Author Question: As a social worker, do you believe you have the capacity to become good at counseling and at ... (Read 118 times)

pragya sharda · **on:** Jul 2, 2018

As a social worker, do you believe you have the capacity to become good at counseling and at interacting with others? How important are these skills in social work?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Briefly describe the social work profession.

What will be an ideal response?

matt95 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 2, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The most basic skill that a social worker needs is the ability to counsel clients effectively. Anyone who is unable to do this should probably not be in social work-certainly not in direct service. The second most important skill is the ability to interact effectively with other groups and professionals in the area. A social worker, like a general practitioner, requires a wide range of skills that will enable him or her to intervene effectively in (a) the common personal and emotional problems of clients and (b) the common social problems faced by groups, organizations, and the larger community. Social workers also need an accurate perception of their professional strengths and weaknesses. If a situation arises that a worker knows she or he does not have the training or expertise to handle, then the worker needs to be a broker and link those affected with available services.

Answer to Question 2

Social work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and to create societal conditions favorable to their goals. It is distinct from other professions (such as psychology and psychiatry) by virtue of its responsibility and mandate to provide social services. Social workers are graduates of accredited (by the Council on Social Work Education) programs of social work, who have either a bachelor's or master's degree.
A social worker needs training and expertise in a wide range of areas to handle effectively the problems faced by individuals, groups, families, organizations, and the larger community. Whereas most professions are becoming more specialized (for example, nearly all medical doctors now specialize in one or two areas), social work continues to emphasize a generic, broad-based approach. A social worker, like a general practitioner, requires a wide range of skills that will enable him or her to intervene effectively in (a) the common personal and emotional problems of clients and (b) the common social problems faced by groups, organizations, and the larger community. Social workers need skills such as relationship building with clients, interviewing, problem solving, and referral to other organizations. They also need to have research and grant-writing skills, program development and fundraising skills, and knowledge of how to handle ethical/ legal issues.