Becoming a Social Worker

Social workers should be viewed as extremely valuable employees as far as local communities, and society in general, are concerned. A social worker is in part responsible for working with people of all ages that are in some socially excluded, vulnerable or undergoing some level of crisis. As a social worker you may therefore regularly come into contact with the elderly, young offenders and those on probation, as well as people with physical or mental disabilities or drug and alcohol problems.

The role and duties of a social worker are broad and varied, but generally they include the provision of guidance and support, with a main focus on enabling the service user to eventually support themselves as much as possible. Social workers also work in a variety of environments, with some working in schools, local education authorities and hospitals, whilst others work within voluntary organisations or in the service user's own home.

If you've considered changing your career to become a social worker, then this article will provide you with the basic information regarding just what is expected of you, as well as the skills and qualifications that are best suited to this job.

Training

Social work requires a lot of organisation and a significant level of administrative work. This is because a social worker is expected to assess, review and maintain records of specific cases, all within certain timeframes whilst achieving set standards of care, as well as providing service users and their families with relevant legal and procedural information.

A career as a social worker is accessible for anyone that already has a degree. However, the most suitable and relevant degrees that can be obtained prior to working as a social worker include nursing, psychology, education, law and social sciences.

For those that don't already have a degree, a diploma or foundation degree can also be undertaken, sometimes followed by an undergraduate social work degree route. However, in all cases, before anyone is considered as a suitable candidate for a social worker job role, they must hold a General Social Care Council (GSCC) approved qualification.

Previously a Certificate in Social Service (CSS) and the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) were the qualifications that were undertaken. Whilst these, alongside the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) are still recognised qualifications for those returning to the workplace, new social work students will now undertake the aforementioned academic degree with integrated work placements.

If you think that you'll struggle to cover living expenses whilst studying, you should also note that there are some bursaries available to help sustain your income.

Transferable Skills

To become a social worker, you will need to be a positive person, with very good problem-solving skills, commitment, be socially competent, as well as possessing organisational, time-management and good communication (particularly listening and analytical) skills. These are all skills that can be transferred from other careers and professions, particularly where you have previously worked face-to-face with different sorts of people. Mediation skills are also vitally important.

Because social workers often work in a team with many other professionals, such as those that work in healthcare, you will also need to be an excellent team player. In some cases a team leader will also have their own team of social work assistants, so team leadership skills may also be relevant. You will often have to liase with a number of different agencies regarding different cases and individual circumstances, which requires a great deal of patience and multi-tasking.

In some cases, knowledge and understanding of the law and legal procedures will be of paramount importance. Whilst this can be covered in training, any previous experience of this will be an absolute bonus.

You should also seriously consider the benefits of working in a paid or voluntary position in a community care centre or residential home, as experience is always looked upon favourably. It will also help you to assess your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as providing an understanding of just what sort of work is involved in a career as a social worker.

Career Development and Salary

Basically, it is assumed that the more you progress in your career as a social worker, the less practical work you will undertake. Career development in social work tends to veer towards developing a specialism, for instance working in the foster care system, or with drug abusers specifically.

Through additional training there are also opportunities to enter more managerial and team leader positions, or even as a teacher, lecturer or political consultant.

As you might expect, a social worker's salary can depend on experience and qualifications. However generally a social worker can earn just under £20,000 up to £29,000. Management roles will earn you up to £40,000, with senior management roles earning beyond £50,000 for a 37 hour week.

Working in social care can be extremely challenging, stressful and heavy workloads are common. However often the emotional rewards and contributions made to individuals, communities and society can outweigh the stresses and strains.