What does a social worker do exactly?

I'm considering a career in social work, but I'm not entirely clear on what their job entails. Can someone explain what a day-to-day looks like for a social worker and what settings they typically work in?

Sure, I'm glad to help clarify. Generally, social workers are professionals who work with individuals, families, and groups to address and overcome social challenges, such as family problems, mental health disorders, substance abuse, and other life struggles. They do this through a host of services that can include counseling, advocating for clients' needs, and connecting clients with resources.

A typical day may involve meeting clients to assess their situation and provide personalized support. This can involve individual, family, or group counseling. They might also spend time on case management tasks like making referrals to other resources like housing services or food assistance programs, and following up to ensure clients are receiving effective support. Advocacy, or speaking up on behalf of their clients, is another significant role, which can happen at both personal and policy levels.

In terms of settings, social workers are employed across a variety of sectors. They can work in hospitals as healthcare social workers, focusing on helping patients navigate their diagnosis, treatment, and the impact on their personal life. Some social workers are employed in schools, supporting students facing issues such as bullying, behavior issues, or learning disabilities. Other social workers work in community organizations or government agencies, focusing on larger societal issues like homelessness or domestic violence. Some also end up working in private practice, providing therapeutic counseling to individuals or families.

An important note is that the profession can be emotionally demanding as you'll often be working with those facing significant challenges. Hence, emotional resilience and self-care are also significant aspects of the profession.

I hope that gives you a better idea about the role of a social worker. It's a broad field with many career paths, all focused on helping individuals and communities overcome challenges.