doc. RNDr. Miloslav Hetteš, CSc., individual member of IFSW and IASSW, president of ICSW Europe. Introduction

The Executive Board of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the Council of the International Association of Social Work (IASSW), organizations which are in partnership with the International Council for Social Development (ICSW), agreed that the discussion on a new global definition of social work had ended and that the proposed definition would be presented to the members of both organizations in July 2014 during the conference in Melbourne, Australia. Since many representatives from Slovakia will not be there, I present this information and request.

Definition

The proposed new global definition of the social work profession has taken the following forms:

In English: “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.”

In French: “The international definition of social work: Social work professionals have the mission to promote social change and social development, social cohesion, agency of people and the liberation of persons. The principles of social justice, human rights, collective social responsibility and respect for diversity are central to social work. Underpinned by the theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work encourages people and structures to meet life challenges and works to improve everyone’s well-being.”

Please help with a translation into Slovak. A possible Slovak wording is: “Social work is a practical profession and an academic discipline, it supports social change, social cohesion, the rights and freedoms of people. The principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for differences are the foundation of social work. With the help of theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work involves people and structures in solving life problems and strengthening social wellbeing.”

This definition can be supplemented at the national/state and regional levels. Therefore it is possible to discuss how this global definition could be adapted for Slovak or European needs (this in cooperation with European partners).

You can add your proposals to the discussion forum created for this purpose here: http://diskusie.prohuman.sk/viewforum.php?f=139&sid=6df92a98130abe13ff968a862a74bce9

A comment on the proposed global (worldwide) definition will help us better understand the foundations of the concepts used in this definition. The explanations are focused on the core mission of the social work profession, its principles, knowledge and practice.

Core mission

The core mission of the social work profession includes supporting social change, social development, social cohesion and the strengthening of people’s rights and freedoms.

Social work is a practice-oriented profession and at the same time a scientific discipline. Social work recognizes the mutual interdependence of historical, socio-economic, cultural, political and personal factors that represent opportunities or barriers to human wellbeing and development. Structural barriers contribute to the maintenance of inequalities, discrimination, abuse and oppression. Developing critical awareness of structural sources of oppression and privilege based on causes such as race, class, language, religion, gender, disability, culture and sexual orientation, and developing activities and strategies to address institutional and personal barriers are the basis of emancipatory practice, in which the goals are the strengthening of people’s rights and freedoms. Social work seeks, in solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, to reduce poverty, tries to liberate marginalized and oppressed people and supports social inclusion and social cohesion.

The mission in social change is based on the premise that social work acts when a situation at the level of an individual, family, small group, community or society is understood as a situation that requires change or development. The social change mission is supported by the need to change structural conditions that contribute to marginalization, social exclusion and oppression (active role). Social change initiatives accept people’s efforts to support people’s rights and to achieve economic, environmental and social justice. Social work is equally committed to maintaining social stability, provided that existing stability is not used for the marginalization, exclusion and oppression of any group of people (stabilization role).

Social development means a strategy for intervention to achieve a desired goal and also represents a political framework together with other secondary and main structures. Social development based on holistic bio-psycho-social and spiritual assessment, which goes beyond the micro-macro divide, includes multiple systemic levels, intersectoral and interprofessional collaboration. Social development is focused on sustainable development. Social development favors the development of social structures and economic development, not in the sense of the stereotype that economic development is a prerequisite for social development.

Principles

The general principle of social work is respect for the inalienability of values and dignity of human beings, non-harm, respect for difference and observance of human rights and social justice.

Support and observance of human rights and social justice is the motivation and rationale for social work activity. The social work profession recognizes the need that human rights must be in line with collective responsibility. The idea of collective responsibility points to the reality that an individual’s human rights can be realized only on a daily basis if we take responsibility for one another and for the environment. It emphasizes the importance of creating reciprocal relationships between communities. Therefore, the main focus of social work must be supporting people’s rights at every level and facilitating solutions where people assume responsibility for one another’s well-being. Social work respects the mutual interdependence between people and the environment.

