Social workers provide comprehensive assistance to people, interacting primarily with vulnerable categories of citizens. They work with refugees, orphans, and pensioners, helping them receive social, legal, and material support. The profession is suitable for those who have no interest in school subjects (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Short description

The profession is very ancient; several hundred years ago such specialists were called philanthropists and missionaries. Part of the social responsibilities was assigned to monks and nuns, who provided shelter, food and a minimum level of education to poor people. Today everything has changed, and this work is carried out by authorized representatives of social services, who are assigned to each person or family in need of government assistance and support. The specialist primarily leads the following groups of citizens:

• pensioners and people with disabilities;
• children and adolescents suffering from congenital and acquired diseases, family violence and other problems;
• women who have become victims of any type of violence;
• dependent citizens;
• people who lost their homes, were injured, or lost loved ones during disasters;
• large families and others.

The social worker has direct contact with the population, checking the conditions in which children are kept and how the funds allocated by the state for a newborn are distributed. They carry food to sick people and pensioners, provide emotional support to citizens suffering from addictions (alcohol, drugs, gaming and others). The work is difficult and dangerous, because a specialist never knows what awaits him behind the closed door of a particular apartment. Social workers do not receive a very high salary; traditionally this profession is chosen by women, who are more compassionate than men.

Features of the profession

A social worker must love people. This is the first requirement that is tacitly put forward to specialists. The responsibilities of such an employee include the following list of mandatory work:

• analysis of the entrusted area, selection of people in need of social assistance and protection (temporarily or permanently);
• working with complaints and appeals from the population, checking information, making decisions on each individual application;
• provision of all types social services, informing citizens about their rights and responsibilities;
• providing assistance in obtaining legal and other types of advice;
• home delivery of food products, drinking water, medicines, as well as other goods. A social worker can keep order in the home of the people to whom he is assigned, cook or heat food, deliver ready-made food from relatives or from special canteens, pay bills;
• assistance in filling out applications and requests for social assistance, preferential vouchers, services;
• communication with socially vulnerable citizens and their relatives;
• rendering additional services: first health care, psychological support and others;
• maintaining accounting and reporting documentation.

A social worker must have minimal knowledge about medicine and be an excellent psychologist, because his work combines the main features of these professions. The segment is characterized by high staff turnover, so employees are always needed. The specialist interacts with law enforcement officials, volunteer organizations, different groups teachers and doctors.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

1. The profession has enormous social significance, because every day such specialists perform complex and important work, improving the quality of life for many people.
2. Official employment and a significant number of vacancies.
3. Specialists are in demand in every major and small town Russia.
4. You can get a job without higher education.
5. Stable training and development.
6. A large number of budget places in universities, the opportunity to get an education at the full-time, part-time or correspondence faculty.
7. The job will be an ideal solution for humanitarians.

Minuses

1. Low paying job.
2. Constant contact with different segments of the population, whose representatives are not always friendly and honest.
3. Interaction with sick, dependent people can lead to infection with infectious and other types of diseases.
4. Labor is undervalued in the CIS countries.
5. The specialist spends a lot of time on his feet and is forced to perform a large amount of work.
6. The schedule may be irregular.
7. Social workers are often confronted with extreme cases of human cruelty, which can have a debilitating effect on morale.

Important personal qualities

Emotional stability and calmness are two essential qualities, which must be present in the character of a good social worker. This specialist must have excellent speech, inspire trust and respect, be able to listen and understand people. Other qualities are also important:

• philanthropy;
• tolerance;
• resourcefulness;
• self-control;
• aptitude for working in a team;
• a heightened sense of justice;
• parity;
• passion for social processes.

The character of a specialist should be free of pride, as well as greed and disgust.

Training to become a social worker

You can master this difficult profession both at a university and at a college. When entering a university, you should choose the field of study " Social work", passing exams in Russian language, history and social studies, the period of study is 5-6 years. It is also recommended to consider the following programs:

• “Social work with youth”;
• "Social work in the social protection system."

After 9th or 11th grade, you can apply to college, choosing the faculty of social work. The duration of training is 2-3 years, which depends on basic training applicant and the chosen educational institution. You can get into some colleges based on your GPA without taking any exams.

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Educational center "Verity"

A large selection of various training programs that help improve the skills of people working in the field of social assistance. Classes are provided for both individual employees and entire teams. You can gain knowledge in person or remotely. The programs include innovative development methods for children, rules of interaction with teenagers, labor protection and no less pressing issues.

Colleges of Social Work

1. St. Petersburg State Budgetary Educational Institution of Secondary Professional Education "Polytechnic College of Municipal Economy".
2. Preparatory College social workers(“College No. 16”), Moscow.
3. Economics and Technology College KIBiT.

Higher Education Social Workers

1. Russian State Social University.
2. Moscow Pedagogical State University.
3. Moscow State Medical and Dental University named after. A. I. Evdokimova.
4. First Moscow State Medical University named after. I. M. Sechenov.
5. Moscow Socio-Economic Institute.
6. Russian New University.
7. Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University.
8. St. Petersburg State University.
9. St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.
10. Russian National Research Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov.
11. Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after. V. P. Astafieva.
12. Yelets State University named after. I. A. Bunina.
13. Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics.
14. Tula State Pedagogical University named after. L. N. Tolstoy.

Place of work

Social workers can find vacancies in government agencies (social inspector), developmental and correctional centers, and employment services. Often these specialists are involved in volunteer activities; they can collaborate with the Red Cross and other public charitable organizations.

Social worker salary

Salary as of 12/03/2019

Russia 15000—60000 ₽

Moscow 36000—90500 ₽

Professional knowledge

1. Basic knowledge of psychology, medicine, social pedagogy, correctional work, conflict management.
2. Types and rules for the provision of social services.
3. Basic ethical standards of social work.
4. Rights and responsibilities of citizens who are provided with social protection and assistance.
5. Basics of volunteering.
6. Development methods for different age groups of children.
7. Ways to restore psychological balance.
8. Fundamentals of activity planning, programs for bookkeeping and accounting, databases.

Social work

Social work- professional activities in organizing assistance and mutual assistance to people and groups who find themselves in difficult life situations, their psychosocial rehabilitation and integration. In the very general view social work is a complex social phenomenon, an independent field of scientific and practical knowledge, profession and academic discipline.

As follows from the definition of social work adopted by the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers on June 27, 2001 in Copenhagen, “the professional activities of social workers contribute to social change, solving problems of human relationships; promotes the strengthening of the ability to function in society and the liberation of people to improve their level of well-being. Using theories of human behavior and social systems, social work promotes the interaction of people with their environment. The principles of human rights and social justice are the foundation of social work.”

Concept and status of social work

Regarding the status of social work in modern science There are three points of view:

• Type of activity and applied science.
• A type of activity and science that has both applied and fundamental components.

