Nature of the Work
The Social Work Assistant is an integral part of one of the fastest growing and most versatile careers in the United States, Social Work. They make significant contributions to the social work profession’s mission of “enhancing wellbeing and helping improve quality of life for all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (NASW). They may work in-field after earning their credential, the Associate of Applied Science in Social Work Assistant, and/or after graduation, may choose to articulate to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Social Work Assistants help people with difficult circumstances, natural life transitions, and/or unexpected life situations or crisis by providing direct services and assisting them with identifying and connecting to critical resources and services. They advocate for change to improve individual and social conditions and help make certain clients reach their maximum level of independent functioning.
Social Work Assistants have multiple options for employment and serve in a wide variety of roles in both urban and rural settings. They serve on the frontlines and behind the scenes in non-profit, private-for-profit social service agencies, and state and local governments. Social Work Assistants may work in schools, medical facilities, offices, residential facilities, recovery communities, criminal justice settings, shelters, directly in homes and communities, and more. Because of the skills, knowledge, ethics, and sensitivity to human needs they possess, Social Work Assistants may also work in businesses, and other non-social service agencies.
Social Work Assistants work with a variety of technologies and virtual forums. They work during the day, evenings, and/or weekends depending upon the population and setting. The populations to which Social Work Assistants provide services are quite varied. They may work with individuals, families, groups, and/or communities, depending on their area of interest and may focus on a specific practice area such as children and families, older adults, people with mental illnesses, substance misuse, addiction, prevention, and recovery, chronic health conditions, disabilities, multicultural issues, suicide prevention, domestic and family violence, homelessness, or the unemployed, to name a few.
Social Work Assistants have many job titles, such as, but not limited to, case work aide, clinical social work aide, family service assistant, addictions counselor assistant, behavior technicians, and human service worker. They provide direct and/or indirect services either as case managers or through work under the direction of social workers, psychologists, or others who have advanced education or experience. They help people meet basic needs such as food, safety, and housing.
Their responsibilities may include assessing clients’ needs, helping them access resources, managing case files, facilitating group activities, and advocating for resources and policy changes. They not only maintain an awareness of available resources, but also make referrals, assist with applying for those services, and conduct follow-ups to ensure clients are receiving needed services. Social Work Assistants may assist clients in need of counseling or crisis intervention. Often, they work with other professional care providers to provide emotional support and training to empower people 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.
Effective Social Work Assistant are empathic, active listeners, good communicators, problem solvers, critical thinkers, collaborators, and advocates, organized, patient, culturally competent, and committed. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and values guide the Social Work Assistant’s work. Social Work Assistants uphold the profession’s core values: Importance of human relationships, dignity and worth of the person, social justice, competence, integrity, and service. Their work is based on the person-in-environment framework and strengths-based, empowerment, diversity perspectives. The nature of social work requires Social Work Assistants be open-minded and self-aware, and engage in self-care, and safe, and ethical, and research informed, competent practice.
The Direct Support Professional certificate program prepares students to become certified direct support professionals who provide person-centered values in working with and supporting people who have a disability. Admission to this program is open to employees of participating organizations and to family members and advocates that support people who have a disability. Graduates are prepared to better support individuals who have a disability in their community. Many social service organizations are seeking employees with the DSP certification.