 Roles of a Social Worker

 1. Broker
 The social worker is involved in the process of
making referrals to link a family or person to
needed resources. Social work professionals do
not simply provide information. They also follow up
to be sure the needed resources are attained. This
requires knowing resources, eligibility
requirements, fees and the location of services.
 2. Advocate
 In this role, social workers fight for the rights of
others and work to obtain needed resources by
convincing others of the legitimate needs and rights
of members of society. Social workers are
particularly concerned for those who are vulnerable
or are unable to speak up for themselves. Advocacy
can occur on the local, county, state or national
level. Some social workers are involved in
international human rights and advocacy for those
in need.
 3. Case Manager

 Case managers are involved in locating services and

assisting their clients to access those services. Case
management is especially important for complex
situations and for those who are homeless or elderly,
have chronic physical or mental health issues, are
disabled, victims of domestic or other violent crimes,
or are vulnerable children.
 4.Educator

 Social Workers are often involved in teaching people

about resources and how to develop particular skills
such as budgeting, the caring discipline of children,
effective communication, the meaning of a medical
diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
 5. Facilitator

 In this role, social workers are involved in gathering

groups of people together for a variety of purposes
including community development, self advocacy,
political organization, and policy change. Social
workers are involved as group therapists and task
group leaders.
 6. Organizer

 Social Workers are involved in many levels of

community organization and action including
economic development, union organization, and
research and policy specialists.
 7. Manager

 Social Workers, because of their expertise in a wide

variety of applications, are well suited to work as
managers and supervisors in almost any setting. As
managers, they are better able to influence policy
change and/or development, and to advocate, on a
larger scale, for all underprivileged people
 Competencies of social workers

 COMPETENCY 1: DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL AND

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
 COMPETENCY 2: ENGAGE DIVERSITY AND
DIFFERENCE IN PRACTICE
 COMPETENCY 3: ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
 COMPETENCY 4: ENGAGE IN PRACTICE-
INFORMED RESEARCH AND RESEARCH-
INFORMED PRACTICE
 COMPETENCY 5: ENGAGE IN POLICY PRACTICE
 COMPETENCY 6: ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS,
FAMILIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND
COMMUNITIES
 COMPETENCY 7: ASSESS INDIVIDUALS,
FAMILIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND
COMMUNITIES
 COMPETENCY 8: INTERVENE WITH
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
 COMPETENCY 9: EVALUATE PRACTICE WITH
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
 Areas of specialization of social workers

 1. Child and Family Social Work

 Many bachelor's and master's degree programs allow
students the opportunity to specialize in child and
family social work, also sometimes referred to as child
welfare. On the bachelor's level of practice, child and
family social work usually involves working to improve
the welfare and safety of children, adolescents and
their families
 2. School Social Work
 School social workers provide assessments,
intervention and counseling to students throughout
their educational careers. A school social work
specialization is mainly intended for students who
already know that they want to ultimately work in a
school.
 3. Social Work and the Aging
 Social workers are often called upon to provide
services to older adults, including assessments,
supportive counseling and advocacy
 4. Clinical Social Work
 The specialization in clinical social work, also often
referred to as a mental health specialization, is
generally only available to master's level students, as
clinical social workers must have a master's degree to
practice.
 Career opportunities of social workers
 Social workers bring their skills, knowledge,
compassion patience, and hunger for change as they
advocate for social, cultural and economic impact and
help people manage challenges with health, aging,
children, families and other life issues.
 Most social workers focus their skills in one of more
than 40 practice areas, e.g. veteran affairs, mental
health, homelessness or substance abuse.
 For people seeking a social worker career, the future
appears quite bright. In 2011, CNN ranked a social
work career No. 4 out of 20, a 2012 analysis by U. S.
News and World Report ranked social work #18 out of
the top 25 jobs and the Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS)
forecasts a close-to-20 percent employment growth for
social workers from 2010-2020.
 Social Worker Responsibilities:
 Assessing clients and gathering relevant information.
Offering information and supporting clients and their
families. Contacting and making referrals to other agencies
and services. Maintaining accurate records and preparing
reports.

 Accountabilities of social workers

 Social work is accountable to its professional body which
in turn is accountable to government. Accountability is
intrinsically related to responsibility and
authority.Accountability means being obliged and
responsible to others. Social work has professional,
statutory and regulatory guidance for accountability.
 Code of ethics

 Service
 Social justice
 Dignity and worth of the individual
 Importance and centrality of human relationships
 Integrity
 Competence