My Social Work Glossary
Social Work Glossary
Hello, my name is Marika! Next semester, I would like to enroll in the social work program. The role of the social worker? To provide concrete help to people facing difficult social realities: family violence, loss of autonomy, or poverty, for example. How? By enabling them to find solutions themselves when they encounter these difficulties. This glossary allows you to learn common vocabulary in this field. I have chosen 20 terms, most of which come from the website of the Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Office of the French Language). Under each term, you will find the definition, pronunciation, French translation, examples, and, where possible, an image! Hopefully, these definitions will become concrete tools to enrich your daily work!
- assessment
- noun
- Assessment in social work is an ongoing, collaborative process of gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information to understand a client's situation, strengths, and needs.
- Example: During the initial assessment, the social worker identified that the family's lack of stable housing was the primary barrier to their overall well-being.
- fr: évaluation
- case Management
- noun
- A collaborative process of planning, facilitating, and advocating for options and services to meet an individual’s holistic needs.
- Example: Effective case management requires the social worker to coordinate between healthcare providers, schools, and legal services to ensure the client receives comprehensive support.
- fr: gestion de cas
- intervention
- noun
- In social work, an intervention is a planned, purposeful, and evidence-based action or set of actions designed to improve a client's well-being, solve problems, and enhance social functioning.
- Example: The social worker used a crisis intervention model to help the client regain emotional equilibrium following a traumatic incident.
- fr: intervention
- referral
- noun
- An act of referring someone or something for consultation, review, or further action.
- Example: After assessing the family's immediate financial crisis, the social worker made a formal referral to the local food bank and housing assistance program.
- fr: référence
- termination
- noun
- The action of bringing something or coming to an end.
- Example: After reviewing the client's significant progress over the last six months, the social worker scheduled a final session to discuss termination, ensuring all therapeutic gains were solidified and proper referrals for aftercare were in place.
- fr: terminaison
- direct Practice
- noun phrase
- Direct practice in social work is the face-to-face, micro-level, or personal intervention with individuals, families, and groups to facilitate change, provide counseling, or offer support.
- Example: During the home visit, the social worker engaged in direct practice by conducting a risk assessment with the family and collaboratively developing a safety plan to address immediate child welfare concerns.
- fr: l'intervention directe
- service
- noun
- The ethical principle that a social worker’s primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems, elevating the needs of others above self-interest.
- Example: The core value of service encourages social workers to use their professional skills to assist vulnerable populations, often through volunteerism or community outreach.
- fr: service
- self-Determination
- noun
- The ethical principle that recognizes the rights of clients to make their own choices and decisions.
- Example: The social worker wishes to develop the self-determination of the client in a situation of homelessness.
- fr: autodétermination
- social justice
- noun
- A principle that recognizes the existence of economic and social inequalities between people, and aims at equal rights and collective solidarity.
- Example: Social workers demonstrate their commitment to social justice by advocating for policy changes that eliminate systemic barriers to healthcare for marginalized communities.
- fr: justice sociale
- autonomy
- noun
- The ability of a person to support himself or herself independently.
- Example: The client demonstrates autonomy in her daily and domestic activities.
- fr: autonomie
- dignity
- noun
- The state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
- Example: The social worker helps the client regain her dignity.
- fr: dignité
- advocacy
- noun
- The act of protecting and enforcing the rights that should be granted to individuals.
- Example: The social worker’s advocacy was instrumental in securing specialized educational support for the child, ensuring the school complied with disability rights legislation.
- fr: défense des droits
- stigmatisation
- noun
- The process by which a person or group of people is judged harshly for their actions, beliefs, or way of being, which deviate from the expected social norm.
- Example: The stigmatisation of mental health issues prevents many from seeking help.
- fr: stigmatisation
- intervention Plan
- noun
- A plan to help a person experiencing difficulties, which includes the use of resources and services tailored to their specific needs.
- Example: The social worker develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the client.
- fr: plan d'intervention
- confidentiality
- noun
- The state of keeping or being kept secret or private.
- Example: The social worker maintains the confidentiality of all her clients' files.
- fr: confidentialité
- protective factor
- noun
- A protective factor is a characteristic, condition, or attribute—internal (personal skills/strengths) or external (social support/resources)—that decreases the likelihood of developing negative health conditions, reduces the impact of stress, and promotes resilience.
- Example: The social worker finds that the positive role of the family in the client's life is a protective factor.
- fr: facteurs de protection
- risk factor
- noun
- A risk factor is any attribute, characteristic, or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease, injury, or negative outcome.
- Example: Difficulty accessing appropriate services is a risk factor for the client's mental health.
- fr: facteurs de risque
- social determinants of health
- noun
- All the economic, political, social and environmental factors that determine the health status of a population.
- Example: The social determinants of health create inequities that social workers must take into account.
- fr: déterminants de la santé
- community Resources
- noun
- A group of individuals and organizations engaged in voluntary or non-profit activities in the field of health and social services.
- Example: The social worker helps the client find a community resource that meets her needs.
- fr: ressource communautaire
- institutional resource
- noun
- Public or private institution in the health and social services network.
- Example: The client receives support from an institutional resource in their region.
- fr: ressource institutionnelle
