A geriatric social worker is an exciting and challenging career working with senior citizens. Many social workers in the geriatric field have to deal with clients that are experiencing depression, memory issues, anxiety and schizophrenia. The clients can have many challenges due to health issues as well as death of loved ones as well as facing their own mortality.

Many social workers in the geriatric field have a bachelor degree as well as a two year degree from a masters program that gives them the msw degree. The training for this field will provide thorough knowledge of mental health and aging such as medical knowledge, patient care and communication skills. There are opportunities available for both the bsw and msw degrees. If you are working in an assisted living facility, you generally need the master's degree in social work. For private practice, be aware that many people are on fixed incomes and have medicare so it is important to apply to be a medicare provider and get the npi number.

Some settings to work with the elderly include community organizations, assisted living facilities, senior residential centers, hospitals, state psychiatric centers and family service agencies. Some home health agencies now hire social workers to go into homes because many senior citizens are able to live alone in their home but require counseling, discussion of their concrete needs and companionship. Elderly clients often don't want to burden their children with their concerns and a counselor can help the person recognize it's important to let their kids know of their needs or contact them.

Some other job options for those with msws in the geriatrics field include the organizing and planning of programs for senior citizens. People who work in this field must have a strong love for working with the elderly and be able to deal with the multiple issues, worries and moods of their clients. This position requires a mature and compassionate person to work in this field.

In addition, this service is very helpful to seniors that don't have a lot of help from family members. The main goal of a geriatric social worker is to help elderly clients to become comfortable with aging and live a productive lifestyle.

Learn More About Social Work Programs, Careers and Opportunities
Stop by Social Work Programs to read about the variety of fields to specialize in as well as learn about ways to get College Financial Aid

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There is a wider range of career options than you might think for people who earn social work degrees.  As our population ages and the government safety nets expand, social workers have workplace options that include health clinics, schools, family support agencies, in-home care institutions and the criminal justice system.  If you want to work with children who are at risk because of family situations, a social work degree will provide you that opportunity.  If you are interested in making the lives of senior citizens richer or rejuvenating the lives of addicts, you'll develop those skills while you earn your degree and you'll find that job opportunities are growing rapidly in the field.

There are several steps you should take before you sign up for an education in social work.  Every career choice deserves careful consideration;  these touchstones will help you make your decision and lead you towards your area of concentration within the institutions that deliver social work services.

Make a detailed study of the entire field.
The U.S. Department of Labor provides three categories of social work in its Occupational Outlook Handbook.  The first is in the areas child, family and school; second is the medical and public health support system; and third is the field of mental health and substance abuse.  Each of these areas requires differing skills and understanding of the client base.  One of them may become your primary interest and if so, you may want to tailor your college major accordingly.

Talk to experienced professionals.
The study of socialwork at an accredited school will usually require an internship or hours as an understudy at an existing facility, so the veterans that run these social service clinics and offices are accustomed to working with inquisitive students.  Most will be willing to grant you the time to discuss the services of their particular facility and the nature of the work for the professionals who staff it.

Visit a mixture of social work sites.
You need to see how the varieties of social services are provided.  Visit a public health clinic to see what sort of social work goes on there. You can decide, for instance, if you want to deal with the evidence of child or spousal abuse that is seen every day in such clinics.  Call on a large school in an impoverished neighborhood and learn about the variety of outreach services that key on the student but reach into the home.  Visit a homeless shelter to see what acute social work looks like.  These are three examples of the rich detail you'll find on the nature of the profession by visiting work sites.

Match up your interests with your academic options.
The coursework for degrees in this field can vary significantly, from social science theory to intervention skills.  Degrees in this field can range from public health to mental health counseling - you'll need to sort through the academic choices until you find a school with a socialwork degree program that suits you.

Look into licensing requirements. 
All states require licenses of their resident social work professionals, and those requirements must also align with your academic choice.  Many states require up to 3,000 hours of field work as an intern or understudy.  A number of online schools have arrangements for this requirement with local facilities.  Licensing is a third component that should be in sync with your interests and your academic choice.

