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

Short description

The profession is very ancient, several hundred years ago such specialists were called philanthropists, missionaries. Part of the social duties were assigned to the monks and nuns, who provided shelter, food and a minimum level of education to the 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 state assistance and support. Mostly the specialist 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 are victims of any kind of violence;
• dependent citizens;
• people who lost their homes, were injured, lost loved ones during disasters;
• large families and others.

The social worker is in direct contact with the population, checking the conditions in which children are kept, how the funds allocated by the state for a newborn are distributed. They carry products to sick people and pensioners, provide emotional support to citizens suffering from addictions (alcohol, drugs, gambling, and others). The work is not easy and dangerous, because a specialist never knows what awaits him behind the closed door of an apartment. Social workers do not receive very high salaries, traditionally this profession is chosen by women who are more prone to compassion 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 duties of such an employee include the following list of mandatory work:

• analysis of the entrusted site, selection of people in need of social assistance and protection (temporarily or permanently);
• work with complaints and appeals of the population, verification of information, decision-making on each individual application;
• provision of all kinds social services informing citizens about their rights and obligations;
• assistance in obtaining legal and other types of advice;
• home delivery of food, drinking water, medicines, and other goods. A social worker can keep order in the house of people to whom he is attached, cook or heat food, deliver prepared food from relatives or from special canteens, pay bills;
• assistance in processing applications and petitions for social assistance, preferential vouchers, services;
• communication with socially unprotected citizens and their relatives;
• rendering additional services: first aid, psychological support and others;
• maintaining accounting and reporting documentation.

A social worker must have minimal knowledge of medicine, 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 representatives of law enforcement, volunteer organizations, different groups teachers and doctors.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

1. The huge social significance of the profession, because every day such specialists perform complex and important work improving the quality of life for many people.
2. Official employment and a solid 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 learning and development.
6. A large number of budget places in universities, the opportunity to get an education at full-time, part-time or part-time faculty.
7. The work will be an ideal solution for the humanities.

Minuses

1. Low paying job.
2. Constant contact with different segments of the population, whose representatives are not always friendly, honest.
3. Interaction with sick, dependent people can lead to infection with infectious and other types of diseases.
4. Labor is underestimated in the CIS countries.
5. The specialist spends a lot of time on his feet, is forced to perform a large amount of work.
6. The schedule may be irregular.
7. Social workers are often confronted with egregious cases of human cruelty, which can have a devastating 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 an excellent speech, inspire trust and respect, be able to listen and understand people. Other qualities are also important:

• philanthropy;
• tolerance;
• resourcefulness;
• self-control;
• propensity to work in a team;
• heightened sense of justice;
• parity;
• involvement in social processes.

In the character of a specialist there should be no pride, as well as greed, disgust.

Social worker training

You can master this difficult profession both at the university and at the college. Entering a university, it is worth choosing the direction of training "Social work", passing exams in the Russian language, history and social science, the training period is 5-6 years. It is also recommended to consider the following programs:

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

After the 9th or 11th grade, you can apply to college by choosing the faculty of social work. The term of study is 2-3 years, depending on basic training applicant and selected educational institution. Some colleges allow you to get admission based on your GPA without taking any exams.

Russian Institute vocational education"IPO" - recruits students to receive a specialty through a remote program of professional retraining and advanced training. Studying at the IPO is a convenient and fast way to receive distance education. 200+ training courses. 8000+ graduates from 200 cities. Short deadlines for paperwork and external training, interest-free installments from the institute and individual discounts. Contact us!

Verity Educational Center

A wide range 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 get knowledge in person or remotely. The programs include innovative development methods for children, rules for interacting with teenagers, labor protection and no less topical issues.

Colleges of Social Workers

1. St. Petersburg GBOU SPO "Polytechnic College of Urban Economy".
2. Prep College social workers("College No. 16"), Moscow.
3. Economic-Technological College of KIBT.

Higher education Social workers

1. Russian State Social University.
2. Moscow Pedagogical State University.
3. Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry A. I. Evdokimova.
4. First Moscow State Medical University. 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. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University.
11. Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University. V. P. Astafieva.
12. Yelets State University I. A. Bunina.
13. Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics.
14. Tula State Pedagogical University. L. N. Tolstoy.

