Social worker

Summary: Provide assessments, interventions and support to ensure the well-being and safety of children and families
Other names: Social work practitioner, frontline social worker

What you'll do

As a social worker you’ll:

work with children and families to identify their needs and positively impact their lives
develop plans that address the needs of children and families and promote their well-being
organise and chair key meetings such as case reviews and core group meetings
provide emotional and practical support to children and families
keep up-to-date records of care plans and assessments
reflect on your work and take on feedback to improve your practice
work with multi-agency partners such as health professionals, schools and community organisations
take part in training and development to enhance your skills and knowledge

As a social worker you’ll receive support including:

You'll need:

knowledge of the complex social, emotional and environmental issues affecting children and families
interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with colleagues, service users and multi-agency partners
analytical skills and a questioning mindset to assess information and identify actions
communication skills to articulate and deliver your views to varied audiences
time management and prioritisation skills to handle multiple cases at the same time
self-care strategies to maintain your well-being when dealing with difficult cases and situations
self-awareness and be open to feedback to ensure your continued development

To become a social worker you should have completed the assessed and supported year in social work (ASYE) programme.

The ASYE is not compulsory, but almost all employers require you to enrol on it when you join as a newly qualified social worker.

With experience you could:

use your knowledge and expertise to supervise students during their placements
become a senior practitioner, taking on more complex cases and mentoring newly qualified social workers
specialise in specific areas of child and family social work such as child protection or adoption and fostering
move into a research or policy development role within a government agency, charity or other organisation

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