Social workers work with adults, children and families and often specialise in a specific field of work – such as support for children and families, or working with adults with physical disability or mental health related needs. We help people make changes. We often work with social networks, families or communities, as well as individuals, and help develop supportive relationships.
If you are working in children and family services, you may work with children in care (also known as ‘looked-after children’). Children who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, children with health and mental health needs - and with their families. This may include helping families experiencing difficulties to resolve their problems.
If you are working in adults’ services you may work with older people, people with learning or physical disabilities. If you work with people with mental health problems, you’ll focus on promoting independence, wellbeing and having control over their lives, including accessing their entitlements to welfare support and/or to be in employment. You may also support adults who have substance abuse problems, have offended, are living with HIV or Aids, or are involved with the criminal justice system.
Exercise 1: What does a social worker do according to the text?
Exercise 2 : answer the questions about the text
Example questions: What do social workers do?
Answer: Help people in need.
1. Who are the clients of social workers?
2. What kind of difficulties do clients face?
3. What is meant by 'looked-after children’?
4. What is meant by 'adult service'?
5. If you work with people with mental health problems, you’ll focus on?
Exercise 3: True or false questions about the text
Example question: Social workers work with people?
Answer:True
1. Social workers work with adults and childeren only? True/False
2. Mental health problems are only faced by childeren? True/False
3.Social workers also support adults who have substance abuse problems. True/False
4.If you are working in children and family services, you may work with children in care True/False
5. As a social worker you have to help people with HIV or Aids. True/False
Exercise 4: Read the text again and highlight difficult words. Look up the meaning of the words.
|
Words |
Meaning in context |
Example question |
work |
Answer: activity involving mental or physical effort |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
Write below questions about the exercises. Make sure to bring the questions to class!