Social workers wear a lot of hats. While their primary responsibility is to help people in need this obligation can take many forms. We think often of social workers in the context of family life. Kids. Children struggling with something at school or at home.

In fact, there are almost endless ways to apply a social worker license. One of them is the healthcare setting.

In this article we take a look at social workers in the healthcare setting and what it takes to become one. Read on to learn more!

What are the responsibilities of a social worker in the healthcare setting?

Advocacy. Guidance. Counseling. These are fundamental services that many people experiencing America’s healthcare system require. It’s something social workers can provide.

It’s difficult work. Social workers always find themselves trying to help people who are up against a stacked deck.

This is often at its truest in the healthcare setting. People who need healthcare social workers are often dealing either with a serious mental illness or a terminal diagnosis. They require a nuanced set of services.

They need help with the practicalities of receiving treatments, getting to appointments, and taking care of themselves. They also need to be connected with services that help them deal with the mental and emotional stress of being sick.

Social workers need to be prepared to experience failure. They also need to know that even their successes may be emotionally training. Their job puts them in contact with people during the lowest moments of their lives. That’s a difficult responsibility to shoulder. It’s also the very aspect of social work that makes it so powerful and impactful.

Mental Health Social Workers

Some social workers focus specifically on the mental aspect of patient care. Though not exactly psychiatrists or therapists themselves. They do work closely with these professionals in a network of people designed to help patients achieve better health outcomes.

Social workers who specialize in mental health are called in for a variety of different reasons. If a patient receives a terminal diagnosis, they might be put in contact with a mental health social worker.

Similarly, when someone is struggling with addiction or other mental health issues that interfere with their ability to live a healthy life they are usually directed toward a social worker in addition to other professionals.

Often mental health social workers design, and implement a plan that will help the patient with a healthy and normal life. While they do not necessarily administer care themselves they do serve as an important point of contact for the patient.

How Do You Become a Social Worker?

Social workers are required to get a bachelor’s degree in social work. Most also go on to get a graduate degree. Traditionally, these degrees were earned in person. However, with increasingly broader access to digital technology, many people are getting fair social work licenses online.

No matter how you decide to get your degree, it is important to factor ROI  into the equation.

Not everyone thinks about their future earning potential as they are taking out student loans. The thought may cross their mind, but it is balanced by other factors. The quality of the program. Their general interest in the university. The fabled “college experience,” that they hope to have.

Social worker salaries are non-competitive. You can’t leverage a fancy degree to make more money

This being the case, it is a good idea to limit the amount of loans you take out. It’s generally recommended to avoid taking out more loans than you can reasonably expect to make during your first five years of employment.

This of course is not the same thing as saying that you should be able to pay your loans off in five years. That would be great, but also unusual. The idea is to ensure that you don’t wind up with student loan payments that create a financial burden.

Social workers won’t be poor. They also won’t be rich. Remember that.

What is the Job Outlook for Social Workers?

You could say it’s unfortunate. The demand for social workers does not go down. People always need help. Unfortunately, there is very rarely an adequate supply of those willing and able to help them.

National surveys consistently show that most areas are under-supplied when it comes to social workers. While this is troubling news for communities, it is a good opportunity for people who are interested in going into this rewarding career path.

Why? For one thing as a certified social worker, you won’t have a hard time finding employment. For another thing, many communities are slowly, but steadily making social work more enticing in the form of financial compensation.

Salaries are going up. Quality of life considerations are being taken more seriously. it is a difficult job.

Bottom line? If you are willing to put in the hard work of becoming a social worker, you should have no shortage of ways to apply your skills. And as mental health concerns continue to grow in prominence in the United States social workers working in the healthcare setting will only see more demand.

With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.