Working with the poor, the dysfunctional and the abused is one of those noble professions for which the rewards are internal.  Nevertheless a substantial number of people are drawn to it and according to the U.S. Department of Labor it's a field that will be adding jobs rapidly in the coming years.  A social work degree is not easily earned; many jobs in the field require education at the master's level.  However it will put you in a dynamic field where increasing specialization will allow you to look for a career opportunity that matches your interests.  Social work is an excellent choice for people who are rich in compassion.

---------
Robert Hartzell is a writer for GetDegrees.com. You'll find a comprehensive selection of schools with social work degrees on the site.

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Many people are confused with the term social worker and their responsibilities. All the activities and tasks related to social welfare are handled by government, private organizations, NGOs or individuals. They handle the matters of family services, emergency services, counseling and other welfare. Often people believe that workers visit children and help them out, or assist people so that they can spend life in a better way. No matter that people think, the roles of social workers are vast and they can help their fellow beings in multiple ways. You might have performed some social activities by offering your volunteer services at food bank or blood bank.

There are many jobs that can allow you to do social tasks such as counseling in summer camps, joining old age centers or medical centers. In order to become a professional social worker, however, you are required to get a bachelors or even a master's degree also known as BSW and MSW. After getting a degree in the required field, you would be able to get a better job position and salary, similar to other careers, such as teaching or business. For example, a prison social worker can play a great role and work in a positive way, by providing counseling services to the prisoners. If you are the one who want to see prisoners as a productive element of society, then you can play your role for the welfare of the prisoners. You can get unlimited opportunities to perform social tasks, if you work as a volunteer.

The field of social work needs great attention, as there are few workers who can help the needy. You can opt for this field, to make deserving people the most productive and respectable citizens of the society. You need to think about the opportunities of help and getting long-lasting satisfaction after helping others. This feeling will motivate you to work with dedication and motivation. Those who have great concern for human beings and their welfare can perform all kinds of social tasks as a volunteer. The first important thing that a worker needs to accomplish social tasks is the power and strength to focus on problems of others. This means the worker needs to believe in himself, and try to solve the problems of people, understanding them and make plans, and take measures to help them. By doing so, they motivate people to bring positive changes in the community.

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Social work is like other professions, very challenging, and at times it can be very demanding. Human behavior is unpredictable, and different people react to the same situations differently. In simple words social work means work carried out by qualified persons to help those who are in need. So everything which is done in order for the betterment of the society can be characterized as social work. Trained professionals who engage in social work are known as social workers. They deal with social, psychological, health and financial problems of people. People often mistake social workers for volunteers, but there is a lot of difference between the two.

Before stepping into the field, a social worker is trained in order to cope with any situation or circumstance. They are prepared to deal with harsh weather conditions, unwelcoming people and other constraints while on duty. It is an exciting occupation, and those willing to start a career in this field have to be well prepared to deal with it and be able to provide counseling, guidance and assistance to the helpless people in the society, plus dealing with advocacy as well.

Some social workers do not stop working even after retirement as their experience is valuable to the new comers entering the field, and it's hard to turn that switch in your brain off. Jobs for these professionals are available in the government, as well as the not-for-profit sector. In by gone times, social work was present in the form of charity and it slowly evolved. Due to this evolution, social care specialists need to keep their education upgraded at all times. Dealing with psychological and social problems requires adequate knowledge about these subjects. Even though members of this field cannot cure health problems, they can certainly guide people to where they can get proper help from.

Child abuse, drug abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, illiteracy are only a few of the problems which come under the category of social problems, there are many other problems which people don't even know about because social workers are out there coping with them. Social work requires dedication and patience, and only those who love mankind, survive in this field. Apart from working in the field, these professionals also deal with the formation of social policy, as they are aware of what the problems actually are. The social sector is rising across the globe, and creating awareness among people as to how they can lead a better life.

If you're interested in learning How to Become a Social Worker [http://www.becomingasocialworker101.com] and would like to know What Does a Social Worker Do [http://www.becomingasocialworker101.com/what-does-a-social-worker-do/] we have more great tools and resources on our website.

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A SWOT Analysis is possibly the best known and most widely used planning tool in social care services. It is worth revisiting the basic principles however.

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, and is particularly helpful in generating ideas and issues with a group of people. A large square is drawn up and divided into four sections each with one of the SWOT headings.

