Social Work: Values, Knowledge, and Skills in Healthcare Essay

This essay delves into the multifaceted role of social workers within the health and social care sector. It begins by defining the sector and highlighting the responsibilities of healthcare professionals and social workers, emphasizing the latter's role in enhancing the lives of individuals, families, and vulnerable groups. The essay then explores the knowledge base required for effective social work practice, including understanding social problems, social work theories like systems theory and transpersonal theory, and psychosocial development. It further examines the essential skills of social workers, such as active listening, effective communication, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. Finally, the essay outlines the core values that guide social work, including respect for human rights, social justice, professional integrity, and competence, concluding that the profession is challenging but rewarding, and that social workers play a crucial role in helping individuals cope with various life challenges and improving patient outcomes.

Running head: ESSAY
Health and social care
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ESSAY
Introduction- The health and social care sector comprises of services that are
generally made available to the public by different health and social care providers working
in a nation. Often used in the form of a generic term, it refers to the complete provision of
healthcare infrastructure, both in public and private sectors (Glasby 2017). The Health and
Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), now known as NHS Digital is the primary provider
of information in this sector in England. In addition, there is a provision for the Health and
Social Care Management Board in NHS Scotland that oversees the delivery of services (NHS
Digital, 2020). Healthcare professionals are responsible for delivering treatment and advice,
depending on their clinical experience and formal training to patients and the field generally
comprises of nurses, dentists, surgeons, psychologists, pharmacists, and psychiatrists. In
contrast, the role of social workers requires them to provide assistance to individuals, families
and other group of individuals, while the latter try to cope with life stressors (McBride 2017).
Hence, social workers have the major duty of enhancing the lives of patients. Social workers
typically have a habit of specialising in assisting families, vulnerable adults or children, and
support them during difficult times. This essay will elucidate the values, knowledge and skills
used while working with individuals in professional capacity, both in general context, as well
as from the perspective of a social worker.
Knowledge of social worker- Making optimal pronouncements and solving concerns
in health and social care is extremely reliant on the access of social worker to adequate
knowledge. In the increasingly multifaceted contemporary environment, it has become
imperative for the health and social care organisations to create the provision where the
workers are able to effectively maintain an equilibrium between their external and internal
knowledge (Colby and Dziegielewski 2016). This in turn facilitates the process of delivering
the best care service, which in turn helps them to accomplish operational excellence and
promotes modernisation. Time and again it has been found that an effective and well-

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organised strategy for management of knowledge in health and social care promotes the
workers to enhance patient health outcomes (Dziegielewski and Holliman 2019).
The domain of knowledge management had been established in the form of a
discipline in the early 90s and it is typically described as the procedure of collecting,
developing, distributing, and efficiently expending knowledge. According to Hislop, Bosua
and Helms (2018) while working in their professional capacity, social workers are expected
to draw on knowledge associated to social problems and conditions, social phenomena, social
programs and policies, practice theories, and the work profession for facilitating the process
of change. Some common social problems that are faced by the workers are school-age
childrearing, adolescent crime, poverty, school dropout, drug abuse, unemployment, and
family violence (Adams, Dominelli and Payne 2017). The prevalence of these issues can be
accredited to the fact that there were an estimated 65,800 children arrests in England and
Wales, with Black children demonstrating more criminal attitudes (Ministry of Justice 2019).
Similarly, reports from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) highlighted that around 7.9%
females and 4.2% males suffered domestic abuse in the year 2018 (Office for National
Statistics 2018). Hence, social workers generally have the knowledge that in real world, all
the aforementioned issues cluster together and reinforce each other in the society.
Progressively, the destruction that commences in childhood gains striking visibility in
youth, and echoes throughout the society as a core component of the intergenerational cycle
of social devastation. Social services generally comprise of three core elements: benefits or
services, organizational structure, and providers. The practice of social workers is influenced
by their knowledge on the major social work theories. Social workers often use the systems
theory that perceives human problems and behaviour from the standpoint of the person in the
context of interrelated and complex systems. According to Gallant and Thyer (2017) this
theory regards the behaviour, needs, and experiences of all people communicating in a

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system such as, the client, family members, community, and colleagues. For example, while
providing assistance to clients battling anxiety or fear of rejection, this theoretical knowledge
helps the workers asses the family dynamics, thus facilitating the care process. In addition,
their work is also governed by the transpersonal theory which considers the divine aspect of
human development and variation as the focus of treatment. Proposed by Carl Jung, this
theory helps the workers to incorporate the social, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, creative
and physical being in one particular element (Lee 2019). The core function of such treatment
encompasses acceptance, wisdom and forgiveness, and often helps clients who are mystical
and creative by nature, and aim of attain greater level of being. Knowledge of the
psychosocial development theory also helps the workers in their practice since it emphasises
that all individuals pass through eight stages in their life cycle comprising of hope, will,
competency, purpose, love, fidelity, wisdom and care (Ell 2018). Considering the fact that
social workers have to offer treatment to clients of different age groups, using this theory as a
reference point helps them in addressing the stage-appropriate distresses and problems.
Skills of social worker- Social work necessitates a plethora of demanding and diverse
range of emotional, professional and cognitive skills. While there are several people who
adorn the role of a social worker and display a natural aptitude for the aforementioned skills,
it is imperative for the workers to hone particular skills, in order to enhance care delivery.
This can be accredited to the fact that social workers provide assistance to their clients, in
order to function in an optimal manner in the community (Cournoyer 2016). While some help
the clients and family members recognise and apply for the social benefits that are required,
others provide assessment, counselling and diagnostic services in group settings. This
requires all social workers to remain sympathetic, yet objective, engaged, self-aware and
encouraged by an honest aspiration of helping others. There is a growing body of evidence

