2024 Social Worker Code of Conduct, Value, Roles & Job Description
2024 Social Worker Guide | Everything You Need to Know
As more and more older social workers leave the social work sector in countries across the globe, we have seen an influx of new social workers taking up their place. A lot of these new social workers are often concerned about ensuring that they comply with social work job requirements, HIPAA, regulations, as well as complying with NASW social work code of ethics.
Over the last couple of months, we have seen an increase in inquires asking about “what are the roles of a social worker?” “What are key social work values?” and what are the “social work code of ethics as defined by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)?”
This article provides you with what you need to know about the key values for social work, social workers job descriptions that you need to be aware of, as well as the main roles of social workers and how the social work code of ethics applies to the responsibilities of social workers.
See Also: How to Write a Social Work Soap Assessment – Role of a Social Worker
Table of Contents
Keep on scrolling down this page to read each section, or click any link below to go directly to that section.
- Introduction – Social Work Core Values & What to Expect
- National Association of Social Workers Code of Conduct
- 6 Social Work Values? Why are they Important to Every Social Worker?
- Code of Ethics Social Work PDF Pages
- Overview: Social Worker Description
- Why Should You Become a Social Worker? What’s in it for You?
- What Qualifications Do I Need to Be a Social Worker?
- Social Workers Duties and Responsibilities from Real Job Postings
- School Social Worker Jobs – What You Need to Know
Do you have feedback or questions about this social worker roles, values, code of conduct, and job function guide? if so, message us, the SocialWorkPortal team would like to hear from you.
Introduction – Social Work Core Values & What to Expect
What qualifications do I need to be a social worker?
Social workers help individuals, families, and communities overcome challenging problems, and the duties of a social worker can vary according to their level of experience and the field of social work that they work within. For example, those with children’s social worker jobs may help remove children from dangerous or neglectful home situations. Professionals working in school social worker jobs may counsel at-risk youth and adults to help them stay in school.
The duty of a social worker who works in a hospital, educational institution, government sector, prison, corporation, and more, will vary.
Why become a social worker and what can you expect social worker responsibilities to look like? In this article we’ll review the social worker job description, the answer to “what qualifications do you need to be a social worker,” and social workers’ duties, roles, and responsibilities.
We’ll also look at school social worker jobs because children’s social work jobs are some of the most popular types of social work that people are interested in. Becoming a social worker in a hospital or medical setting can have the responsibility of matching patients with financial and after-care services during their discharge.
Above all else, social work values helping people in their time of need, no matter the setting, as such this social worker jobs description guide will provide a detailed overview of social work values.
Related: Job Aid to Help You Learn the Best Social Worker Case Notes Formats – Values Social Work
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Conduct
If you’re considering becoming a social worker, you’ll want to learn the main principles and social work values as laid out by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). After an extensive level of research and studies, the NASW settled on six core values of social work profession.
- Service
- Social justice
- Dignity and worth of the person
- Importance of human relationships
- Integrity
- competence
These 6 code social worker values are explained further below.
As explained by the NASW, “The key mission and responsibility of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core social work values. These 6 core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of the social work sector.”
Source of NASW core values: www.socialworkers.org
Do you have any feedback about this social worker qualifications and job description of social workers guide? If so, contact us. We would love to hear from you.
What are the 6 Social Work Values? Why are they Important to Every Social Worker?
The NASW Social Work Code of Ethics is a defined set of standards that guide the professional conduct and all roles of social workers across the globe. NASW recently updated its value of social work code of conduct to include language that addresses the importance of professional self-care. In addition these 6 core values of social work explained below were updated to provide more explicit guidance to social workers. All social workers are recommended to review the new text and affirm their commitment to abide by the Social Worker Code of Ethics. The NASW also makes its duties of a social worker and code of conduct available in Spanish
You can click on the link further below for a detailed review of these NASW 6 social work values. In the section below, we summarize what you need to know about these 6 core values of social work.
The 6 core values of social work explained (summary)
- Service: The primary goal in any social worker description is to help people in need and to help address social problems. With the Service values, Social workers are expected to use the knowledge and skills gained in becoming a social worker to address social and society problems and help people in need. As part of social work principles and values, social workers are expected to place their clients’ interests above their self-interests.
