Description of the Occupation
Social work was developed in the 19 th century and has its origins in grassroots organizing and voluntary philanthropy. In the early 20 th century, social work profession was recognized as an occupation and later attained the professional status in the late 1920s. The practice began as an attempt to address the social question that is, paradox of increasing poverty in a prosperous and productive economy ( Jennissen & Lundy, 2011) . Some of the prominent pioneers of social work include Clara Barton, Edward Devine, Jane Addams and Jeannette Rankin. Social work is a distinctive vocation concerned with promotion of social change, development and cohesion of people as well as empowerment and liberation of communities. The profession is a practice-based discipline whose role is to enhance the overall wellbeing, self-reliance and social functioning of groups, families and individuals. Social work practice entails understanding the human behavior and interactions, and economic, social, and cultural institutions. The occupation is chiefly concerned with the study of social problems and application of social interventions to enhance wellbeing. According to Colby and Dziegielewski (2016), social work pursues causes such unemployment insurance, civil rights, reduced mental health stigma, disability pay, child abuse and neglect prevention as well as workers compensation.
Some of the areas where social work is practiced include schools, prisons, corporations and senior centers, mental health clinics, military and hospitals. The profession entails working with different cohorts and types of people particularly focusing on the vulnerable, oppressed and populations living in poverty. Social work practice is usually categorized into micro-work and macro-work. Micro-work entails working directly with small groups and individuals while macro-work involves working with communities in pursuit of change on a large scale. Social work is underpinned by paradigms of social sciences and humanities. The profession is hinged on the tenets of collective responsibility, social justice, respect for diversity and human rights.
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Qualifications and Education Requirement
Practicing as a social worker in Canada requires a university degree as a minimum qualification since one must have a bachelor’s degree in social work which demands four years of study. When pursuing bachelor’s degree, one should have undergone training in social work practice, case management and social services. Some employers in Canada also require social worker applicants to have a master’s degree in social work which takes two years of post-graduate study ( Hick, 2006) . Social work positions particularly demanding clinical education qualifications requires interested individuals to have a master’s degree. Students should also undergo an internship as part of the education requirement to become a social worker in Canada. The internship usually entails placements in schools, social service organizations or government agencies. During the internship, students are exposed to hands-on training in the filed by learning from social workers who have a vast experience. Additional job qualifications include joining a provincial regulatory body. The affiliation to a regulatory body makes one a regulated social worker. The Ontario Colleges of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is an example of a regulatory body that registers social workers in Canada ( Hick, 2006) . Experience for a predetermined number of years is a qualification requirement to be employed as a social worker in some jobs.
Average Salary and Work Schedule
The average remuneration for a social worker in Canada is $75,065 per year. The salary is equivalent to $38.50 per hour. The average estimates are based on 1,934 salaries anonymously submitted by social worker employees and users. Data collected from past and present job advertisements for a period of 36 months also aided in the computation of the average salary. The entry level positions in Canada have a salary of $39,445 while for the experienced social workers, the professionals earn up to $95,843. The social worker salaries however vary depending with the region or province. Alberta for example pays its social workers $95, 843, Yukon $85,878, British Columbia $75, 413, Manitob $36,747, Quebec $68,708 while the remuneration in Ontario is $80,330 ( Ritter et al., 2019) .
Social workers work for about 35 to 40 hours every week for a standard of 8 hours in a day. The schedule, however, changes depending on variables such as paperwork, client scheduling and staff meetings. The average working day for a social worker entails offering services outside regular office hours. Occasionally, social workers are obligated to work on national holidays and on weekends to see clients or attend meetings ( Hepworth et al., 2016) . A typical day for a social worker entails meeting with clients, advocating for clients and evaluating services offered to different populations.
Job Responsibilities
The duties of a social worker revolve around helping people adapt and solve problems in their everyday lives. For clinical social workers, their responsibilities also encompass diagnosing and treating emotional, behavioral and mental health issues ( Colby & Dziegielewski, 2016) . The description below enlists the some of the responsibilities of a social worker.
Identifying communities and people who need help.
Assessing and evaluating client’s needs, strengths, situations and support networks to determine their goals.
Assisting clients adjust and cope to challenges and changes in their lives such as unemployment or illness.
Undertaking research and advocating for mobilization of community resources such as childcare, food stamps and healthcare to improve the well-being of clients.
Responding to crisis scenarios such as mental health emergencies, lack of social support, spouse and child abuse.
Following up with clients to ascertain if the identified situations and problems have improved.
Offering psychotherapy services such as family or couple therapy as well as interpersonal psychotherapy.
Maintaining records and case files.
Evaluating and developing services and programs to meet the client’s basic needs.
Attending conferences and providing evidence in court sessions.
Offering information and counselling regarding the best course of action.
Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
Referring clients to available community services and agencies to assist them in the recovery.
Watching for signs and indicators of child abuse.
Social workers perform the role of family mediation when couples with children separate. The mediator role enables the couples to have a separation agreement that factors the children’s interest.
Planning the discharge modality for clients from care facility to home.
Conducting interviews to identify environmental impediments that derail patient or client progress.
Knowledge and Skills That Are Considered Assets for the Job
Individuals are required to have an in-depth understanding of the complex issues underlying social work such as substance use and concurrent disorders. Additional knowledge required entails having experience and requisite skills working with different populations such as adolescents, children and older adults. One must also possess excellent communication, interpersonal and organization skills. Individuals must also demonstrate ability to use problem solving and critical thinking skills ( Hepworth et al., 2016) . Additional qualifications include demonstrating efficient time management, ability to function as a member of an interdisciplinary team, as well as knowledge of community resources and services. The profession requires individuals to have proficiency in using computers, electronic medical records, and ability to use MS Office Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. Applicants who seek to qualify must also have well-developed strengths in collaboration and advocacy. Interested individuals should also have experience in various areas such as in individual counselling and psychosocial assessments, care giver support and case management ( Colby & Dziegielewski, 2016) . Clinical experience in areas such as working with older adults is also a considered a valuable asset for social workers in Canada.
