The social worker as a profession! sounds a little awkward but rationally thinking it is as well a profession like any other in the existence. A pure charity work or one time grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals has gradually but surely grown into a full-fledged profession now.
The profession of a social worker like that of Nursing and Doctor’s or in that sense a Teacher is one such profession whose services cannot be compensated with any amount of money. A social worker does not care about the age, caste, creed or the deeds of the persons he is taking care of. Its mission is to help people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. He is focused on problem-solving and change. He utilizes a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environment. He/She tries to alleviate every suffering and pains from the person’s life. A social worker may have to work for 24 hours emergency condition.
Although it is a tough ask the person who is engaged in this profession does not feel so, as this profession give them the mental satisfaction when the sufferers they have taken care to bless them for their care and affection. Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to improve people’s lives.
They work towards the solutions of people's social, economic and emotional problems through counselling, arranging conferences, increasing resources, spreading public awareness and starting social programs and health services. To do this work tirelessly with all the affection and devotion one requires a lot of hard work, devotion and above all patience.
This is the profession in which a person has to have the dual character, on the one side one has to be strong hearted to feel the heat of reality and on the other side, they have to be quite soft hearted so that they could handle the unusual situations. Social Workers has also to maintain the right balance toward their profession as well as their domestic duties toward own kids and family as both are attached to the emotion of a single person.
This profession is gaining full respect in the society, not in terms of a good profession but also they are now getting good remuneration in lieu of the services they are providing to society.
Social worker Eligibility
Educational Qualification
Aspiring candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Social Work to become a social worker in the organised sector.
How to become a Social Worker?
To become a Social Worker aspiring candidates need to follow the given steps:
Step 1
After completing 12 class in any stream interested candidate need to get admission in Bachelor Degree in the related field like a Bachelor's degree in Social work (B.S.W./ B.A).
Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by the various state and Independent educational bodies to admit candidates according to the rank of the candidate in the entrance exam. These exams are usually held in the month of May-June and consists of Objective type questions based on the relevant subjects the results of these exams are generally out by June/July. However, some colleges also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying class.
Step 2
After the course, one can opt. for some job or can go for Master Degree i.e Masters degree course in Social work (M.S.W./ M.A)
Step 3
Once Master degree in hand candidates can go for higher students and join courses like M.Phil. and PhD After completing this 2-3 years of course one can go for teaching and some research and administrative jobs.
Social Worker Job Description
Social worker attempt to relieve and prevent hardship and suffering. They have a responsibility to help individuals, families, groups and communities through the provision and operation of appropriate services and by contributing to social planning. They work in the interest of people to enable them to deal with personal and social difficulties and obtain essential resources and services. Their job description also includes interpersonal practice, group work, community work, social development, research, social work education and supervisory and managerial functions in this field. Field of practice for Social Workers:
- Addiction
- Child Welfare
- Clinical/Mental Health
- Prisons
- Child Protection Services
- Counselling and Therapy
- Consultancy Services
- Community Development Services
- Environment
- Family Welfare and Planning
- Human Resource Management
- Industrial Development
- Medical Social Work
- Mental Health/Retardation
- Management of Social Services
- Mother and Childcare
- Policy and planning services
- Poverty eradication
- People with special needs
- Rehabilitation of Offenders
- Rural and Urben development
- Relationship Problems
- School Social work
- Social development etc.
Social worker career opportunities
Enormous employment opportunities are available for social workers in private as well as public sector companies. Career opportunities in this field would depend on an individual’s area of specialization.
- Social workers who specialize in the area of human resource management can get jobs in the Personnel, HRM, Welfare departments of factories and commercial organizations, as executive officers, trainee officers, welfare officers and social security officers.
- Trained professionals can get executive card jobs in government, semi-government undertakings, private organizations as labour welfare officers, welfare officers, social workers etc.
- There are also Non-Government Organisations (NGO) and institutes providing services to different sections in the society. NGO’s need trained social workers to work in various fields. Social workers can also take up teaching assignments.
- After a few years of experience, one can even become a consultant with various organizations and can also start freelance work.
Social workers can pursue a career as a counsellor in healthcare, adoption, environmental protection, community policing etc. They can specialize in child welfare and family services, mental health services, public.
Social Worker Salary
As far as monetary aspect is concerned a social worker can expect Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000 to start with and with experience can get as high as Rs.50,000 per month but it all depends upon the ability of the person concerned and project, one is working for, along with the organisation, one is attached with.
