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Fields of Social Work in IndiaIntroduction

Social work is a multi-disciplined profession which

focuses on welfare in a holistic manner. Social work can

be practised in diverse fields like hospitals, asylums,

communities, correctional settings etc. A social worker

has to make sure that be in whatever field he works he

brings in welfare; both of individuals and society as a

whole.

Through this paper we intent at understanding scope of

social work in a few fields and the role of a social

worker in such settings. The fields of social work

discussed in this assignment are:

1. Hospital and Health Setting

2. Community: Rural and Urban

3. Correctional Settings

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4. Unorganized Sector

5. Environmental Issues

A social worker has a role to play in all the fields

mentioned above. He has to serve as a resource person who

is dedicated for the welfare of the society. As the

preamble of the NASW code of ethics say, “ The primary

aim of social work is the well being of individual

through capacity building and environment modification.”

A social worker in any circumstance and work setting

should necessarily adhere to this principle.

I. In Hospital and Health Setting

Aimed at a better humanity the social worker works with

the strong desire to help in improving people’s lives.

With the changing demands of health care sector the role

of a social worker turns vital. Social workers in health

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care settings provide a range of services including

health care education, crisis intervention, supportive

counseling and case management. Professional social

workers turn inevitable to the medical settings owing to

their holistic approach covering physical, emotional and

environmental factors. The early concern of medical

social workers was making heath care services available

for everyone including the poor and eradicate diseases

like tuberculosis but as the time passed on the areas of

concern got broadened. While working in a medical setting

the social worker should always stick on to the basic

values of the individual’s right to self determination

and attitude of empathy towards the client.

Role and Responsibilities of a Social Worker in Health

Care Settings

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1. Integrate theory and practice: The social worker uses

knowledge about, and psycho-social implications of,

illness, injury, and health conditions to provide social

work services to clients and families to help them manage

and cope with the impact of such health matters. Social

workers have expertise in communication; navigating

systems of care, resources, client and family coping

skills; and the comprehensive impact of health conditions

on the client. His areas of knowledge must include:

the roles and functions of social work in health care

the psycho-social needs of clients and families

the physiological elements of illness and their impact

on psycho-social functioning

the psychological and spiritual needs of clients and

families and how to ensure that they can be addressed

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community resources to assist clients and families

laws, regulations, and policies affecting clients,

families, and social work practice

evidence-based practices and social work research in

health care

the needs of special populations.

2. Assessment and Intervention: Assessment is a

fundamental process of social work practice. Treatment

and intervention strategies/plans require that social

workers both assess and reassess client needs and modify

plans accordingly. Social work

assessments in health care settings include considering

relevant factors and the needs of the individual client

and the family. The health status of populations and of

individuals is assessed for many reasons. A

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comprehensive, culturally competent assessment includes:

past and current health status including genetic

history of family health

the impact of health conditions or treatments on

cognitive, emotional, social, psychological, or

physical functioning

social history, including current living arrangement

work, school, or vocational history

stage in the life cycle and related and relevant

developmental issues

cultural values and beliefs, including views on

illness, disability, and death

family structure and the client’s role within the

family

social supports, including formal and informal support

systems

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behavioural and mental health status and current level

of functioning, including history, suicide risk,and

coping styles

financial resources.

3. Intervention through Interdisciplinary Input:

Intervention plans are steps identified by the social

worker in collaboration with the client and with other

members of the team to achieve objectives identified

during assessment. Intervention plans include:

Information, referral and education

Individual family or group counseling

Vocational, educational and supportive counseling

Psycho-educational support groups

Discharge planning

4. Addressing Client’s Multiple Needs: Social workers has

to maintain a therapeutic relationship with the client

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which includes linking the client with resources that

provide a rage of services and opportunities to enhance

successful quality outcome for the client. The range

includes:

Physical assessment including diagnosis, intervention

and treatment plans.

Financial assessment, planning and intervention

Case facilitation

Client and family counseling

Resource mobilization

5.Role as a Health Educator: A health educator strives to

bring about the best possible state of well being. He/she

helps families and individuals to promote health by their

own actions and efforts. The health educator acts on the

faith of inherent human potential to develop when

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suitable environment is created and opportunities are

given. Health education is two fold with disease

prevention and health promotion.

Areas of Practice in Health Care Social Work

1. In General and Speciality Hospital: The purpose of a

medical social worker in a hospital setting is to help

each individual sick person in matters of personal and

social adjustments including rehabilitation in the

society through the use of patient’s capability as well

as community resources. The role of the social worker in

a hospital involves the following:

Medical social worker acts as the doctor’s mouthpiece

and furnishes information to the client regarding the

nature, cure, prevention and control of his/her

sickness and ensures the patient’s cooperation to

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doctor.

