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Civil service jobs brief: social worker
As a social worker, you'll be providing assistance for people to help steer their lives in a more positive direction.
Many people, from children, parents and the elderly to the homeless and those suffering addiction, need support. Your responsibility as a Social Worker would be to provide this, either in a specialised area or to a wide range of people.
Your daily tasks would include analysing and reviewing the individual's situation, forming relationships, offering information, counselling, keeping records and written reports.
You'd also be expected to find the best support for each person and organise the best course of action. On top of this, it could also be necessary to attend court hearings to provide evidence, and communicate with other agencies and care professionals.
Hours/Environment
You may often work shifts as part of a team providing 24-hour cover, seven days a week, or have on-call duties on a rota basis. You are more likely to work regular office hours in day care, health care or education settings. Part-time hours and job sharing are often available.
Your time would be split between the office and other settings such as clients' homes, day centres, hospitals, health centres and court.
Skills and interests
To be a good Social Worker, you must have:
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- the ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds and gain their trust
- a practical and flexible approach to work
- tact, patience and empathy
- an understanding of the needs of different client groups
- a non-judgemental attitude
- the ability to work in a team and also use your own initiative
- the ability to assess situations and take appropriate action
- resilience, to cope with difficult situations and challenging clients
- good time management and organisational skills
- computer literacy and administrative skills
Entry
To become a Social Worker, you will need an honors' or postgraduate degree in social work approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC), followed by registration with the GSCC.
You'd normally need the following qualifications to get onto an honors'degree:
- five GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths
- at least two A levels, or an equivalent such as a BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care.
However, you should check entry requirements with colleges and universities, because alternatives like an Access to Higher Education qualification or substantial relevant work experience may also be accepted.
You'd also have to pass a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) background check when you apply.
See the GSCC, Social Work and Care Careers websites for details of approved full-time, part-time and distance learning courses in England.
Most honors' degrees in social work are three-year full-time courses. Some part-time and distance learning courses are also available, although you can often only do these if you are already working in social care and have the support of your employer.
If you already have a degree, you can do a two-year postgraduate degree in social work instead of a three-year degree.
When you apply for training, you should also ideally have some paid or voluntary experience in a social work or social care setting.
Course providers will be able to advise you how much experience they would prefer you to have. You can find advice on volunteering on the Social Work and Care Careers website.
For information on how to qualify as a social worker in Northern Ireland, see the Northern Ireland Social Care Commission website.
Employment-based route
Some employers may second or sponsor you to take the social work degree. You might get the chance to do this after working for them for a certain amount of time in a social care support role, or you could apply for any advertised opportunities for trainee social workers.
Financial help
If you are not being sponsored through the social degree by an employer, you may be eligible for a bursary to study. Contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for information.
Training
Whilst training to be a Social Worker, your time would be divided between university and supervised work placements.
Approved courses would train you to work with a range of service user groups, so that you can offer a variety of experience to employers.
Once you're qualified, you'd have to renew your registration with the GSCC every three years, and keep your knowledge and skills up to date throughout your career.
Part of the re-registration process involves showing that you have taken part in a set amount of professional training and development during that time.
One way you can do this is to study for a post-qualifying (PQ) award in social work. You can progress through three levels of award:
- PQ Award in Specialist Social Work
- PQ Award in Higher Specialist Social Work
- PQ Award in Advanced Social Work.
At each level you can specialise in one of five areas of social work, including mental health and leadership and management. The awards are available full- or part-time at universities, or through work-based learning.
Most employers also offer regular in-service training and opportunities to take day release or distance learning courses. See the GSCC website for more information on PQ training and registration.
Opportunities
There are a wide variety of places for you to work as a Social Worker, including local authorities, charities and voluntary agencies, private sector care homes and agencies, hospitals and NHS trusts and prisons.
With around three years' experience you could progress to senior positions such as team leader or care service manager.
Annual income
Your starting salary would be around £20,000 to £25,000 a year, moving to £26,000 to £35,000 once you become experienced. At senior manager and director level, the salary can be greatly increased.
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