Activity essence, directions, levels, forms and methods of social work. The concept and essence of social work What is the essence of social work

Since the late 80s. Russia is experiencing significant political, economic and social changes. The previous systems of social security, education, health care and culture are falling into decay, all previous forms of life are being transformed, and the system of values ​​characteristic of the outgoing society is disintegrating. In moral and psychological terms, the content of such processes is an atmosphere of intolerance and confrontation, disrespect for the law, and an increase in crime and violence. Perhaps never before has the state of anomie described by E. Durkheim, i.e. non-normativity, the crisis of moral and ethical standards, the collapse of old values, which have not yet been replaced by new ones, did not manifest itself so acutely. Social development takes on deformed forms, displacing, if not the majority, then a significant part of the population from active economic life, turning millions of people into poor people and marginalized people. Both theoretically and practically, transformations of systems of this scale, including economics, politics, social relations, and the mentality of society, require uncovering the underlying causes of negative phenomena, scientific analysis of ongoing processes, and a balanced determination of ways and means to overcome them.

A superficial approach to possible transformations, a socio-political response at the level of “common sense”, when they consider only one side of the problem, one aspect of the phenomenon of reality, without taking into account the complexity of their systemic connections, dependencies and mediations, without modeling forecasts of the consequences of this or that interventions, unfortunately, have repeatedly demonstrated, at best, the achievement (along with the intended goal) of undesirable, side results, and in the worst case, obtaining results opposite to the intended goal.

The complex interweaving of various aspects of reality determines polycausality social problems society. This, in turn, predetermines the multiplicity of social technologies and techniques that are designed to solve these problems. Nature and state of various parameters social sphere, the level of its development depends on many circumstances, and an attempt to reduce everything to a few selected factors, “convenient” for one reason or another, can lead to serious miscalculations in the development and implementation of social programs. Among the circumstances mentioned, it should be noted:

The state of the productive forces, their potential and current knowledge intensity, the ability to perceive and use the achievements of the scientific and technological revolution;

Socio-economic model of society;

Social stratification of society and the level of realization of the interests of various groups in the political structure;

Maturity of the spiritual culture of society.

The mechanism through which changes in society should mainly be carried out is the social policy of the state, which determines the realization of the objective possibilities of the economic, political and spiritual potential of society.

Experience of social policy carried out under Soviet power, as well as the results of the first years of radical economic reforms, force us to currently develop concepts of social policy that resolutely reject the “gross” approach and the provision of universal, untargeted assistance. The reason for this is not only the economic difficulties of the state, which is unable to provide “continuous” social support, but also a change in the approach to people in society, the increasing role of individual responsibility and initiative. The priority objects of social support are considered to be low-income and socially vulnerable segments of the population who are faced with a real threat of economic and social degradation - disabled people, pensioners, large families, the unemployed, refugees, etc. Social programs They now focus more specifically on the development of self-help and self-sufficiency, specific consideration of the specific interests and needs of these population groups, and the personal nature of assistance. This approach receives legal support in Russian Federation and its subjects in the form of federal laws, decrees of the President of the Russian Federation and other regulations.

One of the leading forms of socio-political, organizational and managerial response to the current crisis situation, an instrument for implementing social policy, is professional social work. Its content can be considered the provision of assistance to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, through the identification of their problems, information, advisory activities, direct in-kind, financial, social and everyday assistance, pedagogical and psychological support, stimulating the own strengths of those in need, orienting them towards active participation in resolving your own problem situations.

Essence social work- providing assistance to individuals and various groups in the exercise of their social rights. Since social rights are very multifaceted and ensure the social functioning of the individual, the problems that social work seeks to solve are very broad and varied; Moreover, in a specific social situation, different types and types of social problems intersect.

First of all, the object of social work is not only individuals, but also their groups - families, work and neighborhood groups, youth or professional groups, associations of people experiencing similar difficulties. Therefore, every action of a social worker, every technology or technique he uses must necessarily combine individual and group methods: resolving problems of relationships between children and parents or inter-spousal relationships, communication difficulties of employees of an enterprise, interpersonal or intergroup conflicts is impossible without changing the personality of the people involved in conflict. Personal changes of those who asked for help are also impossible without restructuring social connections their immediate social environment.

In this regard, the analysis of social work problems at the first stage reveals their personal, group, family, etc. grounds. In principle, the pyramid of cause-and-effect relationships and mediations can include all levels - from the individual to the universal or planetary scale (it is undeniable, for example, that one of the causes of hunger and poverty is global climate causes, limited natural resources), however, taking this into account, When analyzing a client’s situation and choosing specific technologies to help him, a social worker must consider, first of all, problems and reasons of an operational nature that he is able to influence and that can stabilize or improve the client’s social situation.

Much in social work depends on the type of society and the nature of the exercise of power. Social work, by definition, is characteristic of a democratic society and a welfare state. However, neither democracy nor sociality are stable constants. A political declaration or even a legal fixation of democratic norms does not always coincide with their implementation. The sensitivity of the authorities to the needs and opinions of the population directly affects the social activity of people. Unsuccessful power structures, once appropriate to the needs of the time, but then hopelessly outdated, can render social policy ineffective, even if its preconditions were quite successful. Finally, the personal factor in power and management significantly influences the content and forms of activity of the relevant bodies and institutions, and the perception of this activity by the population.

An important role in modern reality is played by social ecological problems, and their significance is determined not only by the negative consequences of the uncontrolled, extensive development of technogenic processes - man-made disasters, environmental pollution and lowering standards environment. The scale of even everyday, non-catastrophic anthropogenic impact on various systems our planet today exceeds the Earth's self-healing capacity. Any act human activity, even if it is based on the latest technology, will inevitably entail thermal pollution of the atmosphere. At the same time, it is impossible to stop the man-made impact on nature. Socio-ecological content is, to one degree or another, inherent in all social technologies and methods, and the degree of its expression depends not only on the specific conditions of their implementation, but also on the level of development of the universal and ecological culture of people.

The nature of socio-economic problems is of serious importance for the development of social policy, and this significance is multifaceted. Firstly, the amount of financial resources that society and the state are able to allocate to solve certain social issues depends, not least of all, on the state of the economy. Secondly, a considerable number of problems in society are of a nature bordering between purely economic and purely social. Thirdly, resolving a number of economic problems in society is impossible without resolving social problems: the difficulty of carrying out reforms in Russia is not least explained by the fact that the majority of the population lost their social and property status during these reforms, i.e. their situation worsened. At the same time, without an increase in education, physical and social health, social competence and political literacy of the population, it is impossible to develop new, high-tech activities and implement promising social technologies.

The problems of social stratification have a unique significance in society. On the one hand, an increasingly partial system of society, taking into account more and more specific, private, individual grounds for distinguishing social strata and groups, is an attribute of democratic and social development. Only in such a system does it become possible to present, if not all, then at least the maximum number of interests and preferences. Society finds the opportunity to institutionalize and recognize the views of a minority within a subculture, no longer trying to fit all individuals into one rank. On the other hand, social differentiation, which endows some groups of society with wealth, power and information and pushes another part of the population away from these most important sources of social resources not only to the brink of poverty, but sometimes beyond the brink of physiological survival (and the reasons for such differentiation are neither objective nor subjective not justified) cannot serve as a guarantee of social stability. In modern society, with its predominantly non-violent ways social management and regulation, social differences can only exist on. basis of public consent, when they are recognized by an acceptable majority of the population, Drastic simplification social structure, in which a small layer (6-10% of the population) of the super-rich is opposed by the rest of the mass - the poor, the have-nots and the poor - makes the social system vulnerable.

Behavioral problems constitute a specific set of social problems. When analyzing the deviant behavior of individuals or groups, the categories of alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, prostitutes, etc. are usually distinguished. But the concept of deviation is somewhat broader. To define deviation, it is necessary first of all to specify the concept of a norm, that general social moral-behavioral, value-regulatory core from which carriers of deviant behavior “deviate.” In the process of such an analysis, it turns out that the problem of determining the norm is extremely complex, historically variable and socially specific. Deviant behavior(and a social worker must keep this in mind when analyzing the situation) can either be a manifestation of asociality or even antisociality, or a variant of searching, heuristic behavior, which in the near future may become the norm for the majority.

As the information revolution develops in the world, social problems of access to information and communication support of life are becoming increasingly important. The opinion that information is power, and one of the most effective, began to take shape at the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of technical media (mass media). The theoretical analysis of the mechanisms of crowd behavior (carried out by G. Le Bon) coincided with the artistic understanding of this process1; In a period when the only means of mass communication were gramophone records and a very primitive radio, astute thinkers already foresaw the enormous impact of the media on the masses and their enormous danger due to the ability to manipulate people.