Collects information about the patient’s family,

occupation, and cultural background and prepares his

medico-social history.

For the patients requiring hospitalization, the

medical social worker helps in transition from home t

hospital and vise versa.

The medical social worker works with the client and

family and provides them emotional support and helps

them with stress management. He explains to them, the

changes that have to be made in the home conditions to

benefit the client.

He/she conducts group sessions for the inpatients and

their attendants.

He or she participates in all the field activities of

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the hospital. He obtains people’s cooperation in

multi-disciplinary camps.

He/she arranges for financial assistance to the

patients for treatment hospitalization,transportation

etc. from welfare agencies.

The medical social worker participates in teaching and

training activities of the department of preventive

and social medicine. He/she takes classes for medical,

dental, nursing and pharmacy students.

He/she actively participates in the research

activities of the hospital

Provides recreational services for the inpatients by

organizing leisure activities.

2. In Psychiatric Settings: Social workers in the area of

psychiatric health and substance abuse asses and assist

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in treating individuals with mental illness or substance

abuse problems. Such service includes group therapy,

outreach, crisis intervention, social rehabilitation and

training in skills of everyday living. The social worker

in the field of mental health and substance abuse are

known as clinical or psychiatric social worker. Their

role is vital in patient’s well being which includes:

The psychiatric social worker makes thorough study of

the environment of the client enabling him/her to

prepare a systematic case history of the client which

throws light on the tension and difficulties in the

client’s life and also help him to assess the positive

and negative aspects of the environment.

The psychiatric social worker explains the client or

relatives what the problem is and what is involved in

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psychiatric treatment. The social worker has to help

the relatives of the mentally ill, to accept the

diagnosis and the psychiatric recommendations. The

social worker also tries to bring about a better

adjustment between the client and his family.

To enlist the cooperation of other social agencies for

better discharge of functions of one’s own agency and

for stimulating interest in dealing with common

problems effectively.

In prenatal and postnatal clinics and nursery schools

the psychiatric social worker imparts mental health

education to parents. Sometimes his/her services are

required to promote mental health education in the

community.

The psychiatric social worker attached to hospitals

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has to respond to the problem of home sickness as well

as the boredom of long treatment. S/he may organize a

recreation club with the help of the members of the

staff and the patients and encourage the latter to

develop hobbies. Such activities contribute much to

the patient’s recovery.

II. In Correctional Settings

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, had once said

“Crime is outcome of a diseased mind and jail must have

an environment of a hospital for treatment”. This very

statement signifies the importance of social work in

correctional settings. Correction is one segment of

criminal justice system by which the society seeks to

protect the public, punish offenders, change behaviour

and in some cases compensate victims. The social work in

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correctional settings is concerned mainly with prisons

and juvenile homes.

Prisons and Juvenile Homes

The Supreme Court of India has evolved three broad

principles about the prisoners:

a) A person in prison does not become a non-person.

b) A person in prison is entitled to all human rights

within the limitations of imprisonment.

c) There is no justification in aggravating the suffering

already inherent in the process of incarceration.

A social worker in a prison setting should keep in mind

these principles and work for the transformation of

prisoners. Social worker can serve in juvenile homes as

well as observation homes by way of group work or social

case work with the client; juvenile, in this case is

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helped to develop an understanding of his problem, look

at the resources available to him and involve them in the

decision pertaining to them. Involving community in

activities of children such as celebration of some

important days or cultural activities is also undertaken.

Activities off the social worker in Correctional Settings

1. Counselling: It is a relationship in which one

endeavour to help another understand and solve his

problem of adjustment. It is distinguished from advice or

admonition in that it implies mutual consent. It has as

its goal the immediate solution of a personal problem or

long range effort to develop self understanding and

maturity.

2. Insight and Empathy

Perceptive understanding is required on the part of the

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social worker who develops insight into the problem of

the client/offender by empathy. Empathy is a critical

ingredient in the therapeutic process getting into

the client’s frame of reference.

3.Interviewing: Interviewing is a professional

conversation with a purpose. Effective communication is

at the heart of positive human interaction. Interviewing

is different from intense psychotherapy and counselling.

Interview is basic while counselling is the epitome of

positive

guided interaction.

