There are things in the social work guideline that the social workers will have to follow and there are a few things that helps us better serve our clients. Critical thinking is the major part of how we could better understand and help our clients. People’s involvement with multiple systems in the macro social environment. Social workers also need to know the difference between historical approaches to the practice in the macro social environment and the contemporary macro practice. They would also need to understand the values that characterize generalist practice and to be able to explain the relationship between those concepts and the macro social environment. Social workers also need to be aware of the importance of identifying with the social work profession and to be able to analyze various critical thinking questions. They also should be aware of how important advocacy for human rights and social and economic justice.
In Social work, critical thinking is careful observation of what is actually true and the result of expressing the opinion and/or the concluding thoughts based on that observation. It also is the creative formulation of the thoughts and/or opinion of the client when presented with a question, problem or the issue. As a social worker, they would be able to look at their client or the situation from an objective and neutral standpoint without making assumptions. They would be obtaining as much information they can get from interviews, case notes, research, and so on to be able to come up with a plan of action to serve the clients the best way possible without allowing their biases or prejudices to interfere with their work. There are three approaches that social workers can use to assess information and situations. The triple A approach are: ask questions; assess the established facts and issues involves; and assert a concluding opinion.
The macro system and people’s involvement with multiple systems in that environment is has a purpose of changing the system in which social workers needs to influence in order to be able to accomplish goals. Micro system is for an individual. A mezzo system refers to any small group. A macro system is any system that is larger than a small group which includes organizations and communities. A client system is any individual, family, and/or organization of community that will greatly benefit from our intervention. Macro client system typically include larger groups of clientele who have similar issues/problems and would benefit in the positive change.
The traditional methods of macro practice includes the social action, social planning, and locality development. In contemporary macro practice, the social advocacy replaces the social action, and planning. Social planning and policy practice replaces the social planning. Community capacity development replaces locality development.
Social workers needs to understand the values that characterize generalist practice and to be able to explain the relationship between these concepts and to understand the macro social environment. General practice typically includes the application of extensive and knowledge base, professional values, and to have a wide range of skills to be able to promote human well being for individuals, families, organizations, and communities. The concepts involves values that characterize the general practice which includes adherence to professional values and apply the professional ethics. They also need to be able to understand human diversity, emphasizing client empowerment. Also, to emphasize strengths and resilience. Social workers also should be able to advocate for human rights and social and economic justice. Social workers will need to conduct generalist practice with the emphasis in mind on those dimensions in the context of the macro social environment.
Social workers will need to be able to explain the importance of identifying with social work profession. They should be able to identify with the social work profession which means that the social workers should be able to serve as representatives of the profession, its mission, and the core value. The social work mission is:
“The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” (https://socialwork.utexas.edu/dl/files/academic-programs/other/nasw-code-of-ethics.pdf)
There are 6 core values of social work and they are: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationship, integrity, and competence. These are important so we can become compassionate and be able to help them in the best way possible.
Social workers should also be aware of the importance of advocacy for human rights and the social and economic justice. Advocacy is the act of being able to step forward on the behalf of their clients and the system to promote a fair and equitable treatment or gain much needed resources. Human rights are most likely to involve the theory of all people regardless of race, culture or national origin are entitled to have basic rights and treatments. Social justice is when the philosophical perspective of all people having the right to have equal opportunities as far as economic, political and social realms go. Economic justice concerns the distribution of resources in a fair and equal manner. General practitioners should always advocate for human rights and social and economic justice.