Place of work

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

Social worker salary

Salary as of 03.12.2019

Russia 15000—60000 ₽

Moscow 36000—90500 ₽

Professional knowledge

1. Basic knowledge of psychology, medicine, social pedagogy, correctional work, conflict resolution.
2. Types and rules for the provision of social services.
3. Basic ethical standards of social work.
4. The rights and obligations of citizens who are provided with social protection and assistance.
5. Fundamentals of volunteering.
6. Methods of development of different age groups of children.
7. Ways to restore psychological balance.
8. Fundamentals of planning activities, programs for bookkeeping and accounting, databases.

Social work

Social work- professional activities in organizing assistance and mutual assistance to people and groups 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, a profession and an 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 activity of social workers contributes to social change, solving problems of human relationships; contributes to strengthening the capacity for a functional existence in society and the liberation of people in order to increase 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.”

The 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 an applied and a fundamental component.

Source (author)	Definition
Klygin S.	Social work is a kind professional activity aimed at helping individuals, groups of individuals, communities in difficult life situations to achieve, restore or enhance the ability to psychosocial functioning.
Kholostova E. I.	Social work is an activity to assist individuals, families, groups in the realization of their social rights and in compensation for physical, mental, intellectual, social and other shortcomings 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, the provision of state and non-state assistance to a person in order to ensure the cultural, social and material standard of his life, the provision of 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 methods of formation, maintenance, rehabilitation of sustainable social integration or reintegration of an individual and groups. 2) Social work is a complex 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, regularities, theoretical models, 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 a field 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 disruption of 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 this science studies.

The object of social work is a system of social relations (stable connections between subjects, groups and strata of society). Some believe that the object of social work is a person. But with this understanding, a person is considered abstractly from his social ties (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 into the social. If individuals or groups are considered as an object, then this must be considered within the framework of those social ties in which they are included in a 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 singles out and investigates its own specific subject. The object of social work is a 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 the study of science is a side, a cut, a certain aspect of the object, which 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 singled out by a person within the framework of the object.

The subject of social work is not all social relations, but a group of relations that are the most problematic, that is, they lead to destabilization, social disorganization, an increase in social tension, the emergence of social conflicts, people getting into difficult life situations; as well as the patterns of interaction between the subjects of social work in the optimization of social relations (in the process of forming the ability to restore the 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 regularities of social work (patterns of functioning and development of the subject of social work):

1. the relationship between the social policy of the state 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, it is rather vague in the works of theorists and experts, but an analysis of the activities of social services allows us to conclude that such development is directed; in particular, a certain change in 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. dependence of the effectiveness of social protection on the structural completeness of the system of governing 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 with the powers and responsibilities of a social work specialist;
3. compliance with the general level of development of a social work specialist.

In itself, theoretical knowledge of patterns does not guarantee their systematic use in the daily 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, 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 building blocks of the logical forms of scientific theory and the fundamental rules of empirical activity.

Groups of social work principles:

• general philosophical principles underlying 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 the requirements due to 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 regional features of social work, the democratism of its content and methods, the legality and justice of the social worker's activities);
• organizational principles (social and technological competence of personnel, the principle of control and verification of performance, the principle of functional certainty, the principle of unity of rights and obligations);
• psychological and pedagogical principles (the choice of means of psychological and pedagogical influence on clients of social services, the need to take into account individual characteristics in the implementation of any socio-technological procedures, the purposefulness and targeting of social work).

Specific principles of social work that determine the basic rules for the provision of social services to the population:

• the 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 a requirement for him to waive his social rights).
• principle of social response
• preventive principle
• principle of client-centrism
• self-reliance principle
• principle of maximizing social resources
• confidentiality principle
• principle of tolerance.

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

Theoretical models

1. psychologically oriented (the causes of a difficult life situation in the human psyche, therefore, assistance should have a psychological and pedagogical coloring; 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 give rise to maladaptation of the individual, family, society; they sharply criticize traditional approaches to understanding the essence, content, and significance of social work);
3. complex-oriented (focused on a holistic vision of the problem of protecting the vitality of a person 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 the system of logically ordered knowledge is the conceptual apparatus of science - a set of concepts, categories and terms that allow in a generalized form to reflect the phenomena studied by this science, as well as the connections between them by fixing their essential properties, features and patterns.

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

Classification of concepts according to the degree of generality:

1. general scientific (subject, object, interaction, cause, effect, regularity, system, element, connections, relations, 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 to stimulate their strength and constructive activity in society in order to change an unfavorable situation. Methods - ways of knowing reality.

