Social work is hard work, but it is also one of those roles that makes the biggest difference to people around the country. For those who want to help others, it is definitely one of the best choices out there. Social workers help those that need it the most, from vulnerable children, to adults who have been dealt the worst hands in life. Their work lifts up communities and helps heal trauma – both new and generational – so that the community as a whole can improve and move forward.
There are hundreds of thousands of social workers in the United States today, and with a 13% expected job growth rate, it is one of the best industries to get involved in. Qualified social workers almost always find work, and there is also growing public support for greater funding towards social work. This could mean a huge paradigm shift in terms of where budgets go, and in an ideal future a growth in the resources and number of social workers.
It is not a good idea to wait, however, for the moment that this future happens. If you are interested in being a social worker then there is good work that you can do right now. However, whether the role is right for you or not is up to you. To help you decide if social work is a good fit for your ambitions and passions, use this guide:
What do Social Workers Do?
Social workers provide many different services for the community at large. They work on the administrative side of things, directly in one-on-one sessions, in group sessions, and in family sessions. You will find them in hospitals, clinics, schools, and offices alike. You will even find them in politics as they use what they know about social health to improve society from a policy-level.
Overall social workers aim to find and identify issues within society on a social level. This often involves finding and helping people and even communities that are in desperate need of mental health and support. They will work with every client on an individual basis, in order to draw from that client’s strengths and by putting that client’s specific goals at the forefront of their services.
Most social workers help their clients adjust in some way. This could be adjusting to a diagnosis made at the hospital, or alternatively the adjustment into retired living. Clinical social workers do not just help with adjustments, they work to make adjustments. They can help those with mental health issues, including those with specific addictions.
Non-clinical social workers often empower their clients by connecting them with the services and benefits that will help them the most. This could be by finding housing, getting a client on benefits, or even assigning care services.
Types of Social Workers
There are many different kinds of social workers.
1. Child and Family Social Workers
Child and family social workers help children and families. You will find many of them in Child Protective Services, though it is a mistake to assume that their jobs only relate to removing children from their families and then finding a foster system for them. On the contrary, a lot of effort goes into improving the home situation to an adequate level, and only when this fails is the child removed until the parent reaches certain basic standards, like having a steady job.
The only time child and family social workers will remove a child without first trying to mitigate the situation is when the child’s physical safety is at risk. In this case mitigation and family support will occur, but only after the child is removed from the dangerous environment which they were in.
2. School Social Workers
School social workers are there to help children with their mental, emotional, and developmental issues. They work wonders alongside teachers and are there to help children get the most out of their education. They are often either hired by the school or school board and are found in private and public schools alike.
3. Healthcare Social Workers
Healthcare social workers can be found in hospitals. Living with an illness or disability can be very challenging and the support work that healthcare social workers provide is essential to accepting and adapting. Healthcare social workers also do wonders to help those who have received terrible news, like a terminal diagnosis, or even those who have lost someone and are looking for support and compassion.
4. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Social workers who have earned their BSW to MSW online degree can become licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). Those with that BSW to MSW online degree take on complex cases and clients. From helping those with mental illness, to helping those with trauma, all the way to those with addiction. These clients have a long road ahead of them, and though it can be difficult for social workers, the work is typically rewarding. You can help people understand their own minds and help them develop healthy coping mechanisms that support their health, rather than bring it down.
Though these are the top four most common roles for a social worker, that is not the only place where you can work. You can work in policy making, in politics, internationally, in retirement communities, privately, and in so many great roles. The fact is that social workers help individuals understand and even solve their problems, making their work very relevant and useful throughout society.
What Do You Need to Become a Social Worker?
There are quite a few things that you will need in order to become a social worker, especially a LCSW. You will be working within a clinical setting, so you cannot just be hired as one – you need the right degree, the right training, and the right license.
BSW or Relevant Degree
If you are interested in the more administrative side of social work (as in, you will not be working with clients directly), then you can either work towards a bachelor of social work, or another relevant degree like psychology. If your state requires you to earn a license after earning your BSW to start work, however, then there is no getting around this. If you already have a relevant degree you can instead use that to knock time off of your BSW by transferring your credits.