Leaving aside political technologies, which are impossible without the use of the media, we note that in the social sphere information processes also have great importance. It is not without reason that large-scale (within entire countries) social projects aimed at stabilizing the socio-economic situation in some states previously known for extreme instability necessarily included leveling social inequality and ensuring the widest possible access to information (both its receipt and dissemination own opinions and views) of the widest possible segments of the population. Access to information and information technology, among other things, is like a pass into the 21st century, this is the threshold without overcoming which one cannot hope to be included in modern, progressive, innovation processes, to achieve a high status in the society of the future.

Problems of symbolization and modeling of the world belong to the field of sociocultural development and, at first glance, do not directly affect the field of social work. However, in reality, this is the area of ​​understanding the world, its value analysis and development. Even the verbal formulation of ideas and images can have a certain impact on a person’s well-being and activity (compare the terms “dismissal from work” and “release from work”). By giving a name to a phenomenon, we thereby endow it with certain ideas that influence our perception of the content. Long-term (and still unfinished) debates about the name of the profession of social work emphasized in each proposed term (socionomic, social engineer, social worker, etc.) various aspects of this activity. Symbolization of the world also lies in the creation of ideal structures, most often unwritten, but, nevertheless, actively influencing real processes.

Thus, the “mystical power of law” exists independently of current codes and regulations: it can be combined even with the “customary law” of early state formations and may be absent in the most masterfully developed system of legislation. The “image of personality” changes historically and ethnically, while, along with many specific individuals, there is an ideal idea of ​​what a personality is, characteristic of each time and people. Finally, a difficult-to-formulate, but powerful system of values, which transforms a collection of individuals into a society, and a society of a certain type, and distinguishes in this society separate groups, whose members share a commitment to a certain system of values, in some way different from the general one - this also applies to the world symbolization of reality. Let us note that this sphere of activity characterizes the rational, intellectual and mental side of human activity.

Introduction

Many people need help now when it is so difficult.

It's difficult for various reasons. As a result of the reforms, many found themselves below the social line when the question of daily bread became a priority.

Problems of treatment, education of children, and their recreation arose with no less urgency. Separately, we can raise the question of unemployment, since for more than a year now in our country, and throughout the world, unemployment continues to increase. financial crisis, no one is immune from unemployment. This leads to crime, a decline in morals, and permissiveness; this causes great anxiety and fear for oneself, for the fate of relatives and for the further prosperity of the Motherland.

Not everyone has the strength to fight. Many have lost confidence, hope for the best changes. But someone has to help these people.

It is important to know where to go with your problems. In such situations, “social work” comes to the rescue; here they can support a person in difficult times, both financially - by providing payments, allowances, benefits, and spiritually - “to guide them on the right path.”

The relevance of the topic “the essence of social work, its object and subject” is now very high, and is due to the following circumstances:

Firstly, the increase in modern conditions of the pace social movement assistance to the population. This is due to the increase in such strata of society as the disabled, pensioners, the poor, orphans, etc.

Secondly, the need to identify problems in the social sphere.

Therefore, it is necessary to first understand what the object and subject of social work is, not only as a science, but also as an activity and as an academic discipline, in order to subsequently identify problems, prevent their aggravation and take measures to stabilize the situation. Many people do not know, or have a vague idea, what “social work” is, who these social services and workers are, what their goals are, who they help, and in general what their help consists of?

Analysis of a social work problem involves obtaining answers to the questions: Who protects? Whom does he protect? That is, it is important to find out what the subject of social work is and what its object is.

The object of study of the course work is the essence of social work itself, its subject and object.

The purpose of the course work is to study and analyze the essence of social work, consider social work as a form of practical activity, as an academic discipline and from the point of view of an independent science. It is necessary to reveal the very concept of social work and its most important components.

Achieving this goal involves setting and solving the following tasks:

Define the term “social work”, expand this concept from the point of view of independent science;

Consider social work as a form of practical activity, clarifying its aspects;

To identify what is the strategy, meaning and purpose of social work as an academic discipline;

Establish which key categories form the meaningful characteristics of social work;

Answer the question of what social protection, social support, social services and social security are, identify how they differ;

Give a description of the object of social work, what directions arise in it, and how they can be classified;

Consider the client as an object of social work;

Characterize the family from the point of view of the object of social work;

Define the subject of social work, establish how the subject can change, depending on whether social work is considered as a science, as a discipline or as an activity.

1. The essence of social work

1.1 The concept of social work as an independent science

For several years now, a new type of professional activity has been dynamically developing in the Russian Federation, which is also a specialty in the higher education system - social work. The emergence of social work as a special institution and a special profession is caused not only by the increased demands of the population for social support, but also by a change in the content of these requests, their individualization, conditioning by deeper personal needs, more mediated conditions for their satisfaction. This activity can be both professional and volunteer, however, despite the importance of the volunteer movement, as the institute of social work develops, both the degree of training of personnel and the depth of specialization of its institutions will inevitably increase.

Social work can be defined as “a type of social activity aimed at optimizing the implementation of the subjective role of people in all spheres of society in the process of jointly satisfying needs, maintaining life support and the active existence of the individual.”

First of all, social work should be considered as an independent science, which determines its place in the system of sciences. Like any science, social work has its own subject, object, categorical apparatus. The object of the study is the process of connections, interactions, ways and means of regulating the behavior of social groups and individuals in society. The subject of social work as an independent science is the patterns that determine the nature and direction of the development of social processes in society.

The development of a scientific categorical apparatus is one of the priority tasks in the field of research into the theory of social work. The system of categories should include concepts that reflect: firstly, the specifics of the organization of social work in different areas social practice(for example, social work in education, social work in the army, etc.); With different clients(social work with disabled people, social work with families, social work with risk groups); in different social situations (social work in extreme situations, social work in conditions of environmental distress, etc.). Secondly, different aspects of the organization of professional and non-professional social work (economics of social work, management, psychosocial technologies, etc.). Undoubtedly, as theory and empirical research in this area develop, the system of its categories will be enriched and expanded.

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

The system of social work, no matter in what aspect it is considered, is always an open system, closely intertwined with other social systems: economics, politics, law, culture, ethics, ecology, consumer services, etc. Understanding and seeing the connections of the social work system with other systems and the system of society as a whole raises social work to a high level of public culture, makes society truly humane, puts people at the center public life, makes people people in the highest sense of the word.

The idea of ​​social work as a system has conceptual and methodological significance for the everyday management of social work. Knowing it as a system frees organizers from a one-sided approach, exaggerating the role of some of its individual aspects, allows timely anticipation and correction of possible distortions and errors in social services, raising the culture and efficiency of social work.

Social work - universal social institution: its carriers provide assistance to all individuals, regardless of social status, nationality, religion, race, gender, age and other circumstances. The only criterion in this matter is the need for help and the inability to cope with life’s difficulties on one’s own. Although among those involved in social work there are many people who belong to one religion or another, the institution of social work itself is secular in nature, being an attribute of civil society. Because of this, in addition to very influential moral imperatives, the activities of a social worker are also regulated by state legislation.

Thus, to summarize, we can say that since social work has its own subject, object and categorical apparatus, it should first of all be considered as an independent science.

1.2 Social work as a practical activity

Social work is a professional activity aimed at helping people social groups in overcoming personal and social difficulties through support, protection, correction and rehabilitation.

Unlike other forms of social assistance, social work is a two-way interaction. A social service employee, social therapist, or other specialist must necessarily rely on the resources of the client himself, organize and encourage him to resolve his own problem.

The term "social work" is closely related to the functioning market economy, since achieving its effectiveness is accompanied by social stratification. If a social support network is not created, then problems in the social sphere worsen and social tension arises. In countries with developed market economies, institutions for social support of people have been created for decades and operate quite successfully. The profession of “social worker” is one of the most common here, and social structures have both a public and private basis. In our country, the most pressing problem in the field of social work is its recognition as essential activities, confirming the degree of social security of the individual, respect for fundamental human rights, and the level of humanization of society. Social work refers to one of many types of activities. There are economic, political, legal, cultural, technical, scientific and other types of activities. And there is social work - special kind activities.

In this regard, its various aspects should be noted.

1. Social work is an activity carried out by professionally trained specialists and their volunteer assistants, aimed at providing individual assistance to a person, family or group of people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, through information, diagnosis, counseling, direct natural and financial assistance, care and service for the sick and lonely, pedagogical and psychological support, orienting those in need of help to their own activity in overcoming difficult situations and facilitating them in this.

