Social Worker Jobs

Social Worker jobs: frequently asked questions

(Updated Dec 2024)

Welcome to our Social Worker jobs page. You’ll find all our latest roles above, as well as frequently asked questions about this vocation below.

What does a social worker do?

Social workers support people who live in challenging circumstances – especially vulnerable people. They help them to lead safe, secure and independent lives.

The kinds of people social workers support include the elderly, young people, the homeless, people with physical disabilities and many more besides.

The role offers a mix of working in an office environment with visiting clients regularly in different settings. You could work in the NHS, the private sector or for a charity.

In terms of day-to-day tasks, these can vary widely. They may include conducting interviews and assessments to establish someone’s needs, writing up assessments and reports, co-ordinating packages of support, meeting with other specialists to plan treatment or giving evidence in court.

It’s a varied and highly skilled role that can be extremely rewarding for the right people.

What qualifications and skills do you need to become a social worker?

A degree is necessary to become a social worker – either as an undergraduate or postgraduate.

Social work can be studied for within a full 3-year undergraduate course, but many nurses and other healthcare professionals choose to do a postgraduate course in social worker in order to change their career.

Apprenticeships are widely available, and bursaries are too.

In terms of skills and traits, social workers are quite unique. You need many of the things all healthcare workers need: compassion, empathy, resilience and patience.

But social workers also need very specific skills, such as the ability to negotiate. You’ll also need to be naturally persuasive, and very calm under pressure.

What salary does a social worker earn?

Your monthly pay depends primarily on where you work.

In the NHS, starting salaries are well above £33,000 a year, whereas privately they are much lower (normally under £28,000 a year).

However, whether you work in the private or public sector, average salaries tend to be between £35,000 and £40,000 – with many social workers earning £45,000 a year or. more with experience.

There are plenty of ways to gain experience, progress your career and earn more money too.

Find a new social worker job today

Check our latest social worker roles above. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, set up an account, register your CV, and we’ll share the newest and most relevant jobs as soon as we get them.