SOCIAL WORK
What is Social Work?
Social work is a broadly defined profession encompassing many different kinds of professionals who all serve people in need. The International Federation of Social Workers External link calls social work “an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.” Social workers are unique in the way that they look at many different aspects of a problem, from the individual to the societal, from the psychological to the political. Common ways of serving clients include providing counseling, therapy and education, as well as connecting clients to appropriate public or private resources.
Types of Social Workers
There are many different type of social workers but here are three examples of the type of work that they do.
- Child, Family and School Social Workers help children, families and the elderly work toward resolving their problems. They help place children in foster care and assist parents looking to adopt. They connect struggling parents with resources to help better care for and raise their children. They work with students and teachers to address bullying, learning disabilities and other problems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, child, family and school social workers are the most common kind of social worker.
- Medical and Public Health Social Workers help the seriously ill and those with chronic health problems to find adequate care, access public resources like medicare and medicaid, and find services like nutrition classes and nursing care. They often play a key role in helping clients to navigate and coordinate the numerous health care and public service systems that provide care together. Medical and public health social workers also offer counseling to clients and their families about coping with the effects of illness.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers help people with a wide variety of mental health and substance abuse problems. Therapy is one common way for social workers to help clients address those problems. Helping people to find financially accessible rehabilitative programs or long-term mental health care is another way. Mental health and substance abuse social workers may also participate in outreach and preventative programs, which seek to locate people in need and address problems before they become dire, respectively.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Because addressing the way that clients interact with their environments and communities is so central to their jobs, social workers can be found in a wide variety of institutional environments. Most social workers spend the majority of their time in an office, although many also visit clients off-site. Schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, prisons, military barracks, senior centers, corporations and public social agencies all employ social workers. Licensed social workers also set up their own private practices, operating independently of other institutions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States is home to more than half a million social workers and the field is quickly growing. Read more about how to become a social worker.
Social Work Jobs
Becoming a social worker offers you the opportunity to pursue many different career paths, from direct clinical practice to administration and advocacy roles in the government and non-profit organizations. Social workers are even found in many corporate settings where they craft corporate social responsibility programs and community engagement as well as help employees with workplace challenges.
Keep in mind that requirements to become a social worker vary by state and that some specific jobs require candidates to have a Master of Social Work(MSW). Though you do not always need a bachelor’s degree in social work, having one first can qualify you for an advanced standing MSW program, in which you can earn your MSW in one year. Due to advances in web 2.0 technologies, there are even excellent options for pursuing your MSW online.
Even if your intended career in social work does not require an MSW, obtaining an advanced degree gives you a competitive edge. With an MSW, you will have more options in the job market because your skills and expertise will be much more advanced.
While there are many social work careers to choose from, the following examples will give you an idea of how diverse the profession is.
Child, Family and School Social Workers
Child, family and school social workers work with children and families who are struggling with social and psychological issues at school, in the home or in their communities. Social workers in these environments interact with a wide variety of issues related to children, families and school life. These types of social workers could find employment in foster care agencies, go
vernment programs and schools.
Medical Social Workers
Medical social workers assist individuals and families who are dealing with an illness or health-related issue. They help clients and their families navigate a range of issues, including coping, counseling, referrals and health education. Similarly, public health social workers assist communities dealing with illnesses and complications related to community disasters or widespread sickness. Both of these kinds of social workers provide many different types of services to their clients in order to help them cope and improve their well-being.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Mental health and substance abuse social workers work with individuals, groups, families and couples to provide treatment for mental illness and substance abuse. Treatment can involve intense therapy and counseling. Many jobs in this branch of social work require an MSW.
Military Social Workers
Military social workers help service members and their families with the challenges of military life. This may include treating veterans for post-traumatic stress, helping a family cope with a loved one’s deployment and coping with injuries related to the service. This branch of social work is especially important and in demand at this time in our country’s history, with many military personnel and their families seeking assistance during or after their service. Most military social workers have an MSW.
Community Social Workers
Community social workers improve conditions and provide resources for particular communities. A community social worker will often focus on community organization and development, planning, administration and social action to improve conditions within their communities. These types of social workers often work with large groups of people, as opposed to other types of social work where one more often works with individuals, families or small groups.
Social Work Administrators, Researchers, Planners and Policymakers
Social work administrators, researchers, planners and policymakers belong to another group of social workers. They often hold administrative roles and do not work directly with the individuals or groups they are aiming to help. They may lead a team of social workers, conduct research, draft policy, raise funds or write grants. Often social workers who work in these areas once worked as another kind of social worker, and they now use their expertise to improve the field and advocate for change.
