Social Workers are often defined as “agents of
change", yet this role often comes with a level of frustration. As we try
to function as change agents in society, we invariably encounter resistance. If
people, or social service agencies, or larger social systems wanted to change
they would have done so long before we arrived on the scene. So, the nature of
our job is to try to get people to make life changes at least to cope and improve
their lives, but on their part the people resist. No wonder so many Social Workers
get burnt out.
 
This is according to a Social Work blogger C.Mathews
Hawkins. Literature on Social Worker’s professions continues to trend in more
or less description. In lay man terms, Social Workers inspire hope,
particularly for the vulnerable. The profession has continued to breed change in
our society through various interventions and programmes. Becoming a Social
Worker often begins with an interested notion of helping others in a meaningful
and lasting way.
 
One can refer to the profession as the modern-day
Messiah to vulnerable groups. Social Workers are agents of change who believe
that equality can heal wounds caused by, abuse, racism, homophobia, heterosexism,
patriarchy, classism, and poverty. The profession seeks to end any form of
injustice to human beings and promotes equality and social change in our communities.
 
Social Workers are conscious of the battles they must
fight, the forces that they can and cannot control, the political powers, bureaucracy
that seeks to diminish their spirits and that of their clients and yet they continue
to march on. 
 
Often than not people have a limited view of what a
Social Worker is and what a Social Worker does. Many people believe Social Workers
to be non-profit case managers who work only with families and children, to be
the entities that divide families than unite them, e.g when a child is removed from
a family environment into a safer space, this if usually done in the best
interest of a child. In some instances, social workers are viewed as an
instrument that brings order to broken families.
 
The profession brings about change in our lives
directly or indirectly. Social ills have become a norm in families and society
at large. Social Workers are often in the front line. Be it teenage pregnancy,
substance abuse, issues of violence against women and children or taking of the
vulnerable such as people with disability, children, elderly to name a few. Despite
all the red tape and bureaucracy, the profession must ensure that the end user
is protected.
 
Social Workers from across the country have raised
several challenges which they face daily at a Social Work Indaba held in Durban,
some years ago.
 
They made a call to make the profession relevant to
the current issues facing South African society as well as revise the curricula
offered at universities to better prepare social workers for the reality of
community work.
 
The Social Workers said they were providing services
to an ever-increasing number of poor immigrants entering the country and catering
to the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people – one
of the most misunderstood sectors of society. 
 
Psychosocial support for Social Workers also needed to
improve because practitioners are often confronted with traumatic situations on
the field. The view was that effective social work practice cannot take place
unless Social Workers were healed from their own scars and receive emotional
and trauma counselling. The 21st of March, which is also marked Human Rights
Day coincidentally is also Social Workers Day. As we commemorate Human Rights
Day, let us also observe, recognize and celebrate those who work tirelessly and
professionally to protect the vulnerable. 
 
As we applaud social development in our society, let
us not forget those who are behind making it happen, those that bring plans,
strategies to life by delivering the most needed social services for the betterment
of the vulnerable.