<Li> Community development and intervention </Li> <P> Abraham Flexner in a 1915 lecture, "Is Social Work a Profession?", delivered at the National Conference on Charities and Corrections, examined the characteristics of a profession with reference to social work . It is not a' single model', such as that of health, followed by medical professions such as nurses and doctors, but an integrated profession, and the likeness with medical profession is that social work requires a continued study for professional development to retain knowledge and skills that are evidence - based by practice standards . A social work professional's services lead toward the aim of providing beneficial services to individuals, dyads, families, groups, organizations and communities to achieve optimum psychosocial functioning . </P> <P> Its seven core functions are described by Popple and Leighninger as: </P> <Ol> <Li> Engagement--the social worker must first engage the client in early meetings to promote a collaborative relationship </Li> <Li> Assessment--data must be gathered that will guide and direct a plan of action to help the client </Li> <Li> Planning--negotiate and formulate an action plan </Li> <Li> Implementation--promote resource acquisition and enhance role performance </Li> <Li> Monitoring / Evaluation--on - going documentation through short - term goal attainment of extent to which client is following through </Li> <Li> Supportive Counseling--affirming, challenging, encouraging, informing, and exploring options </Li> <Li> Graduated Disengagement--seeking to replace the social worker with a naturally occurring resource </Li> </Ol>

Who used the term diagnosis for the first time in social work