Source (author)	Definition
Klygin S.	Social work is a type professional activity aimed at helping individuals, groups of individuals, communities in difficult life situations achieve, restore or enhance the ability to psychosocial functioning.
Kholostova E.I.	Social work is an activity to assist individuals, families, and groups in realizing their social rights and in compensating for physical, mental, intellectual, social and other deficiencies that impede full social functioning.
Kupriyanov B.V.	social work is the management of the use of resources of a person, family or community in a difficult life situation.
Bagretsov D. M.	Social work is a specific type of professional activity, providing state and non-state assistance to a person in order to ensure the cultural, social and material standard of his life, providing individual assistance to a person, family or group of people.
Social politics. Encyclopedia	1) Social work is a type of professional activity based on subject-integrated, interdisciplinary techniques for the formation, maintenance, rehabilitation of sustainable social integration or reintegration of individuals and groups. 2) Social work is a comprehensive social technology for the implementation of social protection of the population, social management, social policy in relation to socially vulnerable groups of the population.

Social work as a science

Each science must have an object, subject and methods of research, principles, patterns, theoretical models, a conceptual and categorical apparatus and its place in the system of sciences. Social work is no exception. Social work as a science can be understood as an area of ​​scientific knowledge about the patterns of managing the process of using internal and external resources of an individual, family or community in situations of impaired social functioning (B.V. Kupriyanov).

Object of study

The object of science is a certain area of ​​reality, a set of certain phenomena, processes that are studied by this science.

The object of social work is a system of social relations (stable connections between subjects, groups and layers of society). Some people believe that the object of social work is the person. But with this understanding, a person is considered abstractly from his social connections (and society is a system). The object of social work is not only individuals, but also social groups. In social philosophy, Marx said: “Personality is understood as a system of social relations.” Opponents of this point of view believe that with this approach a person is lost as an individual, unique subject, his individual content is lost: the reduction of the individual to the social or the individual dissolves in the social. If individuals or groups are considered as an object, then this must be considered within the framework of the social connections in which they are included in real society. Social work studies the same object (society) as a number of other humanities (sociology, for example). Yes, the same object is studied by different sciences, but each of them identifies and studies its own specific subject. The object of social work is a whole series of social connections ( social support, social assistance, social rehabilitation), which has not yet been studied by specialists of any science.

Subject of study

The subject of science research is a side, a slice, a certain aspect of an object that is studied only by this science and no other. The subject of science is directly related to its object, but does not coincide with it. If an object is a fragment of reality that exists objectively (that is, regardless of whether it is studied by a person or not), then the object is highlighted by the person within the object.

The subject of social work is not all social relationships, but a group of relationships that are the most problematic, that is, they lead to destabilization, social disorganization, increased social tension, the emergence of social conflicts, and people getting into difficult life situations; as well as patterns of interaction between subjects of social work when optimizing social relations (in the process of forming the ability to restore a social subject). Social work studies activity, that is, the introduction of an active subject into the subject of social work (I. S. Romanychev)

Patterns

The first group of patterns of social work (patterns of functioning and development of the subject of social work):

1. the relationship between the state’s social policy and the content of social work in society;
2. the relationship between the goals of social development and the level of development of social work (although these goals are formulated in fundamental documents, in the works of theorists and experts is quite vague, but an analysis of the activities of social services allows us to draw a conclusion about the direction of such development; in particular, definite change priorities in the activities of services social services, which began primarily as an activity to help the elderly and disabled, and in Lately the emphasis has shifted to helping street children and adolescents, families at risk, etc.);
3. the dependence of the effectiveness of social protection on the structural completeness of the system of management bodies and functioning;
4. the dependence of the effectiveness of social protection on the social orientation of consciousness and the activities of the personnel of government bodies.

The second group of patterns of social work (patterns of communication between subjects and objects of social work):

1. the general interest of the social worker and the client in the specific results of their interaction (both subjects must be active in solving problems);
2. compliance of powers and responsibilities of a social work specialist;
3. compliance with the general level of development of a social work specialist.

Theoretical knowledge of patterns in itself does not guarantee their systematic use in the everyday practice of social work specialists. Patterns are just some guidelines that a social work specialist should know. Therefore, in practice, a social worker most often proceeds from the typicality of clients’ problems and uses, first of all, those conclusions and rules that are formulated by science and practice on the basis of open patterns.

Principles

The principles of social work are important structural elements of the logical forms of scientific theory and the fundamental rules of empirical activity.

Groups of principles of social work:

• general philosophical principles that underlie all sciences about society, man and the mechanism of their interaction (the principle of determinism, the principle of reflection, the principle of development, etc.);
• socio-political principles express requirements determined by the dependence of the content and direction of social work on the social policy of the state (the unity of the state approach in combination with the regional characteristics of social work, the democracy of its content and methods, the legality and fairness of the social worker’s activities);
• organizational principles (socio-technological competence of personnel, the principle of control and verification of execution, the principle of functional certainty, the principle of unity of rights and responsibilities);
• psychological and pedagogical principles (choice of means of psychological and pedagogical influence on clients of social services, the need to take into account individual characteristics when implementing any socio-technological procedures, purposefulness and targeting of social work).

Specific principles of social work that define the basic rules of activity in the field of providing social services to the population:

• principle of universality (no discrimination of clients on any grounds)
• the principle of protecting social rights (providing assistance to a client cannot be conditioned by requiring him to renounce his social rights).
• principle of social response
• preventative principle
• principle of client-centrism
• principle of self-reliance
• principle of maximizing social resources
• principle of confidentiality
• principle of tolerance.

Thus, the system of laws and principles of social work is the foundation on which all Practical activities social work specialist (L. I. Kononova)

Theoretical models

1. psychologically oriented (the causes of a difficult life situation are in the human psyche, therefore help should have a psychological and pedagogical overtones; the ability to regulate the resources available to a person);
2. sociologically oriented (the object of social work is a system of social relations that generate maladaptation of the individual, family, society; they sharply criticize traditional approaches to understanding the essence, content, and significance of social work);
3. complex-oriented (focus on a holistic vision of the problem of protecting the vital forces of man as a biosocial being; attention to the process of interaction between the individual and society) (L. V. Topchiy, I. S. Romanychev)

Conceptual-categorical apparatus

The most important component of a system of logically ordered knowledge is the conceptual apparatus of science - a set of concepts, categories and terms that make it possible to reflect in a generalized form the phenomena studied by a given science, as well as the connections between them by recording their essential properties, features and patterns.

It is customary to distinguish between concepts at two levels. Firstly, these are concepts that reflect the empirical experience of social work, the results of observations and experiments. Secondly, concepts formed by interpreting primary concepts (first-level concepts) and logical operations on them.

Classification of concepts by degree of generality:

1. general scientific (subject, object, interaction, cause, effect, pattern, system, element, connections, relationships, development, change);
2. concepts of social sciences (society, culture, man, individual, personality, activity, consciousness, behavior);
3. concepts used in social work and related disciplines (deviant behavior, anomie, socialization, adaptation, rehabilitation, counseling);
4. specific concepts of social work (individual social work, group social work, social protection, socio-psychological counseling, difficult life situation, social service, social orphanhood, escapism).

Research methods

The method is a set of methods of activity of subjects of social work, considering the social problems of clients as a way of stimulating their strengths and constructive activities in society in order to change an unfavorable situation. Methods are ways of understanding reality.

