Leadership Skills That Lead To Success In Social Work
Career opportunities in social work continue to grow. As more emphasis is placed on supporting and offering guidance to those in disadvantaged communities, the need for those with skills in the social work has never been greater.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts numbers to the growth. For example, the BLS projects the number of social workers to increase 9 percent by 2031, with 64,000 social workers joining the workforce over that time.
That’s driven the need for college degree programs that prepare people for social work. Touro University Worldwide offers a bachelor’s degree in social work completely online, which allows students to schedule school around busy professional and personal lives.
Employers for Social Workers
Social workers work in a wide variety of settings. They include community centers, government social service agencies, nonprofit organizations and in healthcare operations.
Most social workers work with children and families or in schools. They also work with those who have mental health or substance abuse issues. They can specialize in working with those who are pregnant, as a classroom counselor or in foster care.
The top employers for social workers, according to the BLS, are:
- Individual and family services
- State government
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Local government
- Hospitals
The best programs also teach future social workers the skills they need to succeed in the job and provide the best help possible to those who need their services.
Social Work Leadership Skills
Those who launch a career in social work will do best if equipped with the skills that allow them to take on a leadership role in the field. A degree program such as that offered by Touro University Worldwide prepares graduates for leadership roles.
Some of the areas where a high-level of skill makes for the best leaders include the following.
Empathy. Perhaps the most important skill for a social worker. Empathy involves the ability to understand the experiences of others, a key part of finding solutions to their issues.
Problem solving. Finding solutions for clients’ challenges requires someone who is skilled in critical thinking and problem solving. Social workers must have the ability to assess a situation and develop a reasonable plan to resolve conflicts and overcome challenges for their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Social workers operate in an environment where people often feel very emotional or are under a great deal of stress. The ability to both listen and communicate with people who are experiencing a tough time in their life – all while maintaining a calm demeanor – is critical to the social worker’s job.
Organizational skills. Social workers also often have the task of juggling many different clients at once. This requires dealing with a diverse set of issues, often all on the same day. High-level time management and organizational skills are required to keep up with client issues and the paperwork that is required of all who work in the field.
Some programs go beyond this into larger issues. The bachelor’s degree program in social work at Touro University Worldwide, for example, encourages graduates to be advocates for social change and a more equitable society.
The program also includes practical field work that betters prepares graduates for social work after graduation. It also prepares students to move on to earning a master’s degree in the field.
These are some of the leadership skills graduates will learn in a quality degree program in social work. With demand growing and many in need of help, support and guidance, there has never been a better opportunity for those who want a career in which they will impact the lives of others.
