World Social Work Day is celebrated
annually on the third Tuesday of March – this year it will be on 17
March. On this day we celebrate and recognise social workers as
champions for social justice, self-determination and human rights!
Social workers worldwide stand together in March to advance a common
message – for 2020 the spotlight is on “Promoting the importance of human
relationships”. This theme was established to build international
focus on the interdependence of people and the need for change in policies and
social service delivery.
Worldwide millions of people are experiencing overwhelming challenges
such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, physical and mental illness,
trauma, addiction, abuse, neglect and more.
Luckily, there are highly trained, caring professionals ready and
willing to help these people overcome difficult obstacles and live a healthy,
successful life. Social workers provide crucial support to children,
adults, and families in need.
The challenges of every day mean that social work is not an easy field
to work in, nor is it something anyone can do. It takes a special kind of
person to become a social worker - although the job is extremely rewarding and
full of meaning, it also takes its toll on people emotionally.
We came across some interesting facts about social workers on the KVC
Health Systems Blog. We have added a local flavour!
1. Social
workers do more than just help people
Having a passion for helping others is important, but being a social
worker requires so much more. People who are experiencing the most vulnerable
time in their lives rely on social workers to help connect them with resources
and find solutions to complex problems. Social workers use their skills and
expertise to promote good mental health, strengthen relationships, and end
generational cycles of trauma and substance use, ultimately creating healthier
families and communities.
2. Social
workers are in it for the outcome, not the income
Being a social worker is not going to make you financially rich, which
is why many professionals are drawn to the field because they are passionate
about helping others and doing meaningful work. That said, social workers
deserve competitive compensation packages for the valuable contributions they
make.
3. Social
workers do NOT remove children from their homes
In South Africa, child welfare services are provided or managed by various
child protection organisations. These organisations investigate reports of
child abuse and neglect, and they work closely with the court system to decide
whether to remove a child from his or her home. While social workers do provide
their professional perspective on whether a child is safe in his or her home,
ultimately a magistrate decides whether the child needs out-of-home care.
Social workers then provide services to the family in order to resolve
conflicts or disruptions and teach healthy skills so that children can safely
return home.
4. Social workers contribute at all levels of society
Social work is a broad, diverse field where the work extends across many
settings. Social workers work with individuals, families, schools,
universities, non profit agencies, corporations, hospitals, and governmental
agencies. They are also active in national, provincial and local politics
advocating for legislation and policies that improve the quality of life for
vulnerable children and adults.
5. The
job is not a typical 8-hour workday
There is no typical day for a social worker and most of their time is
spent out in the community rather than in an office. Their schedule often
consists of attending court hearings, meeting with clients in their homes,
supervising visits, completing training or advocating for their clients’ needs.
6. Social
workers must make hard decisions
Making decisions that impact peoples’ lives is a huge responsibility for
social workers. Above all, safety is the number one driver of those decisions.
Luckily, most social workers collaborate with families, fellow staff members,
and other stakeholders to explore all possibilities and make well-informed
decisions.
7. Self-care
is an important part of the job
Maintaining physical, mental and emotional health
is vital for everyone, but self-care is an essential practice for social
workers. The likelihood of job fatigue is very high in this field, so many
organisations require social workers to schedule self-care activities that
reduce stress and mitigate burnout.
