Introduction
General practice in social work constitutes the broad, comprehensive framework that enables social workers to operate across multiple systems — from the individual and family to small groups, organizations, and communities — using a flexible theoretical and methodological foundation. This article presents a structured account of the concept of general practice, compares it with Advanced General Practice from Sanhouri’s perspective, outlines the importance of the advanced orientation, and concludes with practical and methodological implications for social workers.
General Practice in Social Work
(1) Concept of General Practice
Tolson defined practice as the ability of social workers to work with various systems such as individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities, using an eclectic theoretical framework that allows them to select strategies and methods of intervention appropriate to the problems of those systems.
Tolson’s definition highlights two central features of general practice: first, the diversity of systems with which the practitioner engages; and second, the theoretical and methodological flexibility that enables selective choice of strategies and interventions appropriate to each context.
(2) Key Differences between General Practice and Advanced General Practice — Sanhouri’s View
A. General Practice — Characteristics and Core Elements
- Focus on problems and human needs: The general practice perspective emphasizes that the social worker’s focus should be on social problems and human needs rather than on an institution’s preference for a particular service model.
- Applicability across systems: General practice is a unified approach that applies to all client systems — individuals, couples, families, small groups, organizations/institutions, social networks, neighborhood communities, national communities, regional communities, and both limited and global communities.
- Appropriate for the bachelor’s level: Sanhouri concurs with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in the United States that education in general practice is the suitable form for a Bachelor’s degree, which is the first professional qualification in social work.
- Multi-level capacity and role diversity: General practice includes the social worker’s ability to operate at multiple levels and to perform a wide variety of roles, in addition to evaluating practice.
- Direct and indirect practice competencies: General practice encompasses competence in both direct practice (e.g., counseling, therapeutic intervention) and indirect practice (e.g., policy work, organizational liaison).
B. Advanced General Practice — Characteristics and Core Elements
- A recent and developing trend: Advanced general practice is one of the more recent trends in social work that deepens professional practice.
- Field specialization and focus: It involves selecting a specific practice field, social problem area, or vulnerable population; in other words, Sanhouri views advanced general practice as a form of specialization within social work fields.
- Greater depth of knowledge: Advanced general practice operates at a more advanced level characterized by more precise and deeper knowledge required for practice.
- Related to more complex technical issues: It deals with the most technically complex issues that require advanced assessment and intervention tools.
- Aligned with the profession’s contemporary purposes: It is connected with the profession’s current goals, such as developing individuals’ capacities, linking people to formal and informal resources, increasing institutional care, influencing social policy, and promoting social justice.
C. Summary of Differences
- Depth and complexity: Advanced general practice represents a deeper level of practice than general practice.
- Academic preparation: The bachelor’s degree is appropriate for general practice, while master’s and doctoral degrees are better suited to advanced general practice.
- Scope of application: General practice provides broad foundations applicable across many practice areas, whereas advanced general practice requires specialized knowledge, skills, and intervention models tailored to a single domain of practice (e.g., youth services, elder care, school social work, labor-related services).
(3) The Importance of the Advanced General Practice Orientation in Social Work
- Increasing complexity of presenting problems: Contemporary problems confronted by social workers are more complex and demand broader skills and deeper knowledge for effective professional intervention.
- Provision of a holistic perspective: General practice offers social workers a holistic framework for assessing and diagnosing situations and then implementing interventions that avoid fragmentation.
- Limitations of single-perspective approaches: Unidimensional approaches of traditional social work methods may fail to address multifaceted problems effectively; general practice facilitates treating the problem as an integrated unit despite multiple contributing systems.
- Necessity of multi-system analysis: Problems rarely originate within a single system; thus, identifying causes and selecting intervention strategies requires reference to multiple systems.
- Integration of systems and multi-disciplinary teams: The advanced orientation seeks to integrate the systems that generate the problem with the multi-disciplinary teams that can be engaged, thereby enhancing the likelihood of successful and sustainable interventions.
(4) Practical and Methodological Implications for the Social Worker
- Adopt an eclectic theoretical framework: Practitioners should select theories and strategies that fit the specific patterns and contexts rather than adhering rigidly to a single model.
- Engage in continuous professional development: Transitioning to advanced practice necessitates graduate-level education and intensive field training.
- Promote multidisciplinary collaboration: Design intervention plans that include partners from health, education, law, and economics to provide a comprehensive response to problems.
- Link practice with advocacy and policy formulation: It is essential to connect field practice with advocacy efforts to influence policies that address the root causes of social issues.
- Implement ongoing evaluation: Employ both quantitative and qualitative evaluation tools to measure intervention outcomes and to revise strategies based on evidence.
Conclusion
General practice forms the foundational pillar for preparing social workers to operate across diverse systems using flexible and selective strategies. As the demand for deeper knowledge and advanced skills grows, Advanced General Practice emerges as a complementary orientation that specializes and intensifies professional capacity to address complex issues. Educational institutions, training programs, and practitioners should therefore strive for a balance between foundational generalist competence and specialized advanced capabilities to ensure effective, sustainable social interventions.
References
- Tolson — Definition of practice (as quoted in the provided material).
- Sanhouri — Analyses and perspectives on the differences between general practice and advanced general practice (as cited in the provided material).
- Lecture Twenty-Seven: “General Practice and Advanced General Practice” — Source lecture used for the comparisons and observations.