Social Worker Requirements, Skills & Qualifications

The following common skills and qualifications are required of a Social Worker:

Bachelor degree in psychology, social work or related field.
Experience working with clients that are affected by issues including neglect, child abuse, domestic violence, mental health and parental substance abuse.
Comfortable using a computer for various tasks.
Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Ability to stay calm and empathize with clients when they are upset.
Licensed clinical social worker.
Able to develop a treatment plan.
Knowledge of crisis intervention.
Ability to give full attention to what social service clients are saying, understand the points being made, ask questions and not interrupt inappropriately.
Awareness of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Ability to judge the relative costs and benefits of potential social service and health care actions and choose the most appropriate one.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Social Worker skill, qualifications and experience. Job requirements for specific Social Worker roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.

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