What Are The Key Characteristics Of Social Work - 1499 Words

What are the key characteristics of Social Work? This essay discusses what key roles and tasks social workers undertake working with service users. Furthermore explaining the ways in which social work is distinctive from other professions. Another essential point that will be illustrated is the knowledge, skills and values that a social worker needs to apply to be effective in their work. Finally the problems that can lead to a social worker becoming unprofessionally involved with service users and carers. A social worker has many roles and tasks are involved when dealing with service users on a daily basis. Social workers may interview service users as a means of finding out background knowledge on the client. Social workers may†¦show more content†¦There can often be confusion on the purpose of the interviews, assessments and meeting professionals. Chris Beckett (2006, p.8) states that social workers can often not be clear on what happens during the interviews, and this can often confuse the service user. The outcome of this is that the service user becomes disempowered if the only the social worker understands what is happening. A role in which social workers undertake with service users is an advocacy role. Social workers act as an advocate on behalf of the service user in order for the service’s users voice to be heard either by helping him speak or speaking for the service user (Beckett, C 2006, p.9). Beckett subdivided the roles of an advocacy that a social worker provides for a service user into direct advocacy and indirect advocacy. Direct advocacy is speaking on behalf of the service user if they are unable to speak physically. Indirect advocacy is a way assisting the service user to speak for themselves on their own behalf (2006, p.9). Beckett uses the term ‘direct change agents’ for social workers, which directly facilitate change through forms of ‘structured conversation and interaction with service users’ (2006, p.9) Social workers may directly facilitate change by using listening and communication skills to support service users. Social workers motivate service users, which is important as it leads to the empowerment of the service user. Social workers are also there to