Meet Omar, 22, a social worker for a local authority. Find out more about his job and journey into the role.
Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
I help empower children to have their voice heard.
Omar:
My name is Omar, and I am a social worker.
I help empower children to have their voice heard.
A social worker is someone who works with people in difficult times to help them find solutions to their problems.
Some of the things that social workers do in the job is working with adults and children with their mental health difficulties, and also supporting older adults to live independently.
We're also involved in helping families resolve disputes and address some of the worries that the families have.
A day in the life of a social worker involves holding a case load of children and families.
For me, I hold a case load of 19 children, talking to them, listening to them, understanding what the worries are and wanting to work with them to come up with solutions.
This involves making referrals to agencies, it involves writing up the visits.
So something that really attracted me was the diversity of the role.
Working with people from all different types of ages, sexes, races and cultures. We really have to understand the bigger picture of what's going on for families, it's something that an everyday person might not always notice, but for social workers we really have to have the knowledge about these bigger issues like social disadvantage.
An example of how I would help someone as a social worker includes things like managing their money and helping them to think about budgeting, as well as connecting them with other people and other professionals that can help them as well.
Teamwork is really important in terms of being a social worker, I'm working with lots of different professionals such as police and health and schools, to develop plans so that we can all work together to support people.
I enjoy the admin side of social work as well. For me, it's about keeping detailed records so I can help capture what the journey is like for that person that I'm working with.
The pathway that I took to become a social worker, I did a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care.
I also did volunteering and work experience in a nursery. I then applied to Universities and did a three-year Social Work degree. So, some of the skills that I learnt at school that I still find useful today is psychology, learning how and why people act in the way that they do, and sociology, in terms of understanding how society works.
The job progression as a social worker is really diverse, and there's a wide range of areas you can go into. Management, you can work in hospitals, you can work in different charities.
So, if you're considering getting into social work, I'd really start to think about is this the career for you?
Are you the type of person that really wants to be part of making changes, and positive changes with people and really wanting to help make a difference in society?
I think the real key thing about social work is it does feel like a calling, I do feel like I was called to do social work.
So, sometimes I don't always see it as a job, I just definitely see it as my platform to make the changes that I'd like to see in the world.
- Omar is a newly qualified social worker, specialising in working with children and families. His job involves listening to people, understanding and assessing their problems, and supporting them to find the best solutions.
- Omar has most meetings online and combines them with visiting children and families in their homes, at school or in the local community.
- The main skills Omar uses in his role include listening,writing, communication, empathy, assertiveness,team work, and patience.
- He did GCSEs in Health and Social Care, Psychology, and English Language which helps with the skills needed to write records and reports.
- He did A-levels in Psychology,Sociology, and a BTEC in Health and Social Care, before completing a three-year Social Work degree.
- He volunteered with family support charities, and worked at a nursery and pre-school during his studies.
- Omar was interested in the diversity of the job and working with a range of people from different backgrounds and experiences.
Top tips
- Read into the profession. Social work can be an emotionally intensive job. Make sure you research the role and see if it is something you can see yourself doing.
- Value the skills you already have. If you're a good listener and like helping your friends and family, you already have many of the skills you need to be a social worker.
- Explore the range of social work. Be open to the many types of social work you can be involved in.
What to expect if you want to be a social worker
- Social worker average salary: £32,000 to £48,000 per year, NHS bands 6-7. Read more about NHS bands. Salaries will differ in private healthcare.
- Social worker typical working hours: 37 to 45 hours per week.
What qualifications do you need to be a social worker?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course, an apprenticeship, or a graduate training scheme.
Sources: National Careers Service.
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website and the NHS Health Careers website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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