In a school environment, educational goals are achieved through the social support of the students, parents and staff members. This is because they need each other so that they can deliver services.
The school and the entire community should have a binding relationship with the pupils. Social workers need to have a new approach to their duties so that they can offer social support and services to the society. In this attempt they will offer counseling to the children, their family members and to the school. The specific needs of the children would vary because of their family background and problems, physical inability as well as social needs that children require to coup with situations in life. Their problem-solving capabilities and their confidence in interacting with others need to be nurtured to ensure that they grow and develop into responsible adults.
The major responsibility of school social workers is to provide good and quality education, counseling and more often, they should discuss on use of available resource to improve the lives of the members of the society.
Delivery of services is very crucial and will depend on various factors which would promote or undermine the efforts of social workers. In a survey conducted by state association, various commissions, workers and employers identified different variables to effective service delivery. Among those sampled were members from NASW, American Federation of Teachers and from other associations. It was noted that majority of them had multiple membership. The rating factors that were used to identify the key factors to effective learning were discussed. (Charkin, 1985)
It was found that it was necessary to show a degree of professionalism by providing good leadership strategies and being of benefit to the community. It was necessary that children be counseled from time to time on matters concerning issues of life such as education and social interactions.
It is necessary that parents are involved in decision making. These will enhance participation, or involvement in the education processes. These contributions through offering of suggestions and opinions can go along way in improving the success and education standards of a school.
The size of the school, the geographical position as well as the community are determining factors of good leadership and policy making in the administrative duties.
The performance of school social workers was found to be on collaborative attachments on community agencies, in having special concern on some children in the class activities and guidance. They preferred to improve the teachers-parents relationships through discussions and meetings that help the teachers to appreciate the diversity of parents and to meet their needs. The social workers also attempt to have in-service training for teachers to set up new programs which address issues of developing professionalism and good relationship with the administrators.
It is found that interrelation between the different professionals in an organization can bring harmony and unity which will lead to meeting objectives of the institution. The social workers, supervisors, administrators, professional teachers and the parents need to have common goals that support the continuity in education.
In this survey, the quality of education needed to be upgraded through recruitment of competent personnel. This was necessary as it would address the problems of dropouts, suicide cases, inter-personal conflicts, and the crisis in the society and in schools.
Social development studies were necessary as they could reduce the social conflicts among peer groups, parents, social workers, school administration and the children at school. Furthermore the effects of working conditions, pressure from administrators, the workload, and high performance expectation are some of the pressures that can interrupt quality service delivery. As a result, good leadership qualities are needed so that they can address these issues with great concern.
Liberty at work is a motivating factor to all the social workers. It should be supported through continued training on social services, competence and professionalism. It would also involve acquiring social skills and interpersonal relationships. Different approaches to problem solving on the part of the teachers, social workers, parents, children and administrators need social competence so that these groups can be integrated to work as a team.
Reference
Charkin, N. (1985). School Social Work Practice: A re-appraisal: Social work in Education, 8, 3-13.