Social workers are in high demand. If you’re thinking of joining this profession, you can be confident in your ability to secure a fulfilling role.
In this article, we'll cover:
What is a social worker?
A social worker is someone who works with vulnerable groups of people, providing care, support, and protection to individuals in need.
A social worker's role involves safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, preventing abuse and harm, and supporting people to live independently.
As a social worker, you’ll have the opportunity to work with people of all ages, during times in their lives when they need help finding solutions to their problems.
Key facts
- The average starting salary of a social worker is £27,000 as of 2024.
- To work as a social worker you’ll have to register with one of four UK regulators.
- You may be expected to work some evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- There are three main routes to becoming a social worker: university, apprenticeship and a graduate training scheme.
Why become a social worker?
What does a social worker do?
Your day-to-day will look different depending on if you work with children, families or adults.
As a social worker, you might:
- meet with individuals and families to assess needs and create support plans
- maintain records, write reports, and discuss cases with supervisors
- ensure client safety and take necessary steps for their protection
- help clients in building and sustaining independent living skills
- work closely with communities, health professionals, and other agencies
Frequently asked questions about becoming a social worker
To summarise, becoming a social worker is an incredibly rewarding career and you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference to someone's life.
If you have questions or want to find out more about becoming a social worker, chat to our team.
Where next?
- Subject
Social Work
Social workers work with a wide cross-section of society, which includes a significant proportion of some of the most disadvantaged and excluded people in our society. - Course
Social Work, BA (Hons)
Are you passionate about helping those in need? Our BA (Hons) Social Work meets Social Work England's professional standards. It will prepare you to work with some of society's most marginalised and disadvantaged people. - Course
Social Work, MA
Social workers work with a wide cross-section of society, including some of the most disadvantaged and excluded people. Our MA in Social Work provides a variety of opportunities for you to develop the knowledge, skills and appropriate values to work positively with people who have lived experience of social work practice.
