Social workers provide a vital resource for children and adults in communities across the country. They provide clinical and non-clinical support for patients and can significantly improve the general well-being of individuals, families, and the community they support. Many jobs in social work need qualified applicants to help with the growing number of mental health cases. You can become a big part of the solution by starting your career with one of the hundreds of social work jobs available today.
Behavioral Health Jobs is a dedicated database of jobs in the behavioral health industry where job seekers can search for jobs in their hometowns and across the country. We help connect qualified candidates with careers in social work in hospitals, community centers, schools, and other organizations. To begin your search for social work jobs near you, check out the available positions on the Behavioral Health Jobs website today.
What Do Social Workers Do?
There are two types of social workers, clinical and direct-service social workers. Clinical social workers can diagnose and treat patients, while direct-service social workers identify and assess clients’ needs and refer them to specialists. To succeed as a social worker, you will need to be able to express empathy, be a great listener, and have a strong desire to help people lead healthy and productive lives.
Some of the duties of a social worker include:
- Identify and assess clients’ physical and mental health to provide them with the services they need.
- Develop plans to improve a client’s well-being.
- Help with life changes such as divorce, unemployment, or loss of a loved one.
- Research and refer clients to specific community services such as food stamps and healthcare.
- Assess a client’s family history and background to understand their clinical needs better.
- Diagnose and treat certain mental health disorders.
Clinical social workers will need to obtain a master’s degree and certifications to diagnose and treat patients. This path will require a minimum of one to two years of supervised work experience before you can apply for certificates.
Tips for Finding Jobs in Social Work
If you are interested in finding jobs in social work, there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for an exciting and rewarding career:
- Research the different areas where social workers are most needed – Jobs in social work are available in many different companies and organizations, including schools, hospitals, community outreach centers, and treatment facilities. Decide on which area you want to specialize in, research required education and work experience, and salary and benefits package. Many companies will offer tuition reimbursement to promote internal job growth.
- Complete all education requirements – At a minimum, students must obtain a bachelor’s degree to work in an entry-level position. Clinical and senior-level positions can require further education, such as a master’s or Ph.D. in the social work field. You will want to research the average amount of time to complete the education requirements and how many work hours are necessary to apply for licensing and certifications.
- Obtain Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certification – Those who pass their LCSW exam will have more opportunities to work in several different areas of social work. An LCSW allows them to diagnose and treat specific conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and other mental health disorders.
Behavioral Health Jobs: The Best Resource for Finding Social Work Jobs
Jobs in social work can be enriching as you work directly with children and adults in the community and help improve their lives. Social workers are in high demand across the country, and you can apply for social work jobs in your city or anywhere you would like to live. If you are interested in jobs in social work, check out Behavioral Health Jobs for a comprehensive list of all of the jobs available for social workers.