Over the next ten years, the demand for healthcare and social services is expected to rise, along with the number of social work jobs. While the national average for all occupations is 7%, the growth rate for careers in social work is nearly double that figure. This is great news for recent social work graduates and their employers.
As a social worker, you will help people and families get through difficult times and find solutions to their problems. Your goal will be to improve people’s lives. This can be achieved by protecting vulnerable people, including children and adults, or by assisting people who are living more independently with the necessary support. You must maintain professional relationships while serving as a guide and advocate. Occasionally, you may be required to use your professional judgment to make difficult decisions that may not always be well received by those you are attempting to assist.
Schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected offices, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and numerous public and private agencies all employ social workers. Some social workers help clients who are disabled, have a life-threatening disease, or are dealing with a social issue such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse.
Social workers also help families who are dealing with severe domestic conflicts, such as child or spousal abuse, said experts from Unity Care, a foster care organization. The organization maintains a strengths-based, focused, and culturally proficient approach to serving its clientele. The goal of Unity Care is to facilitate affordable, safe and stable housing for youth and young adults transitioning out of foster care. The organization provides support services to help its youth attain self-sufficiency and navigate the challenges of the transition. Some social workers conduct research, advocate for better services, design systems, or work in planning or policy development. Many social workers work with a specific population or within a particular setting.
Social care jobs, particularly social work positions, can be enriching, with the sector offering a wide range of opportunities. However, it can be difficult for people to find their niche in a profession that offers numerous career options and often requires additional study to pursue certain job roles. To help you find an area that suits your talents and interests, here is a look at some potential social work positions you could study to obtain.
Adult social worker
Working with troubled or vulnerable adults to improve their organizational skills and control over their lives, in addition to providing client-centered support and advocacy, is one of the primary responsibilities of this job. Some social workers work directly with inmates, ex-offenders, and people who are participating in prevention or intervention programs.
In addition, they work as probation officers, sex offender clinicians, transitional case managers, conflict mediators, and in other positions. In these roles, you will become an advocate for your client’s best interests within the legal system.
Child and family social worker
Child and family social workers work with children and families to improve their psychological and social functioning, both as individuals and as members of a family unit. They assist parents in learning how to help their children achieve their full academic potential while also working to maximize overall family well-being. Some child and family social workers find foster homes for abused or abandoned children or assist children who are unable to reconcile with their families in finding adoptive families. Child and family social workers may also be responsible for counseling in school settings for behavioral issues, truancy, adolescent pregnancy and other crises.
Child and family social workers can work in a variety of settings. Some choose to work for government agencies such as the Department of Children and Family Services or the foster care system in their home state. Child and family social workers may also work in schools, residential facilities, behavioral health centers, and juvenile correctional facilities.
Activities social worker
In this role, you’ll plan social activities for people who need care and support and encourage them to participate. Activities workers are typically employed in nursing homes or daycare facilities, but you could also work in someone’s home or in the community. One of the most important qualifications for this role is having the right values and behaviors to work in social care. Experience in a similar role or with vulnerable adults may be beneficial. This experience could come from a work placement, your personal life, volunteering, or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
Addiction social worker
Addiction social workers assist their clients in overcoming addictions to legal and illegal substances, such as drugs, alcohol, and caffeine, as well as addictions to activities such as gambling or shopping. Addiction social workers typically assist clients in changing their behavior by developing a precise treatment plan, providing critical support and resources, and engaging the client in counseling. An addiction social worker, for example, might arrange for a client to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings to help them overcome their gambling addiction.
Clinical social workers
Clinical social workers provide individual and family therapy. Some states allow licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) to diagnose and treat mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. They frequently work in private practices, hospitals, or community mental health agencies.
Community social workers
Because they carry out tasks such as planning and administering community-wide programs that meet the needs of underserved populations, community social workers frequently serve a diverse range of people. They may also work one-on-one with members of the community, assessing individual needs and directing people to available resources. Community social workers must be able to see the big picture and determine what will benefit their community the most. A bachelor’s degree in social work is a minimum requirement for these professionals. People who hold online Master of Social Work degrees, will have more opportunities and will be better qualified to manage community programs and oversee overall strategy.
Couples social worker
Social workers who work with couples typically intervene during a crisis or difficulty. For example, they may assist couples seeking a divorce, repairing relationship problems, pursuing adoption, or dealing with mental health issues. While their primary role is to provide therapy, they may also assist couples in obtaining additional services.
Case manager
For some social workers, the best social work careers involve assisting others. Perhaps they don’t like being in the spotlight, or maybe they have excellent organizational skills. In any case, many of these social workers thrive as case management assistants. Case managers in social work operate in various settings, from aging to immigrant and refugee support services in all sectors. Case managers plan and monitor a variety of services on behalf of clients while also advocating on their behalf.
Social work careers are incredibly diverse, with numerous opportunities for advancement and specialization. Social workers can specialize in a specific field, such as health or education, and take on more organizational responsibilities in practice management. They can advance to become managers or senior social workers in charge of a more extensive social care network in their community. Social worker managers can eventually rise to the position of director, where they are fully responsible for social care in their area and manage a large team.
Is social work for you?
The most common career paths include a variety of roles for social workers with a BSW, MSW, and even a doctorate degree. There are numerous opportunities for social workers. Social work is a rapidly expanding and diverse field. Is a career in social work right for you?
To be an effective social worker, you must have organizational skills, sensitive communication skills, and emotional resilience. Motivation is essential; do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? You must be willing to accept responsibility and find ways to cope with the stress that comes with it. You’ll also need academic ability because you can’t work as a social worker unless you have a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Workloads can be heavy, potentially adding to job stress, and you must be able to prioritize. However, experience with an online course will likely help in developing these skills and appealing to future employers. Some social workers, such as those in residential care, work unsocial hours, while others may need to be flexible about their hours in emergencies.
Although social work is a worthwhile profession, it is not for everyone. It is a physically and emotionally demanding profession. Nevertheless, if you want a flexible career in a field with plenty of job opportunities and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of the poorest and most disenfranchised people, you should consider a career in social work.
Your specialization choice will be determined by who you are, what difference you want to make in the world, and which field most interests you. Although the prospect of more money may be appealing, the long-term reason to pursue a career in social work is that you enjoy it. Whatever path you take, you will meet a diverse range of people, learn skills to help them de-escalate their stress, and navigate their emotions or the oppressive systems in which they are trapped.
It’s one of those jobs where each day is unique, with the best days being when you’ve successfully assisted someone.
