5 Specialties to Consider as a Social Worker
Helping people is your passion, so you want to do it for a living. Being a social worker is your dream, but you can take many different paths with this career.
Many people don’t realize social workers can specialize in different areas. If there’s a particular issue close to your heart, you can focus your efforts on helping clients affected by it. This can make your work even more meaningful.
Here’s a look at five social work specialties you might want to focus on
Social and Community Service Manager
If a career in administration is on your mind, becoming a social and community service manager could be a great fit. In this role, you’ll oversee social service programs and manage workers providing social services to clients. Jobs are available at a variety of organizations — i.e., those that deliver services to children, veterans, or people facing long-term unemployment issues.
Job duties might involve working with stakeholders to identify program needs, analyzing the effectiveness of programs, and writing proposals to secure funding.
Healthcare Social Worker
Often employed by hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and outpatient care settings, healthcare social workers help patients facing challenges caused by long-term illness. Serving as their advocate, they work with patients to find community programs, support groups, and rehabilitation programs. They also help provide psychological and emotional support.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Committed to helping parents and students, this type of social worker assists with a variety of issues. In schools, they work with teachers, parents, and administrators to create plans to help students improve their academic performance and social skills. They can also assist with issues such as bullying, truancy, and destructive behavior. Additionally, they might help find foster homes for at-risk children and arrange adoptions.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Individuals with mental, emotional, and substance abuse issues rely on social workers with specialized experience to assess, treat, and support them. These professionals help clients by providing both individual and group therapy — i.e., support groups and 12-step programs. They play a key role in crisis situations and provide education to help patients cope with their issues, so they can live healthy lives.
This type of social worker closely monitors clients, tracking their progress and intervening when necessary. In some cases, they also work with other professionals to ensure patients receive well-rounded care.
Clinical Social Workers
Clinical social workers are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and other behavioral issues. Unlike many other specialties, professionals are required to be licensed or certified at the clinical level in the state in which they practice. They work in a variety of settings, such as private practice, hospitals, and community health agencies.
Therapy sessions aimed to change behaviors or cope with challenging situations focus on individuals, groups, and families. They also develop treatment plans and help clients find other resources and support services.
Having trouble finding the right social work job for you? If you would like to learn more about how we can help you find your next behavioral health position, contact us today at (513) 651-9500 or by email at [email protected].
