Careers in social work

Social workers help people with personal, social and environmental problems that cause emotional and social distress. The help may take the form of counselling, advice and information, and referrals to other services, resources or facilitating bodies.

Where could I work?

You could work in one of eight regionally based Health Boards as a ‘Community Care’ social worker for concerns such as psychiatric illness, financial and environmental difficulties, alcohol and drug-related problems, interpersonal difficulties and child abuse. All cases dealt with by Health Board social workers include a child/family dimension.

You could also be employed as a medical social worker by voluntary and health board-run hospitals. You will offer direct help where medical conditions are complicated by social and emotional factors. Psychiatric social workers work with patients in psychiatric hospitals and with out-patients as well as in a preventative role.

You could also work for local authorities as a housing welfare officer (social worker), offering social services to tenants, prospective tenants and/or travellers. This involves liaising with housing and government departments.

As a probation and welfare officer in the Department of Justice, you may work with the Adoption Board, the courts, or prisons and places of detention. This involves making recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

Voluntary agencies catering for specific interest groups also employ social workers. These include charities, special schools (run by religious groups or parents) and treatment centres.

Social workers in industry (‘welfare workers’) are concerned with employees and pensioners of an organisation, eg the Army. The work can range from family problems to work with pensioners and the elderly.

What skills do I need?

Social workers should be:

• mature, balanced and emotionally stable
  
• able to empathise with others, often in stressful situations
  
• clear thinking and able to view problems in a wide context
  
• energetic, and posses stamina, as long hours may be involved

Team work and organisation are essential. You will liaise with other caring personnel (doctors, public health nurses, home helps etc) to plan an integrated approach to care. You will also be in contact with voluntary agencies with vested interests in different areas of social work.

Professional qualification

The professional qualification is the National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW), awarded by the National Social Work Qualifications Board. This is conferred through:

• a four-year Honours degree in Social Studies at TCD
  
• a two-year masters programme at UCC and UCD, eligible for those who have a social studies degree
  
• a four-year Honours degree in Social Work at UCC, eligible for mature students (aged 23 and over) with appropriate experience
  
• some two-year masters programmes in the UK.

After this training, postgraduate professional training is also available.

Admission to professional training in social work is highly competitive. Criteria for selection generally includes strong academic qualifications, voluntary/paid social work experience and personal suitability for the work. An assessment interview usually forms part of the selection proceedings.

For more information see the gradireland sector career guide Social work, available to download from our Publications page.