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Social Workers

Social workers provide information, advice and support to those who are socially excluded or are experiencing crisis; they protect the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people, people with disabilities, elderly people and people who are mentally or physically ill, and they may specialise in specific areas of work.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£20,132
£37,103
£53,399

New workers start around £20,132. Normal pay is £37,103 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £53,399.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 84,668 vacancies for this type of job

3.49%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Participates in training and supervision.

  • Gives evidence in court.

  • Keeps case records, prepares reports and participates in team meetings.

  • Organises support and develops care plans to address service users’ needs.

  • Arranges for further counselling or assistance in the form of financial or material help.

  • Undertakes and writes up assessments to specified standards.

  • Interviews individuals and groups to assess and review the nature and extent of difficulties.

  • Liaises with other health and social care professionals and agencies to identify those in need and at risk within the local community.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Social Work

  • Mental Health

  • Working With Children

  • Child Protection

  • Risk Analysis

  • Learning Disabilities

  • Family Support

  • Personal Care

  • Trauma Care

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Communication

  • Management

  • Planning

  • Resilience

  • Leadership

  • Interpersonal Communications

  • Teaching

  • Empathy

  • English Language

  • Decision Making

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

Social Work

University of Wolverhampton

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Wolverhampton · 09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work

University of Cumbria

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Carlisle · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 104/120

Social Work (MA) (PG)

Liverpool Hope University

MA (PG) · 2 Years · Full-time · Liverpool · 11/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Work

Bradford College

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Bradford · 09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work

Edge Hill University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Ormskirk · 09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work

University of Portsmouth

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Portsmouth · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/120

Social Work

University of Winchester

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Winchester · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 96/112

Social Work

University of Sussex

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Brighton · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/141

Social Work

University of Hull

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Hull · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work

Bristol, UWE

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Bristol · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Social Work

Birmingham City University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Birmingham · 09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work (Postgraduate)

University of Huddersfield

MSc (PG) · 2 Years · Full-time · Huddersfield · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Work

University of East Anglia UEA

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Norwich · 09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Work

Northumbria University, Newcastle

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Newcastle upon Tyne · 09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Social Work

University of Brighton

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Brighton · 09/2025

Tariff points: 112/128

Social Work

Middlesex University

MA (PG) · 17 Months · Full-time · London · 09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Work

De Montfort University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leicester · 09/2025

Tariff points: 120/120

Social Work

University of Suffolk

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Ipswich · 09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Applied Social Work

University of Derby

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Derby · 09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Social Work

Lancaster University

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Lancaster · 01/10/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Health and Social Care

Leeds Trinity University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leeds · 09/2025

Tariff points: 104/136

Social Work

Swansea University

MSc (PG) · 2 Years · Full-time · Swansea · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Social Work

University of Sunderland

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Sunderland · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/128

Health and Social Care

University of Bolton

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Bolton · 09/2025

Tariff points: 96/96

Social Work

University of Chichester

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Chichester · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 96/112

Related careers

Speech and Language Therapists

Clinical Psychologists

Other Psychologists

Probation Officers

Youth Work Professionals

Youth and Community Workers

Child and Early Years Officers

Housing Officers

Counsellors

Careers Advisers and Vocational Guidance Specialists

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