- Social Justice: One of the responsibilities of a social worker is to challenge social injustice. From a social justice perspective, the roles of social workers involve providing solutions for social injustices, particularly for clients living in poverty and facing discrimination and unemployment. As explained by socialworkguide.org, “Social workers are expected to exhibit sensitivity to culturally and ethnically diverse populations and to assist communities with access to services and resources and help them with information that helps combat oppression.”
- Dignity & Worth of the Person: One of the important social worker duties is to respect the inherent dignity and worth of each person they work with. As part of a social worker job description you are expected and required to treat your clients with respect and dignity.
- Importance of Human Relationships: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships in all social work stages. This social work code of ethics emphasizes that effective human relationship and rapport with people is a critical function of a social worker role and social work value.
- Integrity: Integrity is number 5 in the list of six core values of social work, and it emphasizes that anyone becoming a social worker should expect to behave in a trustworthy manner as much trust is placed in them. By adhering to ethical practices, social workers are expected and strongly encouraged to conduct themselves with honesty, transparency, and integrity.
- Competence: The final social work code of practice is competency. This code emphasizes that the description of social work involves social workers having a great responsibility to act within their competency level and to always aim to improve their professional development. In essence, the social worker should act in their areas of competence and continue developing their professional expertise.
These six social work values provide a framework from which all social workers operate, whether they have medical social worker jobs, school social worker jobs, community social worker jobs, prison social work jobs, or other social worker role. Behind each of the social work values are ethical principles that exemplify that value.
For a detailed review of the 6 code of ethics social work pdf or for 10 principles of social worker roles, click here: national association of social workers code of ethics. If you visit the NASW website, don’t miss the pages listed below in the section below.
Where Can I Find Ethical Standards – Code of Ethics Social Work PDF Pages?
Clicking on the NASW links below will allow you to gather more information on the ethical standards that are relevant to all social workers job description and roles. You can easily click on print to print these pages to PDF.
These ethical standards as explained by the NASW cover (1) the ethical responsibilities that social workers should have for their patients and clients, (2) the ethical responsibilities that social workers should have towards their colleagues, (3) the ethical responsibilities that social worker roles should have in their work and practice settings, (4) social workers’ ethical responsibilities as professionals and responsibility – Social workers are expected to continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them using best practices. (5) the ethical responsibilities that social worker roles should have towards the social work profession, and (6) ethical social worker responsibilities to the broader community and to society as a whole.
Are the social work code of conduct enforceable?
Some of them are enforceable, and some are more aspirational (great to have).
As stated by the NASW, “the extent to which each standard of conduct is enforceable is a matter of professional judgment to be exercised by those responsible for reviewing alleged violations of ethical standards.”
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to Clients >>
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues >>
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings >>
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals >>
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession >>
- Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society >>
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Do you have any additional questions about this social work values & responsibilities of a social worker guide? Contact the Social Work Portal Team and let us know. In addition if you have feedback or would like to comment on the “what are the 6 social work values? question, kindly contact us also.
Overview: Social Worker Description
Social workers help enhance human well-being by assisting people with basic and complex needs for improving their lives. To effectively help people, one of the important social worker duties is being able to assess a person for their physical, emotional, and other support needs.
Becoming a social worker involves learning how to identify those needs, and providing assistance directly and through referrals to other resources. In many situations, the duties of a social worker will include coordinating with other caregivers and support agencies to find the resources required to help someone improve their lives and overcome a problem.
Key Social Workers Duties and Responsibilities:
- Doing assessments of clients and patients to identify needs
- Diagnosing emotional or mental issues (licensed social workers)
- Interviewing and researching clients to build a case report
- Coordinating with other people or agencies for a client’s care plan
- Providing support and counseling to individuals, families, and groups
- Carrying out care plans to help a client through a crisis
- Creating and managing client case files
- Providing referrals to appropriate agencies
- Advocating on behalf of the client to get them the assistance they need
- Coordinating ongoing follow-up with clients as needed
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Do you have any questions or feedback related to the question, “What qualifications do you need to be a social worker?” or children’s social work jobs? If so, click here to contact the Social Work Portal Team.
Why Should You Become a Social Worker? What’s in it for You?
There are many different occupations out there to choose from where you are not faced with daily emotional trauma and challenges to solve for people. Why become a social worker?
One simple explanation from a social worker, D’atra Franklin is “I have a passion and need to help people.” This is a common reason that people become social workers. They want to help people or communities in need and gain satisfaction from being of service to others.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Another answer to “why become a social worker” is that you can help people in many different settings. You’re not tied to applying your learned social work values in one area but rather can work everywhere from the educational system to the corporate world.
