Social Workers (NOC 4152)
Description
Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.
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Example Titles
- co-ordinator of social work
- medical social worker
- psychiatric social worker
- social work supervisor
- social worker
>> View all titles
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Classified Elsewhere
- Community and Social Service Workers (4212)
- Educational Counsellors (4143)
- Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors (4153)
- Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services (0314)
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Duties
Social workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
- Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
- Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
- Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
- Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
- Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
- Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
- Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs
- May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
- May supervise other social workers.
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Skills
Social workers and family counsellors need the following skills and abilities:
- an interest in working with people to solve their problems,
- high energy,
- sensitivity to and an understanding of people of different race, gender, sexuality, mental or physical ability, religion, culture and age,
- sensitivity to and an understanding of beliefs and values not your own,
- knowledge of a second language and Aboriginal cultures may be useful,
- good listening, verbal and written communication skills,
- integrity, ability to keep matters confidential, responsibility, and resourcefulness
- determination in dealing with clients and social agencies,
- good mediation and negotiation skills,
- patience, tact, objectivity, critical thinking skills and good judgment,
- knowledge of social programs and the laws that protect individual rights,
- the ability to work independently and as part of a team,
- maturity and emotional stability, the ability to cope with physical and emotional stress, and the maturity to be able to help people to face painful and distressing problems,
- An interest in continuing education.
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Employment Requirements
- To practice as a Social Worker, a Certificate of Registration from the Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers is required.
- A bachelor's degree in social work or a master's degree in social work is required to obtain a Certificate of Registration.
- Membership with the Manitoba Association of Social Workers may also be required.
- Most family counsellors have at least a master's degree in family therapy, social work, psychology or related discipline. You must be registered with a professional association Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers, the Psychological Association of Manitoba, Registry of Marriage and Family Therapists in Canada Inc., American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
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Terms & Conditions
Social workers commonly work in their offices or residential facility, but may travel to meet with clients and service providers, attend community meetings and handle emergencies . They routinely deal with families and individuals at a time of crisis, which can be stressful. Understaffing and large caseloads add to the pressure.
Most social workers work full time (89%) during regular business hours. However, they may be on call to deal with emergencies during evenings, nights, and weekends. Almost all are salaried employees.
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Earnings
$35,400 per annum - starting
$51,800 per annum - average
$70,000 per annum - high
Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.
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Education / Training
The University of Manitoba offers the following degree programs:
- Bachelor of Social Work [4 years: University 1 plus 3 years Social Work].
- Inner City Social Work (ICSWP) ACCESS Program (located at the Winnipeg Education Centre), Bachelor of Social Work for students facing social, financial, academic barriers to educational opportunities.
- A number of Aboriginal Focus Programs are offered through the University of Manitoba, Continuing Education Division.
- The Northern Bachelor of Social Work Program, offered through the University of Manitoba, is a four-year Bachelor of Social Work program in Thompson.
- Distance Delivery Bachelor of Social Work program, offered to students living outside of Winnipeg.
- Aboriginal Counselling Skills Certificate through Extended Education.
- Applied Counselling Certificate program through Extended Education.
- Pre-Master of Social Work program, prepares for entry into the Masters program for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work.
- Master of Social Work M.S.W.
- Ph.D. in Social Work.
- Master of Science in Family Social Science with four areas of study Developmental Health, Family Resource Management, Family Violence and Conflict Resolution, Inner City Families and Communities.
- Master of Arts, Psychology.
- Ph.D. in Psychology.
The University of Winnipeg offers the following programs:
- Master of Family of Marriage and Family Therapy (M.M.F.T) through the department of Theology
- Marriage and Family Therapy (Theory) Certificate
- Marriage and Family Therapy (Therapy) Certificate
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
- Pre-professional program in Social Work
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface:
- Baccalauréat en service social
Brandon University offers the following programs:
- Bachelor of First Nations and Aboriginal Counselling degree (B.F.N.A.C.)
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Pre-professional program in Social Work
Canadian Mennonite University offers the following programs:
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a concentration in
- Counselling Studies or Social Services
- Pre-professional program in Social Work
University College of the North offers the following programs:
- Applied Counselling Skills paraprofessional program
Assiniboine Community College offers the following programs:
- Aboriginal Community Development, Social Stream Certificate (2 years)
- Applied Counselling Skills Certificate through Continuing Education
- Community Support Provider Certificate (4 months) also available by Distance Education
Red River College offers the following programs:
- Applied Counselling Certificate (6 months) also available by distance education
- Family Support Worker, available part-time by distance education
- Some high schools offer programs in Family and Community Education.
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Career Paths
Volunteer counselling or working in community services offer ways of testing one's interest in this field.
Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections (probation, parole officer, mediation), gerontology, addictions, or health care support.
Family counsellors may specialize in therapy for families of different cultural backgrounds.
With experience social workers may advance to supervisor or director in social agencies or government. A few social workers establish their own private practice. Others conduct research and establish policies and programs in governments or universities. With further education social workers may become university professors.
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Outlook
Employment prospects for social workers are expected to be good in the period 2010 - 2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 2,185.
Future employment prospects in the social services sector will reflect societal trends. A growing elderly population and the disabled will require program support to enable them to live independently or in assisted living in the community. Increasingly, the services of social workers will be required to work with health authorities to ensure that the necessary supports are in place to enable hospital patients to be discharged as early as possible to recuperate at home. The Aboriginal community also requires social workers with an understanding of their community to develop culturally appropriate service delivery models for their growing population. As more immigrants come to Manitoba, the need for settlement services will expand. Job prospects should also be good for those with experience in child welfare, restorative justice, and substance abuse counselling.
As most of these positions are publicly funded, employment prospects reflect government funding priorities which can change over time. As more service delivery is devolved from the public sector to community-based private and or non-profit organizations, the jobs opportunities will be in that sector.
A proportionally larger share of jobs for social workers are located in Winnipeg. Employment is concentrated in Health Care and Social Assistance (72%), followed by Public Administration (16%), Educational Services (6%) and Other Services (except Public Administration) (4%).
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Employment by Age Group
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Employment by Industry
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Employment by Region
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Employment by Gender
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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
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Employment by Visible Minority
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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
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