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suggesting that active listening acts a significant vehicle for social workers an allows them to
foster respect and trust with their clients (Nguyen 2018).
A social worker demonstrating active listening skills displays the willingness to
genuinely care for the client and also remains engaged in conversation. Development of trust
enhances the procedure of exploring family dynamics and history, thus increasing the
receptiveness of the clients towards the referrals or solutions given by the worker. According
to Adams, Dominelli and Payne (2017) the clients who are delivered care in community
settings are not at all times approaching with their contemporary conditions, personal history,
or numerous other details that are inquired by social workers, with the aim of making
informed decisions. Therefore, having the ability to effectively collect and understand
personal, social, environmental, and health related facts is a significant aspect of social work.
Both verbal and nonverbal communication are essential skills for social workers. It has often
been highlighted that the core duty of social workers focuses on working as advocates for
their clients, which in turn can be accomplished by gaining a sound understanding of the
client’s needs and preferences (Cox, Tice and Long 2017).
Apart from being conscious of the body language and non-verbal signals, the workers
have the duty of communicating in an effective and appropriate manner with clients,
notwithstanding their age, cultural background, gender, disability or educational attainment.
Furthermore, effective communication skills also enhance the interaction with colleagues,
care providers, and agencies, thereby facilitating patient document and information reporting
in a flawless manner (Healy 2017). According to Serrat (2017) emotional intelligence (EI)
encompasses the capability to comprehend, utilise, and manage self-emotions, in a positive
manner, with the aim of relieving stress, and also promotes conflict management. For social
workers, EI is imperative owing to the fact that the social workers have to encounter
‘emotional labour’, while masking their original feelings and perceptions, under

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circumstances when they might get embarrassed, angry or fearful, about the situations of
hostile clients. Therefore, EI encompasses great levels of empathy, sensitivity and self-
awareness towards colleagues and clients and social work will often require the workers to
balance their existing knowledge with their intuition (Howe 2017).
In practice, the social workers are frequently part of a considerably greater group of
service providers. Hence, the capability to work in collaboration with others is indispensable.
Social workers therefore take all possible efforts to demonstrate the capability of negotiating,
compromising, and coordinating with team members, in order to ensure that the needs and
demands of their client are addressed (Ambrose-Miller and Ashcroft 2016). Apart from the
aforementioned skills, similar to other career, there might be red tape, bureaucracy, and
paperwork in this domain, which requires representation of documentation skills. The
workers are often entitled with the responsibility of composing mails, maintaining list of
contact, founding progress reports, and systematising an all-inclusive treatment plan.
Value of social workers- According to the Code of Ethics, social work is dependent
on the reverence for the intrinsic value and self-esteem of all individuals as articulated in the
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other declarations. Hence,
the primary value of a social worker is to promote and uphold the human rights and wellbeing
of all people, while defending their psychological, physical, spiritual, and emotional integrity
(BASW 2014). Thus, as a social worker, it is imperative to gain a sound understanding of the
characteristic value of human life, notwithstanding the personal beliefs or background.
Demonstrating respect towards the dissimilarities between personal opinions with those of
the clients, helps the workers to consider cultural and ethnic diversity, thereby enhancing
their practice (Smiths et al. 2019). The code also makes it mandatory for the social workers to
challenge all forms of discrimination, while disseminating resources, and challenging unfair
practices and policies (BASW 2014). This in turn is governed by the Equality Act 2010 that

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entails all public bodies to demonstrate due esteem towards the importance of eradicating
discernment, progressing equality of opportunity, and nurturing good relationship between
dissimilar individuals (Legislation.Gov.UK 2010). Thus, social justice makes the workers
ensure that the vulnerable population receives equal opportunities, while engaging in
decision-making and accessing fundamental necessities that are required to thrive in the
community.
While promoting the value of social justice, the workers also improve the social
welfare of juvenile custodies. Professional integrity encompasses the characteristic that
allows social workers to remain true to their ideals, while facilitating them develop
boundaries. Integrity suggests that the workers are acting scrupulously, dutifully and morally
at all times. Hence, their professional capacity necessitates the workers to remain trustworthy
and maintain client confidentiality, unless forced by law. Social workers displaying integrity
are generally capable to devote their time and energy to clients who can be easily handled,
without being harmed in any manner (Banks 2016). The code of conduct also prevents the
social workers from accepting any hospitality or benefits from third parties that might appear
to compromise their personal judgement or integrity or place them under an improper
obligation (Social Work England 2019). The value of competence also governs the profession
of a social worker owing to the fact that it prevents the workers from misrepresenting their
expertise for getting ahead. Competence also guarantees that the workers continuously strive
to enhance their existing knowledge, while making significant contributions to the domain.
This is generally accomplished through participation of the workers in professional
conferences, academic research or continuing education classes.
Conclusion- Thus, it can be concluded that adorning the role of a social worker is
often thought-provoking, however, a rewarding occupation. Social workers are accountable
for assisting families, individuals, and groups of individuals to cope with complications they

7ESSAY
are currently subjected to, with the aim of improving the lives of patients. Nonetheless, it can
be stated that providing counselling services to patients, groups, and family members is
merely one component of their comprehensive set of errands. Social workers generally have
to serve in the form of liaisons for providing assistance to their patients, while collaborating
with health professionals, with the aim of ensuring patient wellness. This in turn helps the
social workers to gain familiarity with the community resources. Not only do they apply
knowledge of different theories related to social work in their practice, but also engage in
research, continuing education and advocacy for clients. As stated earlier, social work
necessitates a great deal of tireless and strenuous work, hence splitting the emotional features
of the occupation from the responsibilities obligatory can be a problematic undertaking.

8ESSAY
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