4152 Social Workers

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.

Social workers perform some or all of the following duties:

Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required

Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems

Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services

Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary

Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups

Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs

Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development

Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments

Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs

May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods

May supervise other social workers.

Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections, gerontology or addictions.

Socail Workers Example Titles

* addiction social worker
* case management consultant – social work
* case management social worker
* case work consultant – social work
* casework supervisor – social work
* caseworker – social work
* certified social worker
* child welfare social worker
* children's aid investigator
* co-ordinator of social work
* family social worker
* geriatric social worker
* group social worker
* medical social worker
* psychiatric social worker
* registered social worker
* school social worker
* social casework consultant
* social work co-ordinator
* social work officer
* social work officer – military
* social work supervisor
* social worker
* social worker, groups
* social workers supervisor