Remar ONG - Various Things To know about Social Workers

Madrid, Spain Remar ONG Social workers and other helping professionals provide crucial support to children, adults & families in need. Social work is not an easy field to work in, but the job is extremely rewarding and full of meaning. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about social workers:

1. Social workers do more than just help people

Having a passion for helping others is important, but being a social worker requires so much more. People who are experiencing the most vulnerable time in their lives rely on social workers to connect them with resources and find solutions to complex problems. Social workers use their skills and expertise to promote good mental health, strengthen relationships, and end generational cycles of trauma and substance use, ultimately creating healthier families and communities.

2. Social workers are in it for the outcome, not the income

Being a social worker is not going to make you financially rich. Many professionals are drawn to the field because they are passionate about helping others and doing meaningful work. Social workers deserve competitive compensation packages for the valuable contributions they make.

3. Social workers do NOT remove children from their homes

Child welfare services are provided or managed by the government agency in each state. These agencies investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and work closely with the court system to decide whether or not to remove a child from their home. While social workers do provide their professional perspective, ultimately a judge decides whether the child needs out-of-home care. Social workers then provide services to the family in order to resolve conflicts or disruptions and teach healthy skills so children can safely return home.

4. Social workers contribute at all levels of society

Social work is a broad, diverse field where the work extends across many settings. These professionals work with individuals, families, schools, universities, nonprofit agencies, corporations, hospitals and government agencies. They are also active in politics at all levels. Social workers advocate for legislation and policies that improve the quality of life for children and adults.

5. Social workers provide a majority of America’s mental health services

Professional social workers are estimated to be the largest group of mental health service providers. social workers are often the only mental health care providers in many rural and remote communities. There are more clinically trained social workers than psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses combined.

6. The job is not a typical 8-hour workday 

There is no typical day for a social worker. Social work professionals spend most of their time out in the community rather than in an office. Their schedule often consists of attending court hearings, meeting with clients, supervising visits, completing training and advocating for their clients’ needs.

7. Social workers have to make hard decisions

Making decisions that impact peoples’ lives is a huge responsibility for social workers. Above all, safety is the number one driver of those decisions. Most social workers collaborate with families, fellow staff members and other stakeholders to explore all possibilities and make well-informed decisions.

8. Self-care is an important part of the job

Maintaining physical, mental and emotional health is vital for everyone, but self-care is an essential practice for social workers. The likelihood of job fatigue is very high in this field. Many organizations require social workers to schedule self-care activities that reduce stress and mitigate burnout.

9. There are male social workers

Many think women dominate the social work field. However, there are lots of male social workers and many are in leadership positions. The country needs more men in the social work field. Social work requires a balanced, diverse mix of people able to help a diverse population.

Madrid, Spain Remar ONG - Types of environment where Social Worker work in

Madrid, Spain Remar ONG Social Worker work can expose professionals to different lifestyles and be a rewarding way to help children, families and the elderly. If you are considering becoming a social worker it is beneficial to understand what they do and what areas of the industry they can specialize in.

A social worker is a professional who helps individuals and families improve their quality of life by ensuring access to basic needs such as food, shelter and safety. They work to achieve better lives for their clients by analyzing the environment, relationships, systems and policies that impact their clients' lives. Common challenges that social workers must help their clients overcome include poverty, abuse, unemployment, mental illness, addiction and trauma. Social workers meet with clients and build relationships based on trust and compassion. They identify the issues their clients are facing and implement solutions such as physical relocation, therapy, coordinating medical treatment and assisting with employment.

1. Child, family and school

Children and their families who are struggling with social or psychological issues in school, at home or in their communities may seek the help of a specialized social worker. The social worker is responsible for assessing the suitability of the educational, home and neighborhood environment for the child and their parents. They work with the family and school staff to resolve the problem. Child and family social workers place children in foster care when required, monitor their well-being and assist adults with the process of adopting or becoming foster parents. This type of social worker can be employed by schools, government entities and foster care agencies.

2. Medical and public health

Individuals who are dealing with health issues or chronic illness can work with a medical social worker to assist in navigating their medical issues. The social worker assists by providing coping mechanisms, counseling and medical referrals to the patient and their family. They also help patients navigate public resources, including Medicare and Medicaid, and coordinate their many health care services. A public health social worker strives to limit the spread of diseases and helps communities overcome widespread illnesses and disasters. Medical social workers work for hospitals, government agencies and health care providers.

3. Mental health and substance abuse

These social workers coordinate and provide therapy, rehabilitation programs and counseling to addicts and patients with mental health challenges. They help find affordable rehab centers and connect patients with an appropriate counseling program based on their challenges. This type of social worker also handles outreach and preventative programs to locate individuals in need and provide timely care. Mental health and substance abuse social workers may be employed by hospitals, residential treatment facilities, community organizations and government agencies.

4. Community

A community social worker provides resources and improves the social justice environment of a particular neighborhood, town or city. They work with a large group of community members, instead of one on one with clients. Community social workers focus on organizing and developing social programs to improve the quality of life in their area. They are typically employed by local government agencies.

5. Military

Service members and their families face unique challenges transitioning into, during and after their military service and can seek the assistance of a military social worker who understands their needs. These social workers assess the well-being of service members, identify post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health challenges and recommend a treatment plan. They also help families cope with their relative's deployment or injuries from serving. 

6. Social work professional environment

Social workers frequently work at multiple locations. They have an office but also regularly work in the field, visiting clients' homes, schools or health care clinics. Depending on the type of social work they specialize in, they may also meet with clients at their office. A social worker employed by a school, health clinic or rehab center conducts their work from their office and within the employer's facility. They monitor their facility's environment, schedule meetings with individuals who are going through a challenging time and check-in regularly with rehab patients to ensure continual progress.