2. Social work is a professional activity aimed at activating the potential of an individual’s own capabilities in solving complex life problems.

3. Social work is a professional activity that is primarily preventive in nature.

4. Social work is a professional activity ultimately aimed at harmonizing social relations in society.

S. Ramon and T. Shanin, English scientists, define social work as the organization of a personal service to help a person. It is based on altruism and is aimed at making everyday life easier for people in personal and family crisis, and, if possible, radically solving their problems. Social work is an important link between the people who need to be helped and the government apparatus, as well as legislation.

The main goals of social work include the following:

Increasing the degree of independence of clients, their ability to control their lives and more effectively resolve emerging problems;

Creating conditions in which clients can demonstrate their capabilities to the maximum extent and receive everything that is due to them by law;

Adaptation or readaptation of people in society;

Creating conditions under which a person, despite physical injury, mental breakdown or life crisis, can live while maintaining self-esteem and self-respect from others;

And the ultimate goal is to achieve a result when the client “no longer needs” the help of a social worker.

Any social activity has such components as goals, means, conditions.

The goal of social work as an activity is to optimize the mechanisms of social functioning of an individual or social group. However, it should be borne in mind that there are various reasons for the occurrence different types and forms of social work. One of these grounds may be the areas of social practice, and in this case we can talk about social work in education, healthcare, leisure, etc.; another basis may be the socio-psychological characteristics of clients - young people, social risk groups, people prone to suicide, etc.; the third is the nature of the problems facing social workers. Other reasons can be found. In all these cases, the goals of social work will be specified (for example, from prevention to correction). The conditions for each type of social work will also be specified, including various levels and spheres (from federal to local): political, economic, socio-psychological and ethnonational.

In this case, means can be considered as social institutions, methods of carrying out social work.

In this regard, the typology of social services for the purpose of organizing practical social work is of particular importance. The basis of the classification various types and forms of work may be based on different principles (this is to some extent due to the presence of different approaches to understanding the essence and nature of social work as an activity), but they all ultimately come down to the following: working with the client’s problem; work with other services, institutions, organizations.

Within these two forms, in turn, there is a classification of various types. So, in the first case, we can talk, on the one hand, about the nature of the client’s problem (divorce, job loss, death loved one, disability, etc.): on the other hand, about the characteristics of the client, since both an individual and a group, including society as a large social group, can act as a client.

In the second case, on the one hand, we're talking about about the field of activity in which problems arise in interaction with other services, institutions, associations (for example, the field of education, healthcare, everyday life, etc.); on the other hand, about the status of these organizations (state, collective, public, charitable, private, etc.). Social work is a mechanism that should translate potentially proclaimed rights into actually implemented ones. The meaning of social work is to compensate for certain social damages, equalize the opportunities of various individuals, families, and groups in using their social rights. The goal of social work as an activity is to optimize the mechanisms of social functioning of an individual or social group.

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the meaning of social work is the activity of assisting individuals, families, and groups in realizing their social rights and in compensating for physical, mental, intellectual, social and other deficiencies that impede full social functioning. Like any professional activity, it is carried out by social work specialists.

1.3 Social work in the discipline system

In 1991, a fundamentally new profession for our country was introduced in the Russian Federation - a social worker. Specialists in this field are trained in courses, schools, lyceums, secondary specialized educational institutions x and universities. The network of higher educational institutions that have begun training and retraining social work specialists is steadily expanding. The profile of a university determines the specialization of its graduates. Now most of universities prepare specialist organizers of social work with the population, specialists in working with various groups (the unemployed, youth, children, the elderly, etc.). Some universities train specialists in the field of social and medical assistance to the population and in other areas. Our country has already begun training social workers with a medical profile: bachelors with a specialization in “Social and medical services to the population.” It is noteworthy that this profession is chosen by people of a humane nature, whose compassion and sensitivity are necessary for future work. They study, clearly realizing that this work does not promise them super profits and wealth. Bachelors of Social Medicine will provide social medical care to the population, i.e. they are organizers-consultants, managers of social and medical protection of pensioners, the unemployed, chronically ill people, single people, large families, orphans, disabled people, people addicted to alcohol and drugs, as well as all those who find themselves in a crisis situation economic, social or medical character and whose access to medicine has become limited.

By the decision of the board of the Committee on Family Affairs and Demographic Policy under the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR and the State Committee of the RSFSR for Science and Higher Education (dated May 13-05, 1991), the organization of training specialists in social work at universities of the Russian Federation was introduced.

The purpose of training social workers is to contribute to the development and improvement of the quality of teaching throughout the world, training and instilling skills in practical social work, the provision of social services and the development of policy in the field of social development.

Social work, having emerged as a social phenomenon and then turning into a certain social institution, becomes an object of knowledge, manifested at different levels - from everyday to scientific-theoretical. Currently, two main aspects are most clearly observed in the trend in the development of knowledge (at different levels of their manifestation) in the field of social work. The first is associated with the emotional and psychological explanation of the behavior of the individual and groups, the development, first of all, of the psychodynamic model of social work practice; the second - with the growing influence of social work from sociological theories and the development of sociologically oriented models of social work practice.

By the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, several models of theoretical justification of social work emerged in the scientific literature. They reflected not only the results of scientific searches and research by major scientists from different schools on the problems of social support of a person in modern society, but also its evolution, changes in the very content and forms of social activity.

Applying theories of behavior and social systems, social work focuses on the area where people interact with the factors around them. In social work, the fundamental principles are the principles of human rights and social justice (defined by the International Federation of Social Workers in July 2000 in Montreal, Canada).

The strategy of social work is to study man, his values, the world, individuality and universality. In practice, most social work models focus on the technological aspects of care delivery. The effectiveness of social work depends on understanding the essence of human life, its changes under the influence of economic, socio-psychological factors. The formation of the human world is a complex process of cognition, consolidation, creative development of worldview, ideological, and moral principles of society, the process of assimilation of social qualities, knowledge and skills created by society, on the basis of which one develops one’s vision and assessment of things.

The degree of social protection of the population and its individual strata makes it possible to judge the progressiveness of the social system, the level economic development country and the welfare of the people. That is why social work today is such an important matter from which no one can stay away.

That social work can be considered as an independent science, which determines its place in the system of sciences, as a form of practical activity, and finally, it is considered as academic discipline. Social activities based on various humanitarian and democratic ideals.

So, we can say that social work as a discipline appeared in our country relatively recently, but despite this, it is gaining significant momentum, aimed at increasing the number of social workers and improving their qualifications.

The definition of the essence of social work is associated with the following key categories: social protection, social support, social services, social security. The meanings of these terms form a meaningful characteristic of social work.

In everyday consciousness, as well as in a number of regulations, these concepts are often used as identical. However, determining their specificity allows us to most accurately identify the content of social work, the goals and objectives of this type of social activity.

1.4.1 Social protection

The phenomenon of social protection can be considered in a broad and in a narrow sense. In the first case, social protection is the activity of the state and society to protect all citizens from social dangers, to prevent disruption of the life of various categories of the population; social protection protects those who are in the most vulnerable position. In the second case, social protection is the creation of conditions that prevent the emergence of a difficult life situation or its complications among clients of social services.

The main way to implement social protection is social guarantees- obligations of the state in relation to certain categories of the population. The effect of guarantees involves compensation for low social status by increasing legal status. Social guarantees are built taking into account certain characteristics that give the right to privileged use of public resources. Thus, obtaining one or another legal status (refugee, unemployed, disabled, orphan) gives a number of additional features. In this case, a special legal status. A special legal status provides social guarantees from the state if the individual meets certain parameters and undergoes procedures provided by law. An example would be additional guarantees for orphans and children without parental care.

According to the Federal Law “On Additional Guarantees for Orphans and Children Without Parental Care” (1996), this category of persons has additional guarantees in the areas of healthcare, education, living space, etc. For a number of categories there are guarantees for receiving social assistance. In Russia, the right of citizens to social protection is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of the social protection system is to provide support and assistance to population groups and individual citizens in need with the help of regulatory, economic, socio-psychological, organizational and technical means and levers. Basic principles of social protection, humanity, social justice, targeting, complexity, ensuring individual rights and freedoms .

1.4.2 Social support

This is provision in cash or in kind, in the form of services or benefits provided taking into account social guarantees, legislatively established by the state; a set of social services, medical and social, socio-economic, social and everyday life, socio-psychological, socio-pedagogical and other support for a person from state and non-state structures during his period crisis state, in difficult life situations. It performs the function of poverty relief for certain groups of the population in extreme conditions, is in the nature of periodic and one-time cash supplements to pensions and benefits, in-kind payments and services in order to neutralize critical life situations, unfavorable economic conditions. Social support (assistance) is provided through local authorities authorities, enterprises (organizations), extra-budgetary and charitable foundations in order to provide targeted, differentiated assistance to those in need.

