Difference between a social worker and a counsellor

girleight@

Just to note that although there are quite a few jobs in social work (depending on which area interests you) there are a lot of applicants for each place on degree and masters courses so it is pretty competitive. I would do lots of research.

purple12

I'm recommend she has a look at the forum at Community Care (which is a site/magazine for social workers).

They have a student forum with lots of people discussing these kinds of issues and it will give her a very good idea of social work, training issues etc.

LJW_2

Just to add to the above, there are lots of social work jobs due to the constent turn around of staff. I am a child protection social worker and went into the job to help people. I soon found out it was mostly paperwork, currently about 80% of the work I do. And also about resources, or lack of them. I feel that I am not able to do any real work but to stick a plaster on and hope that works. It is the most stressful work I have ever done that goes home in my head!!!

Neadless to say I have now got a new job and will be soon out of it!

Not for the faint hearted I would say, counselling would be a good choice but I think I would find it a little boring after the high pressured job I have at the moment.

Good luck

Vomityspice

Can I just correct a previous posting. DipSW = Diploma in Social Work

I.e it's not a degree! However, Social Work courses have now changed to degrees.

Another issue is registration with the General Socal Care Counil at £30 per year! You'll need it to get a job.

On the practical side, you will find it much easier to obtain employment being a quialified and registered social worker. The agency i'm registered with, continually ring me with vacancies.(Sadly(for them), I have a job I'm happy with for now).

Quiet_Life

Anyone can stick a shingle on their door saying 'Counsellor'.
I did a University Cert in Counselling and the course was only open to over 25 year olds.
One of our lecturers had every counselling qualification you could get and no one in our class of about 25 felt that they would ever go to her for counselling. She could quote chapter & verse but didn't show any empathy at all, probably why she lectured instead.
Another !!& better} lecturer said that counselling was 'being a kind ear'
His past experience included working with cases of post traumatic stress syndrome, abuse cases, ex-offenders and much more. A person can have all the qualifications in the world and still be a lousy counsellor, or no qualifications and be a good counsellor. The problem is finding a good one, the profession needs to be properly regulated.

spora

sorry, i know this is prob a bit late (only just saw this thread) but if your wife has no luck getting a place in social work then maybe she could look at being a counselling psychologist. I decided i would like to work in the counselling field but i wasnt too keen on the fact that counsellors tend not to work full time and you cant really progress up a career path. So im now studying to be a counselling psychologist. Pay is (a lot) better. Theres more work around, you dont have to work privately to work full time and theres more room for progressing career wise.

daz100

I am a social worker and did my MA recently. It really is a great course but for some people very difficult. The course I was on had around a 2/3 pass rate. I would say if your wife feels she is ready to undertake work at MA level then she should go for it.

In terms of employment I found interviews a pain with the catch 22 - how much post qualifying experience do you have. There are jobs out there though, they just might not be in the field you want to go into initially.

neas

She is a clever girl and already has a Bachelors and Masters degree and as she is my wife I believe fully and whole heartedly in her. Will support her everyway .

If it turns out she dislikes the job after she gets it im sure it will open doors to other opportunities as others have.

I will be happy if she gets the tuition grant and bursary (to top up tuition fees).