Contemporary Social Work – Accompaniment Through Service

Abstract

As is often said, social work is not just a profession but a service for the sake of those who are experiencing life crises. Some expect fully professional services, others deep empathy toward clients. Meanwhile, social workers are ever more frequently pointing out the difficulties with reconciling these (often divergent) expectations. Among the reasons indicated for this situation are divergences connected with the processes of up-bringing in families, especially problems with generational transmission and the conveyance of essential norms and values. Both social workers themselves and society are posing the question: what should a social worker (or similar professional) be like? The accepted standards of social service do not resolve these issues – the established methods and techniques of activity are not enough. This is true because in each activity there appears a particular person with his or her individual problems. This reality requires a holistic perspective – in both its material and spiritual aspect, taking into account individual experience and the social context. This attitude undoubtedly represents a characteristic element of this profession. To serve another by helping is not the same as being a servant, and accompanying does not mean doing everything for the person. These problems constitute part of a wider debate on the possible limits of professionalization from the point of view of the worker’s ethical responsibilities. This article presents and analyzes results of a survey of final-year students of Social Work and Family Science studies at one of the Krakow universities, which inquired about preferred values that are important for social workers’ personal lives and professional activities.