ABSTRACT
The scale of human problems in our society has led to large social work organisations, but the day-to-day business of these departments is still small-scale, humble, and determined by the personal influence of social workers and clients on each other. Good planning and policies can only be made effective through good practice. This cannot be learnt by procedures or rules of thumb. Helping people requires different skills from framing strategies for overcoming social problems. Very often, accounts of social work practice start with some discussion of the motives, values and attitudes that social workers need to have in order to help their clients. The helper’s own supplies of energy and enthusiasm seem to be closely related to his ability to establish communication with the middles of his clients. The creative and invigorating aspects of social work lie in making contact with someone who has previously shut off.