Social Science Methods: sociology, psychology, social psychology.

• empirical (does not involve impact, information collection methods):
  • observation: included and ordinary. In social work, as in many types of activities, research tasks can be associated with tasks of practical influence, therefore, some methods may have a dual status (as a research method and as a method of practical activity), that is, they can combine elements of both, if not even simultaneously, then sequentially.
  • survey: questioning, testing, interviewing (open and closed);
  • method of expert assessments;
  • sociometry;
  • diagnostics;
• information processing methods:
  • biographical (usually preceded by some type of survey): involves collecting information and processing it using diaries, memoirs, letters;
  • autobiographical;
  • family biography method;
• methods of theoretical analysis;
  • content analysis (comparative analysis);
  • systems approach.

Nomothetic methods: aimed at generalizing empirical facts and identifying general objective laws (patterns) - these are generalizing methods, that is, general. They assume a transition from particular cases to general laws. The goal of science is seen in the discovery of these general laws.

Idiographic methods. In modern science, the main methodological opposition is manifested in the opposition of 2 methodological approaches: the paradigm of natural science knowledge and the paradigm of socio-humanitarian knowledge. The paradigm of socio-humanitarian knowledge is based on the ideas that in many cases it is impossible to establish general patterns in the life of society and people, since social systems are more complex, and the connections in the systems are open. Each person, the system of relationships in which he is included, is unique, individual, unique, therefore the task of science is to comprehensively study and describe this individual case. The methods used in such research are called individualizing. This kind of research in modern social sciences is called “work with case” (M. V. Vdovina).

Place in the system of sciences

Interdisciplinary connections in the study of problems of man, society and the nature of their interaction are realized through comprehensive research. The relationship of social work theory with other theories is based on traditional models of the systems approach. Identification of the interaction of social work with other sciences showed its interdisciplinary nature, as well as its difference from such related fields of knowledge as sociology, psychology, etc.

When studying the causes that give rise to social problems, a description social processes, social relations, when analyzing the characteristics of social groups, social work as a science inevitably uses scientific ideas, conceptual tools of other social sciences, whose subject is close to the subject of social work (sociology, psychology, etc.) (I. S. Romanychev)

Social work as a professional activity

Activity is a set of human actions aimed at the desired change in an object. For a social worker, this is a person in need of help who is unable to solve his problems without outside help.

Thus, social work is an activity, and a professional one, aimed at providing assistance to people who need it (who are in a difficult life situation), who are unable to solve their life problems without outside help, and in many cases, to live (Pavlenok P. D. .).

Any activity, including social work, has its own structure, where each element is organically connected and interacts with others, performing its functions. Social work is an integral structure that consists of the following elements: subjects; content that is revealed through functions; means (organizational, technical, financial, etc.), management and goals.

The goal of social work as a professional activity is, on the one hand, to satisfy the interests of the client, and on the other hand, to maintain stability in society. The best option The solution to this problem is to find a compromise between these two goals.

The essence of professional social work is Gordon Hamelton's “threefold image” of the “person-in-situation”.

Social work as an academic discipline

Social work as an academic discipline is a systematic presentation with educational goals of the basic theory and practice of social work in relation to the profile of an educational institution.

The objectives of educational disciplines are to convey the knowledge gained by science to students in the most acceptable and accessible form.

In the structure of university training for social workers, external form training system, 3 levels were identified, including 11 independent blocks (for example, familiarization with domestic and foreign experience, study and analysis of regulatory documents, analysis of various social situations, internship in social services, self-development of students).

The training of social workers is based on the principles of humanism, tolerance, and practical orientation.

Students are trained in disciplines in four cycles:

1. general humanitarian and socio-economic;
2. general mathematics and natural sciences;
3. general professional;
4. disciplines of specialization.

Russian social work in the public consciousness

Social work in Russia is very young. But there are many other professions that have also become known to Russians quite recently. Examples include such professions as auditor, broker, dealer, image maker, advertising agent, system integrator, etc. All listed professions in the early 90s were no more familiar to Russians than social work. And now these professions are known and attractive to Russian youth, which cannot be said about social work.

Story

Europe and USA

World experience in the field of social work suggests that with the help of social technologies it is possible to promptly resolve social conflicts, relieve social tension, prevent disasters, block risky situations, accept and implement optimal management decisions. For foreign countries, the main source of financing remains the state. Social work in the European dimension exists in close connection with social policy and such a social institution, which is, in particular, the welfare state. Importance for formation abroad modern system social assistance was provided by the principles of the Elberfeld system. In the middle of the 19th century. it spread throughout almost the entire territory of Germany and part of France. These principles are based on:

Independence of each trusteeship in considering private issues and centralization of the general direction of affairs;

Individualization of assistance during a detailed examination of each person in need;

Involving all segments of society to actively participate in the cause of charity for the poor.

Russia

Social work in Russia as a type of activity has a long history. Typically the following periods are distinguished:

Archaic period (before the 10th century)

This period is characterized by the presence of tribal and communal forms of assistance among the Slavs. In ancient Slavic communities the following forms of assistance and mutual assistance can be distinguished:

• Cult forms of support . The archaic paradigm of assistance is closely related to the pagan worldview and worldview. This is reflected in the existing methods of assistance:
  • Institute of the Magi- regulator of public relations. They organized funeral games for the family and made important decisions in crisis situations. For example, widows washed and dressed the dead, for which they received the deceased’s belongings as a “gift”.
  • Collective forms of assistance are associated with such concepts as redistribution(redistribution) and reciprocation(reciprocity, see Potlatch). In particular, this was expressed in brotherhood(help in harvesting), in the division of labor.
  • Institute of Holidays. Closely related to the mechanisms of distribution and redistribution.
• Community-tribal forms of assistance . These forms of support are closely related to rope view(mutual guarantee), through which care for the weak and infirm was carried out:
  • Ancestral rites of honoring ancestors - funeral feasts, funeral competitions, games, meals. On these days, certain alms were donated (“on the right”).
  • Institute of Elders - various shapes support for the elderly (including feeding at home).
  • Institute of Child Orphanhood. Primacy Institute- adoption of an orphan into a family by elderly people, when it was already difficult for them to cope with the household or they had no heirs. Fetimization- assignment to an orphan who does not have a household, “public” parents (feeding at home). If an orphan had a household, he was called a “vyhovanets”, “godovanets”, and adoption did not take place.
  • Widows Institute - help for widows. Appears shortly before the adoption of Christianity.
  • Walking for "bulk"- a kind of ritual to help a woman in need, usually in the fall after harvesting.
• Economic forms of assistance . Early forms of assistance were ritual in nature, and many retained the form of folk festivals.
  • "Help". Off-season “help” is associated with crisis situations (fires, floods, mass deaths of livestock). At the same time, help was provided with housework, part of the food, clothing, and livestock was given away (for example, “outfits of peace,” orphans’ and widows’ “help”). Seasonal “help” is associated with agricultural work. At the same time, food was collected for public needs (that’s why such holidays were called sypka, mirschina, sysypka), it was also a form of “public almsgiving”.
  • Toloki- a type of assistance that included joint cultivation of the land, transportation of hay, soil, and manure.
  • Sharing- joint feeding, joint preparation of feed for livestock.
  • Supryaga- sharing of draft animals.
  • Hero cult. The most striking expression is the princely feasts, where everyone (including the poor and the sick) took part.
  • Ransom of prisoners.