The questions below are useful prompts for discussion, and no judgements should be made about the issues identified, however unorthodox. Once ideas have been exhausted and entries made under each section, discussion can be encouraged about which factors are most significant, what the priorities are, and how challenges can be overcome
Strengths

• What advantages does your organisation have?
• What do you do better than anyone else?
• What resources do you have access to?
• What do people see as your strengths?
• What factors mean that you deliver services effectively?

Weaknesses

• What could you improve?
• What should you avoid?
• What are people likely to see as weaknesses?
• What factors limit your ability to deliver services?

Opportunities

• Where are the good opportunities facing you?
• What are the interesting trends you are aware of?
• What benefits are there for service users?

Threats

• What obstacles do you face?
• What is happening locally that you should be worried about?
• Are the requirements for your job or services changing?
• Is changing policy threatening your position?
• Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your project?

The aim of a SWOT analysis is to bring out all the issues, assumptions, hopes and fears that different people have in a safe, non-judgmental way. 

We all work on the basis of assumptions, hopefully informed ones, but there's always the danger of confusing assumptions with facts. If you can be clear about what are the facts and what are your assumptions at the start of a project, this will help you manage risk and change more constructively later on.  By bringing these out into the open through a SWOT analysis and reaching agreement on shared assumptions, you have the basis for a successful project plan.

Carolyn Barber, Bsc (Hons), CQSW, is the founder of Wayfinder Associates, a social care training and consultancy business specialising in research, team development and management skills. Carolyn has over 25 years experience in social care as practitioner, trainer, researcher and manager, working across public, voluntary and independent sectors. Carolyn is a GSCC registered social worker.
For more information about research, training and consultancy services, go to http://www.wayfinderassociates.co.uk/

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Social worker online cpd training website

Social work is a demanding vocation. To prepare yourself to this lifelong commitment, you can enroll in an online college degree program specializing in that field. Enrolling in these courses will give you the necessary skills, attitude and knowledge that will enable you to perform effectively in your social environment. Online college social work is dedicated to serving the community and will teach you the innovative and responsive ways to attend to the needs in the society.

Distance learning social work degree courses provide the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are needed for operating in complex social environments. Most of these courses have a commitment to innovation and responsiveness to the social services sector and focus on maintaining high standards and excellence in their programs.

What you will learn in online college social work
A student enrolled in this course will learn the necessary theories that will help them understand the social dynamics and various situations that lead to social dysfunction. Other than that, they will be made to attend a practical training in a way of group work, community organizing, development skills, and life skills methodology. These trainings and the whole online college social work course will cultivate the student's skills in order to respond effectively and appropriately to individuals or families with issues on homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, mental health concerns, crisis, oppression, and other forms or social concerns. Group facilitation, family work, proposal writing and advocacy are important part of an online college social work.

Education
The work of a social worker is diverse. They can be found in different fields. Aside from online college social work, there are several opportunities for education and employment. If you want to become a licensed social worker, you will need at least a bachelor's degree. You can enroll in traditional schools and if you do not have the resources or time to attend classes in the traditional classroom setting, you can enroll in an online college social work program.

After completing the minimum requirement of a bachelors degree, you can further your studies and get a Masters degree and undergo several practical training in order to get certified. After your online college social work program and licensing you are then called a licensed social worker.

Where to find social workers
Social workers work in different fields and institutions such as hospitals, social welfare organizations, schools, community offices.

Duties of a social worker
Other than give advice, social workers help people in navigating the social welfare system so that they can find resources to help improve their ways of life. They give access to information on job trainings, daycare opportunities, counseling services on personal and job related matters, programs on job cessation, low-cost housing, and information on supplemental food supply. The main goal of a social worker is to help an individual or family get off the social welfare system as quickly as possible and live their lives with dignity and esteem.

This fulfilling career starts in getting an online college social work degree then you can work your way up. This may be a challenging vocation but it is rewarding to see people improve their lives nonetheless.

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Visit our social worker training

You've decided you want a challenging and rewarding career in the field of social work. You are going to further your education and are planning on studying for a Master's in Social Work (MSW). You might even have an idea of where you want to attend college. Before deciding where you want to go to school, take a look at the MSW program rankings. Not all schools are the same and finding out what schools are at the top of the list should factor into your decision. However, don't only use this as your guide as there are many excellent teachers in different schools all over the country. The five best rated schools for MSW are:

1. Washington University in St Louse, MO - Offers a MSW as well as a doctorate, and Master of Public Health. Students can also complete a dual degree in MSW/MPH.

