CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK

Social workers help people solve social, financial, and health problems. Social workers take on jobs in broadly three sectors. Those who work with

• NGOs i.e. Non Governmental Organisations wherein they work in the fields of childcare, healthcare, women, literacy, environment and AIDS.
• Multilateral Organisations such as involved actively in fieldwork, policymaking, managing objectives on an international scale across countries.
• In the corporate sector, as management involved in Corporate Social Responsibility where they get involved in welfare issues like water harvesting, schools and computer education in and around the company’s factories or campus.

The Job

Social workers often specialize in treating certain types of clients. Regardless of their specialty, however, social workers have some common tasks.

• Meet clients, ask them questions to identify their problems, concerns, and needs.
• Collect any other information, such as employment or medical records
• Create plans for helping clients. These could be one-on-one,  local plans or larger scale projects for a region or a sector
• Implement the plan at the desired centre or centres
• Monitor clients' progress towards solving their problems
• Revise plans as needed.

Social workers specialise in:

• Criminology and correctional work find jobs in prisons, and government departments
• Medical and psychiatric social work in clinics, hospitals, sanatoria, child guidance clinics, counseling centers, mental hospitals, medical colleges and community public health centers
• Community development are involved in field work with community groups, government and voluntary agencies. Several Non Governmental Agencies (NGO's) are engaged in welfare work
• Labour welfare and industrial relations work in personnel department of Industrial and Corporate sectors
• Child care and family services and work in family planning and Aids programs
• Awareness campaigns of the government. World organisations such as the United Nations sponsor projects to facilitate developing countries in their social welfare and other developmental programs.

Personality Traits

• High concern about social issues and individual suffering.
• Be able to listen patiently others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken and written information
• Identify problems and review information. Analyze options and apply solutions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Have a high degree of social interaction.
• They work with clients, families, and other social workers.

Job Prospects

Social Work has developed as a viable career option. Most people easily get a job with various NGO’s like Srishti, Prava, Salam Balak Trust, Butterflies, Youthreach, etc. After a few years in an NGO, you can even branch out to start an NGO of your very own.
Multilateral organisations include UN, WHO, The World Bank, UNESCO and India Development Fund.
Organisations like SAIL, TATA Energy, Kribhco etc. are active in the social sector.

Salary and Earnings

• Many NGOS pay their employees in keeping with their earning with starting salaries in the range of Rs 2,500 – Rs 7,000 for a fresh graduate. For someone with an MSW the starting salary could well be anything between Rs 13, 000 – 15,000. As you progress over the years the salaries never take on the dimensions of the corporate sector. But for those in the social sector, the magnitude of their contribution to their cause and society more than makes up for the money.
• Multilateral agencies would start at Rs 15,000 – Rs 25,000 per month for a qualified fresher. Peak salaries often match middle level corporate salaries
• In the corporate sector, in the Social Responsibility department, you can expect anything between 2.5lakhs to 5lakhs as a starting salary. Peak salaries would be around Rs 10 - 15 lacs per annum.

Study Routes

Courses in social work are not necessary but desired by most NGOs. Multilateral organizations and corporates would require qualifications in social work / management OR extensive experience with an NGO.

• Class XII in any stream, preferably social sciences.
• After Class XII 3 Year Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
• 2 Years Master's Degree wherein admission is on the basis of a test or merit in all institutes over the country.

Best Places to Study

While all universities offer courses in social work, the leading institutes are:

• Delhi School o Social Work, New Delhi
• TATA Institute for Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Colleges Overseas

USA

• Idaho University
• The University of Alabama
• California State University at Long Beach
• Barry University, Florida
• Catholic University of America, DC
• Arizona State University

UK

• University of Kentucky
• Durham University
• University of London
• London Metropolitan University
• Leeds Metropolitan University
• University of Bradford
• South Bank University, London

Australia

• La Trobe University
• University of Western Australia
• University of Tasmania
• University of Queensland
• University of Sydney
• Monash University

Source: Compass One

Date: 11th Dec., 2009

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