ADWOA OWUSU

PRE- ACCESS

RESEARCH

SECONDARY RESEARCH

SOCIAL WORKERS

ARE THEY NECESSARY IN TODAY’S COMMUNITY?

Social work is a profession for people with a passionate desire to help improve people’s lives. Social workers help people function the best way they can in their environment with their relationships, personal and family problems. They also deal with clients that face a life threatening disease, a disability, continuous abuse, and families with serious domestic conflicts, which sometimes involve a child or spouse abuse. Social workers often provide their services within a health related environment. Social workers often work closely with other professionals such as doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, teachers, the police and courts. A social worker should be able to develop trusting relationships with service users and carers without becoming emotionally involved. Excellent communication skills, including listening, speaking and writing are also and important quality in a social worker, they must be able to handle pressure and work well in a team with colleagues and professionals from other agencies. With patient and maturity, social workers are aware of people’s different needs and respect diversity. A social worker must be emotionally mature and sensitive to people and their problems.

(McCracken, M, Working in social work, 2002)

TYPES OF SOCIAL WORKERS

Social work is divided into different areas such as:

Child, family and school social workers- they provide services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and families. Some social workers assist single parents, arrange adoptions, or help find homes for neglected, abandoned or abused children. With schools they address issues such as teenage pregnancy, misbehaviour and advice on how to cope.

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Medical and public health social workers- provide psychological support for vulnerable people with terminal illness such as, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer or AIDS. They also advise family caregivers, home services for new mothers. Medical and public health social workers may work for hospitals, nursing and personal care facilities.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers- they asses and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems, including alcohol abuse, tobacco or any other related drug. These methods of services include outreach, crises intervention and social rehabilitation. They also help plan for supportive services to ease patients return to the ...

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