Social work covers first, second and third-generation human rights. First generation concerns civil and political rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of belief, protection against torture and arbitrary detention. Second generation concerns social, economic and cultural rights, which include rights to a reasonable level of education, health care, housing and minority language rights. Third generation human rights is focused on the natural world, on the right to biodiversity of animal species and intergenerational equality. These rights are mutually supportive and interdependent. They fulfil both individual and collective rights.

In some cases, non-maleficence and respect for diversity may be inconsistent with recognized values, e.g., where in the name of the dominant culture rights, including the right to life and minority rights such as those of women and homosexuals, are being violated. The Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training (2004) address such complex issues, supporting the fact that social workers are educated about basic human rights with the explanation that their approach can facilitate constructive confrontation and change where cultural values, beliefs and traditions violate basic human rights. Since culture is a social construct and evolves dynamically, change and development occur within it. Constructive confrontation and change can be directed. Understanding certain cultural values, beliefs and traditions through critical and reflective direct dialogue with the group improves human rights outcomes.

Knowledge

Social work is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary and is based on a broad range of scientific theories and extensive research. In this context, science is understood in its most basic sense as knowledge. Social work constantly creates its theoretical basis and research. It also uses theories from other human sciences including, but not limited to, community development, social pedagogy, administration, anthropology, ecology, economics, education, management, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, public health and sociology. The uniqueness of social work research and theory is in their applicability and emancipatory character. Much of social work research and theory is constructed in cooperation with service users in an interactive, dialogical process and therefore aligns with specific practice environments.

The proposed definition accepts that social work is shaped not only by a specific practical environment and Western theories, but also by indigenous knowledge. Part of the colonial legacy is that Western theories and knowledge were exclusively preferred and indigenous (local) knowledge was undervalued, devalued and hegemonized by Western theories and knowledge. The proposed definition seeks to halt and reverse this process by recognizing that indigenous people in every region, country and territory have their own values and ways of transmitting knowledge and have made an incalculable contribution to science. Social work tries to correct historical Western colonialism and hegemony by learning from indigenous peoples around the world. In this way, social work knowledge will be co-created and shaped together with indigenous peoples, and this knowledge will be used more widely not only in local contexts but also internationally. Drawing on the work of the United Nations, IFSW defines indigenous peoples as follows:

  • They live in (or are connected to) a geographically defined indigenous territory.
  • They can maintain distinct social, economic and political institutions within their territories.
  • They seek to preserve cultural, geographic and institutional distinctiveness rather than full assimilation into the national society.
  • They distinguish themselves by origin or tribe.

Practice

The scope and mission of social work concerns people’s activity in interaction with their environment (surroundings). The environment includes many social systems in which people are involved in the natural geographic environment, which has a major impact on people’s lives. Participatory methodology, which is promoted in social work, is reflected in engaging people and organizations in solving life problems or in improving life. Where possible, social work works more with people than only for people. In line with the development paradigm, social workers use a number of capacities, techniques, strategies, principles and activities at different systemic levels with the aim of stabilizing the system, or with the intention of changing it.

The practice of social work includes a range of activities including many forms of therapy and counselling, group work and community work, policy formulation, analysis, advocacy and political interventions. From an emancipatory perspective, this definition supports social work strategies focused on strengthening people’s hopes, self-esteem and creative potential to confront and eliminate oppression and sources of injustice. In this way, social work brings together in one whole the micro and macro levels and the personal and political dimensions of its activity.

The holistic focus of social work is universal, but social work priorities vary across countries. They change over time depending on historical, cultural, political and socio-economic conditions.

Conclusion

It is the duty of social workers worldwide to defend, support and implement the values and principles stated in this definition. The definition of social work will be meaningful only when social workers actively adhere to its values and its vision. Social work today has many forms. Emphasis is placed on participation and emancipation of people. Social work mainly works with people and for people. In order to be successful in this, it is necessary to adopt the new definition and strive to find its Slovak linguistic and substantive form.

Author: doc. RNDr. Miloslav Hetteš, CSc., individual member of IFSW and IASSW, president of ICSW Europe. Contact author: mhettes@gmail.com

Your proposals for the new definition of social work can be added to the discussion forum created for this purpose here: http://diskusie.prohuman.sk/viewforum.php?f=139&sid=6df92a98130abe13ff968a862a74bce9