They say it is a very satisfying feeling to give something. And if it is to those who are underprivileged, the satisfaction knows no bounds. John Abraham sets aside time between films to do it. Kajol was honoured by iCONGO, a confederation of NGOs and the Khemka Foundation, with a Karamveer Puruskar award for her work in the field. And of course, you just read about our dear Sallu’s Being Human. Well, if that is the case, why not make a profession out of it? If you’re looking for a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction, and an abundance of options, consider social work. The field is always in need of people who care about others, who want to make things better, who want to relieve suffering, who want their work to make a difference.
“Social work is a profession devoted to helping people function the best they can in their environment,” says Dr Mary Alphonse, Principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai. Th is can mean providing direct services or therapy directly to people. It also can mean working for change to improve social conditions. The phrase ‘in their environment’ points to a distinctive quality of this profession – one that sets it apart from other helping professions. Social workers help people deal not only with how they feel about a situation but also with what they can do about it. Many social workers work for social change as well.
WHAT IT TAKES
The profession has its own body of knowledge, code of ethics, practice standards, credentials, licensing (for those who want to start something), and a system of education programmes. These equip the professional social worker to combine the desire to help others with the knowledge, skill, and ethics needed to provide that help.
For sheer variety, few occupations can match social work, which offers the broadest range of opportunities and settings. Social workers are found in public agencies, hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, private practices, police departments, courts, and countless other workplaces. Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. In the modern times of social entrepreneurship, they can be managers, supervisors, and administrators.
EDUCATION
Th e social work courses in India are designed to produce highly trained professionals for specialised fields of work. To get a qualification in social work, there are many options. There are certificate, diploma, and degree courses. There is scope for work in health related, psychiatric, or anthropological fields. With institutes like TISS offering career oriented courses the scope of building a successful career in this field looks promising.
SCOPE IN INDIA
Job opportunities in social work vary with the kind of specialisation that a person has opted for. Th e jobs available in the Indian market are:
• Specialists in medical aid and psychiatric social work find jobs in hospitals, clinics, counselling centres, mental hospitals, and old age homes.
• Specialists in criminology find jobs in prisons and correction cells.
• Labour welfare specialists work as labour welfare officials in multinational companies and in HR department of industries.
• Community welfare specialists generally find employment in NGOs working for the improvement of rural health, sanitation and lifestyle.
• After gaining some experience, those with a master’s degree can be appointed as consultants with various organisations.
• Teaching is another option for social workers.
THE ROLE YOU PLAY
You need to be a dynamic communicator with a manifold role. You could be actively working on a variety of communication channels to raise awareness of your organisation apart from actually engaging in the activities of the organisation. This would involve lots of responsibilities, communication with funding agencies and sponsors, and thinking of innovative promotion activities to name but a few. Additionally, you could be proactively involved in supporting your organisation’s fundraising efforts.
SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED
• A deep rooted desire to work in the sector, knowing full well how unglamorous it is
• Understanding of the development sector in India, particularly relating to the underprivileged
• Strong communication skills across the media – eg websites, reports, project proposals, press releases
• Ability to grasp and communicate complex social issues effectively to various audiences
• Ability to juggle many different tasks simultaneously
• Enthusiasm and perseverance.
• A desire to get involved in the work of the organisation
INCOME
It is difficult to assign a definitive range to social work salaries; however, one thing is certain: demand for social workers is on the rise. Those just starting out with a bachelor’s can expect an annual salary ranging up to `10,000 depending on type of work, experience, and geographic factors. A social worker with a master’s degree can expect an income ranging to about `25,000.
SCOPE ABROAD
Th e master’s degree holds good for the international market as well. Premier international organisations like the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, and UNICEF employ social workers in awareness campaigns and projects meant for developing countries. Internationally recognised NGOs that employ Indian social workers also pay well.
INSTITUTES
• College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences, TISS
• Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University
• University of Delhi, Delhi
• Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi
• Madras School of Social Work, Egmore, Chennai
• Karve Institute of Social Science, Poona University, Pune
• Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai
• Madras School of Social Work, Chennai
Volume 1 Issue 2
