Nature of the Work
Social Work Assistants work with individuals experiencing natural life transitions or unexpected life crises to assist them in obtaining the help needed while also making certain that clients can reach their maximum level of independent functioning. Social Work Assistants provide direct and/or indirect services either as lead case managers or through work under the direction of social workers, psychologists, or others who have more education or experience. Social Work Assistants have many social service job titles, such as, but not limited to, case work aide, clinical social work aide, family service assistant, addictions counselor assistant, and human service worker. The populations to which Social Work Assistants provide services are quite varied. They may work with children and families, people with mental illnesses or disabilities, people who are elderly, homeless, or unemployed, to name a few. Social Work Assistants may work in schools, medical facilities, offices, residential facilities, shelters or directly in homes and communities. They also may work for non-profit or private-for-profit social service agencies, or state and local governments. Because of the skills, knowledge, ethics and sensitivity to human needs they possess, Social Work Assistants may also work in non-social service agencies.
Social Work Assistants play a variety of roles in a community to support their clients. They may assist clients in need of counseling or crisis intervention or facilitate group activities. Often, they work with other professional care providers to provide emotional support and training so as to empower them to become involved in their own well-being. They may help clients master everyday living skills, improve communication skills or learn how to get along better with others. Accessing available resources is a major function of a Social Work Assistant. They not only maintain an awareness of available resources, but also make referrals, assist with applying for those services, and then conduct follow up to ensure clients are receiving the services needed.