2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - This school also offers a msw degree,doctorate as well as a dual doctorate. The dual doctorate is for social work and then further concentration in psychology, political science, sociology, anthropology, or economics.

3. University of Chicago IL - Offers Master of Arts in instead of MSW, however this degree is recognized as an alternative degree, especially since it is one of the top programs for social work.

4. Columbia University New York, NY - Offers the MSW as well as a doctorate program.

5. University of Washington in Seattle- has both the MSW and the doctorate program.

Remember that rankings are not the only factor to make a judgment. Look at the faculty and what their specializations are. Do they match your own interests? Have you read a book by someone who teaches at a university and you'd like to study with that individual? If so, that may be a school that would strongly interest you, even if it is not in a top five or top ten list for social work education programs.

Learn More from a Licensed MSW
Stop by Social Work Programs and read about various schools, scholarship options, continuing education programs and MSW Average Salary.

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Fathers can be compassionate too; this character should not be exclusive to mothers. For a dad who's been out of work, and you have this character, why not study as a social worker. This is one of the listed jobs that are found to be needed this year onwards. And you can study for free by availing of the scholarship for the dad program.

If you have a relevant degree but need to pursue a master's degree in the same field, more reason for a scholarship. This way you get the chance to study a master's program without worrying where to get the money. There's $10,000 budget to be given annually to lucky scholars of the said program. And you don't have to quit to your job if you have one, because there are online studies in this field.

The job opportunity for a social and human service is excellent from this year forward. Although the pay as a social worker is not that much but the job is stable. However, then if you haven't been into this job at all, the more reason to get started studying this field. It's been projected that such field of work will grow fast than the rest of the professions.

A male social worker is a plus factor, especially when dealing with juvenile delinquents. Perhaps because they can handle these kids in all aspects: physically, and emotionally. After all, if you are a father too, you can relate to these kids. And having a good educational background will really help to carry out this kind of task.

It's a good thing that there is a scholarship for the dad program. These way fathers like you have a chance to somehow to go back to school. Study a field like social and human service, and put to good use you're being a father. Earning to this work at the same is a bonus.

As a father, you have matured already; you know how to handle problems. You have been there too so you know how to handle them by now. If you were forced to retire due to age, but has the capacity to learn more, go back to school. And the social and human service may just be for you.

**Update**
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Social Work Processes - Social worker training

A medical social worker typically works inside a hospital. It is considered to be a sort of sub-category of social work. There are other settings which medical social workers are found in though, such as hospices and nursing homes. Typically these types of counselors have graduate degrees and specialize in medical care for patients. They have many different roles and responsibilities, including evaluating the psychosocial status of certain patients and their families. They are there to provide physical and emotional support all around. Medical social workers also help to connect patients with their families and assist in the process of finding the proper treatment and care.

In the history of this profession, the Massachusetts General Hospital was the very first hospital in America to have on-site social workers back in the early 1900's. One of the major roles involves discharge planning. These therapists have to make sure that all patients are scheduled for the proper medical services, so that they get out as quickly as possible. They handle any and all delays when it comes to the discharge of a patient. They work hard to ensure that each person gets specific treatment based on their own individual needs.

Another one of the responsibilities is to make sure that a patient is taken care of even after they leave the hospital. If home care is required after discharge, it is their responsibility to set those services up for the patient by the time they leave. Some people will be needing hospice care. The therapist will also be working with grief reactions of both the patient and family members. Setting up outpatient counseling is also important in a number of situations. If the counselor does not make all the proper arrangements for home health care, the patient could end up staying in the hospital longer than they were meant to because they have nobody to care for them upon returning home. Also, they may not follow up on treatment for drug addiction or depression.

Being able to work closely with patients and have interpersonal skills is also required of those who decide to go into this line of work. Medical social workers must also be well-organized and able to handle a lot of work at once. It can be a massive amount of responsibility and not everyone is cut out for this type of work. Dealing with family members that have a loved one in intensive care can be very difficult.

