SOCIAL WORK VS SOCIAL WELFARE Dr Imran A

SOCIAL WORK VS SOCIAL WELFARE Dr. Imran A. Sajid

�Social work and social welfare two different concepts but at times, the terms are used inter-changeably and synonymously due to some confusions underlying in their objectives and practices.

�When Devine wrote about social work in 1922, he did not make the distinction between social welfare and social work. �He wrote, �“Social work is the sum of all efforts by society to take up its own slack”.

�In spite of some similarities there are some visible lines of distinctions between the two, which can be stated in the following points:

SOCIAL WORK SOCIAL WELFARE 1. is a professional practice and the social workers are highly trained professional practitioners 1. social welfare is programme, is not a professional practice and employees involved in the welfare activities are not necessarily trained in welfare provision

2. Social work is getting into a more formalized activity and has emerged as a new profession. 3. Social work activity is rendered to the individual, groups and communities who are in need, by using different problem solving methods There are four basic steps in solving a problem: 1. Defining the problem. 2. Generating alternatives. 3. Evaluating and selecting alternatives. 4. Implementing solutions. 2. social welfare continues to be an informal activity. 3. social welfare services are given to the needy individuals, groups and communities but it doesn’t have any specific method to deal with the problems of the people.

4. Social work is an art and science of working for and with the people 4. social welfare aims at working only for the people and not necessarily with the people.

5. Social work is a professional service based on scientific knowledge and skills in human relationship which helps the individuals to obtain social or personal satisfaction. 6. A social worker respecting the autonomy and worth of individual, does not impose anything upon him, how ever beneficial it may be, 5. social welfare is a system of laws, programmes, benefits and services which strengthens or assures provisions for the well being of the individuals. 6. a social welfare worker who is convinced of the usefulness of his programme for his clientele feels that it should be made available to them for their benefit.

7. Social work can be undertaken by any individual who is professionally qualified and equipped with the knowledge of social work. 8. Social work emphasizes on all the aspects of human development 7. social welfare is mainly undertaken by government through its workers/employees. 8. social welfare gives more emphasis on the material needs of the individuals group and communities.