Based on the track record of social work in terms of achieving the discipline’s goals and the widespread dissatisfaction among the professional community, this article seeks to propose a redefinition of social work. It reveals the need to steer away from the definition that pigeonholes social work intervention into areas focused on specific problems and instead move towards a more comprehensive intervention centred on needs and the community.
It presents a critical and wide-ranging reflection on the various means of social work intervention, respecting the more traditional approach and calling on professionals to reflect in order to generate more innovative interventions. Teamwork and time are critical to bringing about these changes. The article also analyses the numerous factors that have a bearing on the decision to intervene in a particular way, empowering social workers by reminding them how this profession directly impacts the formulation of social policies beyond merely working to achieve their implementation.