You have options! Social worker responsibilities and roles apply for the following types of occupations:
- School social worker jobs
- Hospital social worker jobs
- Military/veteran social worker jobs
- Eldercare social worker jobs
- Hospice social worker jobs
- Higher education system social worker jobs
- Corporate employee wellbeing social worker jobs
- Foster Care child social worker jobs
- Home health/support social worker jobs
- And many more
When answering, “Where do social workers work?” we should also note that there are several job opportunities outside of social work that your social work degree and experience can qualify you for.
Where do social workers work that is not as a social worker? Their experience can lead them to jobs, such as a human resources manager, community organizer, college admissions counselor, diversity and inclusion specialist, college professor, or high school counselor.
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- Depression Questionnaire and Scoring Guide – Top Screening Guide
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- PHQ-2 Scoring and Assessment Guide – Patient Health Questionnaire-2
- PHQ-4 Scoring and Assessment Guide | Patient Health Questionnaire-4
- PHQ-9 Scoring Assessment Guide | Top Patient Health Questionnaire-9
- Guide to Social Work Interventions | All You Need to Know
- Risk Assessment Guide for Social Workers with Template & Samples
- Social Work Agencies Near You (Social Workers, Consultants & Services)
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- Popular Social Work Case Notes Formats (SOAP, BIRP, GIRP, and Dap Notes Examples)
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What qualifications do you need to be a social worker? The section below covers what you need to know about the qualifications required to be a social worker. Contact the Social Work Portal Team if you have any more questions about this guide.
What Qualifications Do I Need to Be a Social Worker?
Whether you are looking for medical social worker jobs, children’s social worker jobs, or jobs in any other areas of social work, you’ll need to meet some qualifications.
If you’ve ever searched, “What qualifications do I need to be a social worker,” then you’ll likely have run across both educational requirements and “soft skills” or personality qualifications that help someone better carry out the duties of a social worker.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Social Worker? | Educational
- Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), in some cases, you can have a degree in psychology, sociology, or a related field instead.
- Some social worker responsibilities require a master’s degree in social work (MSW)
- More advanced social worker duties require being a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
What Qualifications Do I Need to Be a Social Worker? | Soft Skills
These soft skills aren’t all prerequisites to becoming a social worker; however, you may run across them when looking at a social worker description if looking for school social worker jobs or other social worker jobs.
- Good communication
- Active listening skills
- Capacity for being empathetic
- Strong desire to help others
- Organizational skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Problem-solving skills
- Collaboration/Ability to work well with others
Related: How to Get a Social Worker for Help with Emotional, Physical, or Mental Needs
General Social Workers Duties and Responsibilities from Real Job Postings
We’ve touched on some of the general responsibilities of a social worker above. They cover many different social work stages and social work job types.
In this section, we’ll provide more details on the duties of a social worker as found in actual job postings for medical social worker jobs, school social worker jobs, hospice social work jobs, family and child social worker jobs, and others.
Knowing how employers define their answer to, “What qualifications do I need to be a social worker?” provides the most accurate picture of what to expect for social worker duties.
The following social worker responsibilities were sourced from social worker job listings on Indeed.
- Engage clients in group therapy and a range of therapeutic activities
- Help clients achieve success in homes, schools, and communities
- Collaborate with others to help fulfill client needs
- Provide behavior interventions
- Assist in planning, developing, organizing, and evaluating social service programs
- Provide emotional support to those in need
- Connect clients to on-site resources
- Provide screening, assessment, planning, and problem resolution
- Provide resource management, social work case services, counseling, and crisis management
- Document accurate care narratives
- Meet with clients and families regularly to provide quality counseling and assess needs
- Identify needs and provide referrals to appropriate support agencies
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Do you have more questions about the duties of a social worker? Contact the Social Work Portal Team to let us know.
School Social Worker Jobs – What You Need to Know
When searching out information like, “Where do social workers work?” and “In what types of jobs can I leverage social worker values?”, you’ll find that many of the jobs you find will be connected to children, families, and schools.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a chart that shows employment numbers by social work type, and the largest area of employment, with over 300,000 jobs, includes child, family, and school social worker jobs.
