HELPING RELATIONSHIP IN SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ANDTHE RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY

Abstract

Helping relationship in social assistance can be understood as a relationship between a professional who provides support in a given situation and a beneficiary who faces certain difficult situations. It is an interpersonal process, partly determined  by regulations of the profession, but partly determined by specific subjective and socio-cultural characteristics. Helping relationship in social assistance assumes that the concept of change is an important engine in intervention and in  the social worker - beneficiary relationship implicitly. In order for a relationship of support to exist, it must be permanently constructed by the two parties involved, which can be achieved in three phases: the beginning phase, the working  phase and the final phase. During his professional approach, the social worker follows the ethical values, norms and principles. In the field of social assistance, great importance is given to the human being by the specific values and principles, but  at the same time the urge towards respect and tolerance is observed between people and social groups. Anti-discrimination, social equity and acceptance regardless of gender, color, age, nationality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.  are promoted. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of respecting human dignity in all professional endeavors in social assistance, starting from the formation of the social worker - beneficiary relationship, continuing with analyzing  the needs of the beneficiary and ending with the provision of services for a better quality of life.