What Makes Someone a Social Worker?

by Elizabeth J. Clark, Ph.D., MSW, MPH

Did you have to go to school to be a social worker?

I'm sort of a social worker. I like talking to people.

Your job must be fun since you get to help others.

     As a profession, social work is often misunderstood and mischaracterized. Many people think anyone can be a social worker - that professional training is not actually necessary. Don't you simply have to like people and be a good conversationalist? 

     Not only is a degree in social work required, but, as most experienced social workers would note, there is a well-developed skill set that social workers must acquire, as well. Yes, of course, you do need to be able to interact with a variety of individuals, and yes, you do need to be a good listener, but that isn't nearly enough. 

     In addition to formal training in social work theory, methods, and techniques, social workers must have compassion and empathy. They don't prejudge or rush to judgment. They aren't interested in placing blame, but, instead, look for solutions. They respect individuality and eschew labeling, and they believe in self-determination and confidentiality. They look broadly at the person’s environment. They see possibilities, not barriers, and they find strengths despite obvious weaknesses. They believe in positive change, and they don't quit because a client is not successful at changing negative behavior the first (or the tenth) time. They believe in resilience and they inspire hope. They are strong advocates for their clients, their patients, their agencies, their communities, and social causes. They work for better treatments, more acceptance, increased resources, and a just society. 

     The list may seem long, but every item is requisite if you are a professional social worker. The belief in these values and their corresponding skill set is so strong that they have all been codified within the profession's Code of Ethics (National Association of Social Workers, 2018):

  • Service
  • Social justice
  • Dignity and worth of the person
  • Importance of human relationships
  • Integrity
  • Competence

     Anyone can learn theories, read research, or become proficient in the categories included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. They can be paid to do a certain job, even have a title of “social worker,” but that’s not enough to make someone a social worker. It takes much more than that. You can’t become a social worker by declaration any more than you can declare someone to be a physician or an attorney.

     Similarly, other professions cannot simply assimilate the role of social workers in response to a lack of funding or scarce resources. Nurses share some of the components of the social work skill set, but that doesn’t make a nurse qualified to be a social worker any more than years of medical social work make a social worker qualified to pass medicines or give injections. Similarly, teachers show great concern for the well being of their students, but that isn’t sufficient to call them social workers. Volunteers are essential to help in social and community programs, and most have received some volunteer training. That still doesn’t make the person working in a shelter a social worker.

     So, the next time someone asks if you need to go to school to be a social worker, don’t be defensive. Instead, say, "Yes, you do, but the degree is only the beginning."   

Reference

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2018). Code of ethics. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, MSW, MPH, is an experienced CEO, national leader, author, and speaker. She is the President of the Start Smart Career Center, which helps women navigate nonprofit careers and become leaders. Her previous position of 12 years was CEO of the National Association of Social Workers.