The period of princely and church-monastic charity (X-XIII centuries)

The change in the aid paradigm is associated with changes in socio-economic and socio-cultural situations, primarily with the baptism of Rus' in 988. Christianization had a decisive influence on all spheres of society. The most important ideas were about the salvation of the soul, philanthropy, spirituality, mercy, shame and conscience.

Period of church-state assistance (XIV - second half of the 17th century)

Period of state charity (second half of the 17th century - second half of the 19th century)

The system of state charity developed in Russia under Catherine II, who issued a decree in 1763 on the opening of the Moscow Orphanage, which even accepted orphans under 3 years of age. In 1770, such a house was opened in St. Petersburg. In 1764 - a decree on the founding of an educational society for noble maidens - the Smolny Institute. A year later, a school was opened at this institute, which accepted girls of poor origin. Having ascended the Russian throne, after the death of Catherine 2, in 1796, her son Paul 1, put his wife, better known as Maria Fedorovna, at the head of the educational society. A year later, she became the head of the imperial educational homes and commercial school for boys. Back in 1776, orders of public contempt were created in all provinces of Russia, which dealt with issues of helping those in need. Later, in the 19th century, the department of institutions of Empress Maria was actively involved in these issues. In connection with the reform local government, begun in Russia in the 60s of the 19th century, functions as orders of public contempt for the zemstvo. By the end of the last century, Russia had accumulated a great deal of experience in helping those in need, which, however, seemed to be largely unclaimed until the present day.

The period of public and private charity (late 19th - early 20th centuries)

State provision period (1917-1991)

In the first post-revolutionary years, the activities of the Soviet government were aimed at improving the well-being of workers. Since December 1917, the “Regulations on Unemployment Insurance” were introduced. At the same time, the Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars “On sickness insurance” was issued. In April 1918, the People's Commissariat of State Charity was transformed into the People's Commissariat social security(NKSO). This meant that issues of social security for the working population became the core of state policy in the field of social assistance. A publicly accessible and free system medical services for the population. In the fall of 1918, the All-Russian Social Security Fund was formed, the procedure for its creation was determined by the “Regulations on Social Security of Workers” dated October 31, 1918. 20-30s. - combating child homelessness; 1923 - cooperative organizations of disabled people began to be created; 1923 - All-Russian Society of the Blind; 1926 - All-Russian Society of the Deaf and Mutes; 1928 - old-age pensions for workers in the textile industry; 1929 - old-age pensions were introduced for workers in heavy industry and transport; on June 26, 1941, the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces “On the procedure for assigning and paying benefits to the families of enlisted and junior military personnel in war time" In July 1944, benefits for mothers and pregnant women were increased. After Stalin's death, changes were made to social policy. Successful social policy made it possible to reduce mortality, increase industry, improve housing construction, increase wages. By the mid-80s. The size of the old-age pension supplement for continuous service for workers and employees who have worked at the same enterprise for at least 25 years was increased from 10 to 20%. A 50% discount on medicines was introduced for pensioners. Partially paid leave was introduced for women. But in the early 80s. the standard of living began to decline. There was a growing need in the country to reform the social system and its important part - social security. Attempts at reform were made during the period of perestroika, as well as in the 90s. in the conditions of independent development of the Russian Federation.

Social work period (1991 - present)

Social work as a profession appeared in Russia on April 23, 1991, when, in accordance with decision No. 92 of the State Committee for Labor and social issues New specialties have appeared in the list of professions - social worker, social teacher and social work specialist.

Social Worker Day

• Social Worker Day is celebrated in the Russian Federation on June 8 according to Presidential Decree No. 1796 of October 27, 2000.

The training of students in the specialty Social Work began in September 1991 in 20 universities in Russia. Now you can get higher education in this specialty at almost 200 universities in the country. The coordinating university for scientific and methodological training was the Russian State Social University, on the basis of which an educational and methodological association (UMA) of universities of the Russian Federation in the field of social work was created.

Currently, most universities train specialists in social work, but in connection with the Bologna process there is a gradual transition to the training of bachelors and masters in the field of social work.

It is possible to obtain a profession within the framework of secondary specialized (vocational) education. However educational establishments are not so widely represented here. Currently, social workers are trained in 52 educational institutions.

