Society in general looks at the family as the fundamental basis of its structure and well-being. Every country has its own perspective of the family, based primarily on different cultures. The family is considered to be a functional unit – the fulcrum of society through which traditions are transmitted from one generation to another.

Family characteristics such as size, age and structure interact with relationships and obligations to facilitate interaction of family with the working world. All these elements are undergoing change. These changes are based on the perspective of how the family is viewed by its members of society as well as the structure. The influence of these structural changes and new opportunities imposes pressures on the family members to maintain a healthy and balanced relationship.

The family is a social institution which provides support and care to its members, from the early days of childhood to adolescence when these members are entering into the working world. Some families are also involved directly or indirectly in the support and care of elderly relatives with their medical, economic and social impositions.

The new phenomenon of women entering into the working population has brought about new challenges for the family. Balance of both economic and social roles varies from family to family, depending on various factors.

Various countries are offering social and economic benefits to their population. Family policy is taking an integrated approach to community-building and helping families.

The focus is primarily based on three principles:

• facilitating and preventing people from becoming socially disadvantaged or losing contact with the community;

• helping family members with problems; and

• preventing family crisis with early warning processes and development.

The concept of an interdisciplinary approach is looked upon as being one of the ways forward to assisting and empowering families in their communities. The new conceptual openings brought about by such an approach, in terms of whether these should be developed within or outside the current framework of social services, may sometimes be perceived by families seeking help as being controlling rather than empowering. The right of families to live in dignity is essential in view of the many genuine cases known to the social work services of families which are in need of assistance. Legislative measures need to focus on the development of flexible policies which do not fall victim to over-bureaucratisation. It is hoped that family policy will improve availability of the necessary resources. The implementation of certain services needs to be aware of the risk of micro-institutionalisation in the community and thus continue to promote the social support network that the extended family notion has been “providence” for years.

Social work with families

“Social work” is defined by the Social Work Act (2003) as providing a professional service that is performed to promote or restore a mutually-beneficial interaction between individuals as well as between individuals and society in order to improve the quality of life, by aiding persons in receipt of such services to understand, resolve and prevent personal, interpersonal, family or social problems.

Social work offers a broad range of services from emotional support to referrals for other professional resources that assist families to live a better quality of life.

It is within the social worker’s role to carry out a psychosocial assessment based on a holistic approach that provides a sound basis for professional intervention. This assessment includes evaluation of the resources of each individual family member, strengths and support systems, such as:

• past coping behaviours;

• living arrangements;

• education level;

• employment;

• leisure interests;

• financial situation;

• support networks;

• self-development.

In assessing the family’s needs, the social worker addresses the emotional response and reaction of the individual members of the family. The impact of the therapeutic intervention upon the family as well as the effect on the family members’ relationships and roles is also given due consideration together with other personal or social problems. The assessment process can be an essential tool in providing other professionals with valuable information about psychosocial issues that can guide them in their treatment, management, and interaction with the family.

Social workers may intervene by providing: individual, couple, or family counselling; group education or group support like parenting skills; and also by working with community groups in the development of resources to assist families in meeting their own needs. Counselling interventions are designed to maximise personal and social resources in dealing with or managing social and personal issues.

Social workers can also assist families to identify community resources that can meet the environmental, personal, or interpersonal needs of the individual family members and that can provide the whole family with support networks in the community. It is essential for social workers to outline networks that address the challenges families face. The network of services assists in bridging the support of the person’s family life and community with the aim of meeting the various needs of each individual family.

Social workers are guided by core professional values that promote dignity, self-determination, individualisation, and respect for the beliefs and practices of different cultures. They advocate for social justice in the form of human rights and access to resources. These values can be directly focused on enabling the family as a core unit and its individual members to acquire the strengths of empowering themselves in creating a better living environment. Consequently, this will reflect soundly on the society at large.

Authors: Marika Borg Wirth and Edwina Gouder, on behalf of the Social Work Profession Board

within the Family and Social Solidarity Ministry