Social Work Career Settings
Someone considering becoming a social worker should think about what kinds of populations they would like to work with. Depending on the type of social work you would like to practice, your typical client could be quite varied. Children, older adults, victims of abuse, veterans and recovering addicts are among the different types of clients that you could encounter in your social work career. Social workers work with disadvantaged populations and that could apply to many different groups of people and communities. Just as the different types of social work and clients are diverse, so are the kinds of organizations, agencies and institutions that employ social workers. Social workers could be employed by:
- Child welfare organizations
- Adoption agencies
- Foster care agencies
- Daycare providers
- Government agencies
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Nursing facilities
- Health departments
- Clinics
- Hospices
- Individual and family services agencies
- Treatment facilities
- Prisons
- Private practices
- Military hospitals
- Veteran affairs hospitals and outpatient centers
- Military base family services units
- Military correctional facilities
- Community and military base schools
- Community mental health centers
- Vocational rehabilitation centers
- Community-based organizations
- Social welfare providers
- Government planning departments
- Advocacy organizations
- Political offices
- Human resource departments
- Universities
- Corporations
Social work provides truly diverse and exciting employment opportunities. Earning a Master of Social Work will help open doors to even more opportunities in the field and help you to earn a higher salary. If you are interested in furthering your education or changing careers to work in the field of social work for the first time, earning your master’s can help you to develop your skills and gain the experience necessary to move forward in your career.
Social Work Jobs
The social work job market is expected to be very favorable over the next decade.
In 2012, there were about 607,300 social worker jobs. By 2022, employment of social workers is predicted to increase by 19%, which is faster than the average for all other occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The growing elderly population and the aging baby boom generation will create greater demand for health and social services, resulting in rapid job growth among gerontological social workers. Demand for school social workers is expected to increase as is mental health and substance abuse social workers, with anticipated growth of almost 23%.
Job prospects are especially encouraging for military social workers. A 2007 report by the American Psychological Association found a severe shortage of social workers and other mental health professionals equipped to treat armed forces members, veterans and military families. In addition, opportunities will be particularly abundant in rural areas where there are fewer social work training programs, and it is more difficult to attract and retain qualified social workers.
Master of Social Work
Earning a Masters in Social Work degree prepares you for leadership roles in developing and providing services to individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. If you recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree and are considering a career that offers you the chance to make a difference in the lives of people in need, a Masters in Social Work (MSW) might be the next step on your career path. Social workers play a crucial role in assisting disadvantaged individuals, families and communities with problems related to mental illness, poor health, unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, child neglect and other complex social issues.
MSW programs are designed to prepare graduates for advanced social work practice in clinical settings and social service agencies. Students in MSW programs develop the advanced skills needed to perform clinical assessments, manage large caseloads, understand the importance and requirements of a supervisory role, and draw upon social services to better serve the needs of their clients. They also learn strategies to develop and administer programs and develop social policy.
A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required for entry into an MSW program, but a background in psychology, biology, sociology, political science or a foundation in the liberal arts is recommended. And while a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some direct-service, licensed clinical social workers and other advanced positions require a master’s degree.
Sponsored MSW Programs
Master of Social Work Degree Admission Requirements
Prior to gaining admission to a MSW program, students need to complete an undergraduate degree. This needs to be earned at a college or university that’s been accredited, preferably by the CSWE. Most schools require a minimum undergraduate GPA that must be met in order to qualify for admission eligibility.
>Each school may differ in the documentation they require, but prospective graduate students should be prepared to send in a number of supplemental items with their applications. For example, students may have to submit proof that they’ve completed a predetermined number of required liberal arts credits before they’re admitted into a MSW program, as well as the submission of references and a written personal essay.
Students may also have to submit Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores prior to being accepted. Speaking to an admissions officer will help you get a feel for what might be expected during the admissions process.
Types of Master’s Degrees in Social Work
Depending on individual preferences, students may have several options when it comes to the specific degree program they’ll be following. Most schools offer both a clinical and non-clinical MSW focus, so students can choose which path is right for their career.
Non-clinical social workers, also called macro level social workers, use their knowledge and training to affect change at a policy level. They can identify issues and trends within communities, and advocate changes that may iron out the social issues faced by those who may need extra support. Non-clinical work may include some degree of counseling along with their regular duties, but it’s less likely to be a primary part of the job in comparison to individuals with clinical social work training.
