OPPORTUNITIES IN SOCIAL WORKS

What is Social Work? - Career Opportunities

• Social work is a personally rewarding career for those who have an interest in working with people, and in addressing social and community issues and problems.
• The social work profession has its own body of knowledge, code of ethics, practice standards, credentials, state licensing, and a nationwide system of accredited education programs.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work is a profession which help people, communities, societies to develop their potential. A degree in Social Work called Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). A person who completes degree in Social Work called Social Worker.
• Social Work can taught in various disciplines. anthropology, sociology, psychology, government, economics and philosophy.

Here are few instructions you may consider for a career in social work:

• Firstly, determine if you want to earn a bachelor's degree on social work by attending college or university. You can also earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree online.
• Do a complete research on schools that offer a bachelor's degree in social work and review each programme they have.
• Apply to schools that you find interesting. Consider tuition fee and the time taken to earn the BSW in different schools.
• Make sure your preferred institution provides specific area of social work you want to specialise in.
• Complete the prerequisites that are required for your bachelor's degree.
• Apply for an internship which will give you field experience and may lead you to a rewarding career opportunity.

Areas of specialisation:

• Psychology
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Economics

Scope of Social Work:
There is a huge scope for this course. One can pursue Master's in Social Work in foreign Universities.

Career opportunities:
A social worker is required in various sectors such as hospitals or healthcare, community agencies, social welfare organizations, mental health and the community.

Salary: Range from Rs 10,000/- to Rs 18,000/- for fresher’s per month.

Top Universities in India offering BSW course:

• Aligarh Muslim University
• Amity University
• Indira Gandhi National Open University
• Osmania University
• Bharathiar University
• Anna University
• Annamalai University

Top Universities abroad offering BSW course:

• Boston University
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas
• Northern Arizona University
• Appalachian State University

Masters in Social Work? - Career Opportunities

Social work is one of those careers in which you can truly make a difference in people’s lives. A Master of Social Work degree can open many doors and show others you have not only the knowledge and the skills, but also the compassion and dedication necessary to work in such an important field. There are many positions a graduate with an MSW degree can fulfill, but here are five of the most popular social work careers:

Medical/Public Health

Social workers who work in the medical field are always in high demand. It is projected that the number of jobs in medical/public health social work will grow by 22 percent through 2018, the highest rate in the social work field. Medical/public health social workers can work in any facility that provides care to patients, including hospitals, emergency rooms, hospices, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living facilities and home health agencies. They work with patients to ensure they are being cared for properly, facilitate communication between them and their care givers, and assist with paperwork and decision-making. Medical/public health social workers are advocates for patient rights and a source of comfort during difficult times. Because this is such an important area of social work, it generally pays more, with an average salary ranging from Rs.250,000 to Rs.400,000 annually.

Child Welfare

Child welfare is an area of social work that requires sensitivity, compassion and a love of children. Child welfare social workers provide services to children who are abused and neglected by their parents or to children from lower-income families who cannot afford to properly care for them. Many child welfare workers work with child protective services to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect, and intervene when a child’s home environment is deemed unsafe. As a child welfare social worker, you would meet regularly with children and families to assess conditions in the home and report on the care a child is receiving. When a child is in danger, child welfare workers facilitate the removal of that child and place them in a safe alternative environment. The child welfare social work field is expected to grow at a rate of 12 percent through 2018, and the average salary for a child protective services worker is between Rs.1,20,000 and Rs.200,000 annually, depending on location and experience.

School Social Work

School social work is one of the more common areas in the field, and there are different capacities in which a school social worker can work. As a school social worker, you are a liaison between school and students’ families, essentially bridging children’s personal lives and education to make sure their needs are being met. You can function as a guidance counselor and also work with special needs children to facilitate their integration into mainstream classes. You are responsible for addressing a number of school issues, such as behavioral intervention programs, truancy prevention programs, sexual education, health education, crisis intervention and effective communication between parents, teachers and students. Depending on location and level of education, school social workers earn a salary ranging from Rs.2,00,000 to Rs.30,0000 annually.