What social workers do

What does a social worker do?

If you get ten social workers in a room and ask them to write down in twenty words or less what a social worker does you could easily get ten different answers. This is because we as social workers can work in, one or more areas such as individuals, families, communities, organisations and at the political / social change level. Simply put, the area of their practice will define how they work.

The risk is we are seen to be everything to everyone and we end up doing “everything and nothing”. My view is that like any profession, social work has its limits and no one can effectively work at all these levels.

That said, we are trained to work with people in the context of their lives and the systems they interact with. Systems in this context mean families, communities, organisations and the broader society. In short, social workers work with the “person/s in environment”. In a counselling setting we are different to psychologists; we may be trained in similar evidenced-based interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness but our emphasis would be more likely to be on the client’s interface with their setting or environment.

GP’s and other health professionals would be more likely to refer to a social worker in private practice when they know more about their specialty areas.

Whilst I take referrals for generic mental health social work my specialty areas are with clients with chronic and complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder usually with males from military, emergency services and industrial settings. The older, more difficult to engage clients are the ones with whom I have had success as I am able to accept them as they present and engage with them at a practical level.

In addition to my work as an accredited mental health social worker I also provide supervision and mentoring to health professionals and consult to organisations around change management and leadership. My other area of work is at the organisational level.

If you’re unsure if I am the one to help I am happy to have a phone or face to face discussion about how I work and whether my services are what might be needed for your particular requirements.

What is my specialty?

Whilst I take referrals for generic mental health social work my specialty areas are with clients with chronic and complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder usually with males from military, emergency services and industrial settings. The older, more difficult to engage clients are the ones with whom I have had success as I am able to accept them as they present and engage with them at a practical level.

In addition to my work as an accredited mental health social worker I also provide supervision and mentoring to health professionals and consult to organisations around change management and leadership. My other area of work is at the organisational level.

If you’re unsure if I am the one to help I am happy to have a phone or face to face discussion about how I work and whether my services are what might be needed for your particular requirements.