Clinical social workers work with clients to affect change on a personal level. They’re the ones on the ground level, helping vulnerable members of their community with issues that may be hampering their quality of life. They work directly with clients, and may function as advocates for those who lack access to the resources that can help them to meet their basic needs.
What Can I Do With a MSW?
A master’s degree in social work can open the door to many different careers in a wide variety of settings. Here are a few of the most popular career paths chosen by individuals with a master’s degree in social work.
Public Health Social Work
For social workers who want to work with many different types of people, a career in public health social work may be a good fit.
These social workers are often employed by organizations like hospitals, community health centers, rehab facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and similar organizations. They fill a major need when clients are often at their most vulnerable. Public health social workers may frequently act as a liaison between social services and the people who need them.
Child and Family Social Work
Social workers who want to make a difference to families or children in need may opt for a specialization in child and family social work.
Individuals with this focus can choose to use it a several different ways. They may work with children in a therapeutic setting. They may offer family therapy groups and sessions, and they can help families find the social services they need.
A MSW in child and family social work can also lead to a career as a child welfare worker with a government or local agency. Many hospitals also employ welfare workers on staff.
Geriatric Social Work
Geriatric social workers cater to the elderly population and their needs.
They may work with families to provide assessments pertaining to the care of aging members of the community. They can set clients up with the assistance they may need as their independence fades with age, while making sure all medical needs are met. Geriatric social workers may also work directly with elderly clients as counselors or therapists.
Social Work Education
A Bachelor of Social Work is usually the minimum educational requirement for beginning your career as a social worker. Some entry-level positions may also accept candidates with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or other related fields.
- Undergraduate Social Work Education: States require that social workers hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a school approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) External link .
- Graduate Social Work Education: States often require that social workers obtain a Masters in Social Work or a relevant doctoral degree before applying for advanced social work licensure. There are also options for pursuing your Master of Social Work online.
Social Work Licensure
There are several main types of social work licensure, including licensure for social workers with a bachelor’s degree, licensure for social workers with a master’s degree and licensure for clinical social workers. Within these fields, social workers can also apply for additional credentials and certifications through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) External link .
- Initial License: States often require first-time social workers to become licensed asbachelor- or associate-level social workers, often referred to as Licensed Baccalaureate Social Workers (LBSW). Upon receiving this type of licensure, social workers in most states will be required to work under the supervision of an approved Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
- Master License: Social workers holding an initial license and a graduate degree in social work may become licensed as master- or graduate-level social workers, often referred to as Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW). This type of licensure often requires both field experience and the successful completion of a standardized exam.
- Clinical License: A clinical license is a full professional license to practice social work. Social workers holding a current license and a graduate degree in social work may become licensed as a clinical-level social worker, often referred to as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) External link . This type of licensure often requires years of professional experience, in addition to the successful completion of a standardized exam.
- License Renewal: All states require licensed social workers to pay annual renewal fees. Several states also require licensed social workers to complete a certain amount of continuing education courses for license renewal.
- Endorsement: There is no existing structure for transferring a social work license from one state to another. States require that you submit information such as your transcripts and background information, and apply directly for licensure within that state. Test scores are usually transferable from one location to another.
Social Work Requirements
- Social Work Exams: Many states require applicants to take standardized examinations administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) External link , though some states require their own examinations in addition to or in place of ASWB examinations.
- Supervised Experience: Documented professional experience under the supervision of a qualified LCSW for approximately two years is often a requirement for licensure beyond initial licensure, though some states require professional experience for all types of licensure.
- Social Work Jobs: Demand is expected to increase for social workers by 2022, according to the BLS External link .
Changing Careers
Many social workers in the field today are entering the profession from a previous career. If you are considering changing careers, you may find social work to be a rewarding and sensible transition from your previous occupation.
Social work is a helping profession. It attracts people who are interested in creating positive change in the lives of individuals, families and communities. Many professionals, such as psychologists, counselors, and public health workers, transition easily into a social work career because of the similarities between the experiences and goals of their prior positions and those of a social worker. But social work is a diverse field, and many professionals with disparate backgrounds will be surprised to learn that their previous training can help them on the road to successful social work education and employment.
Once you have made the decision to transition into social work, you should consider how to receive your training and social work education to fulfill the requirements to practice in your state. Each state has its own requirements for becoming a licensed social worker, so it is important that you are familiar with the criteria in the state where you wish to work. For the working professional who has already completed an undergraduate degree, earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is the best way to work toward changing careers. Not all states require that social workers have a Master of Social Work, but earning it will offer advantages in the job market. An advanced degree will help you gain expertise, skills and experience in the field before you apply for jobs. A candidate with an MSW is also more likely to find challenging and fulfilling work with higher compensation.
