Residential Social Worker

Residential social workers are responsible for the well-being of residents living within a unit or centre. These may be adults or children, and many will have physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems, or they may be emotionally vulnerable. A central part of the job is to develop and implement a care plan for each person. This is done with the residents themselves, as well as their families and other professionals. By providing counselling, teaching, therapy and physical care, the aim is to help residents become as independent as possible. Residential social workers work closely with doctors, psychologists, teachers, nurses, probation officers and outside agencies.

Entry level
You could enter residential social work with relevant experience, such as voluntary or paid work with children, but you must obtain a recognised qualification if you wish to develop a long-term career in residential social work.

The main qualification is a three-year degree in social work, which offers a combination of academic learning and practical work experience and can be studied full-time, part-time or by distance learning. For some posts (eg care officers), NVQ at Level 2 or 3 in an appropriate subject may be required, rather than the degree.

Entry requirements for the degree are usually two A levels/three H grades, and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or equivalent qualifications. If you are over 21, you might not need formal academic qualifications. Experience of life and work is greatly valued in this type of work and it is quite common for older people to retrain as social workers.

Making the grade
Depending on your experience and qualifications, you should find opportunities to improve your skills and progress in your career through a range of post-qualifying awards.

You would need to register with the General Social Care Council in England or the equivalent body in the other countries of the UK.

Personal qualities
As a residential social worker, you would need to be sensitive and compassionate, patient and tolerant, and able to gain the confidence and trust of people from different backgrounds.

The work is likely to be to be demanding and stressful at times, and you would need to be stable and mature enough to cope. You should have good communication and organisational skills and you must be able to liaise and negotiate with other agencies while maintaining client confidentiality where appropriate.

Looking ahead
Residential social work is a growth area. The main employers are local authorities and, increasingly, the private sector, voluntary agencies and specialist employment agencies.

Qualified social workers are very much in demand, and jobs are available in most areas of the UK. Self-employment and freelance work is sometimes possible.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include career/personal adviser, education welfare officer, field social worker, nurse, mental health nurse, probation officer or youth worker.

Take-home pay
There are no national pay scales, and salaries for residential social workers vary according to the size and type of home and the level of responsibility involved. As a newly qualified residential social worker, you would probably earn around £17,500 a year, which could rise to £28,000 or above with increased experience and responsibilities. There are usually additional allowances for London and the south east.

Effects
You would most likely work a 35- to 40-hour week, with unsociable hours, including shifts and rotas for weekend and evening work. You might also be on call in case of emergencies.

You would usually spend some nights sleeping in - often in self-contained accommodation attached to the unit - rather than being a permanent resident.

Sources of information
British Association of Social Workers: www.basw.co.uk
Care Council for Wales: www.ccwales.org.uk
Social Work Careers in England: www.socialworkcareers.co.uk
General Social Care Council: www.gscc.org.uk
National Council for Voluntary Organisations: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Northern Ireland Social Care Council: www.niscc.info
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations: www.scvo.org.uk
Scottish Social Services Council: www.sssc.uk.com
Social Care Association: www.socialcaring.co.uk
Social Care Institute for Excellence: www.scie.org.uk
TