Caution: Life Improvement Ahead- Social Worker

"Is social work even a profession?"

"Aren't we all social workers?"

"What even is social work?"

These are the words that one might usually hear regarding the concept of social work. Truly, we are not yet sufficiently educated and informed with regards to the true definition and nature of that one great profession, social work.

Social work is one of the most relevant yet unknown professions in the Philippines. It is not even considered a profession for most of the people believe that we all are social workers. Most often than not, social workers are mistaken to have the mere duty of giving dole outs, primarily, the basic needs, to the less fortunate members of the society or the victims of natural disasters. Moreover, this profession, due to its nature, is often associated with physical exhaustion, emotional and mental challenge, and monetary instability. However, above all these, social work is precisely one of the greatest profession in the world as it mainly provides improvement of quality of life among the people.

“Ten in One: The Roles and Functions of a Social Worker”

A social worker is a professional who serves multiple purposes. Today, the roles of social worker are divided into three major groups namely: case management, direct practice, and advocacy and policy building. (Segal, Gardes, & Steiner, 2005) Specifically, there are ten most prominent roles a social worker has to execute. These are as follows:

1.     Enabler

    A social worker is a certified enabler as he/she aims to help people seek solution to certain problems.

2.     Broker

    It is one of the roles of a social worker to advocate in case managements.

3.     Teacher

    Social worker also educates the public.

4.     Facilitator

    In formal groups, organizations, or communities, social worker also serves as a facilitator in aid of organizational action and development through activities and programs.

5.     Mediator

    Social worker also acts as a mediator with the endeavor of creating networks or sets of connection.

6.     Activist

    A social worker often becomes an activist taking with him/her the purpose of promoting social action, transformation, justice, peace and solidarity.

7.     Trainer

    In aspiring to see professional development among individuals, social worker also works as a trainer.

8.     Counselor

    Social worker also gives counsel to individuals who are yearning for help and support to respond and cope with normal life events.

9.     Researcher-scholars

    Social worker also conducts research and planning with the objective of increasing and developing knowledge as well as building and strengthening capacity of individuals.

10.  Agent of Community Change

    It is also the role of social worker to mold and enhance functioning among individuals for them to contribute and bring about greater change in the community.

“Virtuoso: Competencies of a Social Worker”

1.     Cognitive Competency

Social work is not a thing that anyone can instantly do. Indeed, social workers must undergo appropriate level of research, education, and even master’s degree to successfully perform their role, functions, and responsibilities.

    Critical thinking is a key competency among social workers.

    Social workers must also execute empowering processes among their clients.

    They must also possess good computer literacy.

    Research is a key process in social work to arrive at an appropriate, reliable, and relevant         choice of problem-intervention among individuals.

2.     Practical Competency

Social work is not just about cognitive ability. Social workers must also be able to effectively apply their knowledge, skills, and competencies for successful case intervention and management.

    Social workers must successfully perform crisis intervention and case management.

   They must also perform direct practice according to the needs and environment of the                 clients they handle.

    Above all things, social change must be continuously pursued by social workers on behalf       of vulnerable, oppressed, discriminated, and marginalized, eliminating social  
            inequality and poverty.

3.     Ethical Competency

Professional social workers must always give importance to the observation of ethical protocols when dealing with their clients.

    Social workers must first analyze policies before dealing with his/her clients.

    They must not deprive the clients with referrals to appropriate agencies and service sectors          they deserve.

    Professionalism is a key competency social workers must exhibit. Social worker and client           relationship must be maintained through the avoidance of emotional attachment.

4.     Interpersonal Competency

Relationship-building is the core of social work. To successfully build and maintain relationship, effective communication is expected from the social workers.

    Building and sustaining relationships among social workers and their client is the heart of        social work.

    Social workers are expected to communicate effectively their thoughts to their clients.

  They must also possess both cultural and intercultural competence to avoid biased                     judgments.

    Social workers must also analyze transaction between people from the different sectors of        society.

“A Wide Horizon: Career Opportunities for Social Workers”

Social work is one of the broadest professions in the field of applied social science. This is comprised of many different areas of specialization which are probably divided according to the audience and environment. It also caters a wide variety of job opportunities both in the public and private sector of the society. Surely, we may witness social workers specializing in the different specific fields that follow:

1.     Health

    Clinics, Hospitals

2.     Mental Health

    Mental Health Centers, Facilities, and Institute

3.     Family and Child Welfare

    Government Offices

4.     Gerontology

    Nursing Homes, Elderly Care Service Providers

5.     Correction

    Rehabilitation Center, Prisons

6.     School

    School (Public and Private)

7.     Urban Poor

    Housing Projects

8.     Non-Profit/ Non-Government Organizations

    Private Companies and Institutions

Social Worker: On The Go

             Social work does not stop by just knowing its theories and principles. Everything that one has learned in the classroom should not be left alone in books and notebooks, but it should be outlived. Here, we found three exceptionally good social workers within Marikina who lives out their passion in helping and serving others through their profession. 

