Abstract
Social work requires a critical and reflective understanding of its roots, foundations and rationale in order to have a collective orientation to practice. This is why we try to look into the bases of social work in the journal. After conducting review and reflection over our observation and experience, the bases of social work practice can be summarized into four categories, namely, (1) relationship-based, (2) client-based, (3) evidence-based and (4) value-based.
First, social work practice builds on different kinds of relationships, from intra-personal, inter-personal, intra-organizational, inter-organizational to international. It signifies the different levels of social work practice, from micro to mezzo and then to macro as well as from local to global. In the process of social work intervention, relationship is the media between the social worker and the client. Through this media, the change efforts can be achieved as it inspires hope and sustains dreams. On some occasions, the relationship between the client and significant others (or systems) may be the target of the change effort. Relationship is fluid, but concrete, and it is difficult to define but easy to identify. Communication is the expression for maintenance and enhancement of a helping relationship. Genuine care and concern are the core of a relationship. It is not only a philosophical and professional orientation, but also a personal commitment. This explains why the social work relationship is one of the major bases of social work practice.
Second, the client, not the social worker, is the major target and actor in the process of social work practice. Without clients, there is no need to do anything called ‘social work’. The process of social work intervention is to (1) enter the world of a client; (2) engage the client in a meaningful relationship; (3) enable the client to face the issues; (4) enhance the capability and capacity of the client; (5) educate knowledge and skills in dealing with the problem; (6) empower the client with awareness of their rights and related strategies in achieving them; (7) evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and outcome of the intervention; and (8) exchange the ideas and share the ideal with professional peers. As social workers, we need to understand the emotional state, inter-personal relationships and social environment of the client. This is a distinguishing feature of the holistic approach of social work that examines the client in their environment, rather than assuming the client is inherently the problem. What we need to do is to transform the client from the state of helpless to asking for help, from receiving help to self-help, as well as from mutual help to helping others. In this way, social work aims to create sustainable change within people’s community and environment.
Third, as a professional practitioner, the social worker needs to be rational. Social work intervention by nature has a scientific perspective. It refers to fact-finding and objective analysis. Social work has an evidence base in its research and dissemination, by way of mediums such as this journal. However, the scope of evidence should not be limited to numbers and measurements. Evidence should go beyond research evidence. Results of evaluative research, as this journal regularly highlights, are often contextual and contested. The client’s characteristics, practice context, practice expertise and experience, client preference and actions should also be taken into consideration. Evidence should also include the background, life history and context of the client; reasoning; common sense and logic of the event; internal evidence (the client’s feeling); and external evidence (the socio-economic and cultural environment of the community). To summarize, evidence-based practice may expand to evidence-informed practice. Evidence is a major consideration, but not all the bases for decision and professional judgement, for example values such as self-determination, may take precedence over practice-based evidence.
Fourth, social work originates from values, it is part of our social values, social workers work for values and it is sustained by values. Without value commitments, professional social workers will become only technicians in providing social services. However, when we talk about values, it is difficult to handle, as there are different and even conflicting values in the real world, including personal values, professional values, organizational values, social values, political values and spiritual values. Values are always more important than knowledge and skills as they are the soul of a professional practice. Values are a critical compass for social work practice. As social work involves appropriate use of self and decision-making affecting the life and well-being of the client, social work by nature becomes a personal and political practice.
To summarize, social work practice is complicated and dynamic. When we think about the bases, we cannot use a ‘stand alone’ approach. We need to handle the mix of relationship-based, client-based, evidence-based and value-based perspectives with professional vision, consensus with our clients and stakeholders, common sense, awareness for continual reflection as well as our wisdom (uncommon sense) to pursue the truth, the good and the beautiful naturally in a humanistic manner. As such, this is enriched by the international social work community upon which this journal depends.