Social work

Social work is work done to improve and protect the welfare of society. A social worker is a trained person who is paid to help solve or manage problems faced by individuals, families, groups, and communities.

Social workers are different from care workers in the social care sector. Care workers usually provide day-to-day support for people who cannot help themselves. Care workers usually need practical or certificate-level training. Social workers may need university degrees at different levels and in specialized areas to provide welfare and support services.

Training in social work may include economics, education, ethics, health, law, medicine, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology, and science.

Over time, social work has changed. It was once mostly a religious and charitable activity. Today, it is more professional. It is now less of a private or volunteer activity and more of a paid occupation.

Work of a social worker

Social workers may do many kinds of work, including:

• Assessing the strengths and needs, their family, and their social support systems to guide and help them live better in the community.
• Researching, writing, and supporting public policies that improve the physical and social needs of families and members of society so they can receive organized support.
• Counselling individuals and families.
• Assessing the seriousness of a person's mental health problems and risk of self harm or danger to others.
• Managing the use of public funds or financial support for people who need assistance.
• Helping people move into or out of hospitals and other institutions.
• Helping people find services and deal with problems.

Challenges

Social workers often have to solve problems that they were not fully trained for. Because these problems can have serious real-life consequences, the pressure to help people is often very high. This can make social work a demanding job, and some workers may experience occupational burnout.

Social workers may work with cases involving homelessness, long-term unemployment, lack of income, lack of health insurance, prison history, and substance abuse problems. These problems can be difficult to manage, especially when several of them happen together.

Related pages

• Foster care
• Group home
• Disability