SOCIAL-WORK AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Some social workers think that their work within the frame of their pr ofession has a permanent and unchangeable character. The conception of the permanent and unchangeable character of social work excludes the theory, values and methodology used from possible discussion and refle xive verification. The orientation towards only one model of values, t heory and methods runs the risk of harming clients and in a wider sens e risks destabilising social relations. The character of social proble ms and the way to solve them depends on social, economic, cultural and also political conditions. Continual reflection on these conditions a nd also one's own ethical, theoretical and methodological position is therefore necessary. The following text is a polemic on the myth of th e unchanging character of social work and it is an attempt to explicat e the meaning of social pressures which participate in the formation o f character of social work. This text rises from the presupposition th at social work is socially constructed. Activity which may be seen in one situation as a helping process and referred to as social work may be understood in another situation, for instance, as abetting a delict .