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- Title
A Theoretical Scheme for Determining Roles of Professional and Nonprofessional Personnel.
- Authors
Richan, William C.
- Abstract
This article discusses a theoretical scheme for determining roles of professional and non-professional social workers. For many years it has been a truism of social work that there are not enough to go around. The problem is brought home by statistics showing that the vast majority of positions in social welfare programs are filled by nonprofessional workers. The article presents data representing one approach to the question of how best to use graduate social workers and other agency personnel. It also investigates why there is a need of professional social worker at all. According to a recent manpower study it is found that one out of four social welfare workers hold graduate degrees, with 18 percent reporting a master's degree from a graduate school of social work. There are certain functions that need to be fulfilled by professional workers, but the matter of interest is that to what extent are there alternatives in the service situation. Under the organizational system, correct actions are spelled out for the worker in large numbers of concrete instructions. The scope of any worker's responsibility is narrowed, thus allowing him to master the great volume of specific rules and procedures. Ethical behavior is reinforced by direct observation of the worker by his superiors, frequent and detailed reports on his activities, administrative reviews, and similar devices.
- Subjects
PARAPROFESSIONALS in social services; SOCIAL workers; HUMAN services personnel; PROFESSIONAL associations; PROFESSIONS; RATING of social workers; SOCIAL services; SOCIAL science research
- Publication
Social Work, 1961, Vol 6, Issue 4, p22
- ISSN
0037-8046
- Publication type
Article