DUTIES OF A

SOCIAL WORKER
JERVIELYN SAYGO

PRESENTED BY
 A SOCIAL WORKER

 BEING A SOCIAL WORKER IS OFTEN A CHALLENGING, YET

REWARDING CAREER. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
HELPING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO COPE
WITH PROBLEMS THEY’RE FACING TO IMPROVE THEIR PATIENTS’
LIVES. ONE ASPECT OF THIS IS TEACHING SKILLS AND DEVELOPING
MECHANISMS FOR PATIENTS TO RELY ON TO BETTER THEIR LIVES
AND EXPERIENCES.
 SKILLS
 ACTIVE LISTENING — GIVING FULL ATTENTION TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING, TAKING TIME TO
UNDERSTAND THE POINTS BEING MADE, ASKING QUESTIONS AS APPROPRIATE, AND NOT INTERRUPTING
AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES.
 SOCIAL PERCEPTIVENESS — BEING AWARE OF OTHERS’ REACTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING WHY THEY
REACT AS THEY DO.
 SPEAKING — TALKING TO OTHERS TO CONVEY INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY.
 CRITICAL THINKING — USING LOGIC AND REASONING TO IDENTIFY THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, CONCLUSIONS OR APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS.
 COORDINATION — ADJUSTING ACTIONS IN RELATION TO OTHERS’ ACTIONS.
 READING COMPREHENSION — UNDERSTANDING WRITTEN SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS IN WORK
RELATED DOCUMENTS.
 SERVICE ORIENTATION — ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE.
 WRITING — COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY IN WRITING AS APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE
AUDIENCE.
 COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING — IDENTIFYING COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND REVIEWING RELATED
INFORMATION TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE OPTIONS AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.
 JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING — CONSIDERING THE RELATIVE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF POTENTIAL
ACTIONS TO CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE.
 SPECIALIZATIONS
 FAMILY, CHILD OR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK INVOLVES PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE SOCIAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THESE SOCIAL WORKERS ATTEMPT TO MAXIMIZE ACADEMIC
FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE FAMILY’S
OVERALL WELL-BEING. THESE PROFESSIONALS MAY ASSIST
PARENTS, LOCATE FOSTER HOMES, HELP TO ARRANGE ADOPTIONS,
AND ADDRESS ABUSE. IN SCHOOLS THEY ADDRESS PROBLEMS SUCH
AS TRUANCY, BAD BEHAVIOR, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, DRUG USE,
AND POOR GRADES. THEY ALSO ADVICE TEACHERS AND ACT AS
LIAISONS BETWEEN STUDENTS, HOMES, SCHOOLS, COURTS,
PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
 SPECIALIZATIONS
 PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIAL WORKERS ARE OFTEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
HELPING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC, LIFE
THREATENING OR ALTERING DISEASES AND DISORDERS, HELPING
CONNECT PATIENTS WITH PLANS AND RESOURCES IN ORDER TO HELP
THEM COPE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS A PERSON CAN GO
THROUGH IS DEALING WITH ACUTE, CHRONIC, AND TERMINAL
ILLNESSES AND THESE SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE SERVICES TO EASE
THESE PATIENTS’ PROCESS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE ADVISING
FAMILY CARE GIVERS, PROVIDING PATIENT EDUCATION AND
COUNSELING, MAKING REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES, CASE
MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS, PLANNING HOSPITAL DISCHARGE, AND
ORGANIZING SUPPORT GROUPS. THESE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE OFTEN
EMPLOYED AT HEALTH CARE CENTERS, ASSISTED LIVING HOMES OR IN
HOSPITALS.
 SPECIALIZATIONS
 ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL WORKERS OFFER
SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO THOSE STRUGGLING WITH UNHEALTHY
GROUNDING TECHNIQUES, CONNECTING THEM WITH FACILITIES
THAT SERVE TO TEACH HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS AND GET PATIENTS
BACK ON TRACK. THESE PATIENTS OFTEN STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL
AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS ADDICTIONS AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. SERVICES THAT MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE INCLUDE
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, INTERVENING DURING
CRISES, CASE MANAGEMENT, CLIENT ADVOCACY, PREVENTION, AND
EDUCATION. THEY ALSO FOCUS ON COUNSELING FAMILIES TO
ASSIST IN UNDERSTANDING AND DEALING WITH THE PATIENT’S
PROBLEMS.
 OTHER SOCIAL WORK TASKS
MANY SOCIAL WORKERS FIND THAT DESPITE THESE OBSTACLES AND THE
DIFFICULTIES PRESENTED BY THESE STRAINS, THIS FIELD CAN BE A VERY
SATISFYING CAREER PATH.
 COLLABORATE WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO EVALUATE PATIENTS’
MEDICAL OR PHYSICAL CONDITION AND TO ASSESS CLIENT NEEDS.
 ADVOCATE FOR CLIENTS OR PATIENTS TO RESOLVE CRISES.
 REFER PATIENT, CLIENT, OR FAMILY TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO
ASSIST IN RECOVERY FROM MENTAL OR PHYSICAL ILLNESS AND TO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO SERVICES SUCH AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LEGAL
AID, HOUSING, JOB PLACEMENT OR EDUCATION.
 INVESTIGATE CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT CASES AND TAKE AUTHORIZED
PROTECTIVE ACTION WHEN NECESSARY.
 OTHER SOCIAL WORK TASKS
 COUNSEL CLIENTS AND PATIENTS IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS
TO HELP THEM OVERCOME DEPENDENCIES, RECOVER FROM ILLNESS,
AND ADJUST TO LIFE.
 PLAN DISCHARGE FROM CARE FACILITY TO HOME OR OTHER CARE
FACILITY.
 MONITOR, EVALUATE, AND RECORD CLIENT PROGRESS ACCORDING TO
MEASURABLE GOALS DESCRIBED IN TREATMENT AND CARE PLAN.
 IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPEDIMENTS TO CLIENT OR PATIENT
PROGRESS THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND REVIEW OF PATIENT RECORDS.
 ORGANIZE SUPPORT GROUPS OR COUNSEL FAMILY MEMBERS TO ASSIST
THEM IN UNDERSTANDING, DEALING WITH, AND SUPPORTING THE
CLIENT OR PATIENT.
THANK YOU!