Final answer:
The main mission of social work is to focus on the needs and empowerment of oppressed people, facilitating positive change and empowerment, rather than telling clients how to live their lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary mission of the social work profession is to pay special attention to the needs and empowerment of oppressed people. This aligns with the broader objectives across the social service sector and is reflected in the work of various professionals who aim to promote well-being, encourage positive identity construction, and foster societal change.
As part of this mission, social workers are often involved in aiding marginalized members of society, advocating for social justice, and working collaboratively with other roles, such as community psychologists, to develop interventions that can lead to improved conditions for individuals and groups.
It is crucial to understand that social workers do not aim to tell clients how to live their lives. Instead, they focus on enabling clients to live their preferred lives with a sense of agency, acknowledging their understanding of their best identity and promoting welfare. Social work practice is supported by sociological research which contributes to interventions by providing evidence of the impacts of situations and exploring ways to facilitate positive change and empowerment.