Care services
Social worker
Protecting vulnerable children and adults from harm or abuse, and supporting adults to live independently.
Summary
Social Work is an exciting and fulfilling international profession. Social Workers work in partnership with adults, children, carers, and families in a range of different settings to support and promote positive change in people's lives in order to improve their wellbeing and independence, and to reduce risk and harm. They protect and promote human rights and strive for social justice.
Social Workers work within statutory and legislative frameworks, using their professional judgement and building relationships with a variety of individuals and communities, as well as with a wide range of other professionals and agencies. They assess, plan, implement and evaluate complex situations, which requires an ability to critically reflect and make decisions within a clear professional code of ethics.
This occupation is found in social care services, health services and the voluntary and private sector. Social Workers can work in children’s services or adult social care, and can specialise in areas such as mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse or hospital work.
Employers include local authorities, health organisations including the NHS, voluntary organisations, charities, and private businesses. Some Social Workers work independently, setting up their own companies to contract for work. Examples would include carrying out independent fostering assessment or providing practice education for student Social Workers and apprentices.
Registered Social Workers engage in protecting individuals from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. They work in a way which is compassionate and takes account of all aspects of the individual’s life - ensuring their voice is central to decision making. They use their professional expertise to work, assess, plan, implement, evaluate and intervene putting the needs of people first and demonstrate a clear commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice .
Throughout their career, they are responsible for ensuring their Continuing Professional Development and will be expected to demonstrate leadership in their work. All Social Workers must register with the professional regulator and adhere to their professional standards.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with individuals, families, communities, and a wide range of other professionals and agencies including but not limited to education, health, housing, care service providers, police and probation. Within their own organisation they interact with the managers they report to and depending on the organisation Heads of Service, Occupational Therapists, support and administrative personnel, amongst others.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working with a number of people or families at any one time. Day-to-day work involves assessing people’s needs, strengths and wishes, working with individuals and families directly to help them make changes and resolve difficulties, organising support, making recommendations or referrals to other services and agencies, and keeping detailed records.
Social Workers are usually supervised by a Team Manager. If their Team Manager is not a Social Worker, they must receive professional supervision from a registered Social Worker. Social Workers can be responsible for managing support staff and other staff, both qualified and unqualified, with less experience than themselves.
Social Workers are responsible for making evidence-based judgements and making recommendations. They must do this within the relevant statutory and legislative frameworks, and practice guidance. Social Workers receive regular supervision to support their professional development.
Many Social Worker roles require a driving licence; however this will depend on the setting and geographic location.
Social Workers require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
This is a Level 6 apprenticeship. However, there is an option for the learning to be delivered at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. The level will be dependent on the employer’s arrangements with the training provider.
Typical job titles include
- Social worker
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The importance of rights, responsibilities, freedom, authority and use of power.
K2:
The importance of maintaining, and the limits of, confidentiality.
K3:
That relationships with individuals and their carers should be based on respect, honesty and integrity.
K4:
How to develop relationships appropriately.
K5:
The impact of different cultures and communities and how this affects social work.
K6:
Current legal and ethical frameworks.
K7:
The concepts of participation, advocacy, co-production, involvement and empowerment.
K8:
The contribution that peoples’ own resources and strengths can bring to social work.
K9:
The impact of different societies' views on human behaviour.
K10:
The value of research and analysis and be able to evaluate evidence to inform practice.
K11:
That experiences and feelings affect behaviour in interactions.
K12:
Social work theory, models and interventions; human growth and development across the lifespan and the impact of key developmental stages and transitions.
K13:
The impact of injustice, demography, social inequality, policies and other issues which affect the demand for social work services.
K14:
How to update knowledge to ensure evidence informed practice.
K15:
The scope and limits of practice and when/how to seek advice from a range of sources.
K16:
Models of supervision, critical reflection and self-reflection to enhance/change practice.
K17:
Your employer’s organisational context and systems and the impact on your practice.
K18:
The concept of leadership and its application to practice.
