Co-operative nature of training social workers

Co-operative nature of training social workers

The training of social workers is a co-operative undertaking, including four factors: the social agencies, the incapacitated, and the school for social workers, and volunteer workers.  Successful results depend upon a thorough understanding of the entire process by, and a bona fide participation on the part of, all the people who are involved. If any one of the four leading classes of persons who are concerned fail to function properly in the situation or to be governed at all times by an appreciation of the problems which are faced by the other parties to the unspoken agreement, then the entire plan fails. The main distinction between the work of the volunteer and the regular social worker may be emphasized here. The regular worker should be a specialist doing technical work. The volunteer is in training and subject to be called on to do any one of a variety of things, including the making of visits and supplying the personal contacts which the regular worker is too busy to make.

(a) A factor of prime importance is the social welfare agency which offers to make a place on its staff for the volunteer worker. The agencies which are best equipped to train volunteers have often had bitter experiences in this connection. The volunteer frequently has an unattractive reputation. Since he is working without pay, he often objects to the routine which the regular worker must meet. The volunteer may break an appointment to take charge of a class or club with too little hesitation. He may fail to meet these engagements without offering an explanation. Occasionally he may telephone to the agency at the last minute that he cannot come because of some engagement which from the standpoint of the agency is not important. For example, the volunteer who telephoned the agency that she could not meet her regular appointment because of "an afternoon tea," neglected to consider how foolish such an excuse appeared in the eyes of the agency's   superintendent. The volunteer as a class is often viewed unfavorably by welfare agencies

Because some volunteers have lost their interest in a specific types of social work in two or three months' time period. Other volunteers when trusted with keeping a portion of an institution’s records have proved inaccurate. The volunteer may find the name of a friend or of the son of a prominent man in an institution's record books, and forget that all data of this kind are confidential. The volunteer is prone to criticize many things about social welfare institutions, especially before he has had time to acquaint himself with all the problems that the institution faces.

The volunteer, therefore, must keep in mind the unfortunate experiences which social agencies have had with persons of his type. He must subject himself willingly and pleasantly to the same routine as the paid worker. He must take special pains to meet all appointments regularly and to develop a reputation of dependability and seriousness, and he must finish what he undertakes even though unpleasant circumstances arise. In all his relations with the specific welfare agency, he must try to play the part of an "insider" in a natural, trustworthy, confidential way or else he may find himself rated and treated as an outsider."

(b) The successful volunteer social worker is quick to obtain the point of view of the person who is being aided. The volunteer must know people; he must understand why they are in difficulty, without always asking why. He must grasp not only the attitude of the person who is in trouble and why he is in trouble, but also his probable sensitiveness regarding his condition. The wise volunteer is careful not to embarrass a sensitive needy person; he takes some things for granted and moves forward with an air of hope and cheer, inspiring the temporarily defeated or incapacitated person to new ambitions and activities. Sometimes, however, the social worker deals with the pseudo-indigent and the needlessly thriftless. In these cases he will usually be justified in making an open analysis of causes, and in forcefully reprimanding the guilty party.

Sometimes the volunteer worker unconsciously commits the error of attracting undue attention to himself, perhaps by being queer in actions or dress, by not being neat, or by wearing clothes carelessly. A volunteer who is dressed in the apparel of the upper middle classes or the wealthy classes often turns the self-respecting indigent person against him.  It is important to dress and act so that one's superior economic status will not be conspicuous in the eyes of the indigent. Even the needy judge social workers by their appearance. A costume which is normal in a well-to-do group may be considered ostentatious in a lower economic group. Neatness, good taste, common sense, simplicity, and inexpensiveness in dress make a favorable impression upon and command the confidence of the needy. Even the expensive limousine of the would-be social worker arouses envy in a tenement district, creates the spirit of unrest and Bolshevism, and throws social work into disrepute.

 C) The third partner in the training of social workers is the training school. Its functions are to define and maintain standards, to assist social welfare agencies in utilizing the services of volunteer workers to the best advantage, to help the volunteer over the most difficult places at the beginning of his training career, and to co-ordinate the activities of welfare agency, the volunteer worker, and the needy to the constructive advantage of each and of society.

The training school also functions to encourage certain volunteer workers and to discourage others. It points out to the former how they may improve the quality of their work, and to the latter, how they do not possess all the fundamental characteristics for attaining success in social work.

Schools of social work are directing their attention to practice training, and to discussion classes, as well as to fundamental sociological backgrounds. The beginner will find the school of social work ready to give him all the direction that he needs in order that he may secure a scientific training; the school will also endeavor to keep his viewpoint sane, wholesome, and well balanced. As he learns of the many-sided nature of social work as a profession, he will perceive that he is entering a field of wide social usefulness as   well as one which will develop his personality to its fullest limits.

d) As the fourth element in the situation the volunteer worker is in many respects the most important. He must assume the attitude of a learner in his relations with the social agencies and the training school, and the attitude of a cooperator in his contacts with the incapacitated. He must be prepared to face the harsh phases of life without showing perturbation and to undertake the solution of new and difficult problems. His reward is  great, for he comes to know  people, in fact  many fine  people who are  heroically  fighting the battles of life;  and by the  right example or  deed, he may help  them over the  rough places.

Schools of social work have found that the best volunteer social workers are those   between the ages of 21 and 35. A person under 21 years of age is usually not mature enough in judgment, and one past 35 often has habits which are so well established that they do not permit him to function well as a volunteer in training.

Normally the volunteer in social work should complete two years of foundational college   subjects before he undertakes social case work. A proper knowledge of backgrounds is essential. The student must not specialize too soon. A positive degree of patience is required today for the laying of a foundation that will be adequate to the needs of a far- reaching career.

An acquaintance with biology and bacteriology is valuable to the social worker. The ability to speak a modern foreign language is useful. The study  f  history gives the  social worker  a  proper perspective,  and a knowledge  of economics affords an  appreciation of  powerful material factors.   Psychology, social psychology, and particularly   sociology, offer a fundamental insight into mental processes and societary laws.

Social Work

Source: EMORY S. BOGARDUS (Methods of Training Social Workers)