Social workers are the most important members of a functional society. They are the mediators that keep the community from crumbling. A social worker has a deep sense of principles and values that they integrate into their work. The purpose of any social worker is to offer compassion and kindness as they help people navigate through various difficulties in their life.
From rescuing children from abusive households to assisting people to overcome their addictions, social workers do it all. If you are thinking of joining the force, there is much for you to do. Whether you wish to work in an organization or hold an office job, we will guide you through the various roles a social worker can perform in 2021.
With the proper guidance, you may find the position most suitable for your needs and help you find your place in serving the community. Here’s what you need to know:
1. As Brokers
As a social worker broker, you can connect your clients to the resources they need to be a more functional member of society. If you come across a family that needs help to be better, you can refer them to appropriate support. If you meet a couple who have a dysfunctional marriage, you will guide them to the best marriage counselor. If nothing works out, help them work out a divorce. Your job won’t be limited to guidance, but you will conduct follow-ups and ask your clients about their progress. You will also provide them with resources such as eligibility requirements and fees for any service your client wishes to attend.
2. As Educators
The scope in academics for social workers is infinite; if you hold a masters in social work online, you can also look into teaching. It is an essential part of social work to educate people on different disciplines of life. You can teach children the hazards of drugs or conduct sessions for adults, such as better budgeting and caring about children or mental health. When you’re not running classroom sessions, you can also arrange workshops and seminars to spread knowledge and information further. You can even invite different speakers who can share their journey and encourage the audience to take control of their lives.
3. As Advocates
As an advocate, you are on the front lines of supporting people by fighting for their rights. You can do this by becoming a part of NGOs, working for the government, or running your practice. As an advocate, you will work with lawyers and often find yourself in courtrooms to speak on behalf of those you need support. You may guide people who are vulnerable and often victims of abuse seeking their rights. As an advocate, you can carry cases on a local, county level, or state level. If necessary, you can work with international human rights agencies to advocate for people, especially those struck by war.
4. As A Case Manager
The role of a case manager is quite a complex one, as you are involved in many high-profile cases that need you to help people connect to the services they need. This means you would need to work with hospitals, police stations, courtrooms, and even lawyers. The clients you will get will be going through severe homelessness or serious mental health issues. You may even get disabled individuals or survivors of violent crimes. Suppose you get a person who lost their house. You would need to follow their case to understand why they lost their home in the first place. You may need to contact a property lawyer and inquire about the technicalities of the case before you connect your client to the right resource to help them get their rights.
5. As Facilitators
These social workers are involved with people who need therapy either individually or as a group. You are also involved in many community projects, such as building a safe house for victims. Your job doesn’t end there; you may also be part of political organizations to help with policy changes. As facilitators, you work with all the projects meant to reshape lives. You want to make sure no one is neglected and find the help they need to come out of their troubled times.
6. As Organizers
If you become an organizer, the subject of your job is awareness. You want people to learn about their rights and form unions to protect them. You would educate the people about the impact unions have on the economy and why we need them in businesses. You may also lead researchers that talk about social reforms and shed light on any social issues that have gone unnoticed for a long time.
7. As Child Protection Manager
Since you have expertise in many different case scenarios as a social worker, you can check applications and approve them for further study. Suppose someone calls in with a case of child abuse. You will supervise the issue and personally visit the site where the abuse may have happened. When you see any suspicious activity, you are in full authority to record your findings and submit them ahead. You also have the power to remove a child from a harmful situation and find them a better house. It is also not unusual for you to work with police officers as you tackle more challenging cases.
Wrap Up
Social workers remain an integral part of society. As a social worker, you can work as a broker and connect clients to resources. You can also work as an educator and make sure you educate various members of the community about social issues. As advocates, you can help people reach for their rights
As facilitators, you help people find the guidance and support they need to be better. As organizers, you work on creating reforms and awareness in society. Finally, as a child protection manager, you get to review cases to help children escape abuse and neglect.
