Professional characteristics of social work experts (analytical review)

Aim. To comply with the requirements of the professional standard, social work experts face the high risks determined by the responsibility for a high quality result under conditions of limited financial resources, as well as emotional and information overload. The article deals with establishing the features of psychological, psychophysiological, and job-related characteristics of social work experts determining the success of their professional activities. The study is based on the theoretical, methodical, and expert analysis of the scientific literature. Materials and methods. The theoretical analysis and synthesis of scientific data were used for the study. Results. The different points of view on the notion of social work were synthesized, and the author’s definition of this notion was formulated. The requirements to the job-related characteristics of social work experts were analyzed, including the specific features of psychological and psychophysiological profiles. The necessity of taking into account personal and functional characteristics of social work experts was justified for the labor organization based on the principles of ergonomics and health preservation. Conclusion. Currently, social work still remains an unstable definition the content of which is constantly transforming and used as a dynamically changing concept. The majority of Russian authors mostly relies on the modification of social work, which is connected with helping people experiencing life difficulties. Such approach does not take into account all directions and risks connected with professional activities and limits the requirements to the labor organization based on the principles of ergonomics and health preservation.