what is a social worker?
Working as a social worker is a demanding profession that involves working with families and institutions to advance social impacts. As a social worker, you promote social change, developing and empowering communities. Sometimes you advocate for civil rights, raising awareness on issues such as mental health and child abuse.
The goal of social workers is to encourage change, whether social, environmental or political. As a social worker, you typically try to empower overlooked communities, focusing your work on people who suffer oppression and discrimination or those who are living in poverty.
There are different types of social work. Micro social work involves working intimately with families and in one-on-one settings. Some examples include substance abuse counseling and mental health services.
Mezzo social work involves larger institutional settings, such as hospitals and prisons. As a correctional social worker, for example, you work with prisoners on different levels. This could be ensuring they get adequate mental healthcare services, counseling or basic necessities such as air conditioning during heat waves. In a hospital setting, medical social workers help families and patients cope with major illnesses, such as cancer.
Finally, there is macro social work. Here, you work with government institutions to help change policies and laws that affect communities, such as homelessness and healthcare.
Would working as a social worker suit your advocacy skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a social worker role.
social worker jobs near youaverage social worker salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a social worker in the U.S. is $55,350 per year or $26.61 per hour. Those with experience and additional skills can earn more. Salaries differ depending on the kind of social work you do and the city you work in. Medical social workers earn higher salaries, in general. In Los Angeles, a medical social worker earns about $48 per hour.
Aside from basic wages, social workers can also earn various benefits in their compensation package. For instance, some institutions provide transport allowance, medical insurance and pension benefits to workers.
factors affecting social worker salary
Your salary as a social worker depends on the company or institution you work for and its size. For instance, large companies pay more than small institutions. Aside from size, your compensation package depends on whether the company is public or private as well. Social workers employed in the private sector are likely to earn more than social workers working for government institutions. Working in big cities with a high cost of living also increases your salary prospects compared to working in small towns with a low cost of living.
Wondering what you can earn as a social worker? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a social worker is.
types of social workers
Social workers work in different environments. There are clinical health social workers, who help treat mental health issues, and there are child welfare social workers who investigate cases of child abuse or neglect. Other types of social workers include substance abuse counselors. This work involves people who are struggling with addiction issues. There are criminal justice social workers, too, who help prisoners reintegrate into society and find jobs. Finally, some geriatric social workers help the elderly find housing, get healthcare services and plan for the end of their lives.
working as a social worker
If you love championing people's rights and helping them improve their well-being, working as a social worker will be fulfilling. Here are some daily duties and responsibilities.
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social worker job description
While specific roles depend on the institution you work for and pre-determined work processes, some typical tasks include:
- identifying families and people in need of help: As a social worker, you identify people in the community who need help. For instance, you need to identify homeless and senior people in your area. Whenever there is a domestic incident, you work to find the victims of violence and vulnerable children in your area.
- conducting an initial assessment of clients: Social workers evaluate clients' problems and determine effective ways to improve their welfare. Your job is to compile information on your clients' situation within the community and their issues. You also need to learn their family and medical history to identify the support required.
- researching and seeking assistance for clients: After the initial assessment, you can identify your clients' needs. The next step is to research the public assistance and welfare programs available. For instance, you should find government treatment facilities to take care of their healthcare needs if they need treatment. You also find them housing or identify foster homes for children.
- maintaining ongoing contact with clients: After securing the assistance your client needs, you maintain contact to ensure there is improvement. You can also recommend support groups in the community to help them with recovery.
- responding to crises: When one of your clients has a problem, you need to intervene and provide assistance. In a mental health emergency, sexual assault or child abuse case, you have to make sure you are consistently protecting your clients' rights.
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social worker work environment
As a social worker, your work environment differs depending on the type of social work you perform. If you work for child welfare services, you would typically have an office. Sometimes, visiting homes is necessary, especially in cases where there is child neglect or abuse. If you work in a school setting, you can expect your office to be within the school. Some social workers work in juvenile detention centers or prisons. In this case, most of your work day may be inside the prison system or detention center. If you are a macro social worker, you could expect to work in an office at a government institution or a research company.
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who are your colleagues?
As with your environment, your colleagues depend on the type of social work you're involved in. For the most part, though, your colleagues are other social workers and case managers. You may work directly with therapists - such as child therapists or counselors - if your work involves helping abused children or those with addiction issues. In a hospital environment, your colleagues are healthcare professionals; and in a school setting, your colleagues are often teachers and human resources generalists and human resources managers.
