Social Work Transfer

Work with People

Social services workers usually work closely with professionals from a variety of fields such as nursing, psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitative or physical therapy, or social work. They provide direct and indirect client services. They assess clients’ needs and help them obtain services. Populations include persons with physical disabilities, emotional and behavioral problems, learning disabilities, substance abuse problems, legal concerns, and mental illness. They may also organize and lead group activities, assist clients in need of counseling or crisis intervention. They may work with adolescents with substance abuse and/or behavioral problems.

Social workers typically identify people who need help; assess clients’ needs, situations, strengths, and support networks to determine their goals; develop plans to improve their clients’ well-being; help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce, or unemployment; research and refer clients to community resources, such as food stamps, child care, and healthcare; help clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive benefits such as Medicare; respond to crisis situations such as child abuse; advocate for and help clients get resources that would improve their well-being; follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved, and evaluate services provided to ensure that they are effective.