Definition of Social Work according to http://ifsw.ofg/policies/definition-of-social-work/ Definition The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. Commentary Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice. Values Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion. Social work values are embodied in the profession's national and international codes of ethics. Theory Social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. It recognises the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profess ion draws on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organisational, social and cultural changes. Practice Social work addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society It responds to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems. Social work utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environments. Social work interventions range from primarily person-focused psychosocial processes to involvement in social policy, planning and development. These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work, and family treatment and therapy as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources in the community Interventions also include agency administration, community organisation and engaging in social and political action to impact social policy and economic development. The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from country to country and from time to time depending on cultural, historical, and socioeconomic conditions. Adopted by the IFSW General Meeting in Montreal, Canada, July 2000. ::"This international definition of the social work profession replaces the IFSW definition adopted in 1982. It is understood that social work in the 21st century is dynamic and evolving, and therefore no definition should be regarded as exhaustive. Social Work in its Broad Sense Explain the following terms in English solidarity unification of the allowances regional authority municipal office self-employed person gross salary subsistence minimum living costs recipient institutional social care field social care Social policy aims to improve human welfare and to meet human needs for education, health, housing and social security. Modern-day social policies deal with the following issues: the rules surrounding issues of marriage, divorce, and adoption poverty, welfare, and homelessness and how it is to deal with these issues Social policy may be influenced by religion and the religious beliefs of politicians. Right-wing political parties as a whole generally favour a more traditionalist approach that favours individual initiative and private enterprise in social policy. Left-wing political parties, on the other hand favour the guarantee of equal rights and entitlements to all people and tend to favour state regulation or insurance to support this. Social safety net The social safety net is a term used to describe a collection of services provided by the state (such as welfare, unemployment benefit, universal healthcare, homeless shelters, and various subsidized services such as transit), which prevent any individual from falling into poverty beyond a certain level. A practical example of how the safety net works would be a single mother with several children, unable to work. By receiving money from the government to support her children, along with universal health care and free education, she can give her children a better chance at becoming successful members of society, rather than be caught up in the hopelessness of extreme poverty. Social Security Social security is sometimes used to refer specifically to social insurance, but more generally it is a term used for personal financial assistance, in whatever form it may take. It is also referred to as "income maintenance". The reasons why financial assistance are given include: the relief of poverty and social protection. The idea of 'social security' implies that people ought to be able to feel secure. This involves, not only being protected against poverty, but being protected against the hardships that may arise through a change in circumstances. 1. Redistribution. Benefits which go to people who have inadequate incomes, at the expense of people who have more. 2. Solidarity. Social security is seen not simply as charity, but as a form of mutual co-operation. It is a principle which can be extended to the rest of the welfare state. (www.dwp.gov.uk) Welfare state The concept of the welfare state remains controversial, and there is continuing debate over governments' responsibility for their citizens' welfare. Arguments in favour: • Humanitarian - the right to the basic necessities of life is a fundamental human right, and people should not be allowed to suffer unnecessarily through lack of provision. • Democratic - the gradual extension of social protection is increasingly favoured by the citizens of developed economies, who have approved these as part of political election campaign promises. • Ethical - reciprocity (or fair exchange) is nearly universal as a moral principle, and most welfare systems are based around patterns of generalised exchange. • Altruism - helping others is a moral obligation in most cultures; charity and support for people who cannot help themselves are also widely thought to be moral choices. • Religious - major world religions emphasize the importance of social organization rather than personal development alone. Religious obligations include the duty of charity