What you need to know about becoming a Social Worker

A social worker is someone who is enthusiastic about making a positive difference in other people’s lives. Social workers are passionate about enabling people to live a better life by furthering their rights, assisting them to access resources and enhancing wellbeing. Being a social worker is not just a job, it’s a calling. They work alongside individuals, families, groups and communities to catalyse change. Being a social worker is about finding viable solutions which are in the best interests of individuals, groups and communities through enabling access to certain facilities, care and assistance. The first step to understanding how to become a social worker in South Africa is to know what it entails and then register for a social work degree.

“I walk into people’s lives and make a difference. It is my job to ensure that is a positive impact, even when at first I may not be welcome.”

Kirsty Rowe, Social Worker BASW

10 Key Qualities of a Social Worker

1. Empathetic.
2. Good Communication Skills.
3. Agile Thinker.
4. Problem Solver.
5. Organised and Methodical.
6. Ethical.
7. Culturally Competent.
8. Advocate.
9. Tenacious.
10. Resilient.

What is Social Work?

Social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. It is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline. Social work promotes social change, development, social cohesion and the empowerment as well as liberation of people. Central to social work are principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity. Accordingly, social work is focused on helping people who are socially disadvantaged or have personal challenges. Often this means interacting and fighting to improve the lives of those who are most vulnerable in society. By doing this, social workers are in a position where they can improve as well as change the trajectory of many people’s futures.

5 Key Functions of Social Workers

1. Enabling access to resources, for example therapy and counselling.
2. Advocating for social change.
3. Community development through identifying needs and resource gaps then implementing systems to address disadvantages.
4. Conduct research, monitoring and evaluation of social issues and effectiveness of interventions.
5. Analyse existing policy, develop and implement policy.

Examples of Day-to-Day Functions of a Social Worker

Social workers are employed across various sectors such as government, non-government and charity organisations, private practices in health and education facilities. Their roles vary according to the setting they work within. A social worker may choose to work multiple areas or specialise within social work. Examples of specialisations within social work are community development, mental health or child and family welfare.

In South Africa social workers are employed by government in, for example, the Departments of Social Development, Correctional Services and Health. Their work is usually focused on ensuring access to child protection services, caring for the elderly and disabled and providing psychosocial support. They are also integral within social behaviour change programs and provide support for rehabilitation and reintegration post-incarceration.

Social workers working for non-government organisations (NGOS) have specific focus areas. For example, mental health, substance abuse, gender-based violence (GBV), HIV/AIDs support and counselling. In the private sector many social workers work as mediators and provide support. Some companies employ social workers to provide on-site counselling for their workers as well as to run wellness programmes.

Within academia, social workers are employed for research, policy development and social work education. They are also employed to teach courses focused on social development and justice as well as supervise students during fieldwork.

How Do Social Workers Change Lives?

Social workers are an integral part of catalysing and sustaining change for individuals, families and within communities. Additionally, social workers play critical roles within humanitarian efforts. During emergencies, such as refugee assistance and disaster relief interventions, a social worker’s skills are invaluable. This is because social workers are experts in psychosocial support, case management, advocacy and community intervention.

Increasingly, social workers are also called on to be environmental protectors. Practically this means protecting the environment around a community by analysing risks that lead to resource depletion and scarcity. Thereafter, developing policy and implementing strategies to prevent unsustainable resources consumption and reestablishment of resources.

“As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness.”

Dieter F Uchtdorf

What You need to Practice as a Social Worker in South Africa

In order to practice as a social worker in South Africa, one is required to register with The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). SACSSP is a statutory body which falls under the Professional board for Social Work and the Professional Board for Child and Youth Care Work. The Council, in conjunction with its Professional Boards, works to protect both the integrity of the social service professionals and the public at large.

How to Become a Social Worker

To be a social worker you need to be a trained professional. The most direct route is by enrolling in a Bachelor of Social Work, as offered at SACAP. Completing a Bachelor of Social Work at SACAP enables students to practice as a social worker and provides opportunities to enrol in a cognate masters.

SACAP offers an excellent, world-class and highly recognised degree in Social Work. SACAP students have the advantage of learning from practicing professionals and learning within an environment of like-minded, passionate people. Furthermore, SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Work ensures national and international alignment with Global Norms and Standards for Social Work Education and Training. These were developed by the  International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

Becoming a social worker requires professional training which means completing a relevant degree. In order to qualify to study a Bachelor of Social Work a National Senior Certificate is required. Preferably with English as a first language, as well as a second South African language and mathematics (at least standard grade).

Social Workers are Heros

Although hugely rewarding, being a social worker can also be particularly harrowing, especially in South Africa. Even though the work social workers do is invaluable, they are not particularly well paid in the public sector. While some in the private sector are paid better, this is not a guarantee. Therefore, most social workers work as social workers because they are passionate about helping others. This means that their reward is often seeing changed lives rather than the bottom line of a paycheque.

“This profession is not foreveryone; you need to have a passion for people and helping people when they are at their most vulnerable. You need to be willing to be the strong one, even wheny ou feel like you are about to fall apart.”

Lizell Jaftha, Red Cross Hospital Social Worker

Do you want to promote positive change? Are you highly motivated, passionate and self-directed? If this is you, contact us to find out more about a Bachelor of Social Work. This degree is an honours equivalent professional degree and enables you to advance to register as a practicing social worker. It will also give you the opportunity to also explore multiple national and international academic pathways for a master’s degree. It enables specialisation within social work, social sciences or other related fields.