In correctional setting there are a few issues which must

be kept in mind

1. The captive client

In correctional settings the client, because of the

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constrained setting, is captive. Presence during the

sessions is not voluntary and somewhat imposed. Hence it

is a very responsible process and the whole environment

should be lighthearted. There is needed a structured

permissive relationship between the client and

interviewer. This relationship should allow the client

gain an understanding of himself to a degree which

enables him take positive step in the light of a new

environment.

2. Stigma and self esteem

Oxford Dictionary describes stigma as a “mark of

disgrace”. It should be kept in mind that becoming an

offender and coming in conflict with law has a deeper

impact on the self esteem of the client, as the society

treats them as marginalized and stigmatized. Sometimes

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the client internalize the stigma and behaves in a very

different way (defensive or abusive) Hence the social

worker has to keep these factors in mind before entering

into any kind of intervention with them.

III. In Unorganized Sector

The National Commission for Enterprises in the

Unorganized Sector’s reports (2008) on Definitional and

Statistical Issues relating to the Informal Economy

defines unorganized sector and worker as:

Informal Sector: “The unorganized sector consists of all

unincorporated private enterprises owned by individuals

or households engaged in the sale and production of goods

and services operated on a proprietary or partnership

basis and with less than ten total workers”.

Informal worker/employment: “Unorganized workers consist

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of those working in the unorganized sector or households,

excluding regular workers with social security benefits

provided by the employers and the workers in the formal

sector without any employment and social security

benefits provided by the employers”.

Features of Unorganized Sector:

(a) casual nature of employment, (b) ignorance and

illiteracy, (c) small size of establishments with low

capital investment per person employed, (d) scattered

nature of establishmentsand, (e) superior strength of the

employer operating singly or in combination.’

Categories of Unorganized Labour

(i) contract labour including construction workers;

(ii)casual labour; (iii) labour employed in small scale

industry; (iv) handloom/power-loom workers; (v) beedi and

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cigar workers (vi) employees in shops and commercial

establishments; (vii) sweepers and scavengers;

(viii)workers in tanneries (ix) tribal labour; and (x)

‘other unprotected labour’

Role of Social Workers in Unorganized Sector

1.Providing Legal Aid: In Unorganized sector the people

involved are often illiterate or have less knowledge

about the legal matters. A social worker has the

responsibility to make necessary arrangements to equip

them with rightful legal aid.

2. Advocacy for Working Rights: The unorganized worker

has every right to do his job devoid of any external

pressures. Any activities that seemingly curtail the same

must not be promoted. Social worker has to ensure that

the working rights of the labourers are in tact. Any sort

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of workplace stress and harassment must be taken up

seriously.

3. Awareness Generation about Various Legislations: A

social worker has to be well informed about the

legislations regarding the informal workers he d eal

with. For instance if he works among the handloom workers

he has to know the provisions and law regarding them and

make them aware about such laws and provisions.

4. Intervention to Improve the Living Conditions: It is

the duty of the social worker to create awareness about

the necessity of improving living standards. He has to

create awareness about the importance of hygiene,

sanitation etc. He has to ensure that people do take care

of their health and cleanliness.

5. Awareness Generation about Substance Abuse: Informal

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labourers are one of the groups vulnerable to substance

abuse. Social worker must create awareness about the

hazards of substance abuse among them and earnestly

strive to eradicate such tendencies.

IV. In Community: Urban and Rural

i. Rural Settings

Rural areas are often remote settings devoid of

mainstream attention and hence lacks development in

multiple sectors. As a result rural areas require

services in the following areas:

Job and economic problems

Alcohol and drug problems of adults and youth

Lack of constructive leisure-time programs and

facilities

Marriage and family problems

Personal stress, anxiety, depression

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Infrastructure development

A rural social worker is described as a

generalist who brings to bear a broad range of

methodologies and skills in practice for the development

and welfare of the community. The rural social worker

need to understand both the positive and negatives of

working in small rural communities.

Some important positive elements are:

Inter agency cooperation

A sense of community

Positively responding community

Some negative elements are:

Geographic isolation

Personnel isolation

Service isolation

Roles of a Rural Social Worker

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1. Direct Service Role: Rural social worker deals with

individuals, couples, families and groups. Rural social

workers need to convey to the community the fact that

social work is a valuable resource to every community

member.

2. Resource Specialist: One of the most difficult roles

the rural social worker assumes is that of assisting in

the optimal utilization of the limited resources

available in many rural areas. It requires imagination

and creativity to put together resources in order to

serve human needs effectively.

