Social work is one of the fastest growing areas of local government provision, and one of the most difficult. It provides a range of services critical to the welfare of a large number of the most vulnerable membes of our society: the young, disabled, elderly people, the unemployed, single mothers, children and families involved in adoption and fostering.

They are employed in unitary councils, metropolitan councils, county councils, and London boroughs but not in district councils.

Work Environment

The work is mainly in the offices of Social Services Departments but can be in other settings such as hospitals or Education Departments.

Daily Activities

The work is varied and covers assessing needs then finding appropriate solutions to the problems of those who cannot cope on their own. Social workers operate as part of a team responsible for a number of cases, each requiring a different approach.

Most social workers tend to specialise in either adult or children’s services.

Adult Services roles mostly work with:

• people with mental health problems or learning difficulties in residential care
• people with physical disabilities, supporting them in living independently
• offenders, supervising them in the community and supporting them to find work
• people with HIV/AIDs
• older people at home, helping to sort out their health problems, housing or benefits

Children/Young People Services roles include:

• providing assistance and advice to keep families together
• working with children and families, including dealing with child abuse
• working in children’s homes
• managing adoption and fostering care processes
• providing support to younger people leaving care who are at risk or in trouble with the law
• helping children who have problems at school

Some authorities have specialist social workers for people with learning difficulties. Social workers visit clients in many settings. They also undertake a substantial amount of report writing and liaison with other professionals including organising multi-agency case conferences.

Skills & Interests

Social workers must have an interest in and the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. It is also critical that they have good organising skills, are able to deal with difficult situations, and have the ability to use computers to record information and produce reports. Most field social workers also need a driving licence.

Entry Requirements

The professional qualifying training for social workers is a degree in social work approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

The degree is a three year programme and entrance is via approved universities, who determine their own conditions for entry.

The previous professional qualification, the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), is still recognised as a valid social work qualification.

Those wishing to pursue a degree in social work will need GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics at grade C or above. Although universities will set their own conditions of entrance, possible useful A-level (or equivalent) subjects would be law, sociology or psychology. Vocational GCSEs and A-level subjects may also be useful.