When clarifying the meaning of the category social support, more attention should be paid to the interactive side of the relationship between the subject and the object of help. The problem of the object becomes the core on which social support is supported as the activity of a specific social worker with a specific client. Social support is aimed at helping the client see his own meaning in interaction with a representative of the social service, to build his own line of behavior, which is recognized by the client as significant and necessary for him.

1.4.3 Social services

Social services are the activities of social services and individual specialists in social support, provision of social, social, medical, psychological, pedagogical, social and legal services, implementation of social adaptation and rehabilitation of citizens in difficult life situations. A number of federal laws propose to understand social services as activities to meet the needs of various categories in social services - useful actions. In this case, social work subjects use personnel and organizational (public) resources.

Social services are provided in the form of:

1) providing financial assistance ( cash, food, sanitation and hygiene products, child care products, clothing, shoes and other essential items, fuel, special vehicles, technical means rehabilitation of disabled people and persons in need of permanent or temporary non-stationary care;

3) providing social services in inpatient institutions to citizens who have partially or completely lost the ability to self-care and need constant care, and ensuring the creation of living conditions appropriate to their age and health status, carrying out medical, psychological, social activities, nutrition and care, as well as organization of feasible work activity, rest and leisure;

4) providing temporary shelter in specialized institution orphans and those left without parental care, neglected minors and those in difficult life situations, citizens without a fixed place of residence and certain occupations, citizens affected by physical or mental violence, natural disasters, as a result of armed and interethnic conflicts;

5) organization of day stay in social service institutions for elderly citizens and disabled people who have retained the ability for self-care and active movement, for minors in difficult life situations, with the provision of social, social, medical and other assistance;

6) advisory assistance on issues of social, social and medical support of life, psychological and pedagogical assistance and social and legal protection;

7) providing assistance in professional, social, psychological rehabilitation to disabled people, persons m with disabilities, juvenile offenders.

Social services are provided free of charge and for a fee. Free service can be received by: citizens who are not capable of self-care due to old age, illness, disability, who do not have relatives who can provide help and care - if the average per capita income of these citizens is below the subsistence level established for the region in which they live ; persons in difficult life situations due to unemployment, natural disasters, disasters suffered as a result of armed and interethnic conflicts; minor children in difficult life situations.

Institutions and enterprises of social services, their activities are determined and regulated by the Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of Social Services for the Population in the Russian Federation” dated December 10, 1995 No. 195-FZ . These include various general and specialized centers, shelters, boarding homes, etc.

Social services are provided on the basis of an appeal from a citizen, legal representative, body state power and local government or public association.

1.4.4 Social security

Social security should be interpreted as social assistance, which involves the direct transfer of a material public resource to clients of social services in the form of various types of open and hidden payments.

Open payments are: pension- monthly government cash payment, which is provided to citizens in order to compensate them for lost earnings (income), and allowance(for unemployment; temporary disability: illness, injury, when caring for a sick family member, quarantine and in some other cases; for pregnancy and childbirth, large and single mothers, for children in low-income families, for children of conscripts, etc.) d.).

The pension option for compensation for lost earnings arises: in connection with the termination of public service (upon reaching the length of service established by law); upon retirement due to old age (disability); in order to compensate for damage caused to the health of citizens during the passage military service; as a result of radiation or man-made disasters; in case of disability or loss of a breadwinner upon reaching the legal age; in order to provide disabled citizens with a means of subsistence.

A hidden type of social security is privileges- providing vulnerable categories of the population with advantages in paying for certain services provided by the state, municipality, their institutions or other organizations, exemption from obligations for mandatory payments collected by central and local authorities from individuals and legal entities to budgets of various levels.

Thus, we can conclude that the main components of social work are: social protection, social support, social services and social security. All this is a system of principles, methods, social guarantees legally established by the state, measures and institutions that ensure the provision of optimal conditions life, satisfaction of needs, maintenance of life support and active existence of the individual, various social categories and groups; a set of measures, actions, means of the state and society aimed against risk situations in the normal life of citizens; a set of government measures of a socio-economic and legal nature to ensure a state-guaranteed minimum level of material support for socially vulnerable segments of the population during the period of economic transformation and the associated decline in their standard of living.

2. Social work object

2.1 Definition of the object of social work

Social coexistence and interaction should be built on the principles social equality and partnership, fair distribution of material wealth, reliable guarantees for the creative self-affirmation of all subjects of society. This understanding of sociality is the most important criterion for the implementation of social work.

The object of social work, on the one hand, is determined by the goals and objectives of practical social work, and on the other, it determines the boundaries and content of the theory and practice of social work. There are many definitions of the object of social work, they are largely similar in that in modern conditions social work goes beyond the boundaries of practical social assistance and is increasingly becoming fundamental theoretical knowledge about a person in the system of social relations and interactions, about ways to improve his social existence and social well-being. The object of social work is, first of all, a person in the system of social connections and relationships to whom social action is directed. This is a client of social assistance, social adaptation and rehabilitation, social diagnostics and prevention, social examination and social therapy.

Also, we can say that the object of social work (in a broad sense) is all people. This is explained by the fact that the life activity of all layers and groups of the population depends on those conditions that are largely predetermined by the level of development of society, the state of the social sphere, the content of social policy, and the possibilities for its implementation.

At whatever level - individual or group - human problems arise, the object of help from social workers (or simply the object of social work) are people who set certain goals for themselves, but are not able to realize them themselves, experiencing, therefore, a feeling dissatisfaction with life. Behind every human problem lies many personal ones, i.e. unmet needs of an entire group of people. No matter how specific, for example, the personal problems of certain unemployed people, differing in gender, age, marital status, level of education or profession, are, each of them is a manifestation of a social problem called unemployment. Therefore, we can say that the objects of social work are various groups of people who experience difficulties in solving problems that arise in their lives.

It should be said that the object of research in the theory of social work is social relations, and due to its versatility, a number of areas can be distinguished in it:

1. Individual, family, organizational problems. Starting with the individual (loneliness, social isolation) and ending with various organizational problems (increase in refugees, homeless people).
2. Social - environmental problems - environmental protection.
3. Socially - economic problems. During the new economic reforms in Russia, 90% of the population found themselves below the poverty line.
4. Problems of social stratification. Social stratification, inequality in society, leading to the division of society into “higher” and “lower” classes, economic exploitation.
5. Problems of behavioral functioning of individuals, groups, communities - aspects of deviant behavior, social relations; drug addiction, alcohol, etc.
6. Problems of symbolization and modeling of the world and people in it. They can be expressed in inadequate images, low self-esteem, lack of honor and morality, and hence - in alienation, social prejudices, and anti-human values.
7. Problems of power structures; social tension and stability in society depend on their actions and programs; social activity of the population depends on their regime: totality, democracy or authoritarianism.

There are quite a lot of objects, and they can be classified taking into account the priority basis for this classification

A health condition that does not allow you to independently solve life problems

Service and labor in extreme social conditions

- elderly, retirement age people.

- deviant behavior in its various forms and types

- difficult, disadvantaged situation of various categories of families

- special situation of children (orphanhood, vagrancy, etc.)

- vagrancy, homelessness.

- prenatal and postnatal condition

- legal (and in connection with this social) status of persons subjected to political repression and subsequently rehabilitated.

2.2 Client as an object of social work

The formation of professional social work in our country was accompanied by the development of the conceptual apparatus of sciences that study social work and describe its practice. Among other controversial definitions, the question of how to call the one who receives help was discussed. In medicine, such a person is called a “patient,” that is, one who seeks help. However, this term describes only one, passive, side in the position of a person in need of assistance. He, of course, has suffered damage, suffering, and is in a state of difficulty in life, but to the extent that his intellectual, physical, mental and moral resources allow him, he himself must take part in solving his problem. If the individual retains at least partial self-awareness, then he has the right to cooperate with the social worker, to be an active agent in the transformation of his own life circumstances. In this regard, the opinion has become established that persons who receive the help of a social worker should be called clients. The client can be individual or group. More precisely, its characteristics are determined by the level of work organization.

Consideration of a social service client as an object of cognition on the part of a social worker presupposes a specially organized reflection in the consciousness of a specialist key characteristics the life situation of the individual and his characteristics, which have a significant impact on the process of helping interaction.

