Hello, gyata-ga!
The welfare state in the UK makes provisions for basic health care
and services. Social workers take an active role in working with
adults and children who are in a vulnerable position, whether
physically or mentally, and who need the added help of social
services.
The following references provide an overview of the role of the
Social Worker in the United Kingdom.
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SOCIAL WORKERS ROLE IN THE WELFARE STATE
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As described in the Social Work Degree program at The University of
Hull:
http://www.hull.ac.uk/courses/ug/ug_social_work.html
"Social workers play a central role in the implementation of those
parts of social policy which impact most on vulnerable people - those
who have mental health problems or physical disabilities, for example,
or who are at risk from harm or exploitation. The study and practice
of social work raises important questions about the effective delivery
of personal social services and the role of the state in relation to
those who are disadvantaged or socially excluded."
"Many of our graduates have long and successful careers in local,
national and international social care agencies as practitioners and
managers, or as researchers and academics."
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Social workers are employed in a variety of areas, but three main
areas of field social workers are described below:
From "Social Worker: Field.
http://www.learndirect-futures.co.uk/job_profiles/job_detail.asp?family=34&profileID=709
Working with children and families:
"This involves working to protect children believed to be at risk,
helping parents who cannot cope with bringing up their child, and
arranging foster homes or adoption for children who cannot be cared
for by their own families. Social workers also play an important role
in keeping families together by giving advice on issues such as
parenting, and drug and alcohol abuse."
Working with adults:
"Some social workers are based in a health care setting and assess the
social and emotional needs of patients and their families, and help
them adjust to their illness. Some specialise in working with
particular groups such as people with HIV or AIDS, the elderly, and
those with mental illness. Social workers specialising in mental
health often work in a multi-disciplinary team to assess the client
and decide how they can best be supported and treated, for example in
the community or in hospital."
Care management:
"Care service managers (usually qualified social workers) assess the
needs of clients and coordinate suitable care packages. They may be
responsible for negotiating contracts, managing a team, and working
within budgets."
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SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTIONS
=======================
A partial job description from the Worcestershire County Council
provides a comprehensive overview of the role and responsibilities
expected of a Social Worker.
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/workforce/jobs/jdps/2583jd.pdf
"The Social Worker is a member of a Departmental or Multi-Disciplinary
team which provides a service to the community on a specialist or
geographical basis. S/he is required to assess, plan, implement and
evaluate action or treatment. S/he is expected to assist the
Department in generating resources and to negotiate for and
co-ordinate the application of resources and seek modification of
attitudes or behaviour when required. The main purpose of the job is
to help clients and families cope with social, emotional,and
environmental problems and to help people retain independence and live
as normal a life as possible in the community."
"The wishes of clients and their families are of vital importance in
formulating any plans. In achieving these objectives, the Social
Worker will mobilise the personal resources of clients,families and
communities through appropriate social work methods. The Social Worker
will draw upon domiciliary, day and residential services from the
Department's resources and make arrangements with other statutory
bodies and the private and voluntary sector where appropriate. The
Social Worker will also ensure that relatives, friends and neighbours
etc. are enabled to make the maximum contribution possible."
==
Reed Co.UK provides the following description for those considering a
career in Social work:
http://www.reed.co.uk/health/cgi-bin/careerAdvice.asp?article=HealthShoes
"Social work can take place within a variety of specialisms and
basically involves working with people experiencing difficulties and
helping them to improve their situation."
Main Duties:
Assessing the situations of individual clients
Organising support/resource packages
Helping clients adapt to lifestyle changes
Counselling and advice
Organising available resources
Assessing levels of client need
Reviewing individual cases with necessary professionals
Writing reports and preparing evidence for legal action
Keeping records and completing paperwork
Budgeting
Main Skills
"Social work is by nature varied, demanding and challenging and as a
result is not for everyone. People considering this as a career should
be able to cope with stress and deal with people under stress. Some of
the cases you will be dealing with may be quite distressing but you
must be able to keep a clear head and deal with the people involved in
an appropriate manner. Therefore patience and resilience are also good
qualities to have in this line of work. Social work is all about
helping people to help themselves, therefore an interest in doing this
is important. You must be observant, be able to listen analytically
and be a good judge of character in order to succeed in this role. You
must have good communication skills, both written and oral. You will
need to write comprehensive reports, as well as communicate
effectively orally with those you work with. Social work can involve
working long hours - therefore you will also need to have plenty of
stamina."
===
Another overview from 123 Job-Search.co.uk reveals the varied duties
than can be assumed by Social Workers:
http://www.thehistoryof.co.uk/123job/Job-search-s/Social_Worker.html
"Social workers help people to deal with personal and social problems,
either directly or by planning or carrying out programs that benefit
groups or communities. Social workers may perform the following tasks:
counsel individuals through a crisis that may be due to death,
illness, relationship breakdown or other reasons provide clients with
information on services to assist them and provide letters of referral
or reports that will help them to obtain other services such as crisis
accommodation or social security benefits guide small groups of people
to share their experiences, support each other and learn social skills
help community groups to plan and carry out programs to help
themselves, for example assisting newly arrived immigrants to form an
association research community problems, needs and solutions through
the study of client contact, and records of welfare and health
agencies analyse statistics and write reports develop policy and
evaluate programs manage and train staff attend professional meetings
lobby to change social welfare policies and procedures in the pursuit
of social justice for all members of the community. Social workers
specialise in fields such as family, youth and child welfare services,
medical and health services, disability services, psychiatric and
general mental health services, juvenile and family law courts, aged
care and disabilities, income support and mediation."
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HOW MUCH ARE SOCIAL WORKERS RESPECTED?
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A recent article from the Guardian suggests that social workers are
not seen as playing a very important role. Interestingly, ratings of
social workers differed by the age, region and gender of those
surveyed.
From "Vote of low confidence: Social workers trail behind in survey on
role importance," by
David Brindle. The Guardian. (March 19, 2003)
http://society.guardian.co.uk/socialcarestaff/story/0,1141,916811,00.html
"Only four in 10 people think social workers play a "very important"
role in society, according to a new survey that also suggests there is
strong public support for regulation of the social care workforce."
"Just 40% of a sample of more than 1,000 people thought social workers
played a very important role, though a further 42% rated them "fairly
important".
"Ian Johnston, director of the British Association of Social Workers,
says this could be reason for encouragement. "Younger people are
starting to know about social work in a way that their elders do not,"
he says. "This is possibly an improving picture."
"Overall, Johnston is unsurprised by the findings. "Social workers are
dealing with the things that people don't really want to know about:
most people accept that their health will give them problems at one
time or another, but think that social workers deal with other
people's problems."
"Rodney Brooke, GSCC chairman, says the survey shows there is progress
to be made in public understanding of social care. Jacqui Smith,
social care minister, says "we need to continue to improve the
public's confidence in social workers".
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I hope the information I have provided is helpful. Please don't
hesitate to ask for clarification if necessary and I will be happy to
help if I can!
umiat-ga
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