5 Great Careers for Entry-Level Social Work
- Group Home Workers
- Substance Abuse Counselors
- Community Social Workers
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Case Managers
Entry-level social work jobs are perfect for graduates who are looking to gain experience in the field of sociology. There are many such positions available, and several of them only require a bachelor degree in social work. Most of these jobs are highly flexible as well and can be used as stepping stones to better-paying positions in the field.
Featured Social Work Programs
1. Group Home Workers
Some of the most popular entry-level jobs in social work are positions in group homes. Group home workers help residents of group homes develop the various life and work skills they will need to live on their own. Also known as residential care facilities, groups homes can house many different types of persons including people with disabilities or mental illnesses, individuals recovering from substance abuse, elderly persons, and young people who need housing assistance for one reason or another.
2. Substance Abuse Counselors
The main goal of substance abuse counselors is to help their clients overcome their addictions to drugs or alcohol. They accomplish this by counseling clients, helping them create short and long-term goals, designing treatment plans, and supervising group therapy sessions. They often work with family members as well providing such things as valuable information pertaining to substance abuse and addiction, and group therapy sessions specifically for family members of alcoholics and addicts.
3. Community Social Workers
Among the most common entry-level social work occupations are community social workers, also simply known as social workers. Community social workers strive to ensure that individuals within a specific community possess the basic needs necessary to live independently. This can include assistance in the areas of food, medical insurance, emergency funds, transportation, child welfare, and workforce training. In most cases, social workers specialize in just one of these areas and make referrals when necessary.
4. Healthcare Social Workers
Healthcare social workers are essentially social workers who provide assistance and support to individuals suffering from a variety of illnesses and diseases. Their main responsibilities are to help clients cope with their health issues and help them obtain such things as necessary medical equipment, home healthcare services, and transportation to and from medical appointments. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for healthcare social workers in is $56,810.
5. Case Managers
Much like social workers, case managers strive to ensure that the needs of people in a particular community are fully met. However, unlike social workers who typically work within a local government building, case managers most often visit clients wherever they may reside. This can include the clients' own homes, nursing homes, group homes, or hospice centers. People who choose to obtain these entry-level social work jobs must be highly empathetic, able to work independently, and have great communication skills.
Related Resource: 20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Areas with Top Salaries for Social Workers
Careers in social work offer many terrific benefits including personal satisfaction, flexibility, comfortable salaries, and a lot of room for advancement. Furthermore, there are plenty of easy entry-level social work jobs, and the five jobs described above are among the best.
