Social work is an endlessly varied and rewarding profession.
It means helping some of the most vulnerable people in society and providing them with a better future.
Social work degrees are the best way to get into the profession, and holders are well qualified to work in lots of different capacities.
#1 Family support worker
Many holders of an online social work degree become family support workers.
This is a complex career and no two days are the same, but in the simplest of terms, you’ll be supporting families during difficult times or crises.
You’ll usually work for local governments or charities and much of your time will be spent with children and young people.
Support workers help families that have suffered from bereavement had problems with domestic abuse, homelessness, and much more.
#2 Youth worker
As the title suggests, youth workers support young people in every area of development, including education, mental health, and social integration.
They work in a range of settings. Some will be based in schools, others at youth or faith centers or in colleges.
Wherever they work, youth workers tend to target high-risk individuals and help them with any issues that they might have.
#3 Education mental health practitioner
One of the newest roles on the list, EMHPs, reflect the increased focus on mental health within society.
These practitioners work with children and young adults suffering from poor mental health and give them the support that they need.
EMHPs work in different settings, including schools, colleges, and even youth offender institutes.
#4 Counsellor
Counselor is a broadly encompassing term that covers a range of different but interlinked professions.
Generally speaking, counselors help people work through difficult issues, including divorce, marriage problems, bereavement, illness, and mental health problems like anxiety.
They work with patients during sessions, encouraging them to identify and confront their problems, ultimately improving their lives and helping them to cope.
It’s difficult and sometimes emotional work, but being a counselor is extremely rewarding.
#5 Prison officer
Being a prisoner officer is about much more than locking offenders behind closed doors.
Prison officers are on the front line of rehabilitation, working to ensure that offenders turn their lives around and don’t return to prison again once they’ve been released.
Many offenders have complex social and mental health issues, which makes a degree in social work extremely important.
Understanding, rather than condemning, is the first step towards rehabilitation, and the skills acquired from the degree will help you to do this.
#6 Detective
It might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of social work, but many of the skills learned in this degree are essential for detectives.
Building a relationship of trust, understanding human nature and problem solving are all important skills.
Detectives investigate crimes and bring offenders to justice, but their fundamental task is keeping people safe. That, of course, has much in common with the other careers on the list.