If you are wondering how to become a social worker, below are  tips and        advice on training for and beginning careers in this field, as  well as local        government services job prospects in the UK. 
The Job Description 
As a social worker, you would help, support and protect people who  are facing        difficulties in their lives.
The people you work with might need support for many reasons,  from families        under pressure to people leaving hospital who need help to live  independently.        You would help people take positive steps to overcome problems and  improve        their lives. You could support a wide range of social services  users, including:
children and parents 
older people 
people with physical or learning disabilities 
people with mental health problems 
young adults 
homeless people 
people with drug or alcohol dependency. 
You would normally specialise in working with children and  families, or        with adult service users, but in either case your job would  involve:
assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation 
building relationships with service users and their families 
agreeing what practical support someone needs (or making decisions  for them        when necessary, such as in child protection cases) 
offering information, counselling and advocacy 
organising and managing support packages 
taking part in team meetings, supervision and case conferences 
working closely with other health and social care professionals 
keeping records and writing reports 
contacting and making referrals to other agencies 
giving evidence at court hearings. 
Person Specification 
The key personal attributes of good social workers include: 
excellent communication and interpersonal skills 
the ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds and  gain their        trust 
a practical and flexible approach to work 
tact, patience and empathy 
an understanding of the needs of different client groups 
a non-judgemental attitude 
the ability to work in a team and also use your own initiative 
the ability to assess situations and take appropriate action 
resilience, to cope with difficult situations and challenging  clients 
good time management and organisational skills 
computer literacy and administrative skills. 
How to become a social worker 
To become a social worker you will need an honours degree or  postgraduate        degree in social work approved by the General Social Care Council  (GSCC),        followed by registration with the GSCC.
You will normally need the following qualifications to get onto  an honours        degree:
five GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths 
at least two A levels, or an equivalent such as a BTEC National  Diploma        or NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care. 
However, you should check entry requirements with colleges and  universities,        because alternatives like an Access to Higher Education  qualification or        substantial relevant work experience may also be accepted.
You will also need to pass a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)  background check        when you apply.
See the GSCC and Social Work and Care Careers websites for  details of approved        full-time, part-time and distance learning courses in England.
Most honours degrees in social work are three-year full-time  courses. Some        part-time and distance learning courses are also available,  although you        can often only do these if you are already working in social care  and have        the support of your employer.
If you already have a degree, you may be able to do a two-year  postgraduate        degree in social work instead of a three-year degree.
When you apply for training, you should also ideally have some  paid or        voluntary experience in a social work or social care setting.  Course providers        will be able to advise you how much experience they would prefer  you to        have. You can find advice on volunteering on the Social Work and  Care Careers        website.
For information on how to qualify as a social worker in Northern  Ireland,        see the Northern Ireland Social Care Commission website.
Employment-based route 
Some employers may second or sponsor you to take the social work  degree.        You might get the chance to do this after working for them for a  certain        amount of time in a social care support role, or you could apply  for any        advertised opportunities for trainee social workers.
Financial help 
If you are not being sponsored through the social degree by an  employer,        you may be eligible for a bursary to study. 
Training and Development 
During your social work training you will divide your time between  university        and supervised work placements. Approved courses train you to work  with        a range of service user groups, so that you can offer a range of  experience        to employers.
As a qualified as a social worker you must renew your  registration with        the GSCC every three years, and keep your knowledge and skills up  to date        throughout your career. Part of the re-registration process  involves showing        that you have taken part in a set amount of professional training  and development        during that time.
One way you can do this is to study for a post-qualifying (PQ)  award in        social work. You can progress through three levels of award:
PQ Award in Specialist Social Work 
PQ Award in Higher Specialist Social Work 
PQ Award in Advanced Social Work. 
At each level you can specialise in one of five areas of social  work, including        mental health and leadership and management. The awards are  available full-        or part-time at universities, or through work-based learning.
Most employers also offer regular in-service training and  opportunities        to take day release or distance learning courses. 
The Pay (a rough guide)
Starting salaries are around £20,000 to £25,000 a year. 
With experience and responsibility this can rise to between  £26,000        and £35,000. 
Senior managers and directors can earn much more. 
Job Prospects 
You could be employed by local authorities, charities and  voluntary agencies,        private sector care homes and agencies, hospitals and NHS trusts  and prisons.
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press,  employers' websites        and specialist recruitment agencies.
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