Careers
A thorough knowledge of services and superlative people skills contribute to the success of a social worker in any context. Social workers are trained to help individuals with distressing problems be it an illness or complex social problem. While this work is often seen as being urban, there are many opportunities in rural areas. Social workers are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, agencies, schools, businesses, community centers, correction facilities, and clinics.
A social worker's particular focus may change throughout his or her career. While most social workers find direct service to be gratifying, others find satisfaction in administration and social policy and planning. Throughout his or her career, a social worker's focus is likely to change several times, combining different skill sets.
Here is a list of some general practice areas:
Clinical social workers
Child welfare or family services
Child or adult protective services
Mental health
Health care
Education, schools
Substance abuse
Criminal justice
Occupational
Gerontology
Administration
Social policy and planning