What sort of people become social workers?

Question

Do they have (or at least start with) a real interest in helping people, but get corrupted by all the awful things they see? Or does the profession attract people who are nosy, judgmental and interfering because it gives them the opportunity to pry and judge?

Answer 1

Someone who cares about there local community,

I think some social workers should not be in that job, because they only want to get paid & go home, could'nt care less about the people they should be caring for!

Answer 2

Social Work attracts all sorts of people just like every other profession.  It seems as though the only time people hear about social workers is when things go bad.  How about the ones that helped out in New Orleans that were on the front line before the FEMA got their act together.  How about the ones that help families obtain food so that they can eat at night.  How about the ones that work to get runaways off the street so that they don't fall prey to the streets.  

I think social workers are the garbage workers of the people profession.  They do all the little things that help this society thrive and they receive little to no credit, and the pay is terrible.  

To answer your question, the sort of people that become social workers, brave, caring, hard workers, understanding, generous,great listeners, self motivated, activist, genuine, etc......

Answer 3

Social worker to client: we believe your child is in danger

Client: why do you think that?

Social worker: 'cos we're involved and we're rubbish

Answer 4

My father was a social worker for juviniles, he is neither nosy or judgemental! He worked in the job for 13 years before lack of support from the goverment to really help got him really down and feeling miserable about his job and seeing the kids go from bad to worse. He eventually quit but still works at a youth shealter.

Answer 5

It saddens me to see all the negativity surrounding the social work profession.  I am a social worker and I believe that I am truly meant to do this and that I am truly good at it.  I grant you that there are some SW's who should NOT be in the profession, but those are generally the ones that burn out within 5 years.  

Why did I decide to become a social worker?  I wanted to help people above all else.  I am disturbed by social inequality and injustice.  

We are not judgmental.  We are taught to be completely the opposite, in fact.  We are open minded and accepting of ALL people from all walks of life.  

We do so much more than remove children from their homes.  NOT ALL SW'S even work with children and families.  Some of us work with the elderly, the community, the mentally ill, etc.  

We are the people who work so hard to make society a better place for people who have been systematically and historically marginalized by the more powerful members of society.

I do not know where some people are getting their false views of the profession, but instead of making us feel like we are here to hurt others....you should try to thank them (us) for the difficult work we do, with very little pay and recognition to try to fix the problems we see in our communities.

Answer 6

I think - and it´s personal opinion - most of them want to help other people and/or themselves, and they want to help because they felt left alone themselves at one time or another, and they have the good intention of keeping others from having to experience the same.

But then their professional training makes them nosy, judgemental and interfering bueraucrats in order for them to be "realistically" able to bear with what they will actually encounter.

I would say ... most of them either stay kind and helpful people and drop out of that whole system in one way or another .... or they become bueaurocrats in order to survive and to be able to make a living out of lack of other alternatives.

Then there is a third group who actually creatively develop amazing skills, keep their innermost wish to be helpful and just while still serving the bueaurocrat´s needs - and really accomplish something in some cases. It´s probably a small group, but those are the amazing few.

But I´m only talking about my own (limited) experiences here, so it´s hard to tell how accurate my generalizations are.

Answer 7

Kind and willinggful to help with children

-----x

Answer 8

People who think that they know better about everuthing than the rest of us!

That very attribute should bar them from the profession in the first place!

Answer 9

I've wondered about that too.  I've known so many as colleagues, and only a few that were truly dedicated. The problem is, I didn't know them before.  I was "sitting in a different seat" than the clients, but my observation was (to add to your list of traits) that they are extremely passive aggressive and competitive, and it seems to go with the territory (along with their being territorial). You will probably get some nasty comments on your question, but as they say, "the truth will set you free, but first it will p__ you off.  

What I can surmise is that many times they are taught in school to be assertive, that all clients are manipulative, and they should never say yes when the answer is no.  Too sum it up by one of my close mentors who had been a Civil Rights worker in the 60s, and taught social work for 25 years and cringed each time he was trying to impart social responsibility and someone said, "...but is it on the test?",

"How many social workers does it take to change a light bulb?  None...they let the family do it."

Answer 10

Careers advisor : What would you like to do ?

Student : I'd like to work in a job, making a difference and helping people.

Careers advisor : Well thats social work out, then.

Answer 11

Does the profession attract people who are nosy, judgmental and interfering because it gives them the opportunity to pry and judge?"

Add 'do-gooders' to your description too!

You and Moofie mum have got it spot on here! Anyone with a true interest in helping people will join the medical proffession, nursing or something like that. (Like myself). The social services are full of interfering bleeding heart harridans who cause much more trouble than they solve!

Answer 12

Yeah, you said it kid!!

"Does the profession attract people who are nosy, judgmental and interfering because it gives them the opportunity to pry and judge?"

Add 'do-gooders' to your description too!

Answer 13

I know quite  a few social workers who wanted to try to change society at a time when it was thought that you could change systems; after a lifetime of work many are saying it is worse now than ever before and are really disillusioned.

I think there is a different between different kinds and there will always be 10%+ not nice people in any trade at all.

Social workers have gone to the bottom of the pecking order in care teams becaue they dont - re-professionalize to

get extra status.

The system does stink but individual s within it are often doing the best they can in a hard and easily-slated job.    

Maybe oyu don't hear about all the okay things and judge according to the worst - Despite Harold Shipman I still go to my GP.

Answer 14

I love all these negative comments about how Social Workers. Do doctors go into medicine because they want to save lives or do hey just want a HUGE paycheck? Do lawyers want to interpret the law or want a HUGE paycheck? Almost all SWs are interested in actually helping and receiving low pay to no pay.

Their skill levels may vary but I don't see all these people with highly negative attitudes rushing to help the "skums" of society. They are pretty much trying to fix what most people of society won't give a second look.

I think Law and Order messes with too many heads. When you think of a Social Worker, most people think of the person who breaks up families. Too bad they don't realize Shrinks/Councilers can also have a Social Work Degree. Pretty much same thing as a Psychologist.

Answer 15

My aunt worked up to be head of social work at our council. She genuinly wanted to help and worked there from school til her late 50s. She ended up taking early retirement due to stress. She'd seen so many awful things and a lot of the time she couldn't do anything about it. Think it takes someone special to do that job well x