Functions of Social work

 

Functions of Social work

Function of social work refers to the natural activity of social work or the statements of how social work operates.

The basic functions of social work are

1.      Restoration,

2.      Provision of resources, and

3.      Prevention

Restoration

This function is the oldest and most commonly known function of social work profession. Restoration of impaired social functioning may be subdivided into curative and rehabilitative aspects. The curative aspects are to eliminate environmental factors that have caused break down of social functioning of individuals, groups or communities and the role of the rehabilitative aspects is to recognize and rebuild interaction patterns in the society. The environmental factors hindering the functioning of a person may be social, economic, political or cultural. Therefore, if a person becomes dysfunctional due to any of the above mentioned environmental factors, the first task at hand will be to restore the person’s normal functioning. The second task will be to assess the damage caused by the dysfunction and strategies are devised to rehabilitate the person socially and bring him back to the normal mainstream

Provision of resources

Provision of resources is subdivided into developmental and educational. The developmental aspects are designed to extend effectiveness of existing social, human and material resources or to bring about full utilization personal capacity for more social interaction.  The educational functions are designed to make the public aware about specific conditions and needs for new and changing resources and approaches.

Prevention of social dysfunction

Prevention of social dysfunction, involves early discovery, control, and elimination of conditions and situations that potentially could hamper effective social functioning. The two main divisions are the prevention of problems in the area of interaction between individuals and groups and, second, the prevention of social ills. Although it is a very important function of social work, it is neglected in most situations. Social work has generally concentrated on the curative and rehabilitative function and has worked on the problem solving model. The profession should ensure that problems are neither created nor eliminated at the very beginning. For this function the social workers play a crucial role of conscientization, capacity building and organizing people so that they themselves can prevent social dysfunctions.

According to Proff. P.D. Mishra social work operates to assist individuals in adjusting to the institutional frame work of the society and attempts to modify the institutional frame work itself in appropriate areas. He classified the functions of social work into the following 4 major categories:

1.      Curative Function

2.      Correctional Function

3.      Preventive function

4.      Developmental Function

1.      Curative Function

The services provided under curative functions are–medical and health services, services relating to psychiatry, child guidance, child welfare services, services for the handicapped or disable in the form of protection and rehabilitation. These kinds of services aim to cure the physical, social, material, psychological sickness of individuals in the society.

·         Correctional Function

The correctional function of social work has three broad areas, such as:

1.      Individual reform service which includes prison reform, probation, parole and other related services.

2.      Services for improving social relationship which includes family welfare services, school social work, industrial social work etc.

3.      Services for social reform that includes employment services, prevention of commercial sex work, beggary prohibition services and removal of untouchability etc.

·         Preventive Function:

It includes life insurance services, public assistance, social legislation, adult education and prevention of diseases etc. This type of function basically deals with the services relating to the prevention of problems like insecurity, unlawfulness, ignorance, sickness etc. It is directed towards the elimination of those factors in the social environment or those deficiencies in the development of personality that prevents the individual from achieving a minimum desirable standard of socio-economic life.

·         Developmental Function

Developmental function includes the tasks of socio-economic development activities such as: education, recreational services, urban and rural development programs and programs of integration etc which are primarily concerned with the development of individuals, families, groups and communities.

In the present day context, social work has to emphasize on the aspects of change. It is increasingly being realized that the main cause of dysfunction lies not with the people but with the systems within which they operate. Either the people do not get and environment or resources required for proper social functioning or they do not have access to the resources to fulfill their needs. Therefore, there is a need to challenge and change the system so that people get a favorable environment to function.