An Exploration of Social Work Values and Social Justice

This essay examines the core values of social work, with a particular emphasis on social justice. It defines social work as a profession dedicated to improving individual and societal well-being by trained professionals. The essay highlights the importance of social justice, which aims to ensure fairness and equal rights for all members of society. It emphasizes the role of social workers in advocating for the underprivileged, addressing issues like poverty and discrimination, and promoting access to essential resources such as quality education and healthcare. The essay references several scholarly sources to support its arguments, illustrating the historical and current significance of social justice within the field of social work and its humanitarian ideals.

ESSAY
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Social work is regarded as meaningful contribution that is being done for the betterment
of the society. Further it has motive towards enhancing the lives of the individuals in an effective
manner. Social work is being conducted by the trained personnel who possess the aim of
alleviating the condition of the people within the community who are suffering from social
deprivation (Reamer, 2013). Social work can be carried out at macro scale this implies that it can
help underdeveloped nations. However it can be conducted at micro level which includes private
practice offering counseling top individuals. The concept of social work is referred to as
academic as well as professional discipline that seeks towards assisting the welfare of the
society, individuals, groups and families (Miller, 2016). The social work is guided by certain
values. This includes social justice, respect, culture, empathy as well as confidentiality. The
present report aims at showcasing the most important value of the social work. In this regard the
most important social work chosen is social justice.
Social work is considered to be practical profession where main aim is on helping others
and solving queries of others (Saleebey, 2012). One of the most important principle is social
justice. It is armed with the long term goals which is linked with empowering clients and
knowledge associated with existing legal principles are being employed with the motive to
protect clients. Social worker generally introduces the concept of social justice into the wider
social arena. It states that any kind of unfair means is not considered and all the individuals are
treated fairly by the social workers. Their acts are generally fair and are being carried out for the
welfare of society (Netting, Kettner, McMurtry and Thomas, 2016). Social justice is all about
enhancing social relations between different kind of individuals and improving overall
relationships. Apart from this, the entire concept relies on people who lose out as they are in
need of financial support. Social workers always try to intervene in social relations. Generally
social justice is considered to be ideal condition where all the members of the society are
imparted some basic rights along with opportunities and protection. Further, in every society all
the individuals have to be delivered equal rights and no form of discrimination is being present
which has adverse impact on individual living in the society (Miley, O'Melia and DuBois, 2016).
Social workers have to ensure that justice is being present within the society in terms of high
quality education, quality healthcare, safety need and support for family etc. Apart from this, it
also covers some other areas such as protection of civil rights, personal privacy, strong federal
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government role etc. Main responsibility of social worker is to resolve the issues being present in
the social group and actions have to be taken in case if any injustice is being done to any
individual in the society.
Social justice is considered as the most important key value of the social work. There is
presence of several social workers who enter the profession as a reason of recognizing the need
towards helping underprivileged, vulnerable population that is comprised of homeless and one
who are struggling from substance abuse issues or victims of domestic violence. In order to
become social worker there needs to be inherent desire towards improving the lives of the
individuals who are less fortunate or are not able to advocate themselves. The major focus of the
social work is towards unemployment, poverty, discrimination as well as other form of social
injustice (Twenge, Campbell, Hoffman and Lance, 2010). Reduction in such can result in
bringing upliftment of not just the people but the entire society, economy and nation on whole.
The social workers are engaged in promoting social justice with and on the behalf of clients.
Social work is being carried out with the aim to pursue social change, specifically on the behalf
vulnerable as well as oppressed person and groups of individuals. There efforts are majorly
focused on the problems related with poverty (Cennamo and Gardner, 2008). Discrimination,
unemployment and other. These activities seeks at promoting the sensitivity to as well as
knowledge regarding the oppression as well as cultural and ethical diversity. Social workers
strives towards making sure the access to the required information, services as well as resources.
It is also comprised of equality of opportunity and valuable participation in the decision making
of all the individuals.
It can be concluded from the essay that social work has grew humanitarian as well as
democratic ideals. Further its values are being based on the respect for equality, worth as well as
dignity of all the people.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cennamo, L. and Gardner, D. (2008). Generational differences in work values, outcomes and
person-organisation values fit. Journal of Managerial Psychology. 23(8). 891-906.
Miley, K. K., O'Melia, M. W. and DuBois, B. L. (2016). Generalist social work practice: An
empowering approach. Pearson.
Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L. and Thomas, M. L. (2016). Social work macro
practice. Pearson.
Reamer, F. G. (2013). Social work values and ethics. Columbia University Press.
Saleebey, D. (2012). The strengths perspective in social work practice. Pearson Higher Ed.
Twenge, J. M., Campbell, S. M., Hoffman, B. J. and Lance, C. E. (2010). Generational
differences in work values: Leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values
decreasing. Journal of management. 36(5). 1117-1142.
Online
Miller, A., (2016). Top 5 values in being social worker. [Online]. Available through:
<http://work.chron.com/top-5-values-being-social-worker-11466.html>. [Accessed on 1st
October 2016].
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