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work schedule
As a social worker, expect to work regular office hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if you work in crisis intervention, your hours depend on the crisis at hand and the type of attention it needs. You may also find yourself working in shifts, especially if you work at a hospital or in a prison. The shift times can vary depending on the hospital or prison's needs.
Some social workers conduct home visits. This may mean working additional hours outside of the regular 9-5 schedule. Part-time opportunities are often available, too, in non-governmental organizations that need social workers on a case-by-case basis.
Some social workers work remotely, especially those who provide counseling services. People you may counsel include clients with addiction problems or prisoners looking to reintegrate into society. You could use video conferencing to conduct support group sessions and organize support for your clients remotely.
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job outlook for social worker
According to national statistics, social worker jobs should see a growth of 12% from 2020 to 2030. This shows there is a steady demand as there will always be social issues, such as substance abuse problems, child welfare concerns and so on.
Social workers who work in the healthcare profession will be in particular demand as communities become more aware of health awareness issues. Child welfare services and social workers working in foster care may continue to see a rising demand as well.
As the aging population grows, there could be a demand for social workers whose focus is on the elderly, whether it's for housing, healthcare or end-of-life concerns.
The LGBTQ community will also have a demand for social workers to fight against discrimination in the workplace or at schools.
Job growth may be particularly strong in urban areas, but rural areas could see some growth as well.
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benefits of working for randstad as a social worker
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a social worker is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
social worker skills and education
There are various education and licensing requirements for social workers:
- bachelor's degree: For entry-level positions, social workers typically need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. This degree teaches the principles and ethics of social work.
- master's degree: If your bachelor's degree did not focus on social work, you may choose to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Besides gaining more in-depth knowledge about the principles of social work, there are clinical training requirements.
- licensing: The highest license for social workers is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). To receive this license, you must have thousands of hours of supervised practice. Some of this practice includes assessments, diagnoses, research and evaluations. After amassing the required amount of hours, social workers must then pass the exam from the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB).
- continuing education: It is often a requirement for social workers to complete continuing education hours in order to maintain their license.
Besides a core education, social workers must also have specific skills to excel at their jobs. These include:
- good listening skills: Social workers need to listen attentively to their clients.
- compassion: It is important for social workers to connect with their clients and express caring and compassion.
- problem-solving skills: Social workers must help their clients solve problems, find resources and overcome obstacles.
- trauma training: Social workers should have specific training on how to approach trauma cases.
skills and competencies
Social workers need various competencies to keep up with the demanding profession. Some of these include:
- empathy: As a social worker, you should have the ability to understand your clients' experiences and step into their shoes. That way, you can accurately determine their needs and provide the best support.
- communication: Good communication skills are vital for social workers since they need to communicate with various people. You should know verbal and non-verbal cues to understand your clients better. When advocating for your client's rights, it is crucial to communicate concisely with care providers and colleagues.
- critical thinking: As a social worker, you need to evaluate each case from the information gathered and interviews with clients. The skill also helps you determine the best resources to assist your clients.
- patience: Social workers need the patience to handle complex cases or assist clients who need longer periods to make progress. Patience also helps you avoid making mistakes that lead to poor outcomes.
- collaboration and teamwork: Social workers often have to collaborate with other professionals, such as healthcare professionals, therapists and teachers. By collaborating with other professionals, you can ensure your clients are getting the best services.
FAQs about working as a social worker
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about social workers.
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is social work different from counseling or psychology?
Although there may be some overlap, especially when it comes to drug counseling or counseling juveniles in detention centers, social workers differ from counselors and therapists by working to change society's laws. Social workers focus on changing how the system works rather than just individual counseling.
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do different types of social workers receive different salaries?
Yes. The field you work in will determine your salary. Some social workers receive higher salaries than others. While correctional social workers tend to fall within the medium range of roughly $26 per hour, medical social workers can earn as much as $48 per hour.
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do social workers only work with certain populations?
Although social workers tend to work with underrepresented and underprivileged populations, these are not the only people they work with. Social workers can also work with elderly individuals to protect their rights as well as physically disadvantaged individuals. In fact, social workers work with and for a diverse group of people.
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is being a social worker a good job?
The definition of "good" depends on your needs and preferences. However, working as a social worker can be incredibly fulfilling knowing that you are helping people in the community and doing impactful work.
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how do social workers maintain their own mental and psychological well-being given that their work can be so challenging?
Because social work can be emotionally demanding, it's important that social workers take time out for self-care. Counseling, meditation and yoga are some useful strategies that could help.
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how do I find a job as a social worker?
Applying for a social worker job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our social worker jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
