Social Workers Career

In the social workers career, the social workers work to improve the living standards of people. They solve almost all problems of individuals, families, students, and couples. They help their clients with problems like life threatening diseases, social problems, inadequate housing, unemployment or students facing problem in their career, and education. Thus, the main job is to assist all human beings in their everyday problems and support them.

Tasks:-

In the social workers career, the tasks that are carried out mainly depend on the type of work.

• Child, families and school social workers : - These workers study the problems of children or families. They conduct workshops, programs in school on child abuse, educational problems. They also assist single parents, arrange adoptions, or protest against child abuse and child labor. They also support small groups that help to provide housing, food, and educational facilities.
• Medical and public health social workers : - These workers assist the patients and support their families who are facing with infectious disorders, or diseases like cancer and AIDS. They also support poor people who are unable to afford surgical operations in severe cases.
• Mental health and abuse social workers : - They conduct programs in hospitals to help patients from addictions like alcohol, smoking, or drugs.

Qualification:-

For the social workers career, most of the times a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) are necessary. Thus a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, and any other related subjects is enough to enter this career and get entry-level jobs. However a master's degree in social work (MSW) is needed for positions in clinical work or higher level jobs. Some jobs in public and private agencies also need a master's degree in psychology, social work or administration.

Other necessary skills:-

To enter the social workers career, the skills that are necessary are given below:-

• Good interpersonal skills as they need to communicate properly to understand the problems of people.
• Strong physical stamina as need to travel extensively to visit different people.
• Helping nature and emotional stability as they have to help and assist the people to overcome their problems.

Place of work:-

Most of the times,They work in offices or attend meetings. They travel extensively to visit the clients or meet the service providers. They mostly work as a part of hospitals, or government agencies or private social services. Generally they work for 40 hours a week. Occasionally, they may have to work for longer hours and on weekends to meet the clients, go for meetings etc. in case of emergency.

Job Opportunities:-

The social workers career has great scope for job opportunities in many areas. The employers that recruit the social workers are listed below:-

• Local and state government agencies
• Private social services
• Medical and surgical hospitals
• Health-care facilities

The social workers get different types of jobs depending on the type of work. They are follows:-

• Child, family and school social workers
• Medical and public health social workers
• Substance/ abuse/ mental disorder social workers

Remuneration:-

The salary for social workers is comparatively good in state and local government agencies. In elementary and secondary schools, general medical and surgical hospitals, and other health care services, they are paid comparatively well than the other employers. On the other hand, in private and public social services they are paid comparatively less as they depend on the government for the funds.

Job Progress:-

The social workers career is expected to advance on the basis of years of experience and their performance. They get senior positions like supervisors, or program managers for a particular team of social workers. Others who have leadership qualities may even become assistant directors, executive directors or head of the department of a particular social service agency. A master's degree and relevant experience is necessary for some of the senior level jobs. Other workers may opt for research, teaching or counseling jobs.

Employment forecast:-

The social workers career is expected to have good demand in future. The employment in government agencies is expected to be more than the other employers. The employment growth is also expected to be more for child, families and school social workers and even for medical and surgical social workers. The child abuse, educational stress, competition and family and relationships problems are increasing today and are expected to increase in the future as well. Therefore, there is need to help the school students, in their educational problems. In country like India where most of the people still live with their joint families, the relationship problems might arise. Thus, there will be need for child, families and school social workers in large numbers. The demand for private social workers, medical and surgical social workers is also expected to enhance in future.