Social work is essential for ensuring the sustainable well-being of society. The Code of Ethics by the National Association of Social Workers provides guidelines for the execution of this profession (Code of Ethics: English, n.d.). The code is exhaustive in identifying the scope of responsibilities of social workers, the target audience, as well as values and principles that should be followed in this field of work.
Of all responsibilities that are imposed on social workers, the responsibility to broader society was the one that had the most important value for me. The nature of the work demanded me to interact with vulnerable people who require outside help. Whether it was a disabled, elderly person, or a displaced alcohol abuser, I always had to remind myself that the few individuals I worked with directly are only a small fraction of the disadvantaged population.
Helping people is a rewarding experience due to the creation of mutual sympathy. However, it was difficult to remember that for each person that I managed to help, there were thousands of others whom I was not even able to meet. All of them deserve equal devotion from social workers regardless of the fact of personal acquaintance. The only way to help them all was to participate in public and political activities.
This is why the responsibility to broader society was so important to me – it showcased the means of solving a seemingly impossible task. Promotion of sustainable social conditions, improvement of social welfare, ensuring sufficient access to necessary resources, and countless other needs could only be accomplished with public participation. Although small acts are important, global changes demand large-scale social actions and commitment to public participation.
Reference
Code of Ethics: English. (n.d.). Web.