Family caseworker skills for your resume and career

Social workers need to be prepared to work in integrated health and multidisciplinary settings and act as change agents across systems of care. They work with various communities and people, and therefore soft skills are very important to their success. Some of the most important soft skills include:

-Teamwork. ...
-Communication Skills
-Problem-Solving Skills
-Ethics
-Flexibility/Adaptability
-Leadership skills

Social workers practice in various areas of practice and organizational auspices that may differ in the hard/technical skills that are most important. In general, the hard/technical skills most important can be categorized based on the level of education-BSW (Bachelors of Social Work) versus MSW (Masters of Social Work).

BSW's practice in a range of organizations providing various types of services; however, in general practice in the realm of case management that requires that ability to demonstrate cultural responsiveness, develop an alliance with clients, apply NASW and a state's ethics and professional standards of practice, conduct assessments, and to develop plans to meet a client's goals.

MSW's practice in many areas such as administration, clinical, public policy and advocacy, child welfare, public safety, and health care. Each of these practice areas requires specific technical skills; however, in general, MSW's are trained to assess individuals, families, groups, and communities. To that end, MSW's must understand the cultural context and how socio/economic local, state, federal policies impact social welfare problems such as poverty, intimate partner violence, and mental illness. MSW's must possess strong engagement skills/therapeutic alliance-building, diagnostic/evaluation skills, ethical application of interventions and therapeutic approaches, and advocacy skills.

The year after high school students are growing and changing. This year is about self-exploration, regardless of whether or not you are enrolled in an institution of higher learning. I recommend that individuals who decide not to enroll in higher education directly after high school take time to reflect on what they are learning, who they are, and learn from the world around them. Journaling is a great way to do this, or photography or other creative means of reflection.

Graduates will need to have a strong commitment to social justice and embody that commitment in their work. In particular, they need the knowledge, awareness, and skills to engage different kinds of clients across social identities and social locations, in both micro and macro settings. One thing that would definitely benefit graduates is taking up another language, being able to provide bilingual services. They will also need knowledge and skills in trauma-informed practice, especially in evaluating current evidence-based practice models.