Carrying out cognitive activity, a specialist is guided by a number of general requirements. Firstly, knowledge of the client is built on the basis of the theoretical and methodological concept of social work, which the professional follows. The chosen concept provides answers to questions about the causes of difficult life situations, methods of social protection and assistance, and identifies key aspects of the study of individuals, families, and communities experiencing problems in the process of social functioning.

Secondly, the social worker selects adequate methods diagnostics Diagnostics used in practical social work differs from diagnostics in scientific research in its main function. In the first case, research methods are designed to illuminate the parameters of the client’s life situation, while scientific research is aimed at identifying significant relationships between the impact of the subject of social work and the positive dynamics of overcoming the client’s problems. In the practice of social work, as well as in scientific research, survey methods, observation, and study of documents are used.

Thirdly, generalization of the obtained data is aimed at clarifying the source of the client’s suffering. At the same time, the problem declared by the individual is consistently checked and a social diagnosis is made. The social diagnosis outlines the circle of lost, preserved and potential internal resources. Lost resources should be considered those properties that cannot be restored quickly enough. Preserved resources are of significant importance, since relying on them will make it possible to compensate for partially lost ones. Potential resources are those that can be developed at comparable costs for the client and the social worker.

To assess the possibilities of attracting external official resources, the social worker studies regulations(laws, regulations, regulations, etc.). Then the type of difficult life situation is qualified, the volume of assistance and procedures for registering client status are determined. Essential for a social worker is the ability to use informal resources - family, relatives, neighborhoods, individuals.

A separate area of ​​the social worker’s cognition of the client is the study of the characteristics of the individual as a participant in the helping interaction. In this sense, the typology that includes three groups of clients is of interest: “aggressors”, “polite”, “mute”. The first implement an “attacking” style (demand, threaten, actively show dissatisfaction), the second implement an “appreciative” style of communication, and the third behave with restraint.

2.3 Family as an object of social work

In the family, to a large extent, all healthy preconditions arise and sprout. Who and how will live and work in the future depends on what the social well-being of a modern family is, how it raises children and what qualities it instills in them. Therefore, the family is the focus of the social worker’s attention and constitutes one of the most important areas of his activity.

Family is complicated social system, which has the features of a social institution and a small social group. As a social institution of society, the family is a set of social norms, patterns of behavior that regulate relationships between spouses, parents and children, and other relatives. Unemployment, low cost of living, non-payment wages, inflation, growing tension in social relations, deterioration of services, destruction of old and lack of formation of new value systems - these are the social problems of the modern family.

A family as a small group is a community of people based on marriage, consanguinity, and the satisfaction of individual human needs. It is distinguished by a single economic space, an interdependent way of life, emotional and moral ties, relationships of care, guardianship, support, and protection. In order to get a holistic view of the family, it is necessary to take into account the entire palette of family relationships.

The family as a small social group is characterized by the presence of a number of social goals that change over different life cycles; partial differences in the interests, needs and attitudes of family members; indirectness of joint activities. Consequently, the well-being and longevity of the family depend on the extent to which spouses and other family members are able and willing to care for each other.

The integral characteristics of a family, which largely determine its potential, are considered to be: psychological health, functional-role consistency, social-role adequacy, emotional satisfaction, adaptability in microsocial relationships, commitment to family longevity.

Communication plays an important role in the family, real life Relationships between people develop differently, and there may be different types of families. The most common is the nuclear family, consisting of parents and dependent children, or a married couple. Such a family can be complete or incomplete , formed as a result of divorce, widowhood, or the birth of a child out of wedlock. If the family structure includes other relatives in addition to spouses and children, then it is called extended . Families may differ in the presence or absence of children and their number. It is customary to talk about childless, one-child, large or small families.

Analysis of sources containing information about the family allows us to present its inherent functions in the form of table 1.

Table 1: Family functions in different environments activities

Sphere of family activity	Public functions	Customized Features
Reproductive	Biological reproduction of society	Satisfying the need for children
Educational	Socialization of the younger generation. Maintaining the cultural continuity of society	Satisfying the need for parenting, contact with children, their upbringing, self-realization in children
Household	Maintaining the physical health of community members, caring for children	Receipt of household services by some family members from others
Economic	Economic support for minors and disabled members of society	Receipt of material resources by some family members from others
Sphere of primary social control	Moral regulation of the behavior of family members in various spheres of life, as well as responsibility and in relations between spouses, parents and children	Formation and maintenance of legal and moral sanctions for inappropriate behavior and violation of moral norms of relationships between family members
Sphere of spiritual communication	Personality development of family members	Strengthening friendships marriage union
Social status	Representation of a certain status by family members. Reproduction of social structure	Meeting the needs of social promotion
Leisure	Organization of rational leisure. Social control in the leisure sector	Satisfying the needs for modern leisure activities, mutual enrichment of leisure interests
Emotional	Emotional stabilization of individuals and their psychotherapy	Individuals receive psychological protection and emotional support in the family.
Sexy	Sexual control	Satisfying sexual needs

Another important characteristic of a family is its life cycle, i.e. the sequence of changes in the stages of its functioning from the beginning to the end of the marriage. Usually there are three phases: before the birth of the child, before the separation of adult children from their parents, and the gradual disintegration of the marriage. The main thing for a specialist is to understand that on the way from the start of family relationships to their finish, illnesses, separations, quarrels, conflicts, divorces and many other difficulties are possible that family members are not able to solve on their own. The social worker is called upon to soften the tension in the relationship between them, smooth out the difficulties that appear during a crisis, and help develop self-help and self-regulation skills.

Thus, given that the family is one of the oldest institutions of socialization of new generations, which performs the function of ensuring the safety and security of any person, but in modern conditions it is experiencing serious problems, we can rightfully assume that the role of the social worker in preserving and strengthening the social potential of this phenomenon of society is increasing.

The reform of society has sharply aggravated the problem of families in need of social protection. Her subjects include families of single mothers; conscripts with children; families with disabled children; large families; with young children under three years of age; student families; families of unemployed people with minor children, etc.

Over the past three years, there has been an increase in families of all categories in need of financial support. The growth of low-income families among large and single-parent families is especially noticeable. The reasons for the crisis situation of families can be divided into economic and social. Economic - such as job loss, non-payment of wages and benefits, low level wages are the most typical. Among social reasons, the most common are alcoholism, parasitism, and illegal behavior of one or both spouses. As a rule, this is accompanied by a low cultural level, lack of spirituality, and irresponsibility towards children. A child growing up in such a family is often unbalanced and psychologically depressed. Very often, children from such families are difficult children, and young offenders are recruited from among them.

The state strives to provide possible assistance in the maintenance and upbringing of children. However, centralized funds are not enough and they are not always used rationally. The activities of local authorities are very important, as they seek, using internal resources, the opportunity to provide assistance to families.

Family conflicts and domestic violence, emotional discord, drunkenness and many other problems are all concerns of social work.

The task of social work with families is to teach families self-help and mutual assistance.

Thus, to summarize, it can be noted that the object of social work research is the process of connections, interactions, ways and means of regulating the behavior of social groups and individuals in society. The most important objects of social work are people, i.e. personality, and the family is the primary unit of society. And also, it should be noted that when providing assistance, a social worker must know what this assistance is aimed at, what he wants to achieve in the process of his activities, what his goal is and how he imagines perfect result your work.

3. Subject of social work

Any science as an independent field of knowledge (social work in this sense is no exception) has its own subject of study.

Currently, it is generally accepted to understand the subject of any science as the result of choosing an objectively existing process (phenomenon) with the aim of studying it from a certain angle. There are known differences between the subject and the object of science. The subject of science is a really existing reality (natural and social). It has many sides and properties, each of which can be the subject of independent study.

The definition of the subject of science depends on many factors: the level of knowledge achieved in this area, the development of social practice, etc.

The subject of social work as a science is the patterns and principles of the development of social processes, their dynamics under the influence of various factors in the protection of civil rights and individual freedoms in society.

But you can consider the subject of social work in its practical activities and in fact, this social situation. A social situation is a specific state of the problem of a specific social work client, individual or group, with all the wealth of its connections and mediation related to the resolution of this problem.

A social worker must make every effort in his work, because the goal of his work in a social situation is to improve the client’s social situation, prevent its deterioration, or at least alleviate the client’s subjective experience of his situation. After all, one can be aware that in the conditions of a decline in production and mass unemployment, helping individuals find a new workplace not so easy. But it is quite possible to provide them with socio-psychological support and get rid of negative personal reactions to unemployment.

For example, members of the voluntary association “Wives of Alcoholics,” while admitting that they are unable to rid their husbands of harmful alcohol addiction, consider the goal of their participation in the work of the association to be learning to be happy in the face of their spouse’s drunkenness.

