannot be entrusted to a noviceor a person who does not have the necessary skills todo so, but requires rigorous and extensive training andor capacity building which is linked to a recognizedprofessional body for accountability.What do social workers do?According to NASW code of ethics, (2005) the primarymission of the social work profession is to enhancehuman well¬being and help meet the basic human needsof all people, with particular attention to the needs andempowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed,and living in poverty. A historic and defining featureof social work is the profession’s focus on individualwellbeing in a social context and the wellbeing ofsociety. Fundamental to social work is attention to theenvironmental forces that create, contribute to, andaddress problems in living.Social workers promote social justice and social changewith and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusivelyto refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations,and communities. Social workers are sensitive to culturaland ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination,oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice.These activities may be in the form of direct practice,community organizing, supervision, consultationadministration, advocacy, social and political action,policy development and implementation, education, andresearch and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhancethe capacity of people to address their own needs. Socialworkers also seek to promote the responsiveness oforganizations, communities, and other social institutionsto individuals’ needs and social problems (ibid).The mission of the social work profession is rooted ina set of core values. These core values, embraced bysocial workers throughout the profession’s history, arethe foundation of social work’s unique purpose andperspective:•service•social justice•dignity and worth of the person•importance of human relationships18UNISWA News - October 2013