Social Worker

What is a Social Worker?

The purpose of Social Work intervention is to improve people's quality of life. Social Workers in Health assist people to mobilise their resources so they can achieve greater understanding of themselves and their issues learn effective coping skills and make appropriate changes. This enables them to achieve maximum benefit from the health care intervention.

Roles of a Social Worker

Roles of Social Work in the Community:-

• Counselling services for children & adults, for child behaviour and emotional problems
• Domestic violence
• Loss & grief
• Anxiety & depression
• Reaction to traumatic events
• Interpersonal difficulties
• Stress management.

Other services where Social Workers work are:-

• Sexual assault
• Mental health
• Youth health (adolescent health)
• Drug & alcohol
• Aged care assessment team
• Rehabilitation
• Child protection service
• Brain injury
• Sexual health (HIV/AIDS)

Besides individual counselling, Social Workers also provide:-

• Group work
• Case management
• Health education & training to community, students & staff
• Research
• Health promotion
• Management
• Community development
• Consultation & liaison

Roles of Social Work in Hospitals

Social Workers in hospitals see patients and their family/carer where psychosocial, emotional and environmental factors have contributed to the diagnosis, recovery, rehabilitation and discharge of the patient, or when a crisis is created for the patient and family as a result of illness, trauma and hospitalization.

They provide crisis intervention and counselling and discharge planning. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, Social Workers work with all age groups and diagnostic groups with people who have a long term chronic life threatening illness, and people who have been suddenly injured or disabled.

Career Opportunities

Social Work is one of the fastest growing and most sought after professions. There are 5 career grades. New graduates commence at grade 1 (on Year 2) which has 9 annual increments. Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 have management and supervisory duties for other staff attached to them, although there is the opportunity to seek a personal regrade on the basis of clinical expertise.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor of Social Work - 4 year university degree course which requires successful completion of 2 or 3 field work placements.
• Eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work is an essential criterion for all positions.

Specialisations:

Social workers specialise in fields such as family, youth and child welfare services; medical and health services; disability services; psychiatric and general mental health services; juvenile and family law courts; aged care and disabilities; income support; and mediation.
Some social workers travel to visit clients or run group meetings. In country areas they may travel long distances. They may also be involved in private practice, research or teaching.

Supervision Provided

SSWLHD has a Supervision Policy which stipulates that all Allied Health staff receive regular professional supervision of their clinical work. This can take various forms e.g. individual or group supervision, outside the organisation.

What sort of person should I be?

• Enjoy working with people
• Non-judgemental
• Have been exposed to many different viewpoints
• Enjoy cultural diversity
• Aware of your value system and respecting of other peoples values
• Respect people’s rights to determine their own future

Personal Requirements of a Social Worker:

• Emotional maturity
• Keen analytical abilities
• Able to view other people's problems objectively
• Good organizational and planning skills
• Good communication skills
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to work independently
• Commitment to social justice.

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