3. Social Service Administrator and Community Organizer:

Most rural communities have few professional people and

rural social workers usually find themselves in the role

of trying to coordinate all the social services in the

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community. The rural social worker needs to be able to

relate to the power structure of the community.

ii. Urban Settings

Urban communities witness a cosmopolitan culture unlike

the rural communities. People from different backgrounds

and contexts reside together. People in such areas belong

to different classes, caste, creed, religion etc. An

urban social worker has to be aware about such

differences in cultural context. According to recent

statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), more

than 50% of the world’s population lives in an urban

area, but this is predicted to grow to 70% by the year

2050. With such densely populated areas, urban

environments are more likely to experience large

disparities in socioeconomic status, higher rates of

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violent crimes, and increased presence of marginalized

populations. Urban communities are also associated with

higher prevalence of psychological stress that are the

direct result of increased density in cities.

Since there are a higher percentage of persons of lower

socioeconomic status in urban areas, these populations

often face barriers to receiving quality social services

due to a lack of health insurance and/or undocumented

citizenship. Even more worrisome, financial obstacles

that prevent the basic access to quality social services,

health care, and education often perpetuate the vicious

cycle of poverty from generation to generation. While

there are endless opportunities available in cities, vast

population disparities often lead to a two-tiered social

service system where insured individuals have access

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while marginalized populations lack needed care. Here

comes the role of social worker who has to work for the

marginalized majority. He has to assure that the citizens

living in the slums and outskirts of cities have access

to resources like health care, education and human

rights.

V. Environmental Issues

Mahatma Gandhi said, “What we are doing to the forests of

the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing

to ourselves and to one another.” Concern for

environmental justice has increased in recent decades.

Although the environmental justice field is closely

linked to social justice, the social work profession has

yet to gain a substantive involvement in environmental

justice efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection

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Agency’s (EPA) definition of environmental justice

establishes it as a social justice issue: environmental

justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement

of all people regardless of race, colour, sex, national

origin, or income with respect to the development,

implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws,

regulations, and policies” (U.S. EPA). Social work has a

realistic and evidence-based understanding of social

justice as well as a commitment to serve society’s most

vulnerable populations and hence social work should

necessarily focus on environmental issues too.

Areas of Environmental Concern and Role of Social Worker

1. Destruction of Natural Resources: Destruction of

natural resources is a wide area of concern which

includes deforestration, depleting ground water sources

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and issues of such sort. A social worker concerned with

such fields should assure that such issues don’t arise

from ignorance. He has to make sure that people are well

informed about the dangers of such activities. He has to

organize awareness programs on the same and assist in

resource allocation; the absence of which is often the

cause of such practices.

2. Global Warming and Climate Change: Global warming and

climate change are the outcome of human selfishness. The

production of green house gases from vehicles result in

global warming. The ultimate aftermath of the same is

submerging of low lying areas. Thus global warming is an

act of social injustice as it will leave millions of

people homeless in the long run; even Maldives are under

the same threat. A social worker has to consider this

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issue as a social justice issue and create awareness

among the urban community regarding the use of public

transport and not being over dependent on chemical

products like aerosols.

3. Toxic material production and waste disposal: One of

the major environmental problems in industrial cities and

associated slums is waste disposal. Often factories

produce a large amount of toxic waste and directly

dispose to nearby rivers or land. This besides creating

serious environmental imbalance leads to lethal diseases

to the people living in nearby slums and associated

areas. Taking into consideration both the factors a

social worker should make factory labourers about the

dangers of the same and organize the labour community

against such deeds. He should also ensure that

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environmental laws are not violated.

4. Air, Land and Water pollution: The most fearsome

environmental problem of the times is pollution.

Pollution is the outcome of industrialization and

associated developments. This can be tackled only at the

base. A social worker practicing in any community must

ensure that pollution is under control in his area of

concern. Once he succeeds in making this possible,

pollution rate will start falling gradually. A social

worker has to succeed in making people aware about the

hazards and making them to practice measures against

pollution.

5. Species extinction: All animals have equal right upon

this earth to survive as a man has and also they play a

vital role in maintaining the balance of the ecology.

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Social workers in tribal settings has to ensure that

people know the worth of every species and prevent them

from poaching. In case of poaching from external sources

he has to make sure that concerned authorities are

reported and the offenders receive deserving punishment.

Conclusion

Social work is a profession that has a wide scope and

areas of practice. A genuine social worker identifies his

role in the setting which he works and carries out his

tasks earnestly. Be it in any settings, he has to stick

on the basics of social work. He has to keep in mind that

he stands for the welfare of humanity and his role is to

alleviate the needs of the society and take humanity to

the peak of welfare possible. Then only the multi-

dimensional holistic approach of social work will be

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attained.

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