Methods of the social sciences: sociology, psychology, social psychology.

• empirical (do not imply impact, methods of collecting information):
  • observation: included and normal. In social work, as in many types of activity, research tasks may be associated with tasks of practical impact, therefore, some methods may have a dual status (as a method of research and as a method of practical activity), that is, they can combine elements of both, if not at the same time, but sequentially.
  • survey: questioning, testing, interviewing (open and closed);
  • method of expert assessments;
  • sociometry;
  • diagnostics;
• information processing methods:
  • biographical (it is usually preceded by some kind of survey): involves the collection of information and its processing 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 ones. They suggest a transition from special cases to general laws. The goal of science is seen as 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 the life of society and a person in many cases it is impossible to establish general patterns, since social systems are more complex, connections in systems are open. Each person, the system of relations 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 that are used in such a study are called individualizing. This kind of research in modern social sciences is called "work with the case" (M. V. Vdovina).

Place in the system of sciences

Interdisciplinary connections in the study of the problems of man, society and the nature of their interaction are realized through complex studies. The relationship of social work theory with other theories is based on traditional systems approach models. The 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.

In the study of the causes that give rise to social problems, the description social processes, social relations, when analyzing the characteristics of social groups, social work as a science inevitably uses scientific ideas, the 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 who needs help, unable to solve his problems without outside help.

Thus, social work is an activity, moreover, a professional one, aimed at helping people who need it (those in a difficult life situation), who are not able to solve their life problems without outside help, and in many cases even live (Pavlenok P. D. .).

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

The purpose 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 the "triple image" of Gordon Hamelton's "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 tasks of academic disciplines are to convey the knowledge obtained by science to students in the most acceptable and accessible form.

In the structure of university training of a social worker, to 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, internships in social services, self-development of students).

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

Students study disciplines in four cycles:

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

Russian social work in the public mind

Social work in Russia is very young. But there are many other professions that have also become known to Russians quite recently. An example is such professions as an auditor, broker, dealer, image maker, advertising agent, system integrator, etc. All listed professions in the early 1990s they 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 resolve social conflicts in a timely manner, relieve social tension, prevent disasters, block risky situations, accept and implement optimal management decisions. For foreign countries, the state remains the main source of funding. Social work in the European dimension exists in close relationship 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 XIX century. it spread throughout almost the entire territory of Germany and part of France. Based on these principles:

The independence of each guardianship in considering particular issues and the centralization of the general direction of affairs;

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

Involving all sections of society in active participation in the charity of the poor.

Russia

Social work in Russia as a type of activity has a long history. The following periods are usually 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 the ancient Slavic communities, the following forms of assistance and mutual assistance can be distinguished:

• Cult Forms of Support . The archaic paradigm of help is closely connected with the pagan world outlook, attitude. This is also reflected in the existing methods of assistance:
  • Magi Institute- Regulator of public relations. They arranged funeral games of the family, made important decisions in crisis situations. For example, widows washed and dressed the dead, for which they received the things of the deceased as a “gift”.
  • Collective forms of assistance are associated with concepts such as redistribution(redistribution) and reciprocation(interchange, see Potlatch). In particular, it found expression in brotherhood(assistance in harvesting), in the division of labor.
  • Holiday Institute. Closely related to the mechanisms of distribution and redistribution.
• Communal tribal forms of assistance . These forms of support are closely related to rope(mutual responsibility), through which care was taken for the weak and infirm:
  • Tribal rites of veneration of ancestors - feasts, funeral competitions, games, meals. These days, a certain alms were donated (“right”).
  • Institute of the Elders - various forms support for the elderly (including feeding at home).
  • Orphanage Institute. Primacy Institute- Admission to the family of orphans by elderly people, when it was already difficult for them to cope with the household or they did not have heirs. Fetimization- appointment of an orphan who does not have a household, "public" parents (feeding at home). If an orphan had a household, he was called "vyhovanets", "godovants", and adoption did not occur.
  • Institute of widows - 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 . The early forms of aid were of a ritual nature, and many retained the form of folk festivals.
  • "Help". Off-season “help” is associated with crisis situations (fires, floods, mass loss of livestock). At the same time, assistance was provided with the housework, they gave away part of the food, clothing, livestock (for example, “outfits in the world”, orphans and widows “help”). Seasonal "help" associated with agricultural work. At the same time, there was a collection of products for public needs (therefore, such holidays were called ssypki, worldliness, ssypshchina), it was also a form of " public alms".
  • Toloki- a type of assistance that included joint cultivation of the land, transportation of hay, land, manure.
  • clubbing- joint feeding, joint preparation of fodder for livestock.
  • Supryaga- sharing of working cattle.
  • Hero cult. The most striking expression is the princely feasts, where everyone (including the poor, the sick) took part.
  • Ransom of prisoners.

