Cyngor Gofal Cymru / Care Council for Wales

Social Work - A People Profession

We have produced a new booklet called 'Social Work - A People Profession' to inform you about the Social Worker role. It details what the job involves, how to train/qualify and what type of person is required. You can download the booklet from the links on the right of the page.

What the Job Entails

Helping people assess their needs with a view to them finding solutions which improve their lives and give them choices, would be your main objective as a Social Worker. You could work with older people, children, young people, offenders, people with learning disabilities, mental health problems, physical disabilities, or with people who are substance mis-users.

Part of the process of assisting people in taking control of their lives will involve building relationships with a wide range of people starting with the individual themselves and with their family and carer. To do this means overcoming barriers to communication such as language differences, disability and emotional difficulties. There needs to be an emphasis on enabling people to express their feelings and views and exercise their rights when appropriate. This support is sometimes provided at a time when life is most challenging to the individual concerned.

In assessing people’s needs and finding solutions, you will be helping them to be as independent as possible. Your work may extend to protecting them from risks they face while this assistance is provided. It may involve working with the health service, education, housing and employment services, the police as well as other people within your organisation such as support staff and occupational therapists.

Working with these other key people, you will be involved in setting up plans for individuals and constantly reviewing the situation to make sure that the individual’s needs are being met.

What Type of Person is Needed?