Subject of the federation	Higher education institution	Secondary school
Republic
Adygea	branch in Maykop
Altai	Gorno-Altai State University
Bashkortostan	Bashkir State University,	Tuymazinsky College of Law Bashkir Economics and Law College (Ufa)
Buryatia	Buryat State University,
Dagestan
Ingushetia
Kabardino-Balkarian	Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after H.M. Berbekov,	Kabardino-Balkarian Pedagogical College (Nalchik)
Kalmykia
Karachay-Cherkessia	Karachay-Cherkessia branch
Karelia	Petrozavodsk State University	Pedagogical College No. 1 (Petrozavodsk)
Komi	Syktyvkar State University	Pedagogical College No. 3 (Vorkuta) Higher Pedagogical School (College) No. 1 (Syktyvkar)
Mari El	Mari State Technical University
Mordovia	Mordovian State University named after N.P. Ogarev	Saransk State Industrial and Economic College
Sakha (Yakutia)
North Ossetia	North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov
Tatarstan	Kazan State Technological University Kazan Medical University Kazan Socio-Legal Institute	Pedagogical College No. 1 (Kazan) College of Economics and Construction (Naberezhnye Chelny)
Tuva
Udmurt	,	College of Finance and Law (Izhevsk)
Khakassia	Khakass State University named after N.F. Katanova
Chechen		Grozny College of Informatics and Computer Engineering
Chuvash	branch of the Russian State Social University in Cheboksary
The edges
Altaic	Altai State Technical University named after I. I. Polzunov,
Zabaikalsky	Transbaikal State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University named after. N.G. Chernyshevsky,
Kamchatsky	branch of the Far Eastern State Technical University in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Krasnodar	Institute of economics and management Branch of the Kuban Institute of International Entrepreneurship and Management (Kropotkin)	State Pedagogical University in Armavir
Krasnoyarsk	Krasnoyarsk State Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering	Achinsk Pedagogical College	Tchaikovsky Polytechnic
Seaside	Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service	Bolshekamensky Technical College Far Eastern State Humanitarian and Technical College (Vladivostok)
Stavropol	North Caucasus State Technical University North Caucasian social institution
Khabarovsk	Far Eastern Academy of Public Service
Regions
Amurskaya	Amur State University
Arkhangelskaya	Northern Arctic Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov,	Severodvinsk Technical College
Astrakhan	Astrakhan State University	Astrakhan Social Pedagogical College
Belgorodskaya	Belgorod State University,
Bryansk	Bryansk State University named after Academician I. G. Petrovsky
Vladimirskaya	Murom Institute, branch of Vladimir State University, branch of the Moscow Psychological and Social Institute in Murom
Volgogradskaya	Volgograd State Medical University	Volgograd Pedagogical College No. 2
Vologda	Vologda State Pedagogical University	Bratsk Pedagogical College No. 1
Kaliningradskaya	Russian State University named after Immanuel Kant
Kaluzhskaya	Kaluga State Pedagogical University named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky
Kemerovo	Kemerovo State University	Anzhero-Sudzhensky Polytechnic College
Kostromskaya	Kostroma State University named after N. A. Nekrasov,	Nerekhta Medical School
Kurganskaya	Kurgan State University,	Kurgan Technological College
Kursk	Kursk State Medical University Kursk Humanitarian and Technical Institute Kursk Institute of State and Municipal Service
Leningradskaya	(Gatchina)
Lipetskaya	Lipetsk State Pedagogical University
Magadan	Northeastern State University
Moscow	Russian State Agrarian Correspondence University (Balashikha) Institute of Business, Psychology and Management (Khimki)
Murmansk	Murmansk State Humanitarian University
Nizhny Novgorod	Arzamas State Pedagogical Institute named after A.P. Gaidar,	Nizhny Novgorod Aviation Technical College Nizhny Novgorod Pedagogical College Russian-German University
Omsk	Omsk State Pedagogical University
Penza	Penza State Pedagogical University named after V.G. Belinsky,	Penza Pedagogical College
Pskovskaya	Pskov State Pedagogical University named after. CM. Kirov
Rostovskaya	Branch of the Russian State Social University in Azov	Azov State Humanitarian and Technical College Ryazan branch of the Moscow Psychological and Social Institute	Ryazan Medical College
Samara	Samara State Academy of Culture and Arts Samara Medical Institute REAVIZ	Provincial College (Pohvistnevo) Samara Social Pedagogical College Povolzhsky cooperative institute Centrosoyuz Russian Federation(Engels)
Sakhalinskaya
Sverdlovskaya	Ural Institute of Social Education, Branch of the Russian State Social University in Yekaterinburg	Smolensk Pedagogical College
Tambovskaya	Tambov State University named after G. R. Derzhavin, branch of the Moscow Psychological and Social Institute in Uvarovo
Tverskaya	Tver State University, branch of the Northwestern Academy civil service in Tver	Tver Polytechnic College
Tomsk	Siberian State Medical University
Tula	Tula State Pedagogical University named after L. N. Tolstoy	Zaoksky Christian Multidisciplinary College
Tyumen	Tobolsk State Social-Pedagogical Academy named after. D. I. Mendeleev,	Tyumen State College of Vocational and Pedagogical Technologies
Ulyanovskaya	Ulyanovsk State University	Ulyanovsk Social Pedagogical College No. 1
Chelyabinsk

"Social work- professional activity aimed at helping people and social groups overcome personal and social difficulties through support, protection, correction and rehabilitation."

In its most general form, social work is a complex social phenomenon, an independent field of scientific and practical knowledge, a profession and an academic discipline.

Social work as a professional activity

Activity is a set of human actions aimed at the desired change in an object. For a social worker, this is a person in need of help who is unable to solve his problems without outside help.

Thus, social work is an activity, and a professional one, aimed at providing assistance to people who need it (who are in a difficult life situation), who are unable to solve their life problems without outside help, and in many cases, to live (Pavlenok P. D. .).

Any activity, including social work, has its own structure, where each element is organically connected and interacts with others, performing its functions. Social work is an integral structure that consists of the following elements: subjects; content that is revealed through functions; means (organizational, technical, financial, etc.), management and goals.

The goal of social work as a professional activity is, on the one hand, to satisfy the interests of the client, and on the other hand, to maintain stability in society. The best solution to this problem is to find a compromise between these two goals.

The essence of professional social work is Gordon Hamelton's “threefold image” of the “person-in-situation”.

Social work as an academic discipline

Social work as an academic discipline is a systematic presentation with educational goals of the basic theory and practice of social work in relation to the profile of an educational institution.

The objectives of educational disciplines are to convey the knowledge gained by science to students in the most acceptable and accessible form.

In the structure of university training for a social worker, 3 levels were identified for the external form of the training system, including 11 independent blocks (for example, familiarization with domestic and foreign experience, study and analysis of regulatory documents, analysis of various social situations, internship in social services, self-development students).

The training of social workers is based on the principles of humanism, tolerance, and practical orientation.

Students are trained in disciplines in four cycles:

general humanitarian and socio-economic;

general mathematics and natural sciences;

general professional;

disciplines of specialization.

Minimal salary- the minimum level of wages officially established by the state at enterprises of any form of ownership in the form of the lowest monthly rate or hourly wage.

The value of the minimum wage is not always tied to the cost of living. It is determined at each period of time by the financial capabilities of the state and changes periodically (nominally it always increases).

The quality of life- a concept used in sociology, economics, politics, medicine and some other fields, denoting an assessment of a certain set of conditions and characteristics of a person’s life, usually based on his own degree of satisfaction with these conditions and characteristics. It is broader than material security (standard of living), and also includes such objective and subjective factors as health status, life expectancy, environmental conditions, nutrition, household comfort, social environment, satisfaction of cultural and spiritual needs, psychological comfort and etc.

Consumer basket- this is an approximate calculation set, an assortment of goods that characterizes the typical level and structure of monthly (annual) consumption of a person or family. This set is used to calculate the minimum consumer budget (living wage), based on the cost of the consumer basket in current prices. The consumer basket also serves as a basis for comparing estimated and real consumption levels, as well as a basis for determining the purchasing power of currencies.

Consumer basket- a minimum set of food products, non-food products and services necessary to maintain human health and ensure his life.

Indexation of population income- full or partial compensation for losses in income caused by rising prices for consumer goods and services.

In world practice, there are two main forms of indexation of income of the population:

automatic, in which the indexation of wages and other income increases in proportion to the rise in prices;

semi-automatic (negotiable), used in the countries of the European Union. The essence of this indexation is to conduct negotiations with employers, trade unions and representatives of government bodies with the involvement of scientific experts. The result of the negotiations is recommendations establishing a lower threshold of social protection for the conclusion of collective agreements.

✓ control:

✓ insurance;

✓ service;

✓ guardianship, etc.

OBJECT AND SUBJECT OF SOCIAL WORK.

Social work is characterized mainly by object-subject relationships.

The object of social work is understood as:

✓ in a broad interpretation - all people;

✓ narrow - groups, segments of the population, their individual representatives, individuals in difficult life situations.

The subject is the bearer of objective-practical activity and cognition (individual, social group), a source of activity aimed at an object. Classification of subjects of social work:

✓ organizations, institutions, social institutions of society:

A state with its own structures in the form of legislative, executive and judicial authorities at various levels;

Various state social services (territorial centers for social assistance to families and children);

Administration state enterprises, organizations, institutions, universities and their divisions, etc.;

✓ public, charitable and other non-governmental organizations and institutions:

Unions:

Branches of the Children's Fund:

Red Cross Societies:

Private social services, organizations, etc.;

✓ people engaged in practical social work professionally or on a voluntary basis:

Organizers, managers and performers;

Practical social workers providing direct assistance, support, and ensuring social protection for clients.