The concept of a social situation serves as a methodological tool that allows us to isolate those connections and interactions that are directly related to a social problem of this client and exposure to which may affect its resolution. The easiest thing would be to immediately state that humanity has not been able to cope with alcoholism throughout the long history of its development, and on this basis refuse to look for ways to help a specific drinking client and his family. It is possible, inadequately exploiting the dialectical principle of the universal connection of phenomena, to begin the analysis of the life activity of this particular alcoholic with global problems and expect a level of resources to resolve them, which, of course, is not available today. The concept of a social situation, without denying the universal, global connections of the individual with the world, allows us to isolate in his specific conditions, first of all, what directly affects the resolution of his problem, what is within the influence and scope of social work. An analysis of these closest connections will reveal psychological, family, group, medical and other reasons that push an individual to drunkenness and will help to find support in his personality to create sustainable motivation for recovery.

It should be recognized that a number of reasons, conditions and circumstances that complicate the client’s situation cannot be influenced not only by the social worker, the entire institute of social work, the entire social system of a given state, and even all of humanity as a whole. For example, it is impossible today to completely eliminate the causes of congenital or acquired disability or to compensate for those defects that limit the capabilities of individuals. Such achievements of civilization as the development of healthcare, the emergence of new types of genetic prognosis and prenatal diagnosis, improvement of medical care, improvement of working and living conditions eliminate some causes of disability, but they are replaced by others, largely caused by the same successes of civilization, so the total number number of people with disabilities is growing. Without being able to eliminate the cause, a social worker can only help the individual achieve the maximum level of integration into society possible given his real life circumstances and health.

Probably, poverty is an inevitable companion of modern society, since its causes are caused not only by deficiencies in personal health, character, intellect and psyche, but also by a general shortage of resources on a global scale. A social worker is not able to eliminate poverty; he can act to eliminate the most egregious consequences of poverty so that it does not become hereditary for the client’s family: provide assistance in providing adequate nutrition; help to get an education and at the same time a chance for success social start children of the poor whose parents cannot provide them with the same opportunities as children from wealthy or wealthy families; guarantee medical care, primarily to women and children. There are many such social problems that social workers must constantly resolve in their activities, but cannot resolve them entirely.

It is impossible to finally resolve the social problems of disability, poverty, racial or national intolerance, but they must be resolved again and again for each subsequent individual or family that finds themselves in difficulties because of these problems. Therefore, when providing social assistance to a client, a social worker deals primarily with his social situation.

As we delve deeper into the social situation, the subject of science and its new aspects are revealed more and more, and ideas about the content of the most important sections of social work as a science change.

Categories are an indispensable means of research and systematization of scientific knowledge. Identification of the main elements of the categorical apparatus makes it possible to reveal the logic of the development of social work and the natural transformation of the system of its concepts.

The experience of research and practical activity in social work is condensed in a categorical form, the fundamental levels of understanding and comprehension of its features, relationships, and mutual influences are expressed.

When structuring the concepts and categories of social work, they can be divided into groups:

1) categories that are not specific to the theory of social work, since the phenomena and processes they designate are also studied by other sciences through the prism of their subject and methods (“social relations”, “social activity”, “socialization”, etc.);

2) categories related primarily to the theory of social work, but also used by other branches of knowledge (“psychosocial work”, “social rehabilitation”, “family conflict”, etc.);

3) categories that are specific, actual categories of social work (“social worker”, “social service”, “targeted social assistance, etc.).

To summarize, it can be noted that the subject of social work as a science is the laws of social work that determine the nature and direction of the development of social processes in society. And from the practical side, the subject of social work is a social situation.

Conclusion

Social activities in Russia, as in other countries, serve noble goals - to ensure that the needs of the population, especially the socially vulnerable, are met, and to create a more favorable atmosphere for worthy support of their capabilities. Social work plays a huge role in helping an individual, family or group of people. Despite the fact that social work in our country is a very young branch of a state institute, more and more people are becoming involved in this type of professional activity, which is also a specialty in the higher education system. Because social work is an integrally important part of a democratic state.

The purpose of the course work was to study and analyze the essence of social work, to consider social work as a form of practical activity, as an academic discipline and from the point of view of an independent science. The research also examined the object and subject of social work. Analysis of the results allows us to draw the following conclusions:

1) The study showed that 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. Social work can be viewed from several angles: as an independent science, as an activity and as an academic discipline. Depending on this, its object and subject matter differ.

2) Social work as a science has its own subject, object, as well as a categorical apparatus. From the point of view of professional activity, social work has several aspects that determine by whom the actions should be performed, what their nature should be and to whom they should be directed. About social work as a discipline, we can say that it appeared in our country relatively recently, but despite this, it is gaining significant momentum, aimed at increasing the number of social workers and improving their qualifications.

3) In the course of the work, it was revealed that the main key categories of social work are: social protection, social support, social services, social security. Social protection is a system of principles, methods, social guarantees legally established by the state, activities and institutions that ensure the provision of optimal living conditions. Social support is provision in cash or in kind, in the form of services or benefits provided taking into account social guarantees legally established by the state. Social services are the activities of social services and individual specialists in social support, provision of social, social, medical, psychological, pedagogical, social and legal services. Social security should be interpreted as social assistance, involving direct transfer to clients of social services material resource in the form of various kinds of open and hidden payments.

4) It has been established that the object of social work is, first of all, a person in the system of social connections and relationships, at whom social action is directed, who experiences difficulties arising in life. The most important objects of social work are people, i.e. personality, and the family is the primary unit of society.

5) The subject of social work as a science is the patterns and principles of the development of social processes, their dynamics under the influence of various factors in the protection of civil rights and individual freedoms in society. And also, the subject of social work as an activity is the social situation . It was found that a social situation is a specific state of the problem of a specific social work client, individual or group, with all the wealth of its connections and mediation related to the resolution of this problem.

The theoretical significance of the study lies in the fact that its results, main conclusions and generalizations contribute to a deeper understanding of the content of the essence of social work, its subject and object.

List of sources used

1 Public dictionary of psychology, sociology and social work. - Barnaul, 1999. - 329 p.

2 Social work: Dictionary - reference book / Ed. IN AND. Filonenko. Comp.: E.A. Agapov, V.I. Akopov, V.D. Alperovich. - M.: “Contour”, 1998. - 480 s.

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11 Internet resource: http://art-1-1.narod.ru/

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1.1. The essence of social work

The modern understanding of the foundations of social development proceeds from the fact that the state’s social policy should be aimed at creating conditions that ensure a decent life and free development of people. In this regard, it is important to protect labor and people’s health, establish a guaranteed minimum wage, ensure state support family, motherhood and childhood, disabled people and senior citizens, development of social services, establishment of state pensions, benefits and other guarantees of social protection (among which social security by age, in case of illness, disability, loss of a breadwinner, etc. is especially highlighted).

Social work is a universal social institution: its bearers provide assistance to all individuals, regardless of social status, nationality, religion, race, gender, age and other circumstances.

The only criterion in this matter is the need for help and the inability to cope with life’s difficulties on one’s own.

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

As an activity aimed at helping people solve their problems, social work is one of the humane professions. Like medicine, which aims to rid people of diseases, or pedagogy, aimed at the formation of the human personality, it is a practical expression of the principle of humanism, according to which the highest value in society is man. Humanity is a moral quality that characterizes the attitude of social workers towards their clients.

Like all social institutions, the institute of social protection and social work ultimately performs the most important task for the state and society - the task of stabilizing and preserving society, maintaining and harmonizing existing public relations and providing conditions for its comprehensive development – ​​i.e. in fact, it is one of the essential factors in ensuring the stability and security of the state.

1.2. History of the development of social work with the poor

Social work as a social phenomenon has been characteristic of human society since its existence: at various periods of its development, society helps its members in various forms help to survive. This model of assistance is determined by the level of development of society and its culture in a specific historical period. The very first forms of social assistance are alms. With the advent of the state, the process of providing assistance is enriched with systemic properties (legislative basis for assistance, regulation of the process, etc.).

The spread of Christian ideology played a special role in the development of social work. In addition to the fact that the church is actively involved in real activities to create institutions of assistance and support for various categories of the population, Christian doctrine introduces a new moral meaning into the process of providing assistance. The very understanding of such phenomena as poverty is being revised in the context of a unique socio-religious activity aimed at transforming the world in the image and likeness of God.

In the second half of the 19th century. Not only the state and the church, but also various public organizations, primarily charitable, educational societies, and feminist organizations, begin to play an active role in the process of providing assistance.

