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Social Workers
Social work positions requiring only a Bachelor's degree are limited. A wider range of employment is available to a holder of a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW). Generally, the lower salaries are in the less populated areas. Local Wages Hours & Benefits Most employers provide fringe benefit packages including vacation, sick leave, and retirement programs. Employment Trends: Medical & Psychiatric Other, Not Medical & Psychiatric
Employment Trends by California County Employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006. The number of older people, who are more likely to need social services, is increasing rapidly. In addition, growing concern about crime, juvenile delinquency, and services for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, AIDS patients, and individuals and families in crisis will spur demand for social workers. Many job openings will also stem from the need to replace social workers who leave the occupation. As hospitals increasingly emphasize early discharge of patients in an effort to control costs, more social workers will be needed to ensure that the necessary medical and social services are in place when individuals leave the hospital. Social worker employment in home health care services is growing, not only because hospitals are releasing patients earlier, but because a large and growing number of people have impairments or disabilities that make it difficult to live at home without some form of assistance. Advancement Promotions in government agencies are based upon written examinations. Advancement in private agencies is less formal, but also depends upon demonstrated competency and ability. Getting the Job & Other Information For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank. References California Occupational Guide: Social Workers #122 Related Occupation: Psychlogists #77, Probation Officers & Parole Agents #192, Recreation Workers #357, Counselors-Rehabilitation & School #429 Training: California State Training Inventory |
Education and Training California has a registration program for Social Workers administered by the Board of Behavioral Science. A California license in clinical social work (LCSW) is required by many agencies. Most employers require a Master's degree in Social Work and some may require that it be in some specialty, such as psychiatric social work. In addition to education, some agencies require practical experience working with a specific social problem. Candidates with specialized training and experience or who are bilingual have a better chance of being hired. Recent graduates and workers from out-of-state are allowed four years to obtain the license. The principal professional organization is the National Association of Social Workers. The principal labor organizations for those employed by government are locals of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union, both of the AFL-CIO. Skills & Other Requirements The three traditional approaches to social work have been group work, community organization work, and case work. The approach employed is determined by the nature of the social problem and the time and resources available for solving it. Social Workers may combine these approaches in dealing with a problem. Group Workers use group counseling methods designed to help people understand themselves and others better. They plan and conduct group activities for children, teens, adults, and senior citizens in a variety of institutions and settings. Community Social Workers are involved in community organizations and coordinate the efforts of political, civic, religious, business, and union organizations to rectify social problems. Caseworkers interview clients to identify personal or family problems and help them obtain the needed social services, financial assistance, education, or job training. Caseworkers usually specialize in a particular field, such as health services, or a specific social problem, including delinquency, drug abuse, and poverty. Medical Social Workers are caseworkers who help patients when personal or social problems impede recovery. They work with doctors to identify environmental relationships underlying the patient's health problem. They also help the patient to understand and follow medical recommendations. School Social Workers counsel children whose social problems hamper their ability to learn. They consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to help students adjust to school life. Children's service caseworkers aid parents with child-rearing problems and children with social and emotional adjustment problems. They investigate home conditions to protect children from harmful environments. They take legal action on child abuse, and advise foster and adoptive parents. Family service caseworkers help clients deal with problems concerning family relationships, marriages, home management, finances, health, and work adjustment. Psychiatric Social Workers provide assistance to disturbed patients and their families. They explain the psychiatrist's diagnosis and treatment methods to the families of patients. Correctional Social Workers work with juvenile or adult offenders to determine and correct the causes of antisocial behavior. They may work with youth groups or gangs. They conduct pre-hearing and pre-sentence investigations and present social histories to the courts. They also help parolees and probationers readjust to society. Social Workers are employed by the state as consultants and as Licensing Program Analysts. © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor |