SOCIAL WORK WEBSITE - PUSWP-BETH.ORG
Social Work Services - Examples
Social work services can be found in all non-profit organizations, as well as a growing number of corporate enterprises. As society changes and the demands on individuals become greater, human services are everywhere. And because this article is meant as an introduction only, we will show just a very few examples of social work services such as lawyers for low income people.
Workplace Violence:
Up until recently, it was very rare to see violence in the workplace. Companies may have suffered from poor safety standards in terms of equipment and employee training, but for the most part, no-one went after one of their peers. Sadly, today's society is rife with individuals acting out personal vendettas against those they feel responsible. As a result, it is quite common now for larger corporations to employ social workers to help the disturbed employee before something happens, and in the case of a traumatic event to help the other employees deal with the violence and possible loss of colleagues.
School Guidance Counselors:
Schools have long employed counselors and social workers to help students find a particular career path. They may conduct IQ testing, as well as tests that show a particular inclination. For example, some people are better at using their hands, thus making them excellent candidates for trade schools. Others are motivated intellectually and may attend university.
Government Assistance:
For individuals who require some form of financial, medical or other assistance from government programs, social workers will function as intake counselors, liaisons between services personnel and clients, and to make decisions regarding client applications.
Dignity of Life:
Social workers are present in hospitals, hospices and long-term care homes. Like most of the social work profession, their goal is to improve the well-being of individuals in their care. And whether patients are recovering from an injury or illness or they are dying, social workers try to make their living conditions as comfortable as possible by ensuring their rights and wishes are respected. They work in a supportive and compassionate way to make the patients aware of their circumstances and to understand what treatments are available to them.
Children and their Families:
The welfare and protection of children is one of the biggest functions of social work. And, although social workers see plenty of vulnerable children in need, they also help families of newly born babies who are too small or too sick to go home. Often the parents require information about services in the community where the hospital is located, or they need to know about programs that house parents while the children are in hospital.
War Veterans:
Coming back from the duty of war, many soldiers find themselves having to reintegrate into society. That not only means that they need physical things like food and shelter, but they also may need psychological help as well. Helping them to find someone to discuss the horrors that no-one else understands is one function of the social worker. Human Resources Departments: Companies are becoming more and more aggressive in screening potential employees. Today, it is common and almost normal for businesses to conduct background checks, in addition to written employee testing and verbal interviews. Large corporations, in particular, have added social workers to their human resources departments to aid in the screening and interviewing process. Likewise, when companies downsize, the social workers become invaluable in helping the employees to transition and potentially find other jobs.
Social Justice:
Today, it is expected that everyone has the right to seek housing of his/her choice, apply for jobs of his/her choice, and generally be treated in a humane fashion. Social workers aid vulnerable individuals who have been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preferences, marital status, mental or physical challenges, and immigration status. In addition, individuals who cannot understand the legal ramblings of contracts or those who cannot read or write will benefit from the assistance of various organizations who employ social workers.
