Social worker
Also known as: child and youth worker, community worker, social outreach worker, assistant, social services, community liaison worker, community development worker
About this occupation
Social workers are practice-based professionals who promote social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. They interact with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities in order to provide various forms of therapy and counselling, group work, and community work. Social workers guide people to use services to claim benefits, access community resources, find jobs and training, obtain legal advice or deal with other local authority departments.
Essential skills and knowledge
- handle conflicts
- report on social development
- negotiate with social service users
- social justice
- develop professional identity in social work
- undertake continuous professional development in social work
- develop professional network
- involve service users and carers in care planning
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- make legislation transparent for users of social services
- apply decision making within social work
- plan social service process
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Social Workers, All Other (O*NET 21-1029.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$71,900 a year (2025), 62,930 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Specialisations
- benefits advice worker
- child care social worker
- clinical social worker
- community care case worker
- community development social worker
- community social worker
- consultant social worker
- criminal justice social worker
- crisis situation social worker
- education welfare officer
- employment support worker
- enterprise development worker
- family social worker
- gerontology social worker
- homelessness worker
- hospital social worker
- mental health social worker
- migrant social worker
- military welfare worker
- palliative care social worker
- probation officer
- rehabilitation support worker
- social work supervisor
- substance misuse worker
- victim support officer
- youth offending team worker
- youth worker