Learn More About the Roles of Social Workers
Read about Medical Social Worker Jobs and find out more about Social Work Schools.

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Social Work Processes - Social worker training

The role of the student social worker is not without cognitive dissonance: a mind state generally recognized in the field of psychology as a feeling of discomfort brought about by engagement in behavior inadequately aligned with one's attitudes/beliefs. The level, frequency and intensity of such dissonance can vary, depending upon a few different things, such as the individual student's emerging (professional) identity, personal awareness around such identity and the particular circumstance(s) facing the student.

Every master's level social work program involves a practice component, which typically consists of an unpaid internship, of various design and quality; students undertake their internships (also known as practicums) in many different service delivery organizations/systems, including psychiatric, correctional and educational facilities (to name but a few). If an individual is to encounter difficulties during time spent in social work school, it is often at the practice juncture that the problems begin to arise. Sachs and Newdom discuss some of the conflicts inherent in the aforementioned systems which frequently contextualize a student's practicum experience:

Many organizations, however, contradict the progressive values of workers and/or progressive professional values. This contradiction happens most often in control organizations such as prisons or mental hospitals whose functions are antithetical to dialogical praxis and the self-determination of the people who are housed in them. (97)

The general reality for many social workers in service delivery systems, is that they continuously face dilemmas over being expected, and/or mandated to utilize high risk interventions on mental health consumers, for which they have received little formal or ongoing training, and which are at odds with some of the basic social justice values and ethics of the social work profession (Levine, 254). Given such a reality, it would appear to make sense for the social work student to enter the field practicum mentally prepared to encounter potential problems, and academically equipped to actively, and strategically address them as they occur. Such preparation is rarely proactively offered in schools of social work; it was only after much trial and error as a social work student, that I developed my own process for dealing with problematic situations in service delivery settings. The remainder of this essay underscores that process:

(a) It is a good idea to purchase a journal, prior to beginning an internship. The journal should be used to record daily events and any thoughts and feelings surrounding events that take place at the field site; such a journal would serve as a good source of reference, if later needed;

(b) Developing a general awareness of power and status differences that exist between employees and interns, prior to undertaking an internship is an important thing to do. An organization's responses, or lack thereof, to any voiced concerns, and/ or questions to administration by students can be placed into better context when the student enters with this knowledge;

(c) Keeping the lines of communication actively open between oneself, and other social work interns, in other field placements is a worthwhile thing to do, as it can serve to lessen the sense of isolation and anxiety often felt during an internship. It can be especially comforting to compare notes, get advice and generally receive support from one's peers, as opposed to solely consulting with those who are of a higher (professional) status; one is less likely to withhold the depth of what is really being experienced, as the perceived threat of superior judgment is less, therefore, it would stand to follow that greater relief from situation based stresses can be gained;

(d) Seeking counsel with student organizations and/or professors from outside colleges/universities can be useful, and even more effective than consulting with your own. Many professors and student groups are co-opted by the educational systems in which they exist, and thus are unable to authentically guide/ offer assistance to a student who may be highlighting serious inconsistencies and harmful contradictions that are being implemented by, and/or within their own academic setting;

(e) Finding out whether there are any local psychiatric consumer/survivor groups, and making arrangements to communicate with them about any practices that one is finding questionable during the internship experience can be an invaluable thing to do. If validation around the reality of psychiatric abuse is needed, it will likely be found at one of these groups. In addition, any reported concerns/complaints will be taken seriously, and different avenues through which to air, and act upon such concerns will likely be explored;

(f) Remembering that the most immediately achievable goal is completion of the internship; realizing that one, alone, cannot change a system; recognizing that there will be opportunities post internship to continue to raise awareness around concerns and knowing that one's ultimate refusal to remain silent in the face of oppression is, indeed, an act of integrity, is paramount, and can help to gain the balance, perspective and clarity needed during a stressful practicum experience.

Works Cited
Levine, James E. "Behavior Management Principles: Incorporating a Biopsychosocial
Perspective." Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 18.4 (2001): 254.
Sachs, Jerome, and Fred Newdom. Clinical Social Work and Social Action: An Integrative
Approach. 1st ed. Haworth Press, 1999.

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Social Work Processes - Social worker training