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Social workers

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sherrardk | 19:10 Tue 01st May 2012 | Jobs & Education
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What do social workers ACTUALLY do. I have googled it but all the info is a bit general (it is something I could potentially re-train as (ok, we all know I won't actually do it, but it will keep me busy pretending to plan to do it - bit like when you can always find something to keep you occupied when you have loads of ironing to do)).
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Making sure your all benifits are are paid to you.
ALL your hospital app are up to date & correct.
Your medication's are the correct Doz / Amount / for the days of the week.
These are a few of the important jobs taken by the Social Services, but there are several more Sherrardk as you will soon find out on here.
Social Worker Duties and Responsibilities:
Social workers help people and their families adjust to problems in their lives such as serious illness, child abuse, substance abuse, mental illness, handicaps, juvenile delinquency, and anti-social behavior. Often they must help people accept situations that cannot be changed. Frequently they work with the underclass, including the homeless, chronically unemployed, and mentally ill. Most social workers work for the government in offices, hospitals, clinics, prisons, or the courts. Some also work in nursing homes, group homes, schools, or businesses. Their duties often include:
Interviewing and counseling individuals, families, and groups.
Assessing needs and developing response plans.
Referring clients to professional or community services.
Coordinating responses between civic, religious, governmental, and other organizations.

Average Salary: $20,000 - $42,000
Educational Requirements:
Students should prepare for a career in social work by taking challenging high school courses, especially in English, science, and math.
Some organizations may allow a social worker to practice with a bachelor's degree in social work, however most (including all health and mental health) positions require a graduate degree. Clinical positions require additional licensing after the completion of one or two year supervised internships.

For More Information:
Council on Social Work Education
1600 Duke St., Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-8080
National Association of Social Workers
750 First St. NE, Suite 700
Washington DC 20002
(202) 408-8600

To Mental Health To Alphabetical Listing

This is the USA.
I was secretary to 5 social workers and they did all of the above and then had to write up their notes on all of it every day, every phone call, meeting, etc etc. I then typed it up for them.
Not much different in Uk from TWR's post. Godaughter just going down that route is going back to uni to do her Masters in Social work, can be done full time 1 year or part time 3 years.
The work is varied and SW usually choose to work either with children and young adults, the elderly or the disabled.

It's often a thankless task, working closely with 'troubled' families to ensure the children and safe and cared for; applying to court for the child to go into care where necessary.

Working with young adults when they leave the care system, or if they are delinquent or breaking the law.

Working with elderly and disabled people to make sure they get the care they need when they leave hospital, or become ill.

Act as advocate for mentally disabled adults who are unable to fight their own battles and navigate life's problems.

Support families with disabled children.

Assess families who wish to foster or adopt, guiding them through the process.

Social workers aren't carers. They don't wipe bottoms or clean houses. They can help people to get these services if they are needed.
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Reading all your answers I think I would be too soft to be a social worker (will have to find a different, new career to pretend to persue). Thanks all.
You need a very strong stomach, that's for sure.
Filthy, filthy houses worse than you can imagine; neglected and abused kids; battered wives and husbands; angry, threatening, violent people who may be high on drugs; tragic people....
Given my recent dealings with a social worker over an adult neighbour with learning difficulties who was being fleeced of her savings by a rogue, I would also add to the list:
Being politcally correct to the nth degree
Have no sense of humour
Show a profound disinclination to get involved

Sorry but I am feeling very anti social worker at the moment
It's easy to do Mrs O, I work with them all the time and despite the fact that most are absolutely fine, it's only the Snags that I am immediately able to call to mind. 'Haringey Social Services' are swear words to me & will always send a shiver up my spine as I know it's going to be a 'doozy'... But given the choice, I'm not sure I could stomach working in haringey.

It is a difficult and thankless job in which the worst are remembered well over the best because the consequences can be devastating. But I think a lot of the excellent work they do is overlooked. Some of the families on my books have had really positive experiences with social services so it's not all doom and gloom.

A bad social worker can do the most incredible amount of damage to public perception though.
having met a number in the last few years, i can say that their case loads are too big, that they need to have a heart of stone to do the job, most do not... Many are not suited to it. They go sick on a regular basis, not surprising I have roundly bashed them at times for failing in their duty towards a member of the family, but once you delve a little deeper it's very hard to feel so angry because quite frankly the crap they have to deal with on a daily basis, would have most of us running for the hills. Too many managers, and not enough on the ground.
I have had lots of dealings with social workers they are very over worked have an amazing amount of stress to deal with - could you see yourself dealing with seriously abused children and their families with over stretched foster families and members of the public who think they know the SW's job better than the SW's!
I know, China, I know.
Years ago I was visiting a friend who lived next door to a single mum who'd just had a new baby. My friend was concerned because she'd seen her go out without the baby, the back door was ajar and the baby could be heard crying. We ended up going in the house. There was no adult present, a toddler was locked in an upstairs bedroom and the new baby was on the floor in front of an open coal fire (with no fireguard) and a dog was also in the room. After being there an hour I went up the road to the local social services and told them all about it.
A week or so later I was passing the SS office and called in to see what had happened. The woman I had made the report to denied ever having seen or spoken to me before and denied having a report on the family. When I called in to see my friend she told me that the baby was dead.
No matter what anyone may say, I will have the death of that baby on my conscience for ever and will always wonder if I could have done more.
Is it any wonder I have no faith in social workers?
Question Author
This is so not something I could do, I will have to explore other avenues.
many and various things, plus get flack and no appreciation!
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