Everything You Need to Know About Social Work Methods, Examples, and Roles for Social Workers

What Is the Best Social Work? What’s Changed This Year? Learn about the Key Principles of Social Work Used in Social Work Methodology.

The US Labor Statistics Bureau (BLS) reports that social work is the fastest expanding career, with a projected annual growth rate of 9% over the next decade.

In this post, we will answer your questions concerning instances of social work and fundamental ideas to help you succeed. We’ll provide you a best-in-class social worker overview to assist you understand the definition of a social worker and the basic concepts of social work. We’ll also go over social work assessment methodologies and tools, as well as discuss several instances of case studies.

By the end of this guide, you should have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of a social work model and the social work definition in general.

This text is intended for all social workers, both new and seasoned.

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Social Work Examples and Principles

The various social work assessment methods described on this page are intended to guide an LMSW or other social work professional in how to counsel, treat, or care for someone in need.

Social work is not limited to a single sector. Social work can be found in schools, hospitals, community groups, nursing homes, disaster relief organizations, and even corporations. You may have even come across an example of social work in action without realizing that the friendly individual offering aid was a social worker.

Because there are many distinct types of social work, many assessment instruments are utilized to determine a client’s needs. The social work definition in one area of social work may differ slightly from another.

However, regardless of the social work model or method utilized, the desire to serve others is central to the profession.

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Social Work Definition

When you search for “social work definition” online, you will get a variety of results. Some are brief, while others are lengthier because they attempt to contain a variety of social work concepts and examples.

Oxford Languages provides a concise social work definition on Google. Social work is defined as “work carried out by trained personnel with the aim of alleviating the conditions of those in need of help or welfare.”

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) has a more comprehensive social work definition that is geared for international community social work. It states, in part, “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.”

Social Worker Definition

A social worker definition would be quite similar to the social work definition. A social worker is a qualified professional who provides social services for an organization.

The parameters of a social worker definition vary according to the type of social work performed. A social worker who supervises foster care parents is one kind of social work. Another example of social work might be someone who counsels families in hospitals during medical emergencies.

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What Really is an LMSW?

There are some acronyms that you’ll need to become familiar with when working with assessment models in social work. One of these is LMSW.

LMSW stands for Licensed Master Social Worker. Once you’ve earned a social work degree through on-campus or online MSW programs, you qualify to earn LMSW certification.

With LMSW certification you are considered a “licensed” social worker. This can qualify you for higher-level positions because you’ve illustrated your grasp of the principles of social work and different social work models.

Casework, policy planning, behavioral clinical work, and social advocacy are all different social work career paths that can be opened up when you become an LMSW.

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What’s the True Difference Between LMSW & LCSW?

Another certification beyond LMSW is LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). This license is more advanced than being a Licensed Master Social Worker and is usually taken as a next step after someone has obtained an LMSW.

With the LCSW credential, social workers can advance their careers into areas like working directly with clients in a therapeutic setting. The LMSW is not required as a prerequisite.

In addition to taking a licensing exam, to earn the LCSW certification, you need to have graduated from one of the CSWE-accredited on-campus or online MSW programs. It’s also required to complete between 3,000 and 4,000 hours of direct clinical work with at least one hour per week of clinical supervision.

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Is there only one main principle in social work, or are there several?

There is no single core principle of social work; however, you will encounter various principles of social work via social work examples. These are the essential principles that guide all forms of social work.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) defines the essential ethical standards of social work as the following:

1. Social workers’ primary purpose is to assist those in need and to address social issues.
2. Social workers confront social injustice.
3. Social workers value the intrinsic dignity and worth of each individual.
4. Social professionals understand the importance of human interactions.
5. Social workers act in a trustworthy manner.
6. Social workers work within their areas of specialization and continue to learn and improve their professional skills.

When searching for a principle of social work, you may come across a list of seven key principles. These are also related to those we’ve listed above, and include:

1. The Principle of Acceptance
2. The Principle of Individualisation
3. Communication; 4. Determination; 5. Confidentiality.
5. The Principle of Nonjudgmental Attitudes.
6. The Principle of Control Emotional Involvement

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Examples of Social Work & Different Types of Social Work

From forensic social work to gerontological social work, there is no lack of variety in the types of social work a person can choose for their career path.