The state system of assistance and support has focused its attention mainly on the treatment of social ills, such as poverty, homelessness, and disability. In a number of countries, state organizations are appearing that purposefully implement local government policies in the field of social security and support (Elberfeld social security system in Germany, the zemstvo charity system in Russia, etc.).

The development of social work in Russia has its own logic and features, which are expressed both in the conceptual apparatus of the history of Russian social assistance (charity and charity are the main, specific concepts of domestic experience) both in content and in forms. This specificity was formed in the conditions of the civilizational uniqueness of Russia (features of lifestyle, mentality, cultural traditions, folk pedagogy, etc.).

The identification of the main stages of pre-revolutionary charity and charity activities is associated with the nature of the participation of various forces in it: church, state, public.

So, the first stage: X - mid-18th centuries. – marked by active charitable activities of the church and the gradual formation state system charity. By the second half of the 18th century, a stable public policy aimed at helping the disadvantaged and needy. Effective forms and methods of helping those in need appear: orphans, illegitimate children, widows, the elderly, the incapacitated, the disabled, the crippled, the mentally ill, imprisoned fire victims, etc. There are two types of charity: “closed” - in institutions specially created for this purpose (hospitals, shelters , almshouses, etc.), “open” - outside institutions, carried out in the form of pensions, benefits, provision of land, profession. Church and private charity exists alongside state charity and is sometimes of leading importance.

Second stage: mid-18th–mid-19th centuries. – functioning of state-public charity. Of particular importance in this direction is the activity of Catherine II in strengthening the legislative and organizational basis for charity (opening orders for public charity); development of a closed charity system under the leadership of I.I. Betsky, and the emergence of public charity (the creation of public charitable societies such as Volnoye economic society, Imperial Humane Society, etc.).

The third stage: reforms 1861–1917 – a period of public charity. In the post-reform period, public charity and charity underwent major changes: qualitatively new principles for the organization and activities of charitable societies and institutions emerged. Distinctive features charitable activities decentralization, “openness” and public charity, a focus on prevention in social activities, the emergence and spread of original forms and methods of working with a wide contingent of the population, as well as the growth in the number of private charity are becoming. Despite the numerous shortcomings of the Russian charity system (the most important of which are the dispersal of funds and efforts, the lack unified program), this time became a heyday in the history of domestic social assistance.

The post-revolutionary and Soviet period is characterized by the development, mainly, of the social security system, which was generally established by the end of the 20s. In modern conditions, a model of social work is being formed that reflects the characteristics of social processes modern Russia and using the experience and traditions of organizing social activities in the field of charity and social welfare.

Ratings. The concepts of living wage and poverty line have become perhaps the most frequently used socio-economic terms. However, not only politicians, but also researchers argue. Despite the fact that over the past two decades many works have been written on these issues, the concept of poverty still remains controversial. The range of opinions here is quite wide and ranges from...

An important primary infection, without which in the practice of S.r. It is impossible to accumulate experience, generalize it and, in general, increase the effectiveness of this prof. d-sti. 46. ​​Basic forms of social work technologies in the penitentiary system Theoretical justification of various directions p. R. in society, developed to a greater or lesser extent. So, for example, studying sources on the theory of s. R. showed that...

Scientific literature. 5. Intensifying work with schools in the district - creating school teams to help elderly and sick people in need of social support. 6. Initiating relationships with the Faculty of Social Work and Tourism of the Mari State Technical University, offering students of the faculty places for industrial and pre-graduate internships in the center...

... - support; – recognition and evaluation of what has been done during the volunteer movement. 4.2 Regulatory support high school graduation qualifying work The topic “Organization of social services for the rural population of a municipal district” is based on the following regulatory framework: the federal law"About general principles organizations of local self-government in the Russian Federation" dated October 6...

The diversity and inconsistency of modern sociocultural processes have increased the need for reforming the social sphere, creating effective system social protection of the population. Starting from the ideas of Plato and Aristotle, the problem of social justice was considered as the creation of equal real life opportunities for the manifestation and implementation of intellectual creative forces, which is the most important criterion for a civilized society.

Social policy, social assistance and protection, social work - categories that in recent years have become the most relevant for Russian society. Social work occupies a special place among modern types professional activities. Its peculiarity is that it arose from direct practical activities to ensure people’s livelihoods, provide assistance to them, and protect their rights and interests. The content of social work is reflected in numerous definitions developed by scientists different countries. American scientists M. Sapps and K. Wells believe that “social work is a profession of devotees who deal with relationships between people and their environment, influencing people’s ability to perform vital functions and relieve discomfort and stress.” The International Federation of Social Workers has adopted the following definition: “Social work is a type of professional activity whose purpose is to carry out social transformations in society.” The substantive essence of social work is embodied in the most complex phenomenon “social”, which expresses the diverse ways and forms of existence and interaction in society as a system of holistic social subjects(personality, family, labor collective,

community, group, classes, etc.). Social activity serves the purposes of self-organization, self-knowledge, self-affirmation of a particular community, creation of the most favorable living conditions for it, protection of rights and interests, regulation of relations with other communities, groups, individuals.

The main function of the social sphere- reproduction and development of society and the individual as creators of their own life activity. The problems of social work are poverty, homelessness, unemployment, social isolation and loneliness, orphanhood; There are acute problems of refugees, violence against individuals, inequality, alcoholism, drug addiction, crime, organizing leisure time for adolescents, protecting the interests of family and childhood, the disabled and the elderly. The modern understanding of the mission of social work is as follows: the state in a civilized society implements an extensive and systematically organized system of social protection of the population, the conductors of which are social workers. At this stage of development of society, there are two components of social work: social protection and social services.

A modern social worker is a specialist in the field of social technology, deeply versed in the legal, moral and psychological characteristics of human life, and able to come to the rescue. He must:

Know the historical roots and traditions, domestic and Foreign experience organizations for social protection of the population;

Have skills in social diagnostics of living conditions of various population groups;

Possess organizational skills, high general culture, and have a pedagogical inclination;

Have high legal preparedness;

Be competent in medical and psychological issues (feelings of compassion, love for a person, etc.);

Have a high communication culture;

Strictly comply with the professional code of ethics, actively implement the state’s social policy to harmonize the individual and society.

In our country, the position of social workers was officially established only in 1991 on the initiative of the Committee on Family Affairs and Demographic Policy under the Council of Ministers of the Russian Federation. On an experimental basis, 32 educational institutions were involved in training social workers in Russia. To coordinate scientific and educational activities in Moscow, the Russian State Social Institute was created. Today there is a growing understanding that social work must be scientifically based. Increased prestige scientific research in the profession, special interuniversity and international conferences, discussing the effectiveness of using scientific research results.

By order of the State Committee for Education of the USSR dated August 1, 1991 No. 376, on September 25 it was approved syllabus specialty 0312 - “social work”.

Success in social work, as experience shows, depends critically on the social orientation of personnel, which presupposes:

Broad socio-political outlook;

Skills social analysis situation and the ability to implement it based on informed choice the most effective means of implementing social policy, forms and methods of social work with various categories of the population;

The ability to predict and anticipate options for the development of social processes and take them into account in practical activities;

Communication skills and skills in working with people, the ability to influence the intellectual, psychological and physical potential of a person.

Social orientation is professional quality social worker, which is developed in the process of practical activity by clarifying and developing theoretical principles in practice, in specific life circumstances.

For a social worker, it is important to have the skills and abilities to use various methods of working with

individuals, groups, problem solving at the federal, regional and municipal levels. Comprehensive is effective practical use methods and theories of psychology.

The weakening of personal, individual subjectivity puts a person in a certain kind of dependence and interferes with his ability to self-defense and self-improvement. A number of problems arise related to the ability to realize one’s subjectivity. Therefore, one of the main goals of both psychology and social work is to create conditions for the manifestation of vitality and social subjectivity, to help a person who wants to change, to solve problems that hinder his development. It is these issues related to the practical aspects of psychology and social work that become the focus of attention in this case.

Based on psychological data, social work may choose to resolve tensions by first eliminating objective injustices against oppressed groups or by giving the inevitable status differences a legitimate legal character.

Psychological support for social work is also important in the fact that, despite the decrease in public participation in social assistance currently observed in our country, the best traditions of charity, patronage, volunteering and other forms of participation in the fate of people in need, with which Russia was rich, are beginning to be revived in past.

For the practice of social work, the following directions:

Psychodiagnostics;

Psychological consultation;

Using techniques, methods and methods of psychological interaction with the client.

Psychology presents great opportunities use in social work in various ways impact on personality. There are a number of psychological models that offer not only methodological and theoretical principles, but also various technologies.

