Skills Needed to Be a Clinical Social Worker
Social workers face many challenges as they seek to help the disabled, terminally ill, addicted and others facing serious problems. Besides the social and personal skills needed to help such people without becoming emotionally burned out, clinical social workers also need a high level of professional skills to fulfill their responsibilities.
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Personal Skills
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A strong desire to help people improve their lives motivates most social workers. Personal strengths needed include maturity, objectivity and empathy. They must handle responsibility, maintain good relationships with clients and co-workers, and be able to work independently. Some clinical social workers do not work directly with clients, but instead engage in research or advocacy services. Since many services require collaboration between different agencies, the ability of social workers to effectively relate to other people may be their most essential skill.
Educational Skills
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Clinical social workers generally possess at least a master's degree with coursework in psychology, human development, criminal justice, anatomy and physiology and sociology. State licensing is required and perhaps specialized training for such specialties as addiction counseling.
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Interviewing and Listening Skills
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Clinical social workers spend significant time interviewing clients to determine their needs and create an action plan. Active listening and communication skills are an important part of this process. Clinical social workers are expected to be aware of cultural differences in their clients and to adapt their services to each client's cultural understanding, since they serve clients from a diverse range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Technical Skills
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Computer proficiency is essential because the clinical social worker spends significant time creating strategic plans, filling out forms and filing reports. The ability to use Microsoft Office is expected, as well as proficiency in Internet research and email. Social workers are expected to follow normal office procedures as they provide required documentation for service provision.
Considerations
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Clinical social workers must maintain client confidentiality, so any breach can result in serious consequences. Also, social workers are sometimes in danger of burnout due to large caseloads, unexpectedly high volumes of documentation and tragedies that befall their clients, such as death, incarceration or suicide,. according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The ability to handle stress and develop coping mechanisms are necessary skills, especially among the ones working with vulnerable clients such as abused children.
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