At Positive Futures, we’re supporting the campaign by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) to encourage more people into social work.
So what does a social work career involve, and what are the rewards?
To find out, we asked Christine, a social worker in our Families Matter Shared Lives Service, which provides opportunities for carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities.
Why did she choose a life in social work?
“I wanted a career in which I could work with people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves on the margins of society, and make a positive difference in their lives,” she says. “My own personal values aligned with a lot of the values of social work, which really attracted me to it. I also liked the range of different work you could do, and the variety of opportunities social work training could open up.
“The rewards include great job satisfaction – some days you get to really help people by improving the quality of their lives by getting them the help or support they need. You get to meet a lot of amazing people and be let into their lives, and you often get a lot of appreciation from the people you support and their families.”
What qualities are needed to succeed?
“You need to be compassionate, patient, fair and empowering. You need to be able to communicate well with a range of different people and be able to speak up and advocate for people. Challenging social injustice and anti-oppressive practice are also important qualities, as is having emotional intelligence. “Also, you need practical qualities such being organised and proactive. Good time management is crucial, because there are often a lot of tasks to follow up on, within deadlines.”
Finally, what’s Christine’s advice to anyone thinking of a career in social work?
“If you are passionate about helping making people’s lives better and like a challenge, go for it. It’s not always the easiest role and sometimes you are presented with very complex situations, but it is a rewarding, dynamic career, with a lot of opportunities for growth and development.” Find out more here: https://niscc.info/interested-in-becoming-a-social-care-practitioner/