Social worker
A social worker works with people who have been socially excluded or who are experiencing crisis. Their role is to provide support to enable service users to help themselves. They maintain professional relationships with service users, acting as guides, advocates or critical friends.
Social workers work in a variety of settings within a framework of relevant legislation and procedures, supporting individuals, families and groups within the community. Settings may include the service user’s home or schools, hospitals or the premises of other public sector and voluntary organisations.
Qualified social work professionals are often supported by social work assistants. They also work closely with other health and social care staff.
Many social workers work with young people and their families. They may also work with the following groups:
Government legislation focusing on the integration of health and social work services means that social workers often work in multidisciplinary teams. Tasks typically involve:
Social work is a graduate profession and you will need either an honours or postgraduate degree in social work approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) in England, although the diploma in social work (DipSW) and other previous social work qualifications are still recognised as valid social work qualifications.
Entry for HND/foundation degree holders is normally via the undergraduate degree in social work. The following subjects may improve your chances or allow some exemptions:
Most undergraduate degrees are full-time courses lasting three years, although there are some part-time courses.
A minimum 2:2 honours degree is often needed for entry to the postgraduate professional training. If your degree is not in a relevant subject such as social sciences, education, psychology or nursing, substantial work experience in a relevant area can increase your chances of being considered for training.
You need to have relevant experience before being accepted on any postgraduate courses. Gain as much work experience as possible, either through paid positions in community care centres or by undertaking relevant voluntary work.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Empathy, combined with a genuine desire to improve the quality of the lives of service users, is essential, as is the ability to think on your feet and make difficult decisions under pressure. An interest/participation in some aspect of your local community is also useful. General administrative skills are also needed.
Contact Community Service Volunteers (CSV) for details of relevant voluntary work. Your local volunteer bureau may also be able to help you to find opportunities for work experience.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate courses cover the same topics and have a strong practical element with over 200 days (usually six to seven hours a day) of supervised work placements. Approved postgraduate courses are usually full time and last two years, although there are some part-time courses available. See the GSCC website for a list of courses.
Applications for all courses are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Some students may be eligible for a bursary, see NHS Student Bursaries for further details.
Further information on how to train as a social worker is available on Skills for Care and the General Social Care Council (GSCC) . Also see Department for Education - Social work for information on social work with children, young people and families.
In Wales, the social care workforce regulator is the Care Council for Wales . The Northern Ireland equivalent is the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and in Scotland it’s the Scottish Social Services Council . Specific information on entry requirements and paths to becoming a social worker in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland can be found via these links.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Qualified social workers are required to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) .
Registered Social Workers (RSWs) are then required to keep their training and learning up to date in order to re-register with the GSCC after an initial three-year period. This can include many different sorts of learning, such as reading, attending conferences/training courses or gaining a post-qualifying award.
The post qualifying framework implemented by the GSCC allows social workers to continue their education and training in a flexible and modular way.
There are three levels of awards in the new framework, each corresponding to a stage of professional and career development. Five corresponding specialisms link into these awards and they focus on:
The same PQ training is required in Wales, as approved by the Care Council for Wales . Northern Ireland Post Qualifying Education and Training Partnership (NIPQETP) for social workers is available through a partnership of education providers and employers. And in Scotland, RSWs must take part in continuing professional development (CPD) which can contribute towards a registered worker’s Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL). See the Scottish Social Services Council website for more details.
After appropriate induction and training, there are many different specialism options within social work open to you. Specialist roles include homelessness officer, day care social worker, education welfare officer, health care social worker and mental health social worker.
Career development may involve a change of role within a specialism, e.g. from child protection to fostering and adoption. It is also possible to transfer from one specialism to another, e.g. from working with children to working with the elderly.
Social work is a profession where promotion is likely to take you away from hands-on work. Three to five years after qualification, it is possible to become a senior practitioner, team or care manager. In this role, you would have responsibility for managing other social workers (resulting in a reduction in direct service user contact) and an increasing involvement in managerial, financial and political issues.
With a practice teaching award, you could become involved in the supervision and management of social work students and less experienced staff.
In England, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are responsible for regulating, auditing and reviewing social care providers. They may also offer opportunities for career development. In Scotland it’s the Scottish Social Services Council ; in Northern Ireland the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and in Wales, the Care Council for Wales .
Another option is to move from one sector to another (statutory, voluntary and independent). You could also consider training and lecturing roles or opportunities for project work and secondments.
Social workers are employed by:
Settings vary depending on the employer. For example, you may be working in a large department with many hundreds of employees or you could be based in a small organisation where you are the only professionally qualified member of staff.
After some years' experience, you may be able to work in a self-employed or freelance capacity and secure work through agencies. There is a growing market for locum social workers, especially if you have child protection experience. It may also be possible to offer counselling, therapy or training skills on a freelance basis. Some local authorities and private homes keep a casual relief list.
Recruitment agencies may handle vacancies.
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