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK.

The principles of social work are the most important structural elements of the logical forms of scientific theory and the fundamental rules of empirical (practical) activity. It is through the application of principles that a direct correlation of theoretical positions, embodied in categories and patterns, with the practice of social work is carried out. The following groups of principles of the theory of social work are distinguished.

General philosophical principles that underlie all sciences about society, man and the mechanisms of their interaction. These include: the principle of determinism, the principle of reflection, the principle of development, the principle of the unity of consciousness and activity, the principle of historicism, the principle of the inextricable relationship between the individual and his social environment.

Socio-political principles express requirements determined by the dependence of the content and direction of social work on the social policy of the state. This dependence determines conceptual approaches to the selection of priorities in social protection of the population, to the combination of individual and public interests in social work. The main principles of this group include: the unity of the state approach in combination with the regional characteristics of social work, the democracy of its content and methods, taking into account the specific living conditions of the individual or social group when choosing the content, forms and methods of social work with them, the legality and fairness of the social worker’s activities.

Among organizational principles We should especially highlight such as the socio-technological competence of personnel, the principle of control and verification of execution, the principle of functional certainty, the principle of unity of rights and duties, powers and responsibilities.

Specific principles of social work determine the basic rules of activity in the field of providing social services to the population.

The principle of universality requires the exclusion of discrimination in the provision of social assistance on any grounds of ideological, political, religious, national, racial, or age nature. Assistance should be provided to each client for a single reason - his need for help.

The principle of protection of social rights states that the provision of assistance to a client cannot be conditioned by requiring him to renounce or change his social rights.

The principle of social response implies awareness of the need to take action on identified social problems, to act in accordance with the specific circumstances of the social situation of an individual client, and not to be limited only to a standard set of activities aimed at the “average” consumer of social services.

The principle of preventive focus involves making efforts to prevent the emergence of social problems and life difficulties of clients or to prevent the aggravation of problems that have already arisen. Practice shows that preventing a social disaster is always easier than subsequently making efforts to eliminate its diverse consequences

The principle of maximizing social resources is based on the fact that each social system inevitably allocates a minimum of funds to provide social assistance to its population.

The principle of confidentiality is associated with the fact that in the process of work, a social worker becomes available information about the client, which, if disclosed, could cause harm to him or his loved ones, discredit and defame them.

The principle of tolerance is due to the fact that social work is carried out with a wide variety of categories of clients, including individuals who may not inspire sympathy in the specialist. The political, religious and national characteristics of individuals in need of help, their behavioral stereotypes and their very appearance may be unusual for those involved in social work.

Knowledge about the social reality around us is the most important tool for practical influence on it. The essential components of the system of elements of a scientific theory are the consequences arising from the laws and principles, embodied in methods, technological algorithms and techniques. They provide the key to solving problematic situations and practical problems. The system of categories, patterns and principles of social work combines logical consistency, systematic working methods and practical orientation.

SOCIAL WORK AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Social work as an academic discipline in the Russian Federation, being at the intersection of many sciences, includes theory, technology, history of social work (including Foreign experience), as well as the fundamentals of philosophy, psychology, sociology, pedagogy and other general humanitarian and special social disciplines in terms of the specifics of providing specific assistance to a person who finds himself in a difficult life situation in a particular society. As an academic discipline, it helps to master scientific and theoretical knowledge of the analysis of the socio-political situation, to make it possible to isolate from it a group or individual who finds itself outside the boundaries of an adequate social state or behavior.

The social work education system should be a combination of theoretical and practical components. One of important element in the training of social work specialists there should be mastery of the fundamentals of medicine, psychology, psychotherapy, medical psychology, law, etc. Mandatory in the training system are special measures that ensure personal psychoprophylaxis of future specialists and the active nature of training (personally and professionally oriented training). The educational process should be structured in such a way as to stimulate the development of independent activity of students.

The main goal of education is to obtain theoretical knowledge, acquire practical skills and abilities that meet the basic requirements for training a social work specialist. A modern social worker is a specialist in the field of social engineering and technology, deeply versed in the legal, moral and psychological characteristics of people’s lives, possessing high legal preparedness, medical and psychological competence, observation, attention, mercy and love for people, and high moral qualities.

SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Social work presents special kind activities, the purpose of which is to satisfy the socially guaranteed interests and needs of individuals, as well as various groups population.

Social work is a special type of activity. Why? Because social work is an activity aimed at helping people who need it and who are unable to solve their life problems without outside help.

Social work can be professional or non-professional. Professional social activity includes: content, nature of work, professionalization, specialization. Signs of professional activity are the totality of knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired during the period of study at a university.

Social work also includes components of non-professional activities, such as care, charity, mercy.

Therefore, social work can be professional and non-professional. The year 1990 is recognized as the beginning of professional social work in Russia. However, non-professional social work developed much earlier and went through three stages.

Social workers are the main subject of social work, since they must have certain professional, spiritual and moral qualities.

The structure of social work is all components, the content of which is determined by the need to satisfy the most pressing interests and needs of the objects of social work.

The following aspects of social work are distinguished.

✓ solving everyday and urgent problems related to social protection of the population;

✓ anticipation and prevention of acute social problems on a global scale (unemployment, poverty, various social diseases, the most acute forms of deviant behavior, etc.)

by summarizing work practices, identifying main trends, submitting proposals to authorities state power and local government.

Main directions (types) of social work.

✓ social diagnosis; ✓ social therapy;

✓ rehabilitation; ✓ prevention;

✓ control:

✓ insurance;

✓ service;

✓ guardianship, etc.

As a professional activity, general social work covers three broad areas:

1. social therapy at the individual personal and family levels for the purpose of social adaptation and rehabilitation of the individual and resolution of conflict situations in the context of his environment;
2. social work with a group, and groups can be classified: by age (children's, youth or senior citizens), by gender, by interests or similar problems (confessional, associations of single parents, single mothers, single fathers, groups of former alcoholics or drug addicts, etc.). Often social workers have to deal with groups of an antisocial or even criminal nature (child or teenage crime, vagrancy, organized prostitution, drug addiction, antisocial youth groups, etc.);
3. social work in the community, at the place of residence. It is focused on expanding the network of social services, strengthening community ties, creating a favorable socio-psychological climate in places where people live densely, as well as organizing various kinds of local initiatives, mutual aid groups, etc.