K19:
The requirements of the relevant professional body.
K20:
Applicable safeguarding/health and safety legislation, policies and procedures.
K21:
How to maintain your own personal safety and that of others in complex situations.
K22:
Signs of harm, abuse and neglect and the importance of professional curiosity when these are observed and the appropriate risk assessment tools and processes to use.
K23:
The role of the Social Worker and roles of others within safeguarding, appropriate to levels of skills and experience.
K24:
The range of communication methods available to meet specific needs (both verbal and non-verbal)
K25:
The importance of the impact of verbal and non-verbal communication
K26:
How communication skills affect the assessment of, and engagement with, individuals and their families/carers
K27:
The range of factors that affect effective communication e.g., age, capacity, learning ability and physical ability.
K28:
The full range of interpersonal skills required to work with other professionals and agencies.
K29:
The different social and organisational contexts within which social work operates.
K30:
The applicable legislation, policies, and procedures
K31:
The principles of good recording and record keeping.
K32:
The types, and benefits, of assistive technology
K33:
How to use relevant software applications.
K34:
IT data sharing protocols.
K35:
The potential misuses of technology e.g., social media.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0510: Social worker (integrated degree) (Level 6) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0510
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £40,639 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 2461 Social workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2461/02 Children, family and school social workers
- 2461/01 Adult social workers
S1:
Ensure professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted.
S2:
Take responsibility for your decisions and recommendations.
S3:
Be aware of the impact of your own values on practice.
S4:
Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks.
S5:
Ensure the highest standard of person centred approach, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
S6:
Practise in a non-discriminatory manner.
S7:
Hear the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognise their expertise, and enable their views to have validity and influence.
S8:
Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities.
S9:
Work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.
S10:
Work to promote individual growth, development and independence.
S11:
Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity.
S12:
Initiate resolution of issues and use initiative.
S13:
Gather, analyse, critically evaluate, and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
S14:
Make and receive referrals appropriately.
S15:
Use social work methods, theories, and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities.
S16:
Manage and weigh up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
S17:
Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional.
S18:
Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
S19:
Manage the physical and emotional impact of your practice.
S20:
Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience.
S21:
Use supervision to support and enhance the quality of your practice.
S22:
Maintain your own health and well-being.
S23:
Recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively.
S24:
Keep your skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date.
S25:
Show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.
S26:
Use a range of research methodologies to inform your practice.
S27:
Work in partnership with others
S28:
Balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability
S29:
Respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people you are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
S30:
Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect.
S31:
Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries.
S32:
Follow health and safety policies and procedures.
S33:
Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England.
S34:
Communicate your role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods.
S35:
Communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating, and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
S36:
Exercise professional curiosity.
S37:
Have difficult conversations with empathy.
S38:
Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
S39:
Engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change
S40:
Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes.
S41:
Support networks, groups, and communities to meet needs and outcomes.
S42:
Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols, and guidelines.
S43:
Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies, and procedures.
S44:
Critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
S45:
Present reports in formal settings.
S46:
Use technology to manage your work.
S47:
Use technology to communicate appropriately.
S48:
Maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
S49:
Advise people on how to use assistive technology.
S50:
Promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0510: Social worker (integrated degree) (Level 6) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0510
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £40,639 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 2461 Social workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2461/02 Children, family and school social workers
- 2461/01 Adult social workers
B1:
Communicate openly, honestly and accurately. Listen to people and apply professional curiosity to evaluate and assess the information needed to provide quality advice, support, or care.
B2:
Treat people with compassion, dignity and respect and work together to empower positive change.
B3:
Adapt approach according to the situation and context.
B4:
Commit to continuous learning within social work, with curiosity and critical reflection.
B5:
Adhere to the Social Work England Standards of Conduct.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0510: Social worker (integrated degree) (Level 6) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0510
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £40,639 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 2461 Social workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2461/02 Children, family and school social workers
- 2461/01 Adult social workers