BSW to MSW Online
A BSW to MSW online degree is ideal for many, as it allows you to get a great education from a top provider wherever you are located (with a few restrictions). This way you do not need to relocate to earn your BSW to MSW online degree, and can even work while studying.
A BSW to MSW online degree typically takes around 3 years, as opposed to the in-person degree that takes 2 years. The reason for the longer time period is simple: your online degree is not as concentrated. This can make it easier to afford and easier still to complete, making it the ideal choice for those who want to earn a BSW to MSW online degree to become a LCSW.
Clinical Training Period
After you graduate from your BSW to MSW online degree, however, you will need at least 2 years of training in order to be able to apply for the license. You should be paid for this training, though, as the only difference between this and operating as a fully qualified LCSW is that you will be supervised throughout your years there.
Licensure
Once you have completed that minimum amount of supervised training, you will then want to take your state’s exam. This is how you will be able to work fully as a LCSW, and how you will be able to control your career in terms of where, when, and with whom you work.
What do Social Workers Make?
Social workers make, on average, between $40,000 to $60,000 per year. This is going to be less than, say, a private therapist can charge. You are not working with wealthy individuals who can afford to have a private therapist, however. Your clinic will be funded by one of two things. Either the government will be paying for your services, or medical insurance will be paying for your services.
It is important to note, however, that the wage range mentioned is the median. Working in a busy, affluent area can mean earning more than $60,000 especially if you have a lot of experience.
What Traits Should Social Workers Have?
Social workers need more than just a BSW to MSW online degree. They also need to have the right traits for the job. Those working directly with clients are going to require a different trait set than those working in administrative roles.
Those who want to work with clients should have:
· Compassion and Empathy
The first and most important traits to have as a social worker are compassion and empathy. You will be working directly with people, after all, and you need to be able to connect to them on an emotional level. Without this connection you can fail to make your clients hear you and take your suggestions to heart. As a social worker there is a limit to how much you can help. If your clients are not interested in helping themselves then there is very little that you can do.
Compassion and empathy, however, can help you understand your clients better, both in what they say and do not say. By being compassionate, you can forge the connection necessary to get through to your client, regardless of whether you earned your BSW to MSW online degree to help those with their mental health, or are interested in specializing with grief, or even with substance abuse.
· Communication and Listening
Being empathetic and understanding someone is step number one. Knowing how to turn that understanding to communication is another step entirely. Being very emotionally smart and aware is a good place to start, but knowing the right tactics both on how to explain yourself and how to actively listen, is a key trait for this job. Thankfully there are a lot of tips you can learn while you earn your BSW to MSW online degree, so you do not have to be the best at communicating right off the bat to be a great social worker.
· Organization and Management
Another essential trait that you can learn as you go through your BSW to MSW online degrees is organization and management. You will not be on your own. Understanding the greater picture, how to stay organized both on a case-by-case basis and in the grand scheme of things, can help you stay on top of your work and provide all of your clients with the best possible care and support.
· Self-Care and Stress Management
You need to know how to take care of yourself, how to manage your stress, and be strong enough to seek out help when you need it. Preventing compassion fatigue is easier than overcoming it, after all.
How to Decide if Being a Social Worker is Right for You
At the end of the day, however, you need just three answers to know if being a social worker is right for you.
1. You Want to Help Improve the Lives of Others
If you want to make your life mean something. If you want to help others. If you want to right the wrongs others have experienced through their lives, then chances are you will find social work very fulfilling.
2. You Understand What Social Work Involves
Never go into any job blind. You should know exactly what you are getting involved in, so that you can adjust your expectations and know when and where to be on guard. This way you can continue to work well, without spiraling into a burnout.
3. You Know How to Care for Your Health and Wellbeing
Finally, you need to know how to take care of yourself. If you are someone who really takes on how others feel, then you need to take that into consideration. There are so many great roles, so you can find a role that suits you.