To understand the specifics of social work, it is necessary to correlate it with charity, religious and secular, that is, to define the activities of social workers as “professional”. It is the word “professionalism” that is key when defining the essence of social work by its elite. In the modern understanding, using the term “profession” indicates a certain range of problems and a set of techniques with the help of which these problems can be identified and resolved. Thus, each profession is based on its specific system of knowledge, both theoretical and practical, as well as on its own criteria for successfully resolving given problems. In addition, each profession develops a special system of ethical principles that sets certain “correct” ways of relationships with clients, colleagues and external authorities. Educational institutions and professional associations stand guard over these principles, turning them into rules of conduct. The connection between the operational and ethical components of activity is especially clear in those professions that are commonly called the most humane. These professions, self-defining in the spirit of scientific objectivity, often pose the task of “engineering” human relations, but in any case everything has final goal determined by the interests of the client. Knowledge, skills, concepts and norms of professional activity are passed on from generation to generation through the system of professional training. Moreover Special attention is devoted to the development of practical skills, as well as the transfer of professional traditions directly from experienced specialists to beginners.
The personality of a specialist and her professionally significant qualities are formed in the process of multi-stage selection, under the continuous pressure of the professional community as a group of people sharing common interests, views, prejudices, often even the manner of speaking and dressing. With the help of a developed system of incentives and sanctions, internal structure and unity of the profession. The viability of professions is primarily related to what they provide effective method solving specific problems in conditions of limited resources. For an individual, belonging to a certain profession means, on the one hand, identification with some significant goal that gives meaning to his whole life, and on the other hand, it is some fairly objective criterion of personal achievements. Professional organization means that the specialists themselves exercise, within certain limits, control over resources and privileges. This gives grounds to consider professional knowledge as a kind of property. And finally, it should be noted that each profession tries to clearly limit the range of issues within the competence of a specialist, and in this sense creates something like blinders that narrow his field of vision.
The nature of professional activity requires a social worker to be familiar with a wide range of issues, starting with the organization of the social security system as a whole and relevant legislation, elements of sociology and economics, and ending with specific, i.e., involving knowledge of applied psychology, methods of working with “clients.” The idea of ​​“professionalism,” which sets the appropriate model and standard of behavior, had a huge impact on the entire organization of social work - from grassroots to global, since it created the ideological unity that characterizes the professional group as a kind of “imagined community.” Despite the diversity of areas of specialization (different categories of clients, different work styles, different theoretical approaches), in all areas of social work certain common features have been identified that allow this type of activity to be considered a single profession, and not just a motley list of functions and organizations.
Qualified assistance to people in solving their life problems determines the professional characteristics of social work. The profession of a social worker is somewhat closely related to related professions, so that someone may have doubts about its self-sufficiency as a special profession, the validity of its claims to an equal position among its “brothers.” Social work differs from traditional fields of activity related to the analysis and solution of human problems (psychology, sociology, pedagogy, jurisprudence, etc.) primarily in its integral nature. A social worker acts to some extent as a psychologist, and as a sociologist, and as a teacher, and as a lawyer. Psychological methods it is used, say, in diagnosing the client's personal problems or neutralizing his resistance to the proposed social therapy procedures. He resorts to sociological methods when compiling a social history of a family or studying a community. He uses pedagogical methods to influence the client’s attitudes and behavior. He also acts as a lawyer, advising his client on legal issues. Social work is also close to medicine - not only in that it widely uses medical terminology (treatment, therapy, prevention, clinic, pathology, etc.). Terminology in this case expresses some commonality in approaches to humans. Moreover, there are areas of medicine that can rightfully be attributed to social work: social rehabilitation of patients, medical and social assistance, social hygiene, patronage. As for the term “patronage”, in some countries (Great Britain, Sweden) it refers to social work in general.
A social worker is, in a sense, a generalist, but his universalism has fairly clear subject boundaries, set by the content of the client’s life problems and possible ways their decisions. He does not replace a psychologist, sociologist or teacher, just as they, even taken together, cannot replace or replace a social worker. In this regard, we point out another fundamental feature of social work as a profession - its borderline nature. The semantic and instrumental content of social work accumulates the borderline elements of related professions. It is not aimed at “occupying” neighboring territories and their forced annexation. He is quite satisfied with the regime of mutual exchange of information, tools, and technologies. The methodology of psychosocial work, for example, borrowed certain elements of classical psychotherapy without causing, we believe, damage to its status and authority.
It is important to understand the following difference between a social worker and a teacher, psychologist, and sociologist. If a psychologist deals with the human psyche, a sociologist deals with his social relations, the physician - by the state of his physical and mental health, and the lawyer - by his legal behavior, i.e. each of them comes to the person from one, moreover, “their” side, then the social worker perceives him as an integral individual, in the unity of its various aspects. We can say that in the first case an abstract approach to a person is implemented, in the second - a concrete one. This holistic vision of man makes it possible, to some extent, to equalize the tendency of his partial “representation” in individual sciences and professions. The value orientation of the actions of a psychologist or sociologist: from professional values to a person as a value, in the actions of a social worker it is the other way around: from a person as the highest value - to professional values.
Social work is characterized by an orientation toward Real people with their life concerns and difficulties, while related professions focus on the work they perform. social functions, realized mental qualities, observed or violated norms, etc.
An important feature of social work as a profession, which is not present in any of the related fields of activity, is its intermediary nature.
Social work is unthinkable without an element of mediation, and this element is not peripheral, but central. The mediating nature of social work is a consequence of its integrity and borderline nature, focus on the whole person and orientation towards life problems real people. The need for mediation between a person and various kinds of social institutions arises when the former cannot independently realize their rights and opportunities. In the most general form, a social worker acts as an intermediary between the client and society. It contributes, on the one hand, to the effective adaptation of the client in this society, on the other hand, to the process of humanizing this society, overcoming its alienation from the concerns of real people.
With a more meaningful examination of mediation, one can find several directions for its implementation: between the client and various kinds of social institutions; between the client and other specialists (psychologist, teacher, medical worker, lawyer); between other specialists involved in solving the client’s life problems; between different clients.
Effective implementation of mediation functions is possible if certain conditions are met: the social worker’s understanding of the client’s problems, his ability to “totally get used to” the client, the meaning of his problems; the social worker’s ability to adequately express and present (represent) the client’s life problems; the mediator's knowledge of the social resources available to various institutions and organizations; the social worker’s knowledge of the instrumental capabilities of related professions, whose representatives are involved in solving the client’s problems; the presence of a common “language” that ensures mutual understanding between different specialists and their effective cooperation; the social worker’s willingness to become a “translator” if necessary; delegation of representative powers by the client to the social worker; delegation of appropriate powers to a social worker by government agencies and organizations; recognition of the right of a social worker to partial representation of related professions; and, finally, the parties’ trust in the mediator, which is achieved through his professionalism and is supported by impeccable work.
Specialized social work is used in the field of labor and employment, in healthcare and medical and rehabilitation services, in the education system, human rights protection, penitentiary institutions, and in the armed forces.
Social work is carried out through the activities of the social service system and social institutions, in industrial developed countries called the Institute of Social Welfare. Its main task is to implement the state’s social policy, promote the normal functioning of the social environment and maintain social stability in society by optimizing human life. This social institution includes: government agencies, public and private organizations that make up an integral system of social protection, social security and social services for the population; higher and secondary specialized educational institutions that train specialists for this industry.
At the heart of the social work profession is a certain functional standard associated with the provision of specific types of assistance to various groups in accordance with the objectives and foundations of the economic, political and legal policies of a particular socially oriented state. In connection with the introduction of an educational standard for the training of social workers, it also includes a special subject - “social work”, the tasks of which are related to the formation of professional self-determination.
Social work as a practical activity is aimed at supporting, developing the individual, and rehabilitating the individual and social subjectivity of a person. It is carried out at a professional and non-professional level. The non-professional level of social work is voluntary (charitable) assistance. Professional social work is implemented through the functioning of a number of specializations aimed at solving specific human problems (medical, legal, economic, educational, etc.).
The goals of social work, regardless of the model of theoretical justification and practice, are related to maintaining the client’s personality, and the tasks of social work vary depending on the areas of social practice, the nature of the clients’ problems, the socio-psychological characteristics of the clients, and the conditions of a particular society. Therefore, in different countries, the tasks of social work, as well as the means of its implementation, are different and are determined by the sociocultural context and tradition.
Among the main tasks and professional responsibilities social worker includes:

