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Field Social Worker Field social workers work within the community, usually as part of a team, assessing people's needs and planning and delivering a range of services. They develop relationships with clients and their families, gaining their confidence and providing the most effective help over the long and short term. There is a shift towards specialisation in social work, particularly for work involving children and people with mental health problems. Social workers are increasingly working in multidisciplinary teams alongside other professionals such as doctors, psychiatrists and nurses. Working with children and families: The law requires local authority social services departments to identify, support and protect children in need or at risk, who live in their area. Social workers who work for specialist agencies like the NSPCC, Barnardos or Help the Aged are sometimes commissioned by local authorities to help with this work. This kind of social work requires high levels of skill and judgement, as the course of action a social worker takes can have a critical effect on a child's life. The best interests of the child are always paramount. Social workers play an important role in keeping families together by giving advice on issues such as parenting or drug and alcohol abuse. However, it is sometimes necessary to take a child away from its parents, although this is only done after consultation with other professionals, which may involve a court case or children's hearing. The aim is to protect a child who the social worker believes is in danger, or help parents who cannot cope because of a child's difficult behaviour or special needs brought about by a disability. When a local authority looks after a child, social workers make sure that adequate arrangements are made for the child's care and that a plan is made in partnership with the parents for the child's future. This may involve arranging foster, residential or adoption homes for children who cannot be cared for by their own families. Field social workers also work with schools, helping children with physical, emotional or learning disabilities, as well as discussing issues such as sexuality, suicide, violence and career planning. Some social workers work in hospitals to support parents whose children are seriously ill or dying. Hospital social workers may be involved in child protection work when an injury to a child is thought to be non-accidental. Working with adults: Some social workers are based in health care settings such as hospitals, GP's surgeries, psychiatric hospitals or hospices. They assess the social and emotional needs of adult patients and help them adjust to their illness. They also help elderly people and those with developmental disabilities, and work with their families to make decisions about their future. In a GP's surgery they may deal with people who are depressed, help people to recuperate in their own homes, and offer bereavement counselling. Some social workers specialise in working with particular groups of people such as those with HIV or AIDS. They may also work with mentally ill people, their families and carers to assess whether mental health problems can be supported and treated in the community or in hospital, as well as providing counselling and advice. Other work: Increasingly, social workers spend time assessing needs and arranging for others to provide the specific help needed. Social workers also carry out office-based work such as report writing, and part of every week is spent dealing with enquiries. Greater attention is now paid to achieving value for money, which can have an effect on the level of support social workers are able to offer. Social workers also attend meetings and conferences. Working Hours, Pay and Conditions A field social worker splits their time between the office, clients' homes, day centres, hospitals and health centres. Some time may also be spent in court, and travel will be involved. All social workers need a car, which may be provided through a low cost loan. They need to be prepared for complex, difficult and distressing situations and at times face hostility from the people they are helping. Although pay scales do exist, salaries are usually based on qualifications, experience, responsibilities of the post, and its location. A newly qualified field social worker can expect to earn between B#16,500 and B#20,700; a care manager or senior social worker between B#22,000 and B#26,000. Directors of social service departments are paid considerably more. The rate of pay for social workers employed by agencies differs from agency to agency. Social workers work irregular days and hours. Most local authorities and agencies provide a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service. This requires staff to work on a rota and provide night-time and weekend cover, for which they receive extra pay or time off in lieu. Some part-time work may be available. Social workers in a medical environment often work normal office hours, but may have to go on a rota for stand-by duty. Entry Requirements The Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) is the professional qualification in social work in the UK. The minimum age to qualify is 22. DipSW programmes are available on a full and part-time basis, as well as by distance learning, and combine academic learning with practical work experience. There are three possible routes to the DipSW, depending on age and qualifications. All require some previous experience of social work or social care. Applicants with a degree or equivalent qualification may take the postgraduate route. The minimum entry requirement for degree courses is usually two A levels/vocational A levels/three H grades, and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Care, Criminal Justice Services, Community Work, Special Needs Housing or Child Care and Education; or a BTEC/SQA national award; or the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) Diploma in Child Care and Education, Level 3; or other equivalent qualifications. Mature applicants who are over 21 may not need formal academic qualifications but should be able to demonstrate they are capable of studying at a higher education level. Applicants who already have a qualification, such as an NVQ/SVQ Level 4 in Care or a related subject, or who have considerable relevant prior learning, may be able to claim credit for certain elements of the DipSW programme. Candidates who are under 21 must have either two A levels/vocational A levels/three H grades, and three GCSEs/five S grades (A-C/1-3), or equivalent qualifications such as an NVQ/SVQ Level 3. The DipSW is available through several open or distance learning programmes, and also on a part- time basis, which may be particularly suitable for people in work. An employment- based route is also available where the candidate works full-time as an unqualified social worker for a social service organisation which then funds their training. Such positions are advertised