Social Work
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Are you thinking of a career in Social Work? Are you concerned with helping individuals, families and communities to improve their outlooks and well-being? Camosun College offers an Associate of Arts Degree in Pre-Social Work which includes SOCW 211 Introduction to Social Work and SOCW 212 Social Welfare in Canada.
The Associate of Arts Degree in Pre-Social Work provides you with two years of interdisciplinary studies, in line with provincially established Associate Degree requirements. This program provides all the courses necessary to transfer directly to third year in the Bachelor of Social Work Degree program at University of Victoria or other university social work BSW programs. Learn more...
The Social Work Profession answers the following questions:
What is social work?
The International Federation of Social Workers General Meeting in Montréal, Canada, July 2000 adopted the following definition of social work:
The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.
Where do social workers work?
Social workers are found in many settings including schools, family and child services, community care, non-government welfare agencies, correctional services, public welfare, private practice, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, general and psychiatric hospitals, agency administration, federal, provincial, and municipal government departments, social policy, planning and research, and charity and religious organizations.
What do social workers do?
Adapted from the Canadian Association of Social Workers:
The duties performed by social workers vary depending on the settings in which they work.
- Social workers employed by child welfare agencies (public and private) investigate cases of family violence, child abuse and neglect and take protective action as required. They may recruit foster parents or supervise the placement of children in protective care.
- Many school boards hire social workers to help students adjust to the school environment.
- In general and psychiatric hospitals, social workers are members of the treatment team. In these settings they contribute to the care, treatment and rehabilitation of the aged and of physically or mentally ill individuals, as well as the care of disabled persons.
- In health and community services centres, social workers are involved in the provision of counselling to individuals or families and in providing services to seniors.
Some work as community developers helping citizens to identify their needs and proposing ways of meeting these needs. - In the correctional field, social workers may be part of a team concerned with the social rehabilitation of young or adult offenders.
- Social workers in private practice offer their services on a fee-for-service basis to individuals, families and organizations. Their services include counselling, psychotherapy, mediation, sex therapy, policy and program development, organizational development, and employee assistance programs.
- Social workers involved in policy analysis, policy development and planning are usually working in federal and provincial departments or social planning councils. Researchers are found in universities and governments. Others are teaching in universities and community colleges.
What are the working conditions?
According to Work Futures B.C. most social workers have a standard work week although there are exceptions in handling emergency situations or attending community or client meetings. Social workers spend most of their time in an office or residential facility but they may travel locally to visit clients or meet with service providers. The average annual earnings for full time social workers in 2000 was $44,900 with recent social work graduates reporting an average monthly income of $3,710, or $44,500 annually for full-time, full-year work. The largest concentrations of social workers are employed by health and social services (61%) and the provincial government (33%). 79% of all social workers in B.C. are women. Source: BC Work Futures
Programs
It's new: Diploma in Arts and Science Studies
Starting January 2012, Camosun will offer a Diploma in Arts and Science Studies, a new credential from the School of Arts and Science. You will need to complete 20 university transfer courses (60 credits). At least 14 courses must be offered by the School of Arts and Science. This gives you the flexibility and freedom to study courses of your choosing. More info...
Associate of Arts Degree in Pre-Social Work
Do you want to make a difference? Social workers are interested in social change and passionate about social justice. If you have a desire to help people in times of need and crisis, a career in social work may be the right path for you! Social workers are educated in problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being. More info...