Mr. Jonathan of St. Maria De Mattias Center, Inc. 

Sir Jonathan demonstrates how to transfer the plant into another pot. (c) Aira Masangkay

        For Mr. Jonathan,  “Social work is not just a profession, but a mission.” It is not merely a job one can have but one needs to have the willingness to help others. In fact, this passion brought him to this profession. Originally, he was a marine engineer but he studied again and took up a course in line with social work since he wants to pursue his vocation. For him, it was not just another job he will have but, rather, it was his "calling" to be a social worker.  In this career he chose, it entails not only hard work but there has to be the heart to help and be a hand to other in need. 

A student transferring the seedling. (c) Aira Masangkay

          At present, Mr. Jonathan serves in St. Maria De Mattias Center, Inc, a private center and community-based institution in Ipil St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City. The establishment was raised to serve the marginalized sector of the society, especially girls aged 17 years old and below. It is an institution that was originally was orphanage that provides healthcare, educational assistance and values formation in order to empower women who can’t be supported by their own families. This, as well, is a community-based institution as it now involves the whole family, most especially the parents, in values formation among the young girls.

            St. Maria De Mattias Center, Inc., provides its beneficiaries services like residential care, educational assistance, medical care, case management, psychological and psychiatric services, character building, sports and recreation, and skills training. The center provides shelter not to everyone but only to abandoned and neglected girls. On the other side, children with fully functioning family are given the right and privilege to spent the night over at their own homes. Next, it also offers tutorial sessions with volunteer tutors to help them in their studies. Lastly, Sir Jonathan and the nuns give family theraphy, counselling and psychological and psychiatric services in order to develop and increase relationship of the family and resolve the conflicts happening inside of it, they also give family therapy, counselling and psychological and psychiatric services, if needed. Every Sunday, the families of the kids also go to the center to learn catechism, as well as attending mass.

Caregivers and staffs of St. Camillus Medhaven

 A staff giving a talk about the institution. (c) Ms. Ferrer

         The class of 12-St. Ehrentrudis visited St. Camillus Medhaven last October 18, 2017 in Apitong, Marikina Heights, Marikina City. They. It was established in 1992 as a home of charity for people with disability. However, in 2206, they shifted into a home for the elderly. Moreover, it still adheres to its original mission: to help and serve children with disabilities situated in Marikina. As well, it offers services such as residential and full-time care, rehabilitation therapies, adult daycare services to lolos and lolas who have not been given full atttention by their families. 

St. Ehrentrudis joined in the daily 10am mass of the elderly. (c)Ms. Ferrer

              In the simple program that they prepared, the class witnessed the overflowing dedication of the staffs of St. Camillus Medhaven in have been the angel sent by God to guide and help the elderies in their everyday lives. They bath and feed them as well as assist them as they walk to and fro. However, for Noelle Anne Cubacub. she said, "they are not just offering their hands as assistance to them but its more of like they are offering their hearts." Although they are not social workers in profession, they are indeed social workers by heart and in nature.

Ms. Shelly of Marikina Youth Home

Ms. Shelly (right) welcomes the group together with Ms. Ferrer (left). (c) Angela Angeles

     Ms. Shelly, compared to the two previous social workers, deals with a different array of clients. She is a social worker assigned in the Marikina Youth Home. Her work caters to children ages 18 below who are in conflict with the law. These children are taken into this kind of institutions since they are still minors and cannot be put to jail as per stated in the R.A 9344 which is the Juvenile Justice Act of 2006.Their office offers services Psychological, Legal, and Health services to children in conflict of the law (CICL) but if they cannot handle the cases of these children, they refer and recommend it to other professionals. On the other hand, children that stays in Marikina Youth Home are taken care of social workers to help them in reflecting and learning about their mistakes and, hopefully, changing for the better, in the end. With this, they provide activities like bible study, play day, pageants, swimming and many other more competitions. 

St. Clodesindis snapped first a picture before they entered the Marikina Youth Home. (c) Angela Angeles

"Social workers, the world needs YOU."

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