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Who is a Social Worker?
The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others - Gordon B. Hinckley
In career as social worker, individuals contribute to the welfare of society. A social worker is a professional possessing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work. A Social worker's main job is to support needy people or underprivileged communities. A social worker in India is an expert who tries to improve general well-being and assist in addressing both fundamental and complex issues of individuals and communities. Social worker jobs include interacting with a variety of groups of individuals, focusing a special emphasis on the disadvantaged, oppressed, and poor.
Social workers in India don’t just work for the rights of the people but also aim at making the world a better place to live by making the people aware of environmental change and other such problems. Students can study B.A. Social Work, Master of Social Work to opt for social work in India. Here, in this article, we have discussed about social worker vacancy, what a social worker does, the social worker course, the role of social worker, the social worker career path
Social Worker in a Nutshell
The social worker career has contended with passion, compassion, and empathy. Individuals who opt for a career as social worker are required to work to make the lives of needy and underprivileged individuals, families, and groups easy and worthy. Social work careers involve facilitating education to underprivileged children and teaching skills to people to make them independent and generate employment. Individuals who opt for a career as social worker provide support in dealing with problems related to social issues such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of education.
Quick Facts for Social Worker
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as social worker provides opportunities to everyone irrespective of gender. There is not any biasedness in the name of gender. The career is suitable for anyone who wants to contribute to the welfare of society.
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Any special needs
No
A career as social worker may suit candidates with several kinds of special needs. The social worker's job demands agility, patience, and good stamina to help people and provide them with essential facilities that he or she can not afford.
Table of Contents for Social Worker
What is the role of Social Worker?
Here, in this section, we have discussed what does a social worker do? Individuals who opt for a career as a social worker work with various groups of people to ensure their help in the best possible way. Social workers in India work with old as well as newly born infants. Social worker jobs include serving each stratum of people without differentiating their race, caste, or culture.
A Career as a social worker may require you to work in various types of workplaces such as hospitals, clinics, other healthcare facilities, old age homes, disaster management departments, NGOs (non-government organizations), the education sector and other places. Social workers in India may work at the federal, state, or local levels. They work for people from various groups. The role of a social worker is to treat an infant or provide support to an older person.
They are trained to do the work as public servants in government agencies, community centres, hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and career centres. Social care centres are tremendously increasing in various corners of the world as demand for social workers is also increasing.
Developing solutions
A social worker identifies people and communities in need of help. He or she makes strategies and develops solutions to support underprivileged communities and other groups.
Assessment
A social worker assesses clients' needs, situations, strengths, and support networks to determine their goals. A social worker assesses their emotional, mental, and physical disorders. A social worker provides help to make them independent.
Helping
A social worker is responsible for providing help to his or her clients. He or she ensures that their clients are comfortable in adjusting to changes in their lives. A social worker plays a role in the support system in coping up with the challenges of their lives, such as illness, divorce, or unemployment.
Research
A social worker researches various social issues. He or she refers and advocates for community resources, such as food stamps, childcare, and healthcare to assist and improve a client's well-being.
Intervention
A social worker intervenes in the cases of child abuse and mental health emergencies. They provide the necessary support to such victims or patients and help them recover.
Follow up
A social worker follows up with his or her clients to ensure that their situations have improved and necessary requirements are met. He or she visits them to ensure that they have got adequate support to become independent.
Documentation
A social worker is also involved in the paperwork that involves documentation of the treatment of his or her clients. He or she maintains case files and records.
Psychotherapy services
A social worker is often the graduate of psychology or studies the subject. A social worker also provides psychotherapy services. It helps patients to recover with mental disorders, emotional challenges, and psychiatric disorders.
Types of a Social Worker
We have described the various types of a social worker or the careers related to them in this section.
Child and Family Social Worker: The child and family social workers work for social causes related to children and needy families. A child and family social worker works to provide assistance to needy families for housing or other services. He or she intervenes when young children are forced to work or in case of child labour. Individuals in the social worker career path rescue the child in danger or who are being abused. Some social workers arrange adoptions, foster families, or reunite families.