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

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

The period of church-state assistance (XIV - second half of the XVII century)

The 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, in which even orphans under 3 years old were admitted. 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, in which girls of beggarly origin were admitted. Having ascended the Russian throne, after the death of Catherine 2, in 1796, her son Pavel 1, put his wife, better known as Maria Feodorovna, at the head of the educational society. A year later, she stood at the head of the imperial educational houses and a 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. These issues, later, in the 19th century, were actively dealt with by the department of institutions of Empress Maria. In connection with the reform local government, begun in Russia, in the 60s of the 19th century, the functions of orders of public contempt for the Zemstvo. By the end of the last century, Russia had accumulated a lot of experience in helping those in need, which, however, seemed to be largely unclaimed until our days.

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

State provision period (1917-1991)

In the first post-revolutionary years, the activity of the Soviet government was aimed at improving the well-being of the working people. From December 1917, the "Unemployment Insurance Regulation" was introduced. At the same time, the Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars "On insurance in case of illness" was issued. In April 1918, the People's Commissariat of State Charity was transformed into the People's Commissariat social security(NCSO). This meant that the issues of social security of the working population became the core of state policy in the field of social assistance. A public and free system medical care for the population. In the autumn of 1918, the All-Russian Social Security Fund was formed, the procedure for creating which was determined by the "Regulations on the social security of workers" of October 31, 1918. 20-30s. - fight against child homelessness; 1923 - cooperative organizations of the disabled began to be created; 1923 - All-Russian Society of the Blind; 1926 - All-Russian Society of the Deaf and Dumb; 1928 - old-age pensions for workers in the textile industry; 1929 - old-age pensions were introduced for workers in heavy industry and transport; 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, industrial growth, improved housing construction, increased wages. By the mid 80s. from 10% to 20%, the size of the increment to the old-age pension for continuous service was increased for workers and employees who have worked at the same enterprise for at least 25 years. A 50% discount was introduced on medicines for pensioners. Partially paid leave was introduced for women. But in the early 80s. living standards began to decline. The need for a reform of the social system and its important part - social security was brewing in the country. Attempts to 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 appeared in the list of professions - social worker, social pedagogue and social work specialist.

Social Worker's Day

• The Day of the Social Worker is celebrated in the Russian Federation on June 8 in accordance with the Decree of the President of October 27, 2000 No. 1796.

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 in almost 200 universities of 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 (UMO) of Russian universities 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.

There is also the possibility of obtaining a profession within the framework of secondary specialized (vocational) education. However educational establishments are not widely represented here. Currently, 52 educational institutions are training social workers.

Subject of the federation	higher education institution	Secondary educational institution
Republic
Adygea	branch in Maykop
Altai	Gorno-Altai State University
Bashkortostan	Bashkir State University,	Tuimazy Law College Bashkir Economics and Law College (Ufa)
Buryatia	Buryat State University,
Dagestan
Ingushetia
Kabardino-Balkarian	Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov,	Kabardino-Balkar Pedagogical College (Nalchik)
Kalmykia
Karachay-Cherkess	Karachay-Cherkess 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. Ogaryov	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 Social and 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. Katanov
Chechen		Grozny Technical School 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,
Transbaikal	Transbaikal State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University named after V.I. 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	Bolshekamensk Technical College Far Eastern State Humanitarian and Technical College (Vladivostok)
Stavropol	North Caucasian State Technical University North Caucasian social institution
Khabarovsk	Far East Academy of Public Administration
Areas
Amurskaya	Amur State University
Arkhangelsk	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
Kaluga	Kaluga State Pedagogical University named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky
Kemerovo	Kemerovo State University	Anzhero-Sudzha Polytechnic College
Kostroma	Kostroma State University named after N. A. Nekrasov,	Nerekhta Medical School
Kurgan	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)
Lipetsk	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 University for the Humanities
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 CM. Kirov
Rostov	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 (Pokhvistnevo) Samara Social and Pedagogical College Volga region cooperative institute Centrosoyuz Russian Federation(Engels)
Sakhalin
Sverdlovsk	Ural Institute of Social Education, Branch of the Russian State Social University in Yekaterinburg	Smolensk Pedagogical College
Tambov	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 public 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
Tyumenskaya	Tobolsk State Socio-Pedagogical Academy. D. I. Mendeleev,	Tyumen State College of Professional and Pedagogical Technologies
Ulyanovsk	Ulyanovsk State University	Ulyanovsk Socio-Pedagogical College No. 1
Chelyabinsk

