A generalist social worker is one who works with clients at all levels of practice. Not only do they work one on one at the micro level but they intervene at the mezzo and macro level when necessary. They provide clients with resources and information that may be necessary in the client’s plan of change. When working at the micro level they practice one on one with clients assessing their needs and refer them to organizations and groups at the mezzo level when they feel that these supplemental programs would benefit their client. Generalist social workers also advocate for clients at the macro level when clients and communities need assistance and they promote change when the client is not receiving assistance that is needed. The idea of this practice intrigues me because it will allow me to provide all opportunities and options possible to my clients. I also think that there needs to be more social workers who are striving to incorporate mezzo and macro practices in order to ensure that all clients are receiving every resource possible in order to better their situation.
The social work values; service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence are all crucial to the generalist approach and any approach in the social work field. All social workers must strive to help their clients and provide them with service that will benefit the client. While providing service to our clients we must ensure that we are preserving the dignity and self-worth of the person by guaranteeing that clients are given the opportunity to make decisions in their plan of change and we are not making those decisions for them. Also we must make sure that our clients are given the opportunity to access treatment and resources that are available and advocating for our clients at the macro level when necessary to provide true social justice for our clients. As a generalist social worker the value of human relationships is crucial, at the micro level we must maintain a safe, ethical and helpful relationship with our clients as well as provide them with opportunity to build relationships at the mezzo level. Integrity and competence go hand in hand and we must strive every day to grow as social workers and continue to build our knowledge on types of practice as well as maintain a solid understanding of all the resources out there for our clients benefit.
The social work values; service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence are all crucial to the generalist approach and any approach in the social work field. All social workers must strive to help their clients and provide them with service that will benefit the client. While providing service to our clients we must ensure that we are preserving the dignity and self-worth of the person by guaranteeing that clients are given the opportunity to make decisions in their plan of change and we are not making those decisions for them. Also we must make sure that our clients are given the opportunity to access treatment and resources that are available and advocating for our clients at the macro level when necessary to provide true social justice for our clients. As a generalist social worker the value of human relationships is crucial, at the micro level we must maintain a safe, ethical and helpful relationship with our clients as well as provide them with opportunity to build relationships at the mezzo level. Integrity and competence go hand in hand and we must strive every day to grow as social workers and continue to build our knowledge on types of practice as well as maintain a solid understanding of all the resources out there for our clients benefit.
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