What does a Social Worker do?
Social Workers spend their time meeting with clients and their families to provide support and ensure their physical and mental health needs are being met. Generally, a Social Worker will work within a broader interdisciplinary team, so collaboration and communication are essential for this role. A Social Worker will also plan programs to help clients to achieve their goals, plus need to identify and implement action plans to help clients overcome problems and challenges.
Social Worker skills and qualifications
A successful Social Worker candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications required for the duties of this job, including:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to independently and as part of a team
- Using sound judgment in stressful situations
- Excellent organizational skills
- Firm values and ethics
- Remaining focused on the client at all times
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Social Worker experience requirements
Generally, Social Worker candidates will need to have at least two to three years of experience in a similar role. All candidates should have supervised practical experience. If you’ll need your Social Worker to work with a particularly vulnerable or challenging population, make sure the candidate has experience with that group.
Social Worker education and training requirements
Social Worker candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work. Candidates in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta must be registered with their provincial governing body. To practice as a Social Worker, candidates must have passed written and practical examinations. If your position requires the Social Worker to travel to meet clients, you may require candidates to hold a valid driver’s license.
Social Worker salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Social Worker in Canada is $64,441 per year. Actual salary can vary depending on many factors, including experience, location, and the hiring company.
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