nationally. Previous convictions may prevent people from becoming social workers. Social workers are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and must declare any convictions when applying for work with vulnerable individuals. A driving licence is important. Adult entry is usual- experience of life and work are greatly valued. There is no upper age limit for entry to a DipSW programme. Entrants must show they can cope with the level of study involved, and completion of an Access course, run at local colleges full- or part-time, can help demonstrate this. The Open University also offers a route into social work training and extended part-time DipSW programmes for candidates with family commitments are also available. Social workers must be committed to helping people overcome their difficulties and be able to develop trusting, professional relationships with clients, without becoming emotionally involved. They need patience and resilience, should be good listeners and able to negotiate on behalf of their clients. They must be able to deal with the unexpected as many clients will be angry and vulnerable, and may feel social workers are intruding on their private lives. The job can be stressful, so a sense of humour is vital. Good organisational skills are important, particularly in supervisory posts, and they must be able to work closely with colleagues and other professionals as part of a team. Social workers must manage a complex workload, understand the law and be able to write clearly. They need keyboard, database and some numerical skills for budgeting. There are courses in Northwest Workplace related to this profession: SOCIAL / FAMILY / COMMUNITY WORK (4 courses) Opportunities About 26,000 of the 70,000 qualified social workers in the UK are field social workers. Some social workers are employed as forensic social workers in hospitals that offer psychiatric services, in prisons, or in special hospitals such as Rampton or Broadmoor. They work closely with other professions to assess, treat and support people with mental health problems who have committed serious offences. The Ministry of Defence also employs social workers in military hospitals. Opportunities exist with the Navy Personnel and Family Service and with the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA). Some opportunities exist for specialising with independent social work agencies. There are also openings to teach on training courses in universities and colleges and as training officers in agencies. There is also growing scope for self-employment and it is possible to offer counselling, therapy or training skills on a freelance basis. Vacancies for qualified field social workers are advertised in Community Care, Public Service, Local Government Appointments, The Voice, The Scotsman, The Herald, The Independent and The Guardian. Social work has a well-defined career structure. However, the further candidates progress, the less likely they are to do the sort of work they intended to when they entered the profession. Promotion to senior social worker is based on a combination of qualifications and experience. For those with at least three years' experience it is possible to progress to a more senior post such as team leader or service manager, with responsibility for managing other social workers. Social workers who have reached this level and have specialist skills can continue working with clients in agencies. A post-qualifying framework also exists for social workers who have achieved their DipSW and allows continuous professional development. The Post Qualifying Award in Social Work (PQSW) enables social workers to develop their skills in managing risk and working in complex situations. The Advanced Award in Social Work (AASW) is aimed at experienced social work staff who are contributing to the development of services and the profession through leadership, policymaking, research and education. Training as an Approved Social Worker (ASW), or Mental Health Officer (MHO) in Scotland, enables qualified social workers to work at a higher level within a mental health environment. The Post Qualifying Award in Child Care applies to England and Wales and focuses on how to assess the developmental needs of children and young people, and how parents and carers respond to them. For entry criteria contact CCETSW or TOPSS. There are vacancies in Northwest Workplace related to this profession: Social/ Welfare work (1 job) Further Information Affinity (City & Guilds), 1 Giltspur Street, London EC1 9DD 020 7294 8007 British Association of Social Workers, 16 Kent Street, Birmingham B5 6RD 0121 622 3911 Web site: www.basw.co.uk Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work England: CCETSW Information Service, 4th Floor, Caledonian House, 223-231 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NG 020 7278 2455 Web site: www.ccetsw.org.uk Scotland: c/o Scottish Executive, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3BA 0131 244 1949 Wales: 2nd Floor, West Wing, South Gate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF1 1EW 029 2022 6257 Northern Ireland: 6 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BN 028 9066 5390 Training Organisation for Personal Social Services (TOPSS), c/o CCETSW, Derbyshire House, St Chads Street, London WC1H 8AD 020 7520 3530 Web site: www.topss.org.uk CCETSW/TOPSS Wales/Cymru: 029 2022 6257 CCETSW/TOPSS Northern Ireland: 028 9066 5390 CCETSW/TOPSS Scotland, c/o Scottish Executive, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3BA 0131 220 0093 TOPSS England, 26, Park Row, Leeds LS1 5QB 0113 245 1716 London Voluntary Service Council, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA 020 7700 8107 National Association for Voluntary Hostels, Fulham Place, Bishops Avenue, London SW6 6EA 020 7731 4205 National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL 020 7713 6161 National Institute for Social Work, Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SN 020 7387 9681 Web site: www.nisw.org.uk Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, 18-19 Claremont Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 4QD 0131 556 3882 Web site: www.scvo.org.uk Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Hanover House, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 7NQ 0141 248 7900 Web site: www.sqa.org.uk Social Care Association (SCA), Thornton House, Hook Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 5AN 0208 397 1411 Web site: www.socialcareassoc.com Social Work Admissions System (SWAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL52 3LZ 01242 544600 For a handbook or application pack: 01242 223707 or web site: www.ucas.com/packs Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Llys Ifor, Crescent Road, Caerphilly, Mid-Glamorgan CF8 1XL 029 20869224 Relevant Labour Market Information NMW and age discrimination ? Caution urged on NMW increase ! Fat cat salaries and the baverage wageb Tough time for SMEs Flexibility Plants at Work Improve Health

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