"Social work- professional activity aimed at assisting people, social groups in overcoming 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 who needs help, unable to solve his problems without outside help.

Thus, social work is an activity, moreover, a professional one, aimed at helping people who need it (those in a difficult life situation), who are not able to solve their life problems without outside help, and in many cases even live (Pavlenok P. D. .).

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

The purpose 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 the "triple image" of Gordon Hamelton's "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 tasks of academic disciplines are to convey the knowledge obtained by science to students in the most acceptable and accessible form.

In the structure of the university training of a social worker, 3 levels were allocated to 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, internships in social services, self-development students).

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

Students study disciplines in four cycles:

general humanitarian and socio-economic;

general mathematical 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 subsistence level. It is determined in each period of time by the financial capabilities of the state, periodically changes (nominally it always rises).

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 the state of health, 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 settlement set, a range of goods that characterizes the typical level and structure of the monthly (annual) consumption of a person or family. Such a 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 calculated and actual levels of consumption, as well as the basis for determining the purchasing power of currencies.

Consumer basket- the minimum set of food products, non-food products and services necessary to maintain human health and ensure its vital activity.

Population income indexation- full or partial compensation for losses in income caused by the growth in the price of consumer goods and services.

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

automatic, at which the indexation of wages and other incomes 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 negotiate with employers, trade unions and representatives of government agencies with the involvement of expert scientists. The result of the negotiations are 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 relations.

Under the object of social work are understood.

✓ in a broad interpretation - all people;

✓ narrow - groups, strata of the population, their individual representatives, individuals in a difficult life situation.

The subject is the carrier of object-practical activity and cognition (individual, social group), the source of activity directed at the object. Classification of subjects of social work:

✓ organizations, institutions, social institutions of society:

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

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

Administrations 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, providing social protection to 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 provisions, 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 underlying 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 due to the dependence of the content and direction of social work on the social policy of the state. This dependence determines the conceptual approaches to the choice of priorities in the 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 conditions of the life of an individual or social group when choosing the content, forms and methods of social work with them, the legality and fairness of the activities of a social worker.

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

The specific principles of social work determine the basic rules for the provision of social services to the population.

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

The principle of the protection of social rights states that the provision of assistance to the client cannot be subject to the requirement that he renounce or change his social rights.

The principle of social response implies the 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 be limited to only a standard set of measures aimed at the "average" consumer of social services.

The principle of preventive orientation 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 it is always easier to prevent a social disaster than to subsequently make efforts to eliminate its manifold consequences.

The principle of maximizing social resources comes from the fact that each social system inevitably allocates a minimum of funds for the provision of social assistance to its population.

The principle of confidentiality is connected with the fact that in the process of activity, information about the client becomes available to the social worker, which, if disclosed, can harm him or his relatives, discredit and discredit 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 for a specialist. The political, religious and national characteristics of individuals in need of assistance, their behavioral stereotypes and their very appearance may be unusual for people involved in social work.

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

SOCIAL WORK AS A SUBJECT

Social work as an academic discipline in the Russian Federation, being at the intersection of many sciences, includes theory, technology, the history of social work (including Foreign experience), as well as the foundations of philosophy, psychology, sociology, pedagogy and other general humanitarian and special social disciplines in refraction to the specifics of providing concrete assistance to a person who finds himself in a difficult life situation in a particular society. As an academic discipline, it helps to master the scientific and theoretical knowledge of the analysis of the socio-political situation, to make it possible to isolate from it a group or an individual who finds himself outside the limits 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 the development of the basics of medicine, psychology, psychotherapy, medical psychology, law, etc. Mandatory in the system of preparing special measures that provide personal psychoprophylaxis for future specialists and the active nature of training (personally and professionally oriented training). The educational process should be built in such a way as to stimulate the development of independent activity of students.