The choice of psychological foundations and techniques in social work largely depends on the psychological competence, experience of the specialist and his knowledge of psychology. The practice of social work today faces the serious task of using various technical techniques and technologies for influencing clients in need of help. This is one of the areas of integration of psychology and social work.

The state in its activities resorts to legal regulation, having in its arsenal methods of coercion and punishment for violation of statutory norms. A social worker cannot use violent methods. The experience of training social sector professionals in our country shows that it is still difficult to trace the strong, sustainable motivation that influences the choice of this particular specialty. The profession of a social worker, according to foreign experts, is chosen by people who, by their upbringing, personal prerequisites, and previous life experience, are oriented towards providing selfless help and support to others. This work is difficult and dangerous, because, in addition to social protection, social security of the population, you have to communicate with offenders, criminals, and socially disadvantaged elements. Family traditions, crisis in relationships with children or parents, teenagers running away from home, “street influence”, childhood social illnesses generated by our “business age” happen today both in the families of poor immigrants and in the families of the wealthy elite . The role of a social worker, psychologist and teacher in solving problems of society, especially among young people, is difficult to overestimate.

Self-test questions

1. Formulate the essence of social work.

2. What is the object of social work?

3. What are the main functions of a social worker?

4. Give the concept of social orientation of personnel.

1. Actual problems social policy in the context of perestroika. M., 1989.

2. Barulin B.S. Social life of society: Issues of methodology. M., 1987.

3. Grigoriev SI. Sociology and social work. Barnaul, 1991.

4. Zainyshev I.G. The relationship between social policy and social work. M, 1994.

5. Kravchenko A.I. Sociology: reference guide. M., 1996.

6. Kulichenko R.M. Social work and training of social workers in Russia: Textbook. allowance. Tambov, 1997.

Social work as a profession appeared in Russia relatively recently. The emergence of a new specialty was caused by large-scale changes in our society associated with the social crisis and, as a consequence, the emergence of vulnerable groups of the population in need of professional help and support - and not only material. The socio-economic crisis was accompanied by an ideological crisis: ideological principles and dogmas familiar to society were destroyed, and there was a loss of a sense of internal certainty and stability.

During the short period of existence of social work in Russia, one can observe an increasing interest in this profession. This is evidenced not only by the creation of a large number public organizations, offering services to solve social problems of various population groups, but also the emergence of almost thirty departments where social workers are trained. Nowadays, few people doubt that social work is necessary in any society, and not just in those where there are complex socio-economic problems. After all, it is one of the most common professions in developed countries of Europe and North America Social work: theory and practice: Textbook / Ed. ed. Doctor of History, Prof. E.I. Kholostova, Doctor of Historical Sciences A.S. Servina. - M.: INFRA - M.: 2010. - P. 32..

Social work is professional practice, which is based on a system of relevant theoretical knowledge. It aims to ensure humanism and social justice by activating and supporting the least protected groups and members of society and counteracting factors of social exclusion. Social work is a tool for the implementation of social policy and can be carried out through social diagnostics, social correction, social pedagogy, social prevention, social rehabilitation and other mechanisms Pavlenok. Theory, history and methodology of social work. -M.: ITK Dashkov, 2011. - P. 132..

The objectives of social work are:

• 1. Expanding the capabilities and independence of clients in overcoming their life problems;
• 2. Establishing connections between clients and social services and other organizations that have the necessary resources and provide appropriate services;
• 3. Promoting the development of services that meet the needs of clients and influencing the formation of effective social policy Kaygorodova L.A., Fadeev Yu.V., Dubrova O.A. Social work theory. Textbook for correspondence students of the Faculty of Social Work. - Novocherkassk: Prime, 2010. - P. 86..

Social work as a professional activity performs the following main functions:

• 1. Diagnostic - study, analysis and assessment of the life field of the client (individual, group, society), assessment of the results achieved in the process of work;
• 2. Prognostic - development of a consistent plan for solving a client’s problem or social problem in society, taking into account possible alternatives, prospects and options for change;
• 3. Organizational - the activities of the social service and its employees regarding ensuring the interaction of all participants and institutions involved in working with the client;
• 4. Communication - establishment, continuation and termination of necessary professional contacts, exchange of information;
• 5. Human rights - the use of laws and legal norms to ensure the rights and interests of clients;
• 6. Preventive - preventing the occurrence of negative life conflicts in individuals and risk groups;
• 7. Corrective - constructive changes in microsociety and the human life support system;
• 8. Socio-economic - meeting the material interests and needs of low-income clients;
• 9. Other functions (lawmaking, research, training, etc.) Kuzina I.G. Theory of social work: Textbook. - Vladivostok: Publishing house of DVSTU, 2010. - P. 63..

The basic principles of social work are Technologies of social work / Under general. ed. E.I. Single. - M.: INFRA-M, 2010. - P. 211.:

• 1. Respect for the dignity of the individual: each person is unique and unrepeatable, which must be taken into account by social workers, avoiding any manifestation of neglect of the client. Every person has the right to self-realization, which does not lead to the violation of similar rights of others. Social work is incompatible with direct or indirect coercion of clients to any actions, even in favor of the client or his close social environment;
• 2. Prioritizing the interests of clients: social workers direct all their efforts, knowledge and skills to help individuals, families, groups, communities and communities to improve them, as well as to resolve conflicts and overcome their consequences;
• 3. Tolerance: social workers must show tolerance to different emotional manifestations of clients, maintain balance under any circumstances, perceive the problems and circumstances of clients regardless of the latter’s lifestyle, their behavior, social and national origin, gender, etc.;
• 4. Trust and collaboration in solving client problems: social workers collaborate with clients to try to solve any problems they face in the best possible way to meet the interests of clients; promote voluntary participation of clients in the process of providing social services, as well as maximum independence of clients in solving their social problems; create a friendly atmosphere of communication with the client;
• 5. Availability of services: social workers provide assistance to everyone who turns to them for protection, support, consultation or advice, without any discrimination on the basis of gender, age, physical or mental disability, social or racial origin, religion, language, political opinion, property status, sexual orientation. The right to receive one or another type of service is guaranteed to clients and is regulated by relevant legislation;
• 6. Confidentiality: Social workers in any situation inform clients about how confidentiality is ensured, why it is necessary, and the restrictions regarding its compliance. The duty of social workers is to not disclose any information about clients, except in cases where this is done with their consent or in accordance with the procedure established by law;
• 7. Compliance professional ethics: social workers contribute to the formation and implementation of activities within the framework of social policy, ensuring human well-being, are responsible for the development and use professional standards when deciding practical problems social work Pavlenok P.D. Theory, history and methodology of social work. - M.: ITK Dashkov, 2011. - P. 191..

Social workers use a variety of tools and methods in their work:

• - socio-economic (providing in-kind and cash assistance; assistance in using benefits, compensation and payments; supervision and consumer services etc);
• - organizational and prescriptive (establishing regulations and norms for the activities of social services, advising clients regarding the procedure for obtaining services; these methods are based on legal documents and regulatory acts);
• - psychological and pedagogical (direct interaction with the client through the mechanism of socio-psychological, pedagogical changes in his behavior, well-being, and the like - support, provision of information, explanation, recommendations, moral encouragement and other forms of work) Social work: history, theory and practice: Scientific-teacher - Method. a manual for students, undergraduates, graduate students and specialists in the field of social pedagogy, social work / Kharchenko S. Ya., Kratinov N. S., Vakhovsky L. Ts., Kratinova V. A., Pesotskaya A. P., Pokladov V. V. In 2 hours - Part 1. - Lugansk, 2009. - P. 49..

The general approaches to the process of providing assistance that social workers follow in their work are:

• - direct intervention (supervision, socio-psychological counseling, training, changing client behavior);
• - indirect intervention aimed at changing the environment in which clients find themselves (planning, administration, data collection, management, research);
• - combined intervention (facilitation of group work, mobilization, representation of interests, counseling, interaction with other specialists) Fundamentals of social work Textbook. 3rd ed., rev. and additional (Series: "Higher Education") (GRIF). Ed. Akmalova A.A., Pavlenok P.D., Babkin N.I., editors, Anikeeva O.A. - M.: Infra-M, 2010. - P. 202..

Thus, social work is a professional activity aimed at organizing assistance and mutual assistance to people and groups who find themselves in difficult life situations, their psychosocial rehabilitation and integration. In the very general view social work is a complex social phenomenon, an independent field of scientific and practical knowledge, a profession and an academic discipline. The main goal The professional activity of a social work specialist is considered to be concern for the quality of life and the development of the capabilities of the individual, family, and society.