Document Title: Relevance of law to social work practice, social work law

Paper code: 13017

Discuss the relevance of law to social work practice

Law can be defined as a body of rules for guidance of human conduct imposed and enforced among members of society.  It can also be defined as a system and process of the means of social control forcing social order in society.

Law in relation to social work can mean the legal aspects of social work practice, such as understanding the general relationship between the justice system and social work, having a working knowledge of the laws and regulatory agencies that affect ones particular area of social work, and being prepared to serve as a witness in courtroom cases.

The term social work law is also applied to the legal standards governing the training and certification of social workers. In the United Kingdom, for example, the title of social worker was defined by law in April 2005. It can be used only by persons who have met certain educational requirements and are registered either with the General Social Care Council (in England) or with its counterparts in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.