The main goal of education is the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, the acquisition of practical skills and abilities that meet the basic requirements for training a specialist in social work. A modern social worker is a specialist in the field of social engineering and technology, who is deeply versed in the legal, moral and psychological characteristics of people's life, has high legal preparedness, medical and psychological competence, observation, attention, mercy and love for a person, 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 kind of activity. Why? Because social work is an activity aimed at helping people who need it, who are not able 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 is the totality of knowledge, skills and abilities acquired during the period of study at the 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 takes shape much earlier and has gone 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 meet the most pressing interests and needs of the objects of social work.

The following aspects of social work are distinguished.

✓ solution of everyday and urgent problems related to the 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 generalizing the practice of work, identifying the main trends, submitting proposals to the authorities state power and local government.

The 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 the resolution of conflict situations in the context of his environment;
2. social work with a group, and groups can be classified: by age (children, youth or groups elderly 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 asocial or even criminal groups (children's 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 compactly, as well as organizing various kinds of local initiatives, self-help 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 activity of social workers as "professional". It is the word "professionalism" that is the key to defining the essence of social work by its elite. In the modern sense, using the term "profession", they indicate a certain range of problems and a set of techniques by 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 solving given problems. In addition, each profession develops a special system of ethical principles that sets certain “correct” ways of dealing 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 set the task of "engineering" human relations, but in any case, everything has ultimate goal determined by the interests of the client. Knowledge, skills, concepts and norms of professional activity are transferred from generation to generation through the system of professional training. And Special attention is given to the development of practical skills, as well as the transfer of professional traditions directly from experienced professionals to beginners.
The personality of a specialist and its professionally significant qualities are formed in the process of multi-stage selection, under the constant pressure of the professional community as a group of people who share 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 the fact that 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 a certain fairly objective criterion of personal achievements. professional organization means that the specialists themselves exercise control over resources and privileges within certain limits. This gives reason 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 related to the competence of a specialist, and in this sense creates something like blinkers 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 the grassroots to the global, as it created the ideological unity that characterizes the professional group as a kind of "imaginary community". Despite the diversity of areas of specialization (different categories of clients, different styles of work, different theoretical approaches), in all areas of social work certain common features have been identified that allow us to consider this type of activity as a single profession, and not just a motley list of functions and organizations.
Qualified assistance to people in solving their life problems determines professional features 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 solidity of its claims to an equal position among "brothers". From the traditional fields of activity associated with the analysis and solution of human problems (psychology, sociology, pedagogy, jurisprudence, etc.), social work differs primarily in its integral character. The 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 a client's personality problems or neutralizing his resistance to proposed social therapy procedures. He resorts to sociological methods in compiling social history family or community studies. Pedagogical methods are used by him when influencing the attitudes and behavior of the client. He also acts as a lawyer, advising his client on legal issues. Social work is also close to medicine - not only because it widely uses medical terminology (treatment, therapy, prevention, clinic, pathology, etc.). The terminology in this case expresses some commonality in approaches to a person. Moreover, there are such 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 just denotes 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 to solve them. He does not replace the psychologist, sociologist or teacher, just as they, even taken together, cannot replace or replace the social worker. In this regard, let us point out one more fundamental feature of social work as a profession - its borderline character. The semantic and instrumental content of social work accumulates the border elements of related professions. It is not aimed at the "occupation" of neighboring territories and their forcible annexation. He is quite satisfied with the mode of mutual exchange of information, tools, 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 a person’s psyche, a sociologist deals with his social relations, a physician deals with the state of his physical and mental health, and a lawyer deals with his legal behavior, i.e. each of them comes to a person with one, moreover, “his own » side, then the social worker perceives him as an integral individual, in the unity of his various sides. It can be said that in the first case an abstract approach to a person is implemented, in the second - a concrete one. This holistic vision of a person allows, 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, on the contrary: from a person as the highest value to professional values.
Social work is characterized by an orientation towards real people with their life concerns and difficulties, for related professions - towards the tasks performed by them. social functions, realized mental qualities, observed or violated norms, etc.
An important feature of social work as a profession, which is not found 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 intermediary nature of social work is a consequence of its integrality and borderlines, focus on the whole person and focus on 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 its most general form, the 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.
A more meaningful consideration of mediation can reveal several directions for its implementation: between the client and various 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.
The effective implementation of intermediary functions is possible when certain conditions: understanding by the social worker of the client's problems, his ability to "total getting used" to the client, the meaning of his problems; the ability of a social worker to adequately express and present (represent) the client's life problems; the intermediary'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 of different specialists and their effective cooperation; the willingness of the social worker to become a “translator” if necessary; delegation by the client to the social worker of representative powers; delegation of appropriate powers to a social worker by state institutions and organizations; recognition of the social worker's right to partial representation of related professions; and, finally, the trust of the parties to the mediator, which is achieved thanks to his professionalism and is supported by impeccable work.
Specialized social work is used in the field of labor and employment, in health care and medical rehabilitation services, in the education system, human rights, penitentiary institutions, and the armed forces.
Social work is carried out through the activities of the system of social services and social institutions, in industrial developed countries called the institution of social welfare. Its main task is to implement the social policy of the state, 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 social work - the profession is a certain functional standard associated with the provision of specific types of assistance to various groups in accordance with the tasks and fundamentals of the economic, political and legal policy of a particular socially oriented state. In connection with the introduction of the 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 personality, 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 personality of the client, and the tasks of social work vary depending on the areas of social practice, the nature of clients' problems, the socio-psychological characteristics of 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 socio-cultural context and tradition.
Among the main tasks and professional duties social worker includes:

