The paradigm of social work is spread into various areas including: fund raising, child social work, family social work, medical social work and mental health social work.
Fund Raiser
Any charitable institution cannot work without funds. The primary responsibility of a fund raiser would be to generate funds for the efficient working of the institution. While fund raisers would meet various people for donation, they would primarily be engaged in throwing events through which funds would be raised. This would require booking celebrities to either perform at the gala or attend the fund raising event, organizing the event, arranging for the sponsors, selling tickets, getting a venue booked and making all the arrangements to ensure that the event is organized properly and enough funds are generated, so that the mission of the institution is accomplished.
Child Social Worker
Persons engaged as child social workers work towards the betterment of children. A person with a professional degree in child psychology can find a job as child social worker in institutions, foster homes, orphanage etc. The primary duty of the social worker would be ensure the well being of the children and to arrange a meeting between the children and parents who are interested in adopting the children.
Family Social Workers
The job of a family social worker is to see that the conflicts within the family are resolved amicably and the peace and happiness of the family is maintained. The conflicts could be between the parents and the children or between the partners.
The role of the social worker would be to inform them about private or government counseling program.
To be able to counsel the family, the social worker must have undergone the training to be a therapist, and should possess the license as per the requirements of the state. The social worker should be a graduate in social work and must have experience in marriage and family counseling.
School social work
School social workers work toward the betterment of the students to help them achieve academic success. They provide necessary information to the students as well as parents so that a proper atmosphere is given to the students so as to excel their academic performance. Moreover, they also provide help to students with behavioral problems. This would also mean guiding the students to better health services or providing job training to the students. School social workers generally assess the psychological behavior of the students and provide counseling if needed. The counseling may be done individually or in groups.
Medical Social Workers
A medical social worker must be a post graduate in social work (MSW). To be a MSW, it requires attending a 2 year full time course after completion of 4 year degree course. Social workers desirous of working in hospitals need to appear for a licensing exam. A social worker who wants to work in a supervisory position at a hospital should need three years experience in social work and then should appear for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker exam. A medical social worker needs to work at odd hours, as an emergency can crop up any time. A medical worker should have very good communication abilities and must be good at documentation.
Mental Health Social Workers
To be able to work as Mental Health Social Worker, a person must have a minimum of bachelor’s degree in social work, although most of the institutions would demand a master’s degree in their job requirements. You need to appear for social work licensing exam to be able to work. The role of a mental health social worker would be to help people with mental illness and behavioral problems. A mental health worker should be compassionate in his behavior with the patients. He would have to deal with several types of people suffering from various mental illnesses, such as weight disorders, depression, phobias, etc.
Requirements
For most of the openings, individuals with a Master’s Degree in social work are preferred by the employers. But a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree may also do. Social workers who research or teach need to have doctorate degrees as a must. The common disciplinary backgrounds that people can come from are Psychology, Sociology, Social Sciences, and Economics, Child Studies, Education and other relevant and related fields.
A person with a professional degree in child psychology can find a job as child social worker in institutions, foster homes, orphanage etc. Apart from the specific qualifications required from the individual social work jobs, the most important qualification of a social worker is a humanitarian attitude.
Skills Set
The primary skill of a social work is to have the ability to empathize with people and understand their situations with a sound heart so that a suitable solution can be ensured.
They need to be well informed and knowledgeable of the various government policies and laws of Public Welfare to inform people about their rights and suggest them on various private or government counseling programs.
To be able to counsel the family, the social worker must have undergone the training for a therapist, and should possess the license as per the requirements of the state. The social worker should be a graduate in social work and must have experience in marriage and family counseling.
Training
The National Association of Social Workers offers voluntary credentials and relevant training in social work. Social workers who have a Master’s Degree can also look forward to be held eligible for training with the Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW), Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), or the Diplomat in Clinical Social Work (DCSW).
Prior Experience
Social workers can go on private practice for acquiring relevant work experience in this vast field. People, who prefer to go for a career as vast and selfless as this already have the urge to work effectively for the well being of people. But with a little bit of work experience while working with NGOs or other non profit public welfare organizations, valuable work experience ensuring improved future services can be obtained.
Employment Outlook
Career Prospects (globally) and Salaries
The overall employment outlook for social workers is probable to grow at a pace a lot better than most of the average occupations through 2016. Job prospects for social workers, specifically for those who specialize in the aging populace or work in the rural areas is expected to improve all the more.
The standard average income of a family, school and child social workers was recorded to be $37,480 in May 2006. The top 10% made more than $62,530, the mid 50% earned from $29,590 to $49,060 and the bottom 10% who earned the lowest drew less than $24,480.
The financial gains in this profession would be meager as compared to other professions and the job may be quite demanding. But the undying urge to do good to society is what keeps a social worker going.