Importance of Ethics in Social Work
Social Workers encounter complex situations on a daily basis that involve ethical and legal issues. The social work profession serves many populations on the micro, mezzo and macro levels, and whenever people are involved, ethical dilemmas are certain to arise. The NASW Code of Ethics is a guide to a social worker’s professional conduct designed to protect the client. Understanding and implementing the principles behind the code of ethics is part of the coursework and internships to earn a Master of Social Work.
What is included in the code of ethics for social workers?
The National Association of Social Workers approved a formal code of ethics for social workers in 1960 with the latest revision in 2008. The code established a set of core values for the social work profession. The values included in the code of ethics are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.
The NASW Code of Ethics also includes ethical principles based on each of the core values. For example, with the code of ethics value of service, the ethical principle is “Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.” The principles in the code of ethics give a broad basis for the ideals to which all social workers should aspire. These ethical standards apply to every aspect of a social worker’s professional activity, including his or her ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, to the social work profession and to the broader society.
How does the social work code of ethics apply in daily work situations?
The NASW Code of Ethics gives social work professionals a cornerstone for ethical dilemmas that arise on an everyday basis. Social workers need a strong foundation in the core values of their profession in order to make decisions about ethical issues with their clients and colleagues. The code of ethics also provides more specific guidelines to assist social workers in making ethical decisions in the treatment and service of their clients. Typical areas affected by the social work code of ethics might include client informed consent, client privacy in a group treatment setting, and the extent of confidentiality if a legal situation arises.
The NASW Code of Ethics provides an established set of values and principles that have guided social workers throughout history. Situations and cultural norms may change, but social workers are expected to make ethical decisions by using the code of ethics as a guide.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker
Being a social worker is often a challenging, yet rewarding career. Social workers are responsible for helping individuals, families, and groups of people to cope with problems they’re facing to improve their patients’ lives. One aspect of this is teaching skills and developing mechanisms for patients to rely on to better their lives and experiences.
However, many social workers find that direct counseling of patients, families, and groups is only one aspect of their broader set of responsibilities. Social workers will often serve as liaisons between different institutions to assist patients and collaborate with other health professionals to ensure patient wellness. They will become familiar with, and refer clients to, community resources. Social workers address legal issues, such as assisting with hearings and providing testimony relating to their patients. They also engage in research, policy development and advocacy for services. And of course, social workers must maintain case history records and prepare reports. Social work can be the kind of job that requires a great deal of overtime, and separating the emotional aspects of the job from the duties required can be a difficult undertaking. But there are plenty of resources, including websites, books and social media users, that can offer great advice.
Skills
In dealing with the multitude of problems that social workers address, they must employ a variety of skills depending on the job that needs to get done. While some of these skills may be natural, many of them are honed while a social worker earns his or her bachelor’s or master’s degree. Below is a list of traits that a well-trained social worker might employ while assisting and guiding a client from o*net online.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Specializations
Within the field of social work, there are many different specializations and industries that professionals can pursue and focus on. While these different fields all require practitioners to show the cornerstones of social work: empathy, flexibility, and persistence, and respect for different circumstances; there are some skill sets and knowledge that social workers will need to utilize in order to become the as effective at their jobs as possible. Social workers can be required to aid with issues directly caused by trauma, disability, poor family circumstances, abuse, mental and emotional problems, addiction, and acute, chronic, or terminal illnesses. Some social workers prefer to focus their skills on one area of expertise by going into specific fields.
- Family, child or school social work involves providing assistance and advocacy to improve social and psychological functioning of children and their families. These social workers attempt to maximize academic functioning of children as well as improving the family’s overall well-being. These professionals may assist parents, locate foster homes, help to arrange adoptions, and address abuse. In schools they address problems such as truancy, bad behavior, teenage pregnancy, drug use, and poor grades. They also advice teachers and act as liaisons between students, homes, schools, courts, protective services, and other institutions.
- Public health social workers are often responsible for helping people who have been diagnosed with chronic, life threatening or altering diseases and disorders, helping connect patients with plans and resources in order to help them cope. One of the most difficult things a person can go through is dealing with acute, chronic, and terminal illnesses and these social workers provide services to ease these patients’ process. These services include advising family care givers, providing patient education and counseling, making referrals to other services, case management interventions, planning hospital discharge, and organizing support groups. These social workers are often employed at health care centers, assisted living homes or in hospitals.
