Social work
involves assisting individuals, children, and families. It covers a wide range
of topics. To be an effective social worker, it’s advisable to pursue a degree
in social work. A college diploma in social work will prepare you better to help
other people with their personal, social, financial, or health issues. In
addition, you will learn how to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate programs
that will help you become a much more effective social worker.
As a social worker, you will be expected to work with people of various
backgrounds and settings. You will encounter women, children, families, and
senior citizens. There will also be people with psychological disorders or
mental illnesses. Most of your work will take place in government agency
offices, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, drug rehabilitation centers, and
the like. A degree
in social work can earn you a salary that ranges from $35,000 to $48,000 per
annum.
Although social workers generally provide emotional support and counsel to
people who need them, they have their own specializations. For instance, social
workers in elementary or high schools give advice to pregnant teens, help
teachers deal with difficult students, and look for foster homes for students
who have abusive parents. Social workers of this type are often called child
protective social worker, family services social worker, or child welfare
employee.
Social workers in nursing homes and adult care centers are called
gerontologists. Gerontology social workers focus on helping older adults deal
with the difficulties of adjusting to a new stage of life. If you decide to take
up this career path after you have earned your social work diploma, you will
often find yourself helping older people apply for social assistance programs
such as Medicare. You will also be providing advice and support for the children
of these older adults so that they can help their parents adjust to this stage
of their lives.
Holders of social work diplomas
can also get jobs in the mental health or substance abuse sectors. Also known as
clinical social workers, the job requirements are rather unique. If you choose
to take this career path, you will most likely be conducting group or individual
therapy sessions to help patients develop life skills that will be needed once
they are ready to join society. Clinical social workers also help with victims
of diseases such as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, and others. Other than
helping to find the appropriate healthcare services, clinical social workers
also have to help prepare the patients and their families to deal with these new
challenges. Since the scope of the job is more complex, most clinical social
workers are required to go through advanced studies and earn an advanced degree.
While it’s true that everybody can volunteer for some form of social work, a
degree in social work will prepare you to offer more specialized help than the
ordinary citizen. With more experience and an advanced degree, you can become a
social work administrator, bringing your social working abilities to another
level.