Social and Human Capital - Essay Example

Social capital, unlike other types of capital cannot be quantified, and begs the question why it is referred to as capital then? However, their effect, that is the benefits, can be quantified whether tangible or intangible. Social capital fosters improvement of performance in communities and emphasizes the value derived from co-operation and alliances (Hancock, 2012). Human capital, on the other hand, refers to the stock of competencies used to generate economic value. These may include attributes such as education, moral values, beliefs and individual creativity (Reamer, 2013).

Governments and other social services provider across the globe combine these two forms of capitals when offering their social services to clients. The people on the ground providing these services are simply known as social workers and may be professionals, amateurs and volunteers. The sole objective of social work and policy practice empower clients by improving their quality of life and their well-being (Dickens, 2009). These clients may be individuals, groups or communities depending on the social policy being undertaken.

Social work is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary; it cuts across the board. With this breadth, there is a myriad of ways and means through which social work intervenes to better the quality of life of individuals, this may range from offering clinical social work, community policing and organization, engaging in political action to promote development, Public administration, programs and project evaluation, crisis intervention and community education where they teach the clients their human right and social justice (Hancock, 2012).

Social work can be provided at the community level, the government level and even at the international level by international organizations. Specific social policies have unique social principles that govern them. However, the principles of basic human rights and the principle of social justice