- Addictions and mental health social workers offer support and services to those struggling with unhealthy grounding techniques, connecting them with facilities that serve to teach healthier behaviors and get patients back on track. These patients often struggle with mental and emotional problems as well as addictions and substance abuse problems. Services that mental health and substance abuse social workers provide include individual and group counseling, intervening during crises, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. They also focus on counseling families to assist in understanding and dealing with the patient’s problems.
Other Social Work Tasks
Accomplishing administrative duties and diligently completing paperwork are generally a requirement for social workers, no matter what their specialization is. Social workers are generally employed from 9–5, but those who offer emergency services in hospitals and other industries can also be assigned to shift work. For many social workers, outside visits and meetings are a constant challenge, as well as high case loads and understaffing. These obligations can often make it seem as though a social worker’s job is never done, but the most successful professionals relish the challenge. Many social workers find that despite these obstacles and the difficulties presented by these strains, this field can be a very satisfying career path.
In case you’re still unsure of what exactly a social worker does on a daily basis, peruse the helpful list of responsibilities and duties below, provided by o*net online, to get a better idea of what the job is all about.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients’ medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Plan discharge from care facility to home or other care facility.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
Master’s of Social Work FAQ
Q: Should I practice clinical or non-clinical social work? How do I know what’s right for me?
A: Like most major career choices, the decision whether to focus on clinical or macro social work is a very personal one that depends greatly on your personal preferences. Do you have any prior work experience in either one of these fields? If so, consider whether you would be happy with a similar long-term career. If not, you may want to strongly consider volunteering or shadowing in both clinical and macro social work settings.
If you have strong interpersonal skills and find it rewarding to help individuals through difficult times, you may be well suited to a career in clinical social work. If you’re more interested in policy and larger picture issues that affect the most vulnerable members of society, a non-clinical MSW may be a good fit. Ultimately, it’s up to you which career path you opt to follow.
Q: Can I complete a Master’s in Social Work online?
A: Yes! Online degree programs are growing in popularity, and for good reason; they offer a great deal of flexibility without sacrificing quality of education. Most major colleges and universities offer a comprehensive list of online degree options.
Though any practicum or field work will need to be done in real life, the brunt of most programs’ course requirements can be completed online. Look for an accredited program that offers the same courses online as in their traditional campus setting.
Q: I already have experience in a social work setting. Can I use that toward the experience portion of my degree?
A: Unfortunately, the CSWE External link does not allow for experience gained outside of the degree program to count toward the experience requirement. However, your experience may be taken into account by the admissions department when going over your application, so don’t hesitate to include it anyway!
PLATFORMS FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Many Institutions and Universities open their doors to accept those individuals who are willing to take the challenge of the social work. Children, Youth and Students you are the future of our nation. Be a social worker! The whole world are expecting a lot from you! We believe that you can be the source of radical changes in our society! This job is waiting for you! A social worker is a competent and determined and we are referring to you! It’s better to help people because it touches every inner hearts than to have a lot of money but you didn’t accomplish your mission and you didn’t enjoy your existence. Social work is a profession where genuine happiness can be acquire! It is a job where workers are surrounded with positive outlook in life! Most of all it is the avenue to influence people that incorporated with values, ethics and morals! Indeed, social work is a training ground to prepare the citizens to get the most out of life.
The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.
Social work profession give everyone the opportunity to work in a varity of settings and works toward multidimensional collaborative change by working in this field we will be able to empower, advocate, motivate and connect to the other people. though this we will be able to know and given the chance to interact w/ others. — Jay Ar Ursal
The way to push social work is by using some of the professional humility which we can be very good at using in a defensive manner but in a positive way. In fact, the key is not at all about pushing ‘social work’ but about ensuring voice and not losing sight of the goal to promote and advocate for those who we are employed to serve, people who use the services which we provide.
Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work.
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
- Edward Everett Hale
ABOUT US
We are students of Kidapawan City National High School who want to promote social work and make other people realize how important social work is in our society.
Social work is distinctive also for its professional values and ethics, appreciation for human diversity, emphasis on social and economic justice, understanding of social welfare policy and services, and strong foundation in field education.
Its unique approach to problem-solving and interventions is evidenced in direct clinical practice, policy planning and administration; community-level and state-level services; private and public sectors; and teaching, research, and scholarship.
Info Sources:
ttps://socialwork.tulane.edu