• assist individuals and groups to recognize and address personal, social, environmental and spiritual difficulties that adversely affect them;
• help people cope with these difficulties through supportive, rehabilitative, protective or corrective interventions;
• protect the helpless according to the law by resorting to the use of power;
• promote increased usage by each customer own capabilities for social self-defense;
• use all means and sources for social protection of people in need, etc.

The range of tasks under consideration clearly shows that they include the widest range of skills and abilities that social workers will need to perform them. If we consider in the context of the tasks of social work the range of main responsibilities that a social worker as a professional must perform, then basically it looks like this: create and maintain a working environment and atmosphere; identify and overcome negative feelings that affect people and himself; recognize and overcome aggression and hostility in relationships with people; promote the provision of physical care to the needy and elderly; observe, understand and interpret behavior and relationships between people; communicate verbally and in writing; organize and conduct conversations in various circumstances; conduct negotiations, speak on the radio, etc.
The field of activity of a social worker is very wide: in neighborhoods and enterprises, he identifies people in need of socio-medical, legal, psychological, and material assistance; promotes the integration of the activities of various government organizations and institutions to provide socio-economic assistance to the population; helps in family education; works with pensioners, disabled people, children; participates in the creation of centers for social assistance and social rehabilitation; works with juvenile offenders and people returning from prison, etc.
The considered tasks of social work, the roles, functions and responsibilities of a social worker do not exhaust all of his activities, but they allow us to trace and identify the main, core idea, as if uniting all the other components of the difficult and extremely necessary profession of a social worker today, namely, skill, desire go to people, find forms of communication with them to help them. That is, communication acts as one of the main roles of a social worker. At the same time, communication occurs at different levels: a social worker as a representative of the state providing assistance to members of society; social worker - group, and finally, social worker and client. The latter is the most significant, since ultimately the most important thing is the specific person. Therefore, mastering communication skills is considered very important and significant in the training of social workers. These include:

• Ability to listen to others with understanding and purpose.
• Ability to identify information and collect facts necessary to analyze and assess a situation.
• Ability to create and develop relationships.
• Ability to observe and interpret verbal and nonverbal behavior, apply knowledge of personality theory and diagnostic methods.
• Ability to gain the trust of clients.
• Ability to discuss acute problems in a positive emotional mood. g) Ability to conduct research or interpret findings.
• The ability to mediate and resolve relationships between conflicting individuals and groups.
• Ability to establish inter-institutional relationships.
• Ability to interpret social needs and report them to the relevant services and institutions.
• The ability to intensify the efforts of students to solve their own problems.

The ethical standards for professional communication of a social worker include the following:

1. A social worker should not participate in cases involving lies, deceit, or forgery.
2. A social worker must clearly distinguish between his statements and actions as a private individual and as a social worker.
3. A social worker must strive to improve his professional knowledge and practical experience, and put his official duty above all else.
4. The social worker must direct efforts to prevent inhumane or discriminatory acts directed against one person or groups of people.
5. A social worker should not use professional relationships to achieve personal goals.
6. A social worker engaged in scientific or research work must analyze and foresee its possible consequences for people, ensure that research participants are voluntarily participating in it, inform about this in advance and do not put pressure on them (while maintaining confidentiality and respecting the dignity of research participants) .
7. A social worker must protect his clients from discomfort, harm, threats, and deprivation of any rights.
8. A social worker analyzing a variety of cases can discuss them only for professional purposes and only with people professionally associated with them.

Information obtained during the process research work, must be considered confidential. As for the immediate ethical circumstances of the social worker in front of the client, then:

1. the client's interests must always come first;
2. a social worker must work with a client kindly, loyally, persistently, using professional skills to the maximum;
3. never use relationships with clients to achieve personal gain;
4. never engage in, promote or engage in any form of discrimination based on racial prejudice or on account of gender, age, religion, nationality, marital status, political opinion, mental or physical disability, or any other ground or personal characteristics, conditions, status;
5. the social worker must inform the client about the possible risks, rights, opportunities and responsibilities presented to him by the social service. You should consult with colleagues and managers if this may be useful for the client;
6. a social worker may interrupt work with a client only in special cases, while taking measures to cause the least possible harm to the client;
7. a social worker should try as much as possible to give the client the opportunity to self-determinate, that is, make decisions about his problems, methods of “treatment”;
8. The social worker should not engage on behalf of a client in an activity that violates or undermines the client's civil or legal rights.

Regarding such an important ethical issue as confidentiality, the social worker must:

• respect the client’s privacy and maintain the confidentiality of all information received;
• inform the client about the limits of her confidentiality in each specific situation, the purposes of obtaining information and its use;
• obtain the client’s consent for printing, recording conversations, and participation of a third party; in relations with colleagues must be respectful, fair, honest, and correct.

Should collaborate with colleagues to effectively pursue professional interests; respect the opinions, qualifications, and achievements of colleagues and use appropriate channels to express judgments in this regard.
TO professional qualities The social worker also needs to include the following:

• A social worker must adhere to and enhance the integrity, ethics, knowledge and mission of social work.
• The social worker should protect the dignity and integrity of the profession.
• The social worker must be critical and at the forefront of knowledge relevant to social work.
• The social worker should participate in the accumulation of social work knowledge, share research results and practical experience with colleagues.

It is also necessary to highlight the personal qualities of the social worker, his attitude to work and his communication skills.
Personal characteristics: kindness, caring, honesty, responsiveness, friendliness, tolerance, humanity, sociability, compassion, selflessness, balance. Communication skills: attention to others, ability to listen, courtesy, polite attitude towards people. Attitude to work: conscientiousness, diligence, responsibility, demanding of oneself.
The client’s social workers consider the following qualities unacceptable: personal characteristics: nervousness, self-interest, spiritual callousness, arrogance, dishonesty, cruelty. Communication skills: rudeness, disrespect for old people, disgust, anger, impoliteness, insolence. Attitude to work: indifference to wards, constant haste, irresponsibility, laziness, dishonesty, unwillingness to help, frivolity, lack of concentration, extortion.