A social worker job description will give people an idea of what type of work a social worker performs. A social worker is a professional who helps people cope with and overcome the challenges they face in their lives. These may involve interpersonal relationships, mental or physical illness, substance abuse, unemployment or inadequate housing.
Some of the Social Worker Job Description is touch peoples lives which includes:
- The mentally ill
- The unemployed
- Victims of domestic violence
- Foster children
- Children who are neglected
- The terminally ill
- Anyone in crisis
Social Worker Job Description – Tackle Many Different Problems
In addition, social workers may help people get through a divorce, work with child protective services, arrange adoptions and foster care, and deal with issues arising in cases of domestic violence.
Those who specialize in substance abuse or mental illnesses will typically work in either a hospital or clinic setting. They may focus their work on intervention, withdrawal, group therapy, and addiction services. They will often work with the patient and the patient’s family through the recovery and assist them in getting acclimated to the world once they are healthy. The may provide additional counseling, job search assistance and other services.
Social workers who are employed in a school setting work with students, parents, guardians, and teachers to be sure that the social and academic needs of the child are being met. A social worker job description for this area would require specialization in drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, truancy, misbehavior, and/or bullying. Students with emotional problems are often advised to seek out the school’s social workers to help them.
When they are employed in a hospital or other health care setting, social workers help patients and their families deal with acute or chronic illnesses, end-of-life issues, finding nursing homes, and accepting a difficult diagnosis. They may also work with families when a patient is being discharged and needs to arrange follow-up services.
Some social workers choose to advocate for underrepresented groups of people rather than working with individuals. They may work within governmental agencies or for private groups advocating for laws that will improve the quality of life for their target population.
Bachelor’s Degree is Necessary
To enter the field of social work, a person must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university. Most people pursuing this type of work will choose to major in social work, but you can also major in sociology or psychology. Th
ose social workers wishing to go into clinical work or to pursue positions in school or governmental settings must earn a master of social work degree.
Licenses and Certification Required
In addition to an education, a social worker must also pass state licensing and certification examinations before they can begin practicing. They must also be registered in the state where they practice. Before a person can begin work as a clinical social worker, they must complete two years or 3,000 hours of supervised practice.
Social worker salary ranges from $35,000 to $70,000 depending on the level of education, experience, and where the person chooses to practice.
In addition to educational requirements and experience, those wishing to pursue a career in social work must have a strong desire to help others. Any social worker job description includes sensitivity as an important asset.