School Social Worker: A school social worker works with teachers, parents, and school administrators to ensure improvement in students. Social workers in India make strategies, and design programmes to improve the learning abilities of students and increase their interest in studies.
Healthcare Social Worker: A healthcare social worker provides guidance to weak and sick people diagnosed with diseases and other health problems. Social workers in India make necessary adjustments for patients related to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare. They help people while they are hospitalized till they get recovered and come back home. They help doctors to understand how a certain disease or therapy has affected the emotional and mental health of the patient.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker: Mental health and substance abuse social workers help patients affected by mental health such as anxiety, or depression disorders. Social workers in India also help patients with addiction. Individuals in the social worker career path provide information and services on call.
Also read: Career as a counsellor
What is the workplace/work environment of Social Worker like?
A social worker works to provide help and assistance to needy and underprivileged individuals, families, communities, and other groups. Individuals who opt for a career as social worker work with patients and their families to understand the emotional, mental psychological environment. He or she has individuals who are overcoming or recovering from emotional, mental, or physical disabilities to be independent and get employed. A careers as social worker requires one to make them learn the skills that ensure employment opportunities. Individuals in the social worker career path often stay involved with paperwork to document the treatment given to patients.
A social worker works with various groups of people and communities. The social worker has to be organized and possesses strong interpersonal skills. A social worker advocates for the patients and provides resources to help the patients in learning or function as normal individuals. A professional social worker either possesses a bachelor’s degree in social work or a master’s degree in social work.
Does Social Worker require travelling?
Likely
In a career as social worker, traveling needs are depended on the organization they work for. In a career as social worker, individuals may require to visit community homes or other places where needy and underprivileged groups of society stay.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
No, the career as social worker does not fall into a certain shift. A social worker's job involves providing help to needy and underprivileged communities and other groups. Individuals who opt for a career as social worker identify if someone requires immediate help and is required to be rescued. He or she provides support and rescues them at any time of need.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
In a career as social worker, the nature of employment depends on the organization he or she works with. Social workers in India work on both a contractual and permanent basis.
Work Place
There is no specific workplace for social workers. Public and private institutions, schools, medical centres, non-governmental organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other organizations.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
If you want to opt for careers in social care then urban and semi-urban areas are flourished with alluring opportunities for social workers. In urban and semi-urban areas people understand the need for social workers and their contribution to society. Unlike, rural areas where people are less aware of social workers. The NPOs and NGOs get donations as financial support from people to provide their services in urban and semi-urban areas.
Time Pressure
Likely
In a career as social worker, the employees are required to work under a lot of time pressure. Their job is filled with a variety of work. Social workers in India are required to work under adverse conditions. Social work is considered one of the hardest and most selfless jobs. It requires patience and dedication to go through an arduous working environment and odd hours.
Overtime Details
Working overtime is not something new in jobs social care organizations offer. Individuals who opt for a career as social worker work with NGOs, government and private agencies, healthcare facilities, hospitals, clinics, schools, and other organizations. Quite often, he or she is required to work for long hours resulting in overtime.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
There is not any fixed shift for social workers. Individuals who opt for a career as social workers work full time and if required they may work at night. Social workers in India also provide services through phone calls. Individuals working for social services are employed by NGOs, government and private agencies, healthcare facilities, hospitals, clinics, schools, and other organizations.
How to become a Social Worker?
Steps to become a Social Worker
This section of the article explores how to become a Social Worker in India, shedding light on the educational path and qualifications required. From the essential degrees in social work to the passion for community service, discover the key steps to embark on a fulfilling journey as a social worker in the Indian context.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Social Worker?
There are several social work jobs in India that require specific inbuilt set of skills. We have provided below the major skills for a social worker career. Here, we have discussed how to become a social worker.
Communication Skills: Individuals who opt for a career as social workers require communicating with their clients in a warm way so they could open up about the challenges of their lives and seek help by expressing what they need without hesitating.
