SOCIAL WORK-CAREER INFORMATION SUMMARY
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK AND WHO IS A SOCIAL WORKER?
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups, and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning defined as the ability of an individual to perform their social roles within their own self, their immediate social environment, and the society at large. Social work practice is often divided into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups and macro-work, which involves working with communities and within social policy – fostering change on a larger scale.
Social workers are professionals who have studied and graduated with a bachelors or master’s degree in social work from a well-known university and they aim to enhance overall well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of communities and people.
WHERE DO SOCIAL WORKERS WORK?
Social workers work for government under the ministry of Social and Community development and ministry of local government. They also work in schools and learning institutions where they help teachers and parents recognize and address academic or social issues students may be facing. They also work at Victim Support Unit and One Stop center where they help ensure the safety of children, men and women who may be at risk of child discrimination and gender based violence. They also work in hospitals like Chainama where they specialize in mental health. They provide counseling and therapy to the mental patients and those feeling depressed. They also work for Social Welfare organizations as social and community service managers. And mostly the work in NGOs.
Apart from working in institutions that only supports social work, the graduates with bachelor of social work can work anywhere like Banks and other business companies and government agencies. This is because a Bachelor’s degree opens up someone’s mind to take up any trainable job.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
Social workers in Zambia or anywhere in the world are responsible for undertaking a number of tasks related to helping people and families with the difficulties that they face. They monitor and asses individuals and families and provide emotional and practical support in order to help them live their lives normally.
Those social workers who work in schools their tasks involve helping teachers and students who suspect there may be problems at home, or a parent who notices a sudden change in his or her child’s behavior may work with the school social worker to find the source of the problem and develop a plan to fix it. Those that work in child care homes or victim support unit their tasks involve ensuring the safety of children who may be at risk, or who are transitioning into or out of foster care or adoptive homes. Helping families create healthy environments for children is an essential part of this career.
Those who work as public health social workers and mental health social workers their tasks involve helping clients who have mental disorders or substance abuse problems, or who have been victims of violence. These social workers help create treatment and coping plans for clients. Public health social workers work for government agencies to improve the general well-being of their communities, providing residents with information and tools to live healthy lives physically and socially. Those who work for social welfare work for government agencies to improve the general well-being of their communities, providing residents with information and tools to live healthy lives physically and socially and offering recommendations for scholarships and bursaries for the vulnerable students in the community.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A SOCIAL WORKER?
If one is working for government departments they typically follow the normal 08hrs to 17hrs work schedule Monday to Friday. Social workers typically work in an office. But at times they may work outside of an office i.e. they carry out field work setting when conducting research through interviews or observations or presenting research results.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
The job market for social workers is good and available. Social workers are employed by various organizations and government agencies that are concerned with the well-being of the people in the community. Social work is a rapidly growing field that promises variety of challenges to those who choose to enter it. Social workers report high job satisfaction from helping people in need and they continue to be in high demand.
Most students and graduates are presented with opportunities to do social work on internship and on voluntary basis by so many organizations while at school or upon graduating. And after a while, they are presented with an opportunity to become full time payable employees.
Social workers are found in many different settings; hospitals, schools, correctional facilities and government agencies. They are needed as Program Technical Officer at Society for Family Health, (SFH), this is a leading Local Zambian Organisation with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health. They work as Meal Assistant at People In Need (PIN). This is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with the headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, providing humanitarian assistance and development aid to Zambians. They can also work as Project Officers at Women for Change (WfC), this is a Gender-focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). They can also find jobs as Project Managers at Caritas Zambia, This is an international NGO active in humanitarian aid and development cooperation This means that NGOs are the major employers of social workers.
To work as a social worker in Zambia you have to be a certified member of the SOCIAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA (SWAZ).
SALARY RANGES AND WHAT CONTROLS IT?
Entry level salaries for a graduate as of 2020, Social workers who find jobs in established NGOs like UNICEF under UN get paid as high as 20000zmw-30000zmw, but that is just the entry level salary for those with master’s degree qualification and experience. Those working for community organisations to serve community works and those working for most non-profit organizations get paid around 4500zmw – 10000zmw per month. This salary range also includes those who work in government departments like ministry of local government and community development and social welfare managers.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
Social workers often work in stressful and highly emotional circumstances, so it is important that they have strong heart to effectively guide clients through tough situations. You must be someone who enjoys case management, this is the organizational foundation of social work. Strong case management skills facilitate communication between social workers at a single institution or among several institutions, or between social workers and other aid providers. This ensures clients get the most comprehensive service. You must also be someone who loves counselling. As many clients need advice and guidance, counselling is a vital skill in social work. This may mean helping clients cope with life changes, or working with them to create realistic goals and plans to meet them. You must also have a heart for long-term care, many social work cases, like addiction counselling or hospice social work, require skills in long-term care. Clients and their families rely on social workers who can not only help them plan for the future, but also check in periodically and assist along the way.
WHERE CAN I STUDY SOCIAL WORKER, FOR HOW LONG, TO EARN WHAT QUALIFICATION?
There is a Department of Social Work and Sociology at the University of Zambia, school of social work at DMI – ST.EUGENE UNIVERSITY and Northrise University. All offering Bachelor of Social work. You can also study a Diploma in Social Work at Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts. A diploma runs for three years and a Degree runs for four years.
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
Social work is a direct major at all colleges and universities that is why it is called bachelor of social work. In first year you are expected to do introduction to social work with other three introductory social science courses. At second year you are expected to do pure social work courses like research methods in social sciences, contemporary issues in social policy, social work and law and block field work. At third and fourth year you mix social work courses with other social science courses.
WHAT MODES OF STUDY ARE AVAILABLE?
As at the time this summary was written, only full-time and distance at all colleges and universities. But parallel mode of study is also available at UNZA.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
Entry depends on the levels of competition in the University or college. Typically, they look for 12 points in 5 subjects and below which should include Mathematics, English and any three social Science subjects.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A SOCIAL WORKER?
Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, development studies, psychology, political science, public health and law to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems and to bring about social change. Therefore all these programs can make someone a social worker.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
Social workers typically need a Bachelor’s degree to get a job. But there are opportunities to upgrade to master’s degree in social work or Ph.D. you can even study master’s degree in sociology because these two are similar in nature. With a bachelor’s degree you are at will to advance or change your career by pursuing master’s degree in programs like development studies, public health, law and business administration.
A master’s degree or Ph.D., gives you an upper hand when it comes to finding new jobs in competitive environments especially abroad. It’s a sign that apart from general skills, you have taken keen interest to master one area of your job more than other people. With a master’s degree one would become a university lecturer as well.