and the obligation for solidarity. • Economic - social programmes perform a range of economic functions, including e.g. the regulation of demand and structuring the labour market. • Social - social programmes are used to promote objectives regarding education, family and work • Economies of scale - some services can be more efficiently paid for when bought "in bulk" by the government for the public, rather than purchased by individual consumers. The highway system, water distribution, the fire department, universal health, and national defense might be some examples. • Anti-criminal - people with low incomes do not need to resort to crime to stay alive, thus reducing the crime rate. Empirical evidence indicates that welfare programmes reduce property crime. Arguments against: • Moral (compulsion) - libertarians believe that the "nanny state" infringes upon individual freedom, forcing the individual to subsidize the consumption of others. They argue that social spending reduces the right of individuals to transfer some of their wealth to others. • Anti-regulatory - the welfare state is accused of imposing greater burdens on private businesses, of potentially slowing growth and creating unemployment. • Efficiency - advocates of the free market believe that it leads to more efficient and effective production and service delivery than state-run welfare programmes. They argue that high social spending is costly and must be funded out of higher levels of taxation. • 'Iviotr^tion ancf incentives - the welfare state may have undesirable effects on behaviour, fostering dependency, destroying incentives and sapping motivation to work • Illogical - As more people go onto welfare, the people that have jobs will have to pay higher taxes, thus reducing the amount of money they earn from work If the amount of money people get through welfare is near the amount of money that people earn through legitimate work, they will quit work to go onto welfare. Criticism of welfare states concern the idea that a welfare state makes citizens dependent and less inclined to work (www.dwp.gov.uk) What Is a Welfare State? http.7/education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-welfare-state.htinl#lesson So let's discuss the welfare state and its development within modern European history. What exacdy is a welfare state? A welfare state is a nation-state whose government is committed to ensuring economic and social well-being through redistribution of wealth and other government-sponsored programs. While the precise components of a welfare state vary, most modern welfare states tend to contain elements of democracy and socialism. Welfare states typically value universal human rights and economic equality. To achieve this, high taxes are often levied, usually in the form of a progressive tax. A progressive tax is a tax in which those with larger income are taxed to a greater degree. Universal nationalized healthcare is a common component of the modern welfare state. Access to education and employment opportunities are also emphasized. The concept behind a welfare state is that all individuals are entided to economic and social well-being, and the government ought to take an active role in orchestrating this. In a welfare state, the government, to varying degrees, 'levels the playing field' for its citizens. Privatization is typically kept to a minimum, especially in the areas of healthcare, education, and industry. Welfare states are common throughout Europe. The Scandinavian counties of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and others are often cited as stereotypical welfare states. Effects of welfare on poverty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare state#Modern model Country Absolute poverty rate (1960-1991) (threshold set at 40% of U.S. median household income)1531 Relative poverty rate (1970-1997)imi Pre-welfare Post-welfare Pre-welfare Post-welfare S3 Sweden 23.7 5.8 14.8 4.8 SIS Norway 9.2 1.7 12.4 4.0 ■mi Netherlands 22.1 7.3 18.5 11.5 ■fr" Finland 11.9 3.7 " 12.4 3.1 SS Denmark 26.4 5.9 17.4 4.8 HP Germany 15.2 4.3 9.7 5.1 D Switzerland 12.5 3.8 10.9 9.1 Canada 22.5 6.5 17.1 11.9 1 I France 36.1 9.8 21.8 6.1 1 I Belgium 26.8 6.0 19.5 4.1 HH Australia 23.3 11.9 16.2 9.2 (Us United Kingdom 16.8 8.7 16.4 8.2 3E United States 21.0 11.7 17.2 15.1 I I Italy 30.7 14.3 19.7 9.1 Effects of social expenditure on economic growth, public debt, and education Researchers have found very little correlation between economic performance and social expenditure.They also see little evidence that social expenditures contribute to losses in productivity; economist Peter Lindert of the University of California. Davis attributes this to policy innovations such as the implementation of "pro-growth" tax policies in real-world welfare states. Nor have social expenses contributed significantly to public debt. According to the QECD, social expenditures in its 34 member countries rose steadily between 1980 and 2007, but the increase in costs was almost completely offset by GDP growth. More money was spent on welfare because more money circulated in the economy and because government revenues increased. In 1980, the OECD averaged social expenditures equal to 16 percent of GDP. In 2007, just before the financial crisis kicked into full gear, they had risen to 19 percent - a manageable increase. Exercises Here ate sorae- sitMaticms where we typically cho6se a passive rather than an active, if In aii active sentence we need