Social worker

Social workers are practice-based professionals who promote social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. They interact with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities in order to provide various forms of therapy and counselling, group work, and community work. Social workers guide people to use services to claim benefits, access community resources, find jobs and training, obtain legal advice or deal with other local authority departments. Includes people performing social policy formulation, analysis, advocacy and political interventions activities. The following job titles also refer to social worker: community counsellor social services worker community rehabilitation worker cultural mediator social outreach worker community service worker community liaison worker social and community services worker social services worker welfare worker community centre worker assistant, social services community worker community and social services worker child and youth worker community services officer social services assistant community development worker Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as social worker. However, this requirement may differ in some countries. ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Social worker is a Skill level 4 occupation. These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to social worker. benefits advice worker child care social worker clinical social worker community care case worker community development social worker These occupations require some skills and knowledge of social worker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of social worker with a significant experience and/or extensive training. This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of social worker. Social work theory Legal requirements in the social sector Social sciences Social justice Company policies These skills are necessary for the role of social worker. Apply anti-oppressive practices Provide social counselling Involve service users and carers in care planning Work within communities Meet standards of practice in social services Empower social service users Apply quality standards in social services Apply case management Apply problem solving in social service Apply crisis intervention Protect vulnerable social service users Contribute to protecting individuals from harm Develop professional identity in social work Work in partnership with social services users Deliver social services in diverse cultural communities Conduct interview in social service Demonstrate leadership in social service cases Communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields Follow health and safety precautions in social care practices Plan social service process Promote social change Advocate for social service users Prevent social problems Make legislation transparent for users of social services Negotiate with social service users Promote service users’ rights Apply person-centred care Assess social service users’ situation Handle conflicts Relate empathetically Listen actively Manage social crisis Manage ethical issues within social services Review social service plan Apply decision making within social work Adhere to organisational guidelines Apply holistic approach within social services Delegate activities Work in a multicultural environment in health care Address problems critically Apply socially just working principles Promote inclusion Maintain records of work with service users Develop professional network Reflect on practice Negotiate with social service stakeholders Report on social development Undertake continuous professional development in social work Have computer literacy Tolerate stress Apply organisational techniques Refer social service users Organise social work packages Communicate with social service users Consider social impact of actions on service users Cooperate at inter-professional level Accept own accountability Manage stress in organisation Build helping relationship with social service users This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of social worker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development. Counselling methods Learning needs analysis Communication Crime victims’ rights Psychological effects of war Restorative justice Social mediation Diagnosis of mental health issues Social entreprise Assessment processes Funding methods Job market offers Family law Client-centred counselling Supervision of persons Community education Government social security programmes Consultation Psychological counselling methods Personal development Geriatrics Disability care Education law Social pedagogy Adult education School psychology Older adults’ needs Personality development theories Disability types Learning difficulties Primary school procedures Humanitarian aid actors Immigration law Legal compensation for victims of crime Developmental psychology Rehabilitation Criminal law Crisis intervention Behavioural disorders Therapy in health care Employment law Illegal substances Health care system Adolescent psychological development Pedagogy Teamwork principles Migration Social security law Palliative care University procedures Stages of bereavement Crime victims’ needs Court procedures Scientific research methodology Curriculum objectives Special needs education Strategies for handling cases of sexual assault Child protection Public housing legislation Strategies for handling cases of elder abuse Dependency on drugs These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of social worker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development. Perform street interventions in social work Cooperate with education professionals Assist in the organisation of school events Support social service users at the end of life Provide domestic care Use clinical assessment techniques Guarantee students’ safety Provide information on school services Promote social security programmes Consult student’s support system Support victims of human rights violations Supervise educational staff Monitor student’s behaviour Serve on academic committee Manage a social work unit Address public health issues Prepare lesson content Facilitate teamwork between students Manage volunteers Monitor developments in field of expertise Assess the development of youth Build community relations Use computer telephony integration Compile course material Establish collaborative relations Communicate on the youth’s well-being Liaise with educational support staff Analyse call performance trends Show consideration for student’s situation Promote youth work in the local community Empower individuals, families and groups Provide victim assistance Provide testimony in court hearings Conduct scholarly research Support the positiveness of youths Perform fundraising activities Help clients cope with grief Discuss research proposals Apply teaching strategies Provide immigration advice Monitor educational developments Perform educational testing Work with patterns of psychological behaviour Assess clients’ drug and alcohol addictions Promote human rights Prepare youths for adulthood Support social service users to manage their financial affairs Handle humanitarian response programs Participate in scientific colloquia Support children who have experienced trauma Assess students Maintain privacy of service users Assist students with equipment Assist families in crisis situations Apply foreign languages in social services Apply scientific methods Identify mental health issues Raise awareness on issues important for the local community Develop curriculum Assist with funeral planning Maintain records of phone calls Plan learning curriculum Assess social work students Conduct quantitative research Advise on social enterprise Manage resources for educational purposes Support juvenile victims Act discreetly Engage with offenders Implement scientific decision making in healthcare Advise on training courses Work on the effects of abuse Advise on conflict management Advise on mental health Write work-related reports Support social service users to live at home Assist students with their dissertation Supervise staff Publish academic research Promote the safeguarding of young people Assess offenders’ risk behaviour Comply with legislation related to health care Apply knowledge of human behaviour Support children’s wellbeing Keep records of attendance Supervise students in social services Perform playground surveillance Adapt teaching to target group Demonstrate when teaching Maintain telephony system Evaluate older adults’ ability to take care of themselves Communicate with youth Work with virtual learning environments Give constructive feedback Assist the homeless Conduct field work Assist children with special needs in education settings Identify skills gaps Arrange in-home services for patients Promote mental health Provide technical expertise Teach principles of social work Communicate by use of interpretation in social services Perform classroom management Carry out social work research Secondary school procedures Present reports Provide lesson materials Assist students in their learning Develop social security programmes Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship Work with healthcare users’ social network Communicate by telephone Apply intercultural teaching strategies Inform on the risks of substance and alcohol abuse Oversee extra-curricular activities Supervise doctoral students Counsel on end-of-life care Support individuals to adjust to physical disability Work in multidisciplinary health teams Liaise with educational staff Advocate for healthcare users’ needs Support volunteers Provide social guidance over the phone Develop course outline Advise on social security benefits Work with social service users in a group Support migrants to integrate in the receiving country Counsel students Conduct qualitative research Provide community development services Provide career counselling Tackle issues that block academic progress 2635 – Social work and counselling professionals    

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References

ESCO U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics