Achieving the best in life and a career that is successful is the dream of every career minded person. In social work, however, changing the lives of people gives satisfaction to the worker. This means that properly worked out plans and commitment is necessary whenever any work is being done. The contribution to social welfare and change makes the profession of a social worker unique and different from others since it aims to improve the quality of life of individuals, groups, communities, and societies (Balloch Et al. 1998).
This paper focuses on work experience and its contribution to get career development in social work. It gives different experiences that a person goes through when in the field so as to realise the dreams of changing the society (Popple, & Leslie, 2008). The numerous experiences as a home care worker, children and youth worker, teaching assistant, family support worker, as a secretary or an administrator are described and the role they play in becoming a professional social worker. The paper tackles having experience in Psychology, Sociology, Social Policy, and Safeguarding of all vulnerable people, and ensuring a better Social Work Practice.
Relevant work experience
Home Care worker
Work experience as a Home Care Worker would contribute greatly in developing a career as a social worker as it would give firsthand experience on how to provide and coordinate care to the elderly, disabled and others within the wider community. It would ensure that experience is got in providing and coordinating personal care to people at home. One would be to assist those who want to remain in their own home with the opportunity and support to remain there with the knowledge that they will be provided with the help they may need to live an independent life.
In order to do this job it is essential that one is able to communicate effectively as well as having good interpersonal, decision making, and time management along with key awareness, and communication skills (Waine Et al. 2005). This task will involve handling other duties that will include; housekeeping, meals on wheels, personal hygiene, first aid, and general health checks on patients. One must be very critical in analysing all problems and be effective in decision making.
Children and Youth Worker
Experience as a voluntary Children and Youth Worker enables the opportunity to develop key aspects which are important in building goals and ambition of becoming a social worker. The voluntary work done in this area enables one to develop skills such as; the development of strategies in order to implement the vision of what is expected of the role and the company as a whole. This career has its challenges however,
Wittenberg, 2003 in his book suggests that the youth may sometimes be rebellious while the children are very delicate to handle; these challenges requires one to take extra care when dealing and caring for them. He also continues to say Children can also not be predicted hence one is required to skilled in techniques that will counter unsuitable behavior. It involves recruiting, training, equipping, encouraging and supporting children as well as planning holidays, the organisation of special events and ensuring the continuing development of the children. One need to be energetic and creative so as to keep the group entertained and involved to ensure harmony.
Teaching Assistant
It’s the responsibility of a teaching assistant to ensure that they assist the children in understanding the curriculum being taught. Teaching assistant also ensure that the learning environment is conducive and quires of parents and students are addressed adequately. All these invaluable skills will be of great benefit to me and others I will work with as a social worker. (Many programs where teaching assistants are required are in cases of very technical subjects such as music, art, and for children with special education needs. The teaching assistant must be very effective in planning, communication, and supervision, organised, literate, and much disciplined.
Family Support Worker
Most families which experience psychological difficulties are provided with emotional support by family support Workers. The advice van range from subjects including drugs, parenting, marital issues, or family disputes. The correct decisions and advice is critical since the family is a unit that affects the whole society. The required experience is developed from working in different areas such as; children homes, youth work projects, family community centers, probations, and nurseries.
One needs to be an effective communicator and must also be very sensitive. Very informative advice is needed which means the worker needs to be very informed of the consequences of the advice given. The worker also needs to be a positive thinker as well as emotionally strong, impartial and none judgmental and committed to follow up on the various cases involved (Waine Et al. 2005). Good listening skills and patience must be employed and be flexible in the approaches made. Time management is very essential during this time.
Secretary/Administrator
The administrator/secretary provides vital experience in building a professional social career; this is because the administrator is a vital component of the company’s success. It is also has vital importance in the companies running and success. They coordinate and implement procedures required by management and are responsibility for projects in the company (Wittenberg, 2003). They are able to gain supervisory skills that will be transmitted to the professional career as a social worker. It equips one with very valuable and transferable skills and knowledge that one continues to use in the further development of other training and future career goals to become a social worker.
