Social work

A social worker’s role is to listen to and support people, empowering them to improve their lives. They also protect people from harm when necessary. This is often called ‘safeguarding’. Social workers usually work with a lot of different people at any one time. This is often called their ‘caseload’.

Social workers can work in many different places, such as:

• councils (local authorities)
• hospitals
• courts
• prisons
• schools
• charities
• universities

Social workers work with all kinds of people and often specialise in a specific field of work. For example:

• autism and learning disabilities
• children in need and child protection
• criminal justice and forensic social work
• court services
• dementia
• domestic abuse
• fostering, special guardianship and adoption
• children’s residential
• hospital social work
• hospice social work
• leaving care post 18+
• mental health
• older people
• physical disabilities
• drug and alcohol addiction
• unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees
• youth justice
• homelessness
• complex long term conditions
• other specialised roles

Social workers aim to improve people’s lives by helping with social and interpersonal difficulties, promoting human rights and wellbeing. Social workers also protect children and adults with support needs from harm. 

Social workers must have a degree in social work (BA), or master’s degree in social work. A master’s degree is a two-year-long postgraduate course for those with a degree in a different subject. 

During training, social workers will gain extensive experience in placements alongside academic learning focusing on legislation, ethics and theory.