Are you considering a future in social work? Between 2023 and 2033, social work jobs are projected to grow by 7%, considered faster than average for all occupations, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Many are drawn to social work because of a strong desire to help others. While the profession is very admirable and rewarding work – often helping vulnerable or at-risk clients – the role has a lot of complexity and versatility, with various specialties available.
Whether you are applying for a Master of Social Work (MSW) program or considering the profession as a potential career, it’s important to know what social work involves. HPSO answers some key questions surrounding the profession to help you gain a strong foundation.
What Is Social Work?
At its core, the social work profession plays a critical role in enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. It involves practices aimed at improving the quality of life and social policy for vulnerable people and communities in need. Social work incorporates insights from psychology, sociology, and public health to produce comprehensive approaches to social welfare.
Social workers are committed to aiding people overcoming a variety of life challenges, such as mental health concerns, substance abuse issues, or family disputes. Typically, social workers serve clients in vulnerable groups and provide essential resources and support to help their clients address and prevent issues impacting their daily lives.
Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, such as hospital and healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and public health organizations. Particularly in medical settings, social workers may serve as patient advocates as well as helping patients and their families or guardians to navigate the complex healthcare system.
As of May 2024, there were 751,900 social workers in the United States and the median annual wage was $61,330, according to the BLS.
What Is the Role of Social Workers?
Social workers assist clients and communities in a multitude of ways. According to the BLS, typically duties of a social worker may involve (this is not a complete list):
- Identifying people and communities needing assistance
- Helping clients and their families navigate complex healthcare systems and care plans
- Evaluating client needs and support networks
- Helping clients adjust to significant life changes and challenges, such as illness, divorce, unemployment, or homelessness
- Researching and advocating for community resources for clients, such as food stamps, childcare, and healthcare
- Responding to crisis situations, such as child abuse and mental health emergencies
- Managing client progress and follow-ups for improvement
- Maintaining case files and records
- Providing psychotherapy services
At a higher level, social workers also help community organizations and policymakers create or enhance social programs, services, and conditions. This may be referred to as
macro social work, as noted by the
BLS.
The typical routine of a social worker depends heavily on their work setting and the types of clients they serve.
Who Do Social Workers Serve?
Just like other healthcare providers, social workers serve all types of clients, from individuals and families to students to veterans and beyond. Just like anyone dealing with complex life challenges may benefit from therapy, any client in need of support or navigating life issues may benefit from being assigned a social worker.
Prominent client groups social workers help include:
- Individuals facing a range of life challenges, such as medical issues, mental health issues, disabilities, substance abuse issues, poverty or homelessness, and victims of violence, among others
- Children and students in schools
- Elderly individuals
- First responders in crisis situations
What Are Different Types of Social Workers?
The types of social work you can focus on as a career truly runs the gamut. Many social workers specialize in serving a specific client population.
Different
types of social work include (this is not a complete list):
- Administration and Management
- Advocacy and Community Organizing
- Aging
- Child Welfare
- Developmental Disabilities
- Healthcare
- International Social Work
- Justice and Corrections
- Mental Health and Clinical Social Work
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
- Occupational and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Social Work
- Policy and Planning
- Politics
- Public Welfare
- Research
- School Social Work
Similarly, social workers are often employed in a particular work setting in connection to the clientele they manage. According to the
BLS, about 810,900 social worker roles in 2024 were employed across the following sectors:
- Child, family, and school social workers: 399,900 jobs
- Healthcare social workers: 193,200 jobs
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 136,800 jobs
- All other social workers: 81,000 jobs
What Degree Is Required for the Social Work Profession?
In order to become a social worker, you typically need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. All programs require social work students to complete supervised fieldwork or internships. Certain states may also require a license. Other specific requirements may also vary by state.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) require additional training because they diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues in their role. To become a LCSW, you must typically complete a MSW degree followed by post-graduate supervised clinical experience (typically 2 or 3 years are required, but it varies by state), and you must then pass a clinical board licensing exam (which also varies by state).
Being a LCSW enables you to conduct independent clinical practice (therapy, mental health counseling, assessment), supervise other social workers, and open a private practice.
Be sure to look up your state’s educational and supervision requirements if you are considering a future in social work.
What Are Common Challenges Facing Social Workers?
Although social work is rewarding and impactful, it can also be highly stressful. Social workers may face intense, complex, and even risky scenarios when assisting clients in the field. Examples include accompanying first responders to an emergency, such as a domestic violence dispute, mental health crisis, or assisting with acrimonious child custody arrangement handoffs.
While social workers are professionally trained to help deescalate and navigate these types of high-stakes scenarios, this line of work can still take its toll. From stress and burnout to overwhelming caseloads and beyond, social workers can have a lot on their plate.
Feeling overwhelmed at work can potentially lead to a lapse in attention to detail – particularly when stress piles up over time. Despite best efforts, a social worker could commit an error on the job that could lead to a malpractice allegation. A costly lawsuit can not only amplify stress levels, but also put your career, license, and finances at risk.
What Are Potential Social Worker Malpractice Claims?
Just like other healthcare professionals, social workers may risk becoming involved in a malpractice allegation, such as:
- Breach of client confidentiality
- Negligence
- Inadequate documentation
- Crossing client boundaries
- Misrepresentation
- Failure to report
- Improper assessments or diagnosis
- Inadequate supervision
A malpractice claim can have a devastating effect on the livelihood you’ve worked hard to achieve. Be sure to take measures to help protect your career.
The Importance of Social Worker Malpractice Insurance
While you may never envision it happening to you, a malpractice lawsuit can arise when you least expect it – putting your career, license, financial stability, and reputation at risk. Individual social worker professional liability insurance is an important risk management tool to consider to safeguard your livelihood. By relying on coverage through your employer, you may not be fully protected, because the organization’s interests may take priority over yours in the event of a malpractice claim. Additionally, you may only be covered while at work. HPSO, on the other hand, offers 24/7 coverage on
and off the job to help protect you when volunteering and for other activities.
At HPSO, we realize the amazing work social workers do to help vulnerable individuals and communities through challenging times to achieve resilience, rehabilitation, stability, and social change. We are deeply committed to advocating for social workers, as well as other allied health providers, by offering individual malpractice insurance and risk management resources to address the unique risks of your profession.
- Learn more about our social worker malpractice insurance program, which includes Professional Liability, Licensure Defense Expenses, Subpoena Assistance Costs, and much more.
- Access our robust risk management materials, including articles, case studies, claim reports, webinars, and more, to help increase your knowledge and lower your risk exposures.
- HPSO is proudly endorsed by the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW), as well as 40+ professional healthcare associations.
Conclusion
All in all, social workers are dedicated professionals driven by social justice, advocacy, public health, and compassion. Your work is incredibly meaningful, but with such responsibility comes the potential for social worker malpractice exposures. You deserve peace of mind to focus on the important care you provide for your clients. Leave your malpractice insurance needs to us, so you can focus on them.
Ready to take the next step to safeguard your career?
Get a quote for malpractice insurance in just a few minutes!
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm (visited April 18, 2025).
National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/.