- You Can Make a Real Difference. …
- Flexible Hours and Working Schedules. …
- Plenty of Career Options. …
- Great Job Satisfaction. …
- New and Improved Service Options. …
- Lots of Earning Opportunity. …
- Increasing Demand. …
- References.
Social Workers may provide
case management, counselling and advocacy to address issues
at the personal and social level in a variety of settings including crisis support, child protection, aged care, disability, homelessness, drug and alcohol, healthcare, education or policy.
- A profession in demand.
- Gain transferable skills.
- It's diverse.
- Opportunity for growth.
- Strong job outlook.
- An opportunity to make a real difference.
- Good pay.
- Allows you to pursue a passion.
Being a Social Worker Pros Being a Social Worker Cons | Social work never gets boring Schedule can change pretty soon | You can learn how to deal with stress Social workers often work long hours | You will value your own life much more Some people just don't want your help |
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As per the 25 responses provided, social workers are inclined to love their profession for the following reasons: it's the best job with social justice values underlying all work; it offers flexibility and portability; they are
able to help heal and/or problem solve
; they help make the world a better place; they are …
Clinical social workers must hold at least a master's degree in social work (MSW), and they have the authority to diagnose and treat
clients with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems
.
The primary mission of the social work profession is
to enhance human well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of all people
, with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. … We also advocate for change to improve social conditions and strengthen the social net.
What's the difference between an MSW and LCSW? An MSW is a
master's in social work degree
that is a graduate degree in social work. An LCSW is a license that stands for licensed clinical social worker. LCSWs may be able to provide direct mental health services to clients in private practice and other settings.
Working Conditions
Full-time social workers usually work a standard
40-hour week
. Some work evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings and handle emergencies. Others may work part time.
Social workers are often
the first individuals to make an impact on the life of a vulnerable individual
. For example, social workers provide early intervention and assessment in child maltreatment and neglect cases. … ‘ And an estimated 1,640 kids died as a result [of abuse or neglect].”
- Emotional exhaustion – Being a social worker is not easy. Especially if you have to deal with difficult circumstances. …
- Compensation – Social workers are not one of the top earning careers. …
- Workload – With all the paperwork and difficult cases, many of our social workers are overworked.
The ambulatory healthcare services field
pays the highest social worker salary at $83,050. Social workers also earn some of the highest wages at federal agencies, brokerages and insurance companies, surgical hospitals, and insurance carriers.
Social workers are below average when it
comes to happiness. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, social workers rate their career happiness 2.9 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 23% of careers.
Social workers
write a lot
and their writing has a major impact on people's lives. The complexity of their writing task arises because they must deal with confidential client information while usually writing for multiple audiences.
At their best, DSM diagnoses help social workers and other mental health professionals
understand clients
, guiding their interventions from an evidence-based perspective. Diagnosis helps professionals with goal setting, treatment planning, and determining a client's prognosis.
Salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay of social workers in 2019 was $50,470. By contrast, the median annual salary for a
psychologist
was $80,370.