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In settlement practice, the use of self, authenticity and professional integrity, all function as important signposts for settling persons who seek to build new relations based on trust. As in other areas of practice, the worker’s skill in relationshipbuilding facilitates reciprocal and collaborative working relationships with clients. In practice with immigrants, these elements can be decisive factors in overcoming cultural distance and otherwise opening up a way for engaging effectively with the client and client constituency.

Policy areas relating to the different spheres of participatory activity all belong directly or indirectly within the purview of settlement policies. Castles and Miller (1993) observe that regardless of what policies are adopted, be they benign neglect or explicitly multicultural policies, certain preconditions must be met if marginalization and isolation of minorities are to be avoided. The state needs to take measures to ensure that there is no long-term link between ethnic origin and socio-economic disadvantage.

Sheafor, Horejsi and Horejsi (2000) state that the belief that every individual has certain basic rights is central to social work. Social justice rests on the belief that every human being is of intrinsic value, which in itself need not be earned or proven. Individuals all have a right to be treated with fairness and respect, to be protected from abuse and exploitation, and to be granted the opportunity of having a family, a basic education, meaningful work, and access to essential health care and social services (Sheafor, Horejsi and Horejsi 2000).