Description

Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. These basic needs cover inter alia the following aspects. Family, household food security, mental handicaps and disabilities,  mental health promotion, welfare rights and other social factors that may be related.  The mental health promotion is the clearest overlap with social work. Other aspects are only important in so far they impact on mental health and wellbeing.

The idea is not to train the counsellor to become a social worker, but to do effective counselling in the broader context of communities with reference to social needs and challenges.

In study unit 10.1 we will look at the way the counsellor may benefit from knowing the larger context of social work, applicable legislation and policies, etc. A foundation for this was laid in module 3. 

In study unit 10.2 the focus will fall on community needs assessments. This has the advantage that it will provide skills to the counsellor to participate in community need surveys that will enable the counsellor to know the client better, but also  to be known and respected by the client as one interested in the  welfare and wellbeing of communities and their respective challenges and needs. In this study unit we do differentiate between wellness and healthcare with reference to mental health and mental wellbeing. 

Each study unit can be completed by filling in the multiple choice questionnaire in order to gain the credits that accumulate towards a qualification.

Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. These basic needs cover inter alia the following aspects. Family, household food security, mental handicaps and disabilities,  mental health promotion, welfare rights and other social factors that may be related.  The mental health promotion is the clearest overlap with social work. Other aspects are only important in so far they impact on mental health and wellbeing.

The idea is not to train the counsellor to become a social worker, but to do effective counselling in the broader context of communities with reference to social needs and challenges.

In study unit 10.1 we will look at the way the counsellor may benefit from knowing the larger context of social work, applicable legislation and policies, etc. A foundation for this was laid in module 3. 

In study unit 10.2 the focus will fall on community needs assessments. This has the advantage that it will provide skills to the counsellor to participate in community need surveys that will enable the counsellor to know the client better, but also  to be known and respected by the client as one interested in the  welfare and wellbeing of communities and their respective challenges and needs. In this study unit we do differentiate between wellness and healthcare with reference to mental health and mental wellbeing. 

Each study unit can be completed by filling in the multiple choice questionnaire in order to gain the credits that accumulate towards a qualification.