Social worker (Maatschappelijk werker)

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A social worker is responsible for various activities related to people and their social environment. In short, the work of a social worker can best be described as helping people who run into certain problems. This mainly relates to the self-reliance of people in their social environment. The work of a social worker does not only concern people who have mental health problems because people can have to deal with many more problems. Think, for example, of financial problems, relationship problems or parenting problems with regard to children. The field of work of a social worker can therefore be called very broad, and can depend on the training received as a social worker. There may be multiple courses and studies applicable to the social worker profession, at different levels. The profession of social worker should therefore be seen as fairly general because a social worker may have to deal with different types of people who may also have to deal with different types of problems. In all cases, a social worker is responsible for supporting people who experience certain problems. Within the profession of social worker, there are various specializations, so that the substantive work can differ per social worker. As a social worker, you are primarily responsible for supporting people. This usually involves solving problems or learning to deal with certain problems. Social workers can face many problems from clients. Think, for example, of rent debt, addictions, unemployment, parenting problems and depression.

Social worker is therefore a general name for various craftsmen working in the social sector. As a social worker, you are a kind of personal supervisor, who assists and supports clients who are dealing with problems. The most important task of a social worker is to ensure that people can function independently within society. How exactly a social worker does this is highly dependent on the client's problems. In most cases, a social worker will also have to deal with other specialists, to whom he or she reports on progress. Which specialists these are exactly can differ per client. Think, for example, of psychologists, relationship therapists, family guardians or reintegration coaches. If a social worker has to deal with children, the name pedagogue may also apply. A pedagogue specializes in education. It's not that social workers only deal with clients who have a disorder. For example, it can also simply concern people who temporarily need extra assistance due to various causes. In all cases, attention will focus on the self-reliance within their social environment.

ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER

Within the Netherlands, social workers play an important role because they generally visit clients' homes a lot. By visiting clients at home, it is possible to monitor people so that small problems do not degenerate into big problems. Exactly how often a social worker will visit people depends heavily on the type of assistance. The types of problems also usually requires a specific treatment plan. As a social worker, you will meet people who may be dealing with a variety of issues, such as addictions, parenting problems, or financial problems. As a social worker, you work according to the professional code, which states exactly which actions a social worker may perform. In addition, the professional code relates to the mutual relationships and the confidentiality of information because you will have to deal with personal information of clients.

WORKING AS A SOCIAL WORKER

Working as a social worker can be considered noble and important work because you are trying to help people. The work of a social worker should not be underestimated because they can be regarded as heavy and sometimes difficult. In addition, the profession of social worker is not entirely harmless because you can also have to deal with people who show unpredictable behavior. In most cases, the people are known to the case manager or care manager and a social worker will not visit these types of people alone. As a social worker, in most cases you also have to deal with a treatment coordinator.

WHAT DOES A SOCIAL WORKER DO:

TRAINING TO BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER

The most targeted training to become a social worker is the Hbo programme social work and services of about four years. In addition, it may concern other courses or studies because the profession of social worker can relate to several professions. For example, a university study such as Pedagogy or Social Sciences is also possible. For more information, see also the Professional Association of Professionals in Social Work (BPSW). In addition, there are also plenty of external training institutes where you can follow a course. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.

COMPANIES WHERE A SOCIAL WORKER MAY BE EMPLOYED

As a social worker, you can work for various companies, governments and institutions. Think, for example, of youth care, addiction care, hospitals, shelters, probation or institutions focused on social services. Where exactly you work usually depends on the education received. If you work for companies, the name company social worker may also apply. A social worker may also work as a civil servant. In some cases, social workers are active as volunteers.

COMPETENCES SOCIAL WORKER

As a social worker, you must have quite a few different competencies, which can also depend on the type of employer. In general, we can say that as a social worker, you have to be highly skilled in communication. In addition, empathy plays an important role as a social worker because you can have to deal with different people who all have their own problems. Generally important words are cooperation, stress resistance, perseverance, consultation, conflict management, insight, planning, organizing, coaching, guiding, inspiring, monitoring and motivating. Finally, it is important to mention that as a social worker, you must have integrity and that you must have a professional working attitude.

LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A SOCIAL WORKER

The labour market perspective as a social worker is generally good, provided you have the right training. As a social worker, you can work for a variety of types of employers, so finding a job generally won't be a problem. The career opportunities as a social worker should be seen in obtaining a managerial position, such as the position of team head or team manager. Further career opportunities are generally not possible without further training.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY SOCIAL WORKER

There are no specific examples of the employment conditions because as a social worker you can work for different types of companies, governments and institutions that use different collective agreements. A social worker with a completed bachelor's degree will generally earn a salary between 2500 and 3700 euros gross per month, depending on education, age and specific responsibilities. A higher salary is conceivable within this profession if you have a university study or education.

The content on this page has been automatically translated from the Dutch language. For this reason, texts and videos on this page may contain small errors.

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