Examples of social work can be found in several parts of government, communities, non-profits, and many other areas where social workers use assessment tools to identify needs and create a plan to help.

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Here are a few of the many social work examples of the different types of positions a social worker can hold:

• Child & Family Social Work
• Healthcare Social Work
• Gerontological Social Work (work with the elderly)
• Home Health Social Work
• Forensic Social Work (applies social work to issues relating to law and legal systems)
• Mental Health Social Work
• Substance Abuse Social Work
• Psychiatric Social Work
• Corporate Social Work (assists employees in need and advises leadership on employee wellbeing programs)
• Community Social Work

What Are the Best Social Work Methods for Social Workers?

Social work methods are used as a framework for social workers to provide care to a client.

What are social work methods as a whole? They’re a systematic process for providing assistance. For social workers to provide help to individuals, families, and communities, they need to apply a problem-solving model social work uses.

The type of problem that needs to be solved for the client will often dictate which framework to use from the different methods of social work. You can think of social work methods as different game plans that a team can follow to reach a goal most effectively.

With a social worker or LMSW, the model used will be chosen based on applying their experience and knowledge to the type of problem and client type being helped.

There are both primary and secondary methods of social work that professionals use.

The primary methods of social work include:

• Social Case Work Method: Focused on the individual relationship with one-on-one interactions with the client
• Social Group Work Method: Involves working in a group setting and leveraging the collective energy of the group to help all
• Community Organization Method: In this social work method, the goal is to meet community needs through the use of human and material resources

Here are examples of social work secondary methods:

• Social Welfare Administration Method: This involves developing programs and leveraging resources to transform social policy into social service
• Social Work Research Method: This method is connected to a problem-solving model social work uses to improve and become more effective
• Social Action Method: The goal is to bring about positive change in ineffective and broken systems by mobilizing resources and promoting awareness

What Are Social Work Models?

When looking for the answer to, “What are social work methods,” you might also run across a social work model or two. Social work models are the approaches social workers can use to apply different social work theories of care.

When taking on-campus or online MSW programs, social work students learn many different social work assessment models and models for approaching care and intervention plans for clients.

You may be wondering if something like forensic social work is considered a social work model. This would be a “type” of social work that can be done, not a model.

An example of social work models would be the approach used to conduct forensic social work for a specific project.  In other words, the method the social worker uses to interview, research, assess, develop a care plan, and implement assistance for a client.

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A principle of social work is to help people address problems they may be facing. Care plan and assessment models social work practitioners use give them step-by-step instructions on how to do that.

In this section, we’ll highlight social work models that are overall roadmaps of how to help people or groups. In the next section, we’ll go through some models of assessment in social work.

• Strengths & Solution-Focused Model: Focuses on identifying the individual’s strengths and support systems
• Narrative Model: Associates the problem with the relationship system rather than blaming the individual
• Task-Centered Model: Focused on developing skills in the client so they can use those to solve future problems
• Groupwork Model: Incorporates awareness of events at the individual level and group/relationships level
• Problem-Solving Model: In the problem-solving model social work professionals use, a problem is targeted and then an action plan is developed to solve it
• Cognitive-Behavioral Model: This model zeros in on the feelings and thoughts that influence behavior and how to identify those that cause self-destructive actions
• Crisis Intervention Model: This is used when the client is experiencing an acute or extreme trauma or situation

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Conclusion: Social Work Examples and Assessment Models Social Work Practitioners Use

When studying for your degree in online MSW programs and pursuing your LMSW or another social work certification, you will encounter several examples of social work principles, methods, and models.

Each social work example, approach, and model is vital because it contributes to a social worker’s arsenal of techniques that may be used in any particular client circumstance.

You may only utilize one social work model today, but tomorrow you may need to use additional social work strategies to support a person or group. As a result, familiarity with a wide range of social work models, methodologies, and evaluation instruments is essential.

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