Emotional Stability: In a career as a social worker, individuals often work with those people who are going through an emotional breakdown or having some personal issues causing an increase in stress levels and emotional anxieties. Developing n emotional relationship with clients is necessary to further help them and guide them. The relationship with clients should contend with passion, compassion, and empathy.
Interpersonal Management: Individuals who opt for a career as a social worker work with people from different groups. He or she requires strong interpersonal skills to communicate with them and develop strong and healthy relationships.
Organizational Skills: Social workers in India have to be organized as they have to work with multiple clients and do paperwork that involves documentation of their treatment or what kind of help is provided to them.
Problem-Solving Ability: Social workers are required to come up with effective solutions to the problems of their clients and relieve them.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Social Worker?
We have provided below certification courses that aspiring individuals may opt to find and acquire numerous opportunities for careers in social care. These certifications help in upgrading skills and knowledge.
Internship Availability
In order to have a better understanding of a social worker career, it is always important to go for an internship. No matter how many practical learning experiences your college or university provides, you will get real-world experience by working with a company or an organization. In order to acquire jobs in social care organizations one has to undergo an internship. An internship gives you insights into the industry and answers several questions relevant to how to become a social worker. The candidates can go through numerous recruitment websites and apply for internships.
Internships are essential for learning and developing skills required in the industry. Candidates can directly apply for internships through the official websites of organizations. Glassdoor, Indeed, Internshala, and Letsintern, are popular recruiting websites. Entry-level social work jobs to assist the social worker. He or she attends the treatment team meeting with clients and obtains information. He or she assists in completing forms and other paperwork.
What is the job outlook for Social Worker?
A career as social worker was earlier considered a philanthropic activity. But nowadays it has emerged as the most demanding profession in India. There are vast opportunities in the field of social work across the world. There are also various NGOs working in India facilitating people of needy and underprivileged societies. MAD (Make A Difference) is an NGO working to provide equal opportunities to the youth of economically weaker sections. There are also NGOs such as Nanhi Kali and Smile Foundation working to provide education to underprivileged children. The demand for a career in social work is arising rapidly.
Social workers work with NGOs, government and private agencies, community settings, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and other related organizations. Social workers are employed in government and private companies as well. They work in the positions of administrative, management, and policy planning.
Frequently Asked Questions for Social Worker
Que. What is the average salary of the social worker in India?
Ans.The average salary of a social worker in India is Rs. two lakhs to Rs. three lakh per annum.
Que. What is the average fee of a master’s in social work?
Ans.The average fee of master’s in social work ranges from Rs.10 thousand to Rs.60 thousand per annum.
Que. Is UNICEF an NGO?
Ans.No, UNICEF is a part of the United Nations. UNICEF is known as the United Nations Children’s Fund. It is an international organization. UNICEF is not an NGO but it is an NPO. NGO is a Non-Government Organization whereas NPO is Non-Profit Organizations.
Que. Is the license required to work as a professional social worker?
Ans.Yes, a license is required to work as a professional social worker. The candidates are required to complete a bachelor of social work to apply for a license. For an advanced license, a master of social work is required. To obtain a license, candidates are required to qualify the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) exam.
Que. What are the top institutes to purse education in order to become a social worker?
Ans.Here are some of the top institutes Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, Christ University, Bangalore, Integral University, Lucknow and Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
Que. What does it take to be a social worker?
Ans.To become a social worker, one needs a strong commitment to social justice, empathy, and excellent communication skills to advocate for and support individuals and communities facing challenges.
Que. What degree is best for a social worker?
Ans.A bachelor's or master's degree in social work is ideal for aspiring social workers, providing comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to address diverse social issues effectively.
Que. What qualifications do you need to be a social?
Ans.In India, aspiring social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, sociology, or a related field, along with a passion for community service and a commitment to making a positive impact.
Que. What are the 7 roles of a social worker?
Ans.The seven key roles of a social worker include advocate, counselor, mediator, educator, researcher, facilitator, and community organizer, encompassing a broad range of responsibilities to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.
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