As a Secretary Administrator you are the first point of contact for the company therefore the part you play as an ambassador is very important. Not only do you need to be able to multitask but you need to be able to communicate competently not just with the people you work with but with people from diverse backgrounds. This role requires the right people skills – so you have to enjoy working and interacting with people. Organisation is a key essential along with being able to work effectively as part of a team. This is essential as at times, for example, as a student, you will have to work with others to meet educational goals.
Professional expectations of the role
After acquiring the various work experiences in the above mentioned fields, one is ready to enter in to a whole new level of professionalism. This ensures competence and confidence to study a professional course and start off with the career. The professional career will work to improve the lives of individuals, groups, or communities. Such experience is vital and contributes to growth especially working through voluntary programs such as within the care environment e.g. through working and raising a family. Further developing of skills and area of concern to develop further would be working with young people and families, as the skills gained in such an environment would greatly assist in a career path as a social worker.
The duties and responsibilities in the role
The key purpose of the experience in social work is to provide appropriate information, advice and support to parents and those who take care of them within the Barnet Catchments area to help them to develop their parenting skills in order to improve the social and emotional development, ability to learn and gain health information to take care of their children’s health. As a volunteer the main duties involve visiting the family which is currently facing difficulties within the family and need some help and support as well as someone they can talk to and build up a friendship (Wittenberg, 2003).
It requires one to assist with childcare issues; for example, if the parent does not know how to interact or care for the child properly the volunteer can work with the right professionals to empower the parent overcome the situation. For instance, difficulties such as; getting out of the house to do certain things, the volunteer can help by accompanying the family to Doctors appointments, shopping or days out, so they can be out of the house, and be active thus gaining necessary skills such as time management.
The Family Support Worker
The family support worker cares for children whose parents might be experiencing difficulties like drug abuse, imprisonment, and fiscal, marital or had bad parenting themselves. They spent flexible time depending on what to need be done with the affected families, showing parents how to care for the family till they are capable of parenting by themselves, and not taking up the family role. The time for visiting should be when families with children are together like early morning.
The planned pieces of work they carry out on a number of families vary depending on their social worker recommendation and family requirements. The roles of family support are to assist in parenting by ensuring that the children health and hygiene is maintained for healthy growth and development. They also play the role of disciplinary actions by teaching them good mannerism when at home, school and in the public.
During crisis times, like when a child has been neglected the family support worker is involved into the home till alternative care is found and assist the social worker asses the situation in the child’s family after rehabilitation. They may assist parents in gaining experience in financial family budget control.
Evaluate/analyse self development
Self reflection
Social work may be challenging especially to a new in-experience starter; however, the challenge if taken positively will lead to a very exiting professional career as one puts to test what has being learnt. Attachment and internships also boosts current and future learning development and contributes highly in the steps needs to be taken before reaching that ultimate goal. It also gives ideas on revaluating oneself for the right job.
Popple & Leslie 2008 suggests that this makes individuals to be effective at work and improve on all aspects of social work qualities needed in the professional career such as; creativity, communication, diplomacy, confidentiality, and team work.
Career aims
Every person has his own dream in life. By getting involved in social work the aim will focus on being a Child Psychologist. This field presents a number of opportunities and is a dream career as it involves working with the young in society. Being a child psychologist works with parents and children who are experiencing difficulties at school or at home to work things out and fixing then it is really touching to change lives.
This ensures the access to Social Work for all people and necessary experience in related Professions; which will include; Psychology, Sociology, Social Policy, and Safeguarding of all vulnerable people, Social Work Practice, math and study skills. With the aim being already established the path will be easily set since one knows the required knowledge and experiences to be gained.
Action Plan for Personal Development
The table above represents planning and achievements of activities / objectives which I do intend to attain as part of my personal development.
References
- Balloch, S. McLean, J. & Fisher, M. (1998): Social Services Working Under Pressure, National Institute for Social Work: London.
- Popple, R. & Leslie, L, (2008): The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers (4th ED.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon
- Waine, B. Tunstill, J & Meadows, P (2005): Developing social care: values and principles. Great Britain: The Policy Press
- Wittenberg, R, (2003): Opportunities in Social Work Careers. Chicago, Illinois: VGM(what does the vgm stand for?) Career Books