Maybe you have always been working toward an occupation that can help you save lives. Or a specific experience in your own life drove you toward a career in social work. No matter your circumstance, social work is one of the most expansive and diverse professions of today.
During various master’s and bachelor’s degree programs, ambitious social workers may specialize in specific practice fields. Specialism allows social workers to gain more knowledge and experience in their field of interest. In the prime of that, it’ll help them increase their chances of employment.
If you’re looking to start your own private social work practice, some common areas of specialization include:
1. Management & Administration
As the title suggests, management and administration social workers carry managerial and executive duties in various organizations. Social work administrators and managers utilize administration and business skills to empower workers and engross in decision-making. A differentiator for this team of leaders: they ensure the institute stays true to its mission and values.
Moreover, these high-skill managers earn lucrative salaries.
Additionally, if this line of practice makes you want to expand your qualification and achieve a higher standing, Tulane University has the solution. Those who have earned their bachelor of social work can apply for cswe accredited MSW programs, either on-campus or online, at a quicker pace.
Furthermore, typical jobs for management and administration include:
- Executive director
- President
- Director of social services
- Program director
- Outpatient manager
- Program supervisor
- Vice president
- Social services manager
2. Healthcare
An extensive category of social work that offers direct services to families, individuals, and groups in numerous medical locales, healthcare is a practice area for many.
In hospital settings, these workers collaborate with medical teams to provide psycho-social assessments, treat patients, support, and work with family members. Discharge planning, which demands a unique skillset, typically falls in the category of healthcare social workers.
Healthcare social workers may work in specialized units like palliative and hospice care, emergency room, transplant, or neonatal care. They can also discover employment opportunities in administrative, academic, or policy-driven areas of healthcare.
Corporate jobs for healthcare social workers include:
- Counselor
- Clinical social worker
- Medical social worker
- Policy analyst
- HV mental health counselor
- Patient navigator
- Medical social worker
- Patient advocate
- Psychiatric social worker
- Outpatient health specialist
- Researcher
3. Clinical and Mental Health Social Work
When thriving social workers think about pursuing their Master of Social Work degree, clinical work usually comes to mind. Clinical social workers are one of the tremendous providers of mental health in the US. These experts are often the only mental health clinicians offering service in understated low-income sectors (urban and rural).
Moreover, typical jobs in clinical and mental health social work include:
- Clinical director
- Mental health counselor
- Behavioral health consultant
- Family therapist
- Mental health specialist
4. Public Welfare
Social enthusiasts in public welfare service the numerous organizations that offer assistance to populations all over the world! Their roles in these settings can range from administration and planning to manage and training staff. Many of these roles are in state and city agencies where social workers must perform under limited possessions and parameters.
Some jobs in the public welfare industry include:
- Case manager
- Human services worker
- Social services worker
- Caseworker
- Licensed social worker
5. School Social Work
It’s pretty easy to understand this practice position. School social workers usually work as therapeutic or guidance counselors in a school setting. They serve as liaisons for all members. They ensure that students’ educational, emotional, and development needs – including those who require accommodations for learning and physical frailties – are met. Evermore, school social workers aid in crisis management, simplifying responses to events such as shootings and school violence. They also play a vital role in developing tolerant and compassionate school cultures and the deterrence of bullying.
The jobs for school social workers include:
- School crisis counselor
- School therapist
- Education specialist
- Guidance counselor
6. Planning and Policy Making
Let’s be honest; not all social hands get cut out for ongoing service work. Many social workers are supremely analytical and interested in public planning and policymaking. They are ideal for think-tank work on social welfare ingenuities. Social workers in this thrilling area of work may also galvanize others in the occupation to promote policy and new means of thinking.
Furthermore, here are the jobs in planning and policymaking:
- Research analyst
- Budget analyst
- Public affairs specialist
- Planning specialist
- Director of government relations
7. International Social Work
Indeed, international social work is evolving. It is a high-need area, from refugees to immigration camps, orphanages, hospitals, and community organizations.
International social workers help immigrants assimilate to new societies and foster self-sufficiency. International social work’s primary goal is “group empowerment, individual empowerment, institution-building, nation-building, and world-building.
Moreover, here are the common careers for international social workers:
- Immigration social worker
- Mental health social worker
- Community outreach social worker
- Social justice and equality social worker
- International social worker
Conclusion: Pick Your Next Step
No doubt, social work is a nifty field that offers countless opportunities to serve diverse populations in uncountable ways. These seven significant social work areas of practice offer a glimpse into the type of work you can do within this aiding profession.