What is a social worker job

Social work is a dynamic field that started as a movement to reduce poverty and inequality. In Canada, social work began with a group of home visitors—volunteers driven to help vulnerable people, spread hope and advocate for social justice. 

Over the past century, social work has evolved into an academic discipline and regulated profession founded on theories of social work, social science and humanities. The field advances through academic research, evidence-based practice and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Social workers are regulated health professionals who work with individuals, families, groups and communities to improve individual and collective well-being. They respond to social issues like racism, poverty and unemployment. As well, social workers advocate for social justice, human rights and fair access to health and social services. 

Canadian social workers share the following core values:

1. Respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons
2. Pursuit of social justice
3. Service to humanity
4. Integrity in professional practice
5. Confidentiality in professional practice
6. Competence in professional practice

What Do Social Workers Do?

Social workers serve people. 

Social workers believe people are resourceful, resilient and able. Working in a variety of settings, social workers help people attain physical, mental and spiritual well-being. They also address broad social issues like oppression, discrimination, domestic violence, unemployment and poverty. They do this in many different ways, including:

• Therapy/Counselling
• Social policy analysis
• Community capacity building
• Health promotion
• Research
• Collaboration with other professions
  

Where Do Social Workers Work?

Social work can take place in person and virtually. You’ll find social workers in a variety of settings, including: 

• Advocacy organizations
• Child welfare settings
• Community health centres
• Consultation agencies
• Correctional facilities
• Employee assistance and

What is the role of social workers?

Who do social workers help?

Scope of social work practice

Social workers play a vital role in giving a voice to those who need it, having a positive impact on an individual and their family's wellbeing and quality of life

As a social worker, you'll support individuals and their families through difficult times, helping to find solutions to their problems, with the aim of improving future outcomes for them. You'll work to ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm and are able to live more independently with the support they need.

You'll need to maintain professional relationships and act as a guide and advocate. On occasion, you may need to use your professional judgment to make tough decisions that might not always be well received by those you're trying to help.

Working in a variety of settings, which can include schools, hospitals or on the premises of other public sector and voluntary organisations, social workers usually specialise in either supporting children and their families or vulnerable adults.

You may have a social work assistant working alongside you and will also work closely with other professionals in health and social care.

Types of social worker

Many social workers work with young people and their families. You might also work with the following groups:

• the elderly
• people with learning and physical disabilities
• young offenders
• people with mental health conditions
• school non-attenders
• drug and alcohol abusers
• the homeless.

Government legislation focusing on the integration of health and social work services means that social workers often work in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

As a social worker, you'll need to:

• conduct interviews with individuals and families to assess and review their situation
• undertake and write up assessments (sometimes in collaboration with other professionals), which meet specified standards and timescales
• offer information and support
• organise and manage packages of support to enable people to lead t

As a social worker, you advocate for others, be they young or old. You’ll work with clients from every station in life, and sometimes dire economic backdrops, to ease them through transitions, hardships, and mentally tough times.

You’ll be the person who assists them in finding the proper resources to get the care or supplement they need to sustain a certain quality of life. You may also be the link between people and caregivers in the health and psychology professions. As a social worker, you’ll find reward, take risks, and offer viable options for those who may not be capable—or willing—to help themselves.

What does a social worker do?

There are two basic types of social workers: direct social workers and clinical social workers. One works and interacts with the community while the other offers assistance in a clinical setting:

On the job, direct social workers will:

• Identify those in need
• Help people of all life stages cope with and solve everyday problems
• Advocate for and develop plans to improve clients’ well-being
• Research and refer clients to community resources
• Work with individuals, families or groups
• Respond to clients in crisis situations
• Work in a variety of public and private organizations

Clinical social workers will:

• Observe client behavior, assess needs and create treatment strategies
• Diagnose psychological, behavioral and emotional disorders
• Develop and put treatment plans in place
• Consult with doctors, therapists and medical professionals
• Administer social service programs
• Instruct clients’ families during treatment

Curious about what you can earn as a social worker? Learn about pay and job growth projections.

What education do I need to become a social worker?

A bachelor’s degree in social work is the most common requirement for entry-level social work positions. These degrees prepare candidates for jobs as caseworkers and assistants.