1 Poverty

Many, but by no means all, of the service users encountered by social workers will be poor or have very limited financial resources. Also, due to multiple factors, many service users will be subject to social exclusion where to some substantial extent their opportunities will be impaired or restricted. Therefore, social workers need to understand the causes and consequences of poverty and social exclusion. It is also important for social workers to appreciate the ways in which communities function and how community support may be mobilised. In addition, and at a more interpersonal level, social workers must appreciate and know how to work creatively with groups and group processes. Finally, social workers must know about how frameworks of law are influential in the management and amelioration of social divisions and in maximising the potential for positive change.