School, family, and child social worker jobs will focus on a child’s health and wellbeing. This field can include both crisis situations where a social worker may have to go into a home and take a child out, and school social worker jobs where social workers may provide counseling and mental health services to students.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused even more need for people filling school and children’s social worker jobs. Many students are in more need of mental health support than ever due to the switch between remote and in-person learning and the lack of a consistent school environment during the pandemic years.
If you’re wondering, “Where do social workers work in the educational environment?”, here are the types of school social worker jobs currently being advertised:
- High School Mental Health Counselor
- School Social Worker
- School-based Behavioral Health Liaison
- College Admissions Counselor for High School
- Online School-Based Social Worker
- School Counselor/Social Worker
- School Social Worker – Classroom Support
- Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Social Worker
- School Police Social Worker
- Family Services Social Worker – School-Based
- Substitute School Social Worker (Leave Replacement)
- School-Based Mental Health Therapist
- Onsite Case Investigator – COVID School Liaison
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Additional Resources| Roles of a Social Worker
- Social Work Degree Programs for Social Workers – Online & Near You
- Social Worker Job Description, Responsibilities & Duties Guide
- Social Services Guide with Examples, Types & Assessments | All You Need to Know
- Hospital and Medical Social Work Interview Questions | Guide
- Social Work Services Provided by Social Work Agencies, Workers, and Practices
- Independent Social Worker Guide | Top Fees, Jobs, Services, More
- Social Work Private Practice Guide | Guide for Social Workers
- CPT Codes for Mental Health & Therapy | Top Codes
- Best Biopsychosocial Model, Approach, Framework, and Factors | Job Aid
- Biopsychosocial Assessments, Intakes and Templates | Job Aid
- Best Biopsychosocial Model Mental Health Guide
- What is Social Work? Best Social Work Examples, Methods, & Models
- Introduction to Social Work – Best Guide with Examples & Template
- What Does a Social Worker Really Do? Main Roles of a Social Worker
- Social Work Theory & Practices You Need to Be Aware of
- Social Work Evaluation Methods | Practice, Program, and Tools
- Social Work Processes with Examples & SOAP Notes – All You Need
- Social Work Genogram Guide with Samples – Everything You Need
- Social Work Ecomap Guide with Samples – Everything You Need
Conclusion | Job Duties & Responsibilities of a Social Worker
Those interested in becoming social workers typically have a big heart and a desire to help others. Taking on the education and responsibilities of a social worker can open up a wide range of options for working environments.
As you go through higher education social work stages to earn your degree and certification, you’ll find that more social worker responsibilities and opportunities are available to you, such as the ability to diagnose emotional and mental issues and provide therapeutic services.
Understanding the core social work values and key social work duties will provide you with the foundation you need to explore a successful career in the social work field.
See Also: Clinical, Medical & Hospital Social Worker Guide
Social Worker Responsibilities | FAQs
What are the social work values?
If you're considering becoming a social worker, you'll want to learn the main principles and social work values as laid out by the National Association of Social Workers.
These social work values provide a framework from which all social workers operate.
6 Key Social Work Values:
• Service
• Social Justice
• Dignity & Worth of the Person
• Importance of Human Relationships
• Integrity
• Competence
Why become a social worker?
There are many different occupations out there to choose from where you are not faced with daily emotional trauma and challenges to solve for people. Why become a social worker?
One simple explanation from social worker, D'atra Franklin is “I have a passion and need to help people.“ This is a common reason that people become social workers. They want to help people or communities in need and gain satisfaction from being of service to others.
What qualifications do I need to be a social worker?
• Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), in some cases, you can have a degree in psychology, sociology, or a related field instead.
• Some social worker responsibilities require a master’s degree in social work (MSW)
• More advanced social worker duties require being a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
What are common social worker responsibilities?
Social workers help enhance human well-being by assisting people with basic needs for enhancing their lives. To effectively help people one of the important social worker duties is being able to assess a person for their physical, emotional, and other support needs.
Key Social Workers Duties and Responsibilities:
• Doing assessments of clients and patients to identify needs
• Diagnosing emotional or mental issues (licensed social workers)
• Interviewing and researching clients to build a case report
• Coordinating with other people or agencies for client’s care plan
• Providing support and counseling to individuals, families, and groups
• Carrying out care plans to help a client through a crisis
• Creating and managing client case files
• Providing referrals to appropriate agencies
• Advocating on behalf of the client to get them the assistance they need
• Coordinating ongoing follow-up with clients as needed
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