to include the agent as subject; using a■.passive allows us to otnitithe agent by leaving out the prepositional phrase with by. Consequently, we prefer passives when the agent! ,:•''./•■ ',-'-»: -isnotknown: n My office wasbrokeninto when Twa>'oaheliday - is 'people in general': ~ An order form can: befound on page 2. -is unimportant: Q He is thought to be somewhere in.Russia. - is obyious: O. She is being treated in hospital, (the agent is clearly 'medical staff) *• Xo fkcbjal writing, ;partiolb More, fbrtnul) O. They're installing the new computet system-next month, and 0 Tfenesw computer system is being installed next month, (wore formal) Notice also, that some, verbs have related nouns which express the same meaning. These nouns can-be-used -as the subject of passive sentences, with.a new passive verb introduced. .Compare the example above and: ■ ;* Ct Wte jnstaUatjon of the new computer system will be completed by next month. In English we usually prefer to.put the topic (what is,; already being talked about) at the beginning of a sentence (or clause) and a comment on that topic at the end. Choosing the passive often allows us.to da this. Compare these two texts and notice where the topic fin italics) is placed in the second sentence of each, The second text uses a passive where the emphasis is. qn the equipment: . ■ , n The three machines tested for the report contained different types of safety valve. The Boron Group in Germany manufactured All the equipment. j -i , -O The three rhachihes tested -for the report contained different types of safety valve. All the equipment was manufactured by the Boron Group in Germany. It is often more natural to put long subjects at the end of a sentence. Using the passive allows us to do this. So, for example: ,b Twas surprised by Dotfs decision to give-up his job and move to Sydney. is more natural than 'Don's decision "to give up his job and move to Sydney surprised me', although the choice can depend on considerations of style and context Instead of making a tfcat-clause the subject of a passive sentence, it is normal to use an it-clause (see also Unit 25): 0 Everybody believed (that) the plan would fail, {active) D It was believed that the plan would fail, (passive) is more natural than ti That the plan would fail was believed by everybody, {passive) Rrarrmiar review. -» Section D ft Appendix 1 Unit 24 24.1 Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using 'people', 'somebody', or 'they', write one corresponding passive sentence or two if possible (as in 1), beginning with the underlined words. Use an appropriate verb form and make any other necessary changes. (A ft Appendix 1) 1 They presented Maria Svensson with the award last night......^S*^^^J±^^^!*^ wifcri Hie award. Ust nyht./The. award, was presented, to Maria. Svensson last nignt. 2 People are blaming climate change for the recent flooding. 3 Somebody has described Keith (ones as the world's greatest guitarist. 4 Somebody had stolen the painting from the gallery. 5 They will have cleared the litter from the pitch before the match starts. 6 People^ were watching the game outside the stadium on a huge screen. 7 Somebody will spray the walls with green paint. 8 Somebody should have offered Mary a drink when she arrived. 9 People will provide you with food for the journey. 10 They have planted the fields with cotton. 24.2 Rewrite these sentences beginning with (The) + noun formed from the underlined verb and a passive verb. Use the verb given, and make any other necessary changes. (B) 1 They will consider the issue at next week's meeting, (give).....Co?s4^^.". 4i<- ^...MSlM..... ^.fr....^.P.^...P^....^^...^!^'^ meeting. 2 They will appoint a new managing director next week, (make) 3 People have accused the local council of corruption, (make) 4 They demolished the building in only two days, (complete) 5 They will present the trophy after the speeches, (make) 6 Local residents will certainly resist the proposed new industrial area, (show) 24.3 Use appropriate forms of the verbs given to complete this text. In each case, decide whether an active or passive form is needed. (A-D) . Slowly but surety the coastline of Britain (1) ..i5 .^S itoiffiSS . (pear away) . / by an advancing sea. The country which once 'ruled the waves* now (2)....................................(.rule) by thenjj with'huge forces-thKateningto destroy vast areas dfhurnan and^dlfo areas (3)...........................(disappear), and experts (4) +.....................„ _' (fear)- that i this-is. just the beginning. It (5).........11,......---------(estimate) thai there will be a .. • 38-55 cm rise in average sea levels by the year 2100. According to the Department of the Envirortmeni^dviringi'the next 50 years at least 10,000 hectares of farmland ' (6)............ ..........................(turn into) mud flats and salt marshes by the increases in sea •levels. Rathe* than trying to prevent the erosion, the present government " "-, .1 , (70_________...............................(use) a method of managed retreiat' by creating new defences farther inland and allowing low-lying coastal farm land (8) I.................._________s...... (abandon) tothe sea. However, many of the country's major cities could also ' (9)......I................................. (affect). London, Bristol and Cardiff all (10)............... ..... * (expeet) severe flooding as our sea defences (11)........................... ......(destroy) by the rising tides. ' .'"."