“To be a social worker you have to believe in the goodness of people and that each one has a better life.”
This was said by some of the personnel from the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad, Alta Jansen van Rensburg (senior social worker), Fikile Sibeko (third year student in social work) and Melissa Jordaan (junior social worker), who shed some light on the career of a social worker.
They say the profession of social work needs talented young people to help develop the people of South Africa.
This profession is perceived as a woman’s work, but in South Africa there is a serious shortage of male social workers, which is a huge need in many communities where men will not listen to a woman’s advice.
Male social workers are necessary in many communities where men will not listen to a woman’s advice.
Social work is a four-year degree that can be studied at several universities, which gives you a professional qualification and the opportunity to be registered at the SA Council of Social Service Professions.
There are no special school subjects compulsory for the social work degree.
A student needs only matric exemption to go to university.
The most important factor in becoming a social worker is to have the personality that suits this job.
A prospective social worker must have the desire to help other people and communities.
It is important that the person studying social work has to be reliable, because he has to keep promises and be able to keep the confidentiality of their clients’ cases.
The student also has to be computer literate, know how to write reports, have the ability to communicate effectively and have a driver’s licence.
The social worker has to keep a record of every interaction with all their clients, which makes their ability to do record-keeping one of the most important aspects of the work of social worker.
Van Rensburg explains social work has a lot of specialty areas, on which the student can focus from their fourth year.
There are also many opportunities to do masters and doctoral studies in these fields of specialty.
The places a registered social worker can work at include non-profit organisations like the CMR that looks after the welfare of children and families or at big companies, hospitals, churches, the government or private practice.
The salary of a social worker depends on where he is working.
All three social workers say they work each day with the sad part of life.
The disadvantage of the job of social worker is that they work with people that sometimes get angry at the social worker because of their own mistakes.
Their work is very rewarding when they see how people respond to their help.
The social workers in South Africa work mostly within the guidelines of the Childrens’ Act or any other act applicable to their field of expertise.
They also are part of a network working with the court personnel, several police units and other welfare organisations throughout the country.