One also should possess knowledge and ability to make judgment and decisions between relative costs and benefits of healthcare and social service actions. Individuals ought to have the knowledge to develop a treatment plan, skills in crisis intervention and ability to empathize with clients when they are facing difficulties. Having a driver’s license is taken as a valuable skill in social work since some role entail travelling to meet clients in the field. Having skills and knowhow in organization is considered an added advantage for the job. Execution of roles such as psychosocial support and clinical case management requires organization skills and ability to prioritize according to a client’s need.
Challenges Associated with Social Work Occupation
The challenge of unpredictable schedule is common in the social work profession. Majority of social work jobs entail operating outside the usual traditional schedule which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. The social work professionals such as those offering child protection services find their schedule extending beyond the traditional hours and working days ( Kruk, 2015) . The unpredictable schedule cause problems related to balancing personal life with work. Social work professionals lack the benefits of a flexible work routine such as finding time for mindfulness in form of reading a book or taking part in an exercise ( Hepworth et al., 2016) . The lack of conventional working hours and routine therefore requires resilience and ability to work in such an unpredictable profession.
An increasing workload is also a challenge associated with social work. Due to the proliferation of the global aging population, the demand for social services continues to increase by 3% annually ( Kruk, 2015) . The increasing workload is also linked to the rise in the number of people diagnosed with mental illnesses. A surge in the demand for professionals in social work has been triggered by the unprecedented increase in substance abuse ( Rosenthal & Rosenthal, 2011) . The unparalleled rise in workload often leaves social workers feeling disheartened and overwhelmed ( Colby & Dziegielewski, 2016) . The unmanageable workload makes it impossible to offer desired level of care and hurts the social worker’s well-being.
Things That Make the Occupation Attractive
The many job opportunities in social work make the profession attractive. Aspiring social workers have high chance of securing employment after completing the course. A study by Hepworth et al., (2016), indicated that social work field has many employment opportunities in different areas such as in healthcare, justice and corrections, advocacy, community organization and developmental disabilities. As indicated by the Kruk (2015) , social work profession is expected to grow by 11% between years 2020 and 2028. Social workers will continually be needed by the world to address global issues such as drug abuse, child trafficking and mental health.
Social work career leads to self-improvement making it an attractive profession. The occupation enables professionals to develop and grow. By empowering, educating and advocating for others, social workers find self-enlightenment. The profession provides an opportunity to grow by affording the practitioners a unique type of reflective practice which allows a person to challenge their assumptions. For example, as a child welfare worker, one can examine their beliefs, values and unconscious biases such as stereotypical convictions leading to personal growth.
Personality Profile Fits Well with the Occupation
Love for people is a trait that fits the personality profile of a social worker. The personality type provides motivation for practitioners and students to involve themselves in social work interventions. As a pre-requisite, social workers must develop interest and likeness towards people. In addition, emotional maturity fits the description of a social workers personality profile ( Hepworth et al., 2016) . The quality implies having a complete developmental state, a sober mind, ability to work independently, control impulsive behavior and cope with frustrations. The trait enables social workers to recognize and acknowledge their human feelings. Such professionals find no difficulties in working though hurt feelings and in identifying, examining and correcting their own faults.
Social workers should harbor self-awareness. The characteristic implies pursuit of self-knowledge by being in touch with one’s own values, motives and needs. Social workers who possess self-awareness are usually knowledgeable about their unresolved conflicts. Empathetic understanding also fits well in the social work profession. The quality involves associating with other people’s experiences and entering into their real world. Social workers who have honed the trait are able separate themselves from their own frame of reference ( Hepworth et al., 2016) . Objectivity should however be exercised to avoid taking on other people’s problems.
Assertiveness is a personality trait that should be cultivated by social workers. The characteristic relates to how social workers express, handle and assert themselves in the face of others. The personality type involves a worker’s capacity to convey skills, values and knowledge in a manner that respects the participant’s rights. Social workers should also display an energetic personality type. According to Hepworth et al. (2016), social work dynamics require practitioners to be vigorous in their dealings. In the social work occupation, energy is pre-requisite in initiating change and investing in development to benefit clients. The personality profile of social workers should exhibit other qualities such as goodwill, optimism, sincerity, creativity, adaptability, enthusiasm and spontaneity. Conclusively, the aforementioned qualities enable social work practitioners to show professionalism and meet the intended practice goals.
References
Colby, I., & Dziegielewski, S. F. (2016). Introduction to social work: The people’s profession . Lyceum Books.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2016). Empowerment series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills . Nelson Education.
Hick, S. (2006). Social work in Canada. Toronto: Thompson EducationalPublishing .
Jennissen, T., & Lundy, C. (2011). One hundred years of social work: A history of the profession in English Canada, 1900–2000 . Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press.
Kruk, E. (2015). Child and family social work in Canada: Issues and challenges within a neo-liberal political context. In Social Work in a Global Context (pp. 104-120). Routledge.
Rosenthal, G., & Rosenthal, J. A. (2011). Statistics and data interpretation for social work . Springer publishing company.
Ritter, J. A., Obermann, A., & Danhoff, K. L. (2019). 101 careers in social work . Springer Publishing Company.
