Helping People Live A More Fulfilled Life

by SHWETA KAMAT
Posted on 2008-11-15
What do you want from your career? Do you want a job that is challenging, satisfying, makes a difference and is filled with opportunity? Than a career in social services can be all of these things and more. It’s a job that covers many different areas in our society and involves working with other agencies and professionals.
“Social work is a challenging job which offers scope for initiative and the exercise of responsibility in a wide variety of situations,” says Mr Nandkishore Parab, a social servant and a sarpanch from Sawantwadi.
Today social work has become a full-fledged profession with highly trained professionals. The casual attitude attached to social work has been replaced by a serious professional attitude.
“It is people having compassion for the poor, the deprived and the disadvantaged that usually opt for this career, says Mr Parab.
Social work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well being. It aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems.
Adding further the social servant said, “Social work is concerned with individual and personal problems but also with broader social issues such as poverty, unemployment and domestic violence”.
“Social service workers help people make choices that will improve their lives by giving practical help and support to individuals and families in times of crisis,” he says.
Most people value their independence, so the staff work closely with other professionals to support vulnerable children and adults – in need or at risk – to remain in their own homes and communities. “Social service workers must be able to establish relationships and learn to overcome barriers of communication with people of all ages, backgrounds and needs,” says Ms Percy Cardozo, psychologist, Sangath Centre.
“Human rights and social justice are the philosophical underpinnings of social work practice,” she adds.
While Ms Cardozo says that a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker, Mr Parab said that to be a social servant there is no need of any education – the only thing that you need to have is self-confidence.
“A major in psychology, sociology and related fields may help you in qualifying for some entry-level job especially in small community agencies,” Ms Cardozo adds.
Continuing further Ms Cardozo said that although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for entry into the field, an advanced degree has become the standard for many positions. A master’s degree in social work (MSW) can also help to a great extent.
“There are a number of institutions that offer full time social work courses in India but unfortunately we don’t have any institute in Goa,” she comments.
Apart from this basic education, it is necessary that social workers should be emotionally mature, objective and sensitive to people and their problems. They must be able to handle responsibility, work independently and maintain good working relationships with clients and co-workers.
Social workers work in a variety of settings such as family services agencies, children’s aid agencies, general and psychiatric hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, welfare administration agencies, federal and provincial departments etc. An increasing number of social workers also work in private practice.
“Full-time social workers usually work a standard 40-hour week, but some occasionally work evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings and handle emergencies. Some work part time, particularly in voluntary non-profit agencies,” Mr Parab cleared.
According to Mr Parab a social worker doesn’t work for money whereas Ms Cardozo says that a professional social servant can earn basic Rs 7,000 per month.
Like any other job it can bring frustrations but it also has its own rewards – the immeasurable satisfaction of helping people live more fulfilled lives…
INSTITUTIONS
Outside…
4Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta
4Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
4University of Delhi, Delhi
4Karve Institute of Social Service - Karve Nagar, Pune