Social care is one of the most popular and important employment sectors around. It involves looking after the most vulnerable people in society and helping them live a happy, fulfilled life. It can also involve helping them overcome difficult situations or providing advice on how to deal with a tricky issue in their lives. Some social care roles can also involve providing care to people who cannot look after themselves properly.
The very nature of working in social care makes it appealing to people who are compassionate, empathetic and love helping others. It is also attractive for those who like to make a real difference to other people’s lives. If you plan on moving into this type of role as a career, there are some key things to know about first.
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Having the right qualifications is essential
One of the first things to consider before working in this field is how important the right qualifications are. Holding a degree or master’s-level award in this subject is usually required and something that most social care roles call for. It is therefore key to gain the qualifications you need and be prepared to study for them on a relevant course if you do not already have them.
The Spalding University MSW program is a prime example of the type of qualification that comes in handy and that can set you up for a career in social care. It offers a convenient online way to gain the academic credentials that employers will be looking for. Without studying on a course such as this, it will be tough to break into social care (certainly at higher levels) and hard to succeed without the knowledge it teaches you.
Social care is a satisfying career
Just as finding out tips on getting into medical school is key for would-be doctors, finding out more about social care is crucial for those thinking of working in this role.
One thing to know is that working in social care is a rewarding career choice. This is because it sees you helping the most vulnerable in society. The buzz you get from improving someone’s living situation, guiding them out of a dangerous situation, helping them through a difficult time or caring for them is immense. Few careers can match the rewards that social care roles bring, and this is certainly something to know about in advance.
Be prepared for sad times
Although social care is a career choice that is deeply rewarding, it can sometimes be one that comes with sadness. Common examples of this include social workers hearing about upsetting situations involving domestic abuse or seeing someone you had built up a connection within a social care role dying. These kinds of things are something to really think about before moving into social care.
If you are a person who gets too affected personally by sad situations, then it might not be for you. This is because it could prove too much of a burden on you emotionally and leave you feeling down over time. It is key to be able to detach yourself emotionally when needed and not let what happens at work affect your own life.
Lots of different roles to choose from
One other thing to know before moving into social care is the range of different roles it contains. This makes it a career choice with lots of flexibility. But what kinds of jobs are open to social care workers?
Perhaps the most well-known is social worker. Social workers help people cope with problems they might face in their daily lives. In addition, they identify those who need assistance, assess the needs of those who require help, and respond to crisis situations. With a 12% increase in demand for social workers predicted by 2030, it is an in-demand role.
You could also work in what are known as ‘direct care roles’. This type of job in social care sees you more involved with caring for people in a hands-on fashion. Common roles in this niche include care workers who assist people at home in their daily life or healthcare workers in old people’s homes.
There is also a range of other roles in social care based around offering advice to those who ask for it. A welfare rights officer, for example, helps vulnerable people find out which benefits/allowances they are eligible for.
Social care can make for a fabulous career
Working in the social care sector is a fantastic career choice if you like to help people and like to make a real difference. It does pay to know what you getting into first though, and the above are all things to mull over before moving into this sector.