• to provide assistance to individuals and groups, to recognize and eliminate difficulties of a personal, social, environmental and spiritual nature that adversely affect them;
• help people cope with these difficulties through supportive, rehabilitative, protective or corrective action;
• protect the helpless in accordance with the law, resorting to the use of power;
• promote greater use by each customer own capabilities for social self-defense;
• use all means and sources for the social protection of people in need, etc.

The range of tasks under consideration shows with all certainty that they include the widest range of those 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 basic duties that a social worker must perform as a professional, 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 relations with people; promote the provision of physical care to the needy and the elderly; observe, understand and interpret the behavior and relationships between people; communicate verbally and in writing; organize and conduct a conversation in various circumstances; negotiate, speak on the radio, etc.
The field of activity of a social worker is very wide: in microdistricts and at enterprises, he identifies persons in need of socio-medical, legal, psychological, and material assistance; promotes the integration of the activities of various state organizations and institutions for the provision of 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, social rehabilitation; works with juvenile delinquents and people who have returned 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, pivotal idea, as if uniting all the other components of the difficult and now urgently needed profession of a social worker, namely, ability, 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 takes place 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 in the end the most important thing is a particular 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.
• The ability to identify information and collect the facts necessary to analyze and assess the situation.
• Ability to create and develop relationships.
• Ability to observe and interpret verbal and non-verbal behavior, apply knowledge of personality theory and diagnostic methods.
• The ability to gain the trust of the students.
• Ability to discuss acute problems in a positive emotional mood. g) Ability to conduct research or interpret findings.
• Ability to mediate and settle relations between conflicting individuals and groups.
• Ability to build inter-institutional relationships.
• Ability to interpret social needs and report them to the relevant services, institutions.
• The ability to intensify the efforts of the wards to solve their own problems.

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

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

Information obtained in the process research work should be treated as confidential. With regard to the immediate ethical circumstances of the social worker in front of the client, then:

1. The interests of the client should always come first;
2. the social worker must work with the client kindly, loyally, persistently, making the most of professional skills;
3. never use the relationship with the client for personal gain;
4. never exhibit, promote, engage in any form of discrimination on the basis of racial prejudice or in connection with sex, 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 risk, rights, opportunities and obligations presented to him by the social service. You should consult with colleagues, managers, if it can be useful for the client;
6. the social worker may interrupt work with the client only in special cases, while taking measures to cause the client as little damage as possible;
7. a social worker should try to give the client the opportunity to self-determine, that is, to make decisions about their problems, methods of "treatment";
8. a social worker should not engage on behalf of a client in an act that violates or undermines the civil or legal rights of the client.

With regard to such an important ethical issue as confidentiality, the social worker should:

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

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

• The social worker must adhere to and multiply 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 critically evaluate and be at the center of knowledge relating to social work.
• The social worker should participate in the accumulation of social work knowledge, share the results of research and practical experience with colleagues.

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