Professionalism of Social Workers in Urban and Rural Areas (Based on Research Materials in the Republic of Karelia)

Abstract

Social work is a specific professional activity aimed at helping people in need who are unable to cope with their difficult life situation on their own. Social work agents are social workers who take on different roles and perform different social functions. Due to the specificity and diversity of client groups, a number of requirements are placed on social workers in order to ensure the provision of quality social services. These requirements are not only formally laid down in job descriptions and the professional codes of ethics, but are often dictated by the particularities of the area in which social work is carried out. The subject of the study is the professional characteristics of social workers in urban and rural areas (using the case of the Republic of Karelia as an example). The article analyzes the main approaches to understanding professionalism and its components, describes professional and ethical requirements for the profession, personal qualities of a social worker, and also presents the results of an empirical study of the professional characteristics of social workers in urban and rural areas.Our research is aimed at analyzing the professionalism of social workers in the Republic of Karelia, especially in the context of differences between urban and rural areas. The research is based on data collected through surveys, interviews and observations in Petrozavodsk and Prionezhsky district. The study revealed significant differences in working conditions between urban and rural social workers, including in terms of educational training, work experience, range of services provided and levels of physical activity. Having analyzed the data obtained, we emphasize the need to develop targeted professional development programs for social workers, taking into account the specificities of urban and rural environment, and recommend expanding the educational opportunities for social workers, creating conditions for their self-development and research activities, paying special attention to the prevention of burnout, and developing cooperation between government agencies and rural administrations to raise public awareness of social issues.