KNOWLEDGE – International Journal Vol. 28.6 December, 2018 2075 PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SOCIAL WORKER Yana M. Dimitrova Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius”, Bulgaria, y_dimitrova@abv.bg Abstract: Current study presents professional qualities of social worker and summarizes his professional knowledge, skills and qualities. Like any other profession, social work also has its obligations and responsibilities. They are based on ethical norms and requirements. Ethical rules are set in the Social Worker's Code of Ethics. It represents standards of ethical conduct in professional relations with clients, colleagues, institutions and society as a whole. Professional ethics is an integral part of the components that form the structure of the professional competence of the social worker. The term "professional ethics" refers to the set of requirements for the morality of the worker in each area of professional activity. There are common, valid for all professions requirements for labor morality, as well as specific for the specific profession or position. In the context of social work, the issue of professional ethics is particularly important because of the often necessary need in the daily life of the specialist to confront ethical dilemmas, to make a choice between the purely human response and the professional solution, to observe and apply moral norms. Moral categories in professional and educational activity are manifested in several ways: professional abilities; relations between the subjects in the pedagogical process; ethical relationship within the work team. Professional social work also requires the need for other components in the structure of professional ethics considered as a helping activity, more in the context of social support and assistance, such as caring for the social well-being of people. Professional social work also requires the need for other components in the structure of professional ethics - confidentiality, support volunteering, anti-discriminatory attitude, the best interest of the client, etc. Social work is among the professions that are realized and represent a special category - filled with humanity, compassion; a profession that requires love and concern for people, concern and responsibility towards their destiny, readiness for conscious and voluntary support in the name of their prosperity. It is these characteristics that can only occur when the social worker has high morals, values that are transformed into ethical attitudes and behaviors. Keywords: Social worker, professional ethics, responsibilities, professional obligations, ethical code The main goal and moral duty of the social worker is to help all who need it. The profession of a “social worker” requires that the worker has a variety of personal qualities, skills, knowledge, professional behavior and competence. At the same time, the social worker is also committed to his / her professional growth and development in order to always be adequate to the needs of his / her clients. Professional ethics is an integral part of the components that form the structure of professional competence. It is a set of requirements for the morality of the worker in every area of the professional activity. Todor Minev defines ethics in social work as a set of principles justifying the manifestation of morality, moral duty and the responsibility of the social worker. Leading place between them occupies: • Attitude towards the client as a unique being; • Obligation to vindicate social justice; • Objective assessment of one’s knowledge and skills; • Anti-discrimination attitude; • Confidentiality; • Work in the best interests of the client; • Voluntary when giving support; • Non-violence and condemnation of all forms of violence; • Compliance with ethical norms (Minev, 2012: 141-142). The Code of Ethics for Social Workers in Bulgaria was adopted in 2000 by the Bulgarian Association of Social Workers (BASW), a member of the International Association of Social Workers. BASW shares the human ethical norms and principles, which is clearly expressed in the content of the Code of Ethics. In structural and content terms, the Code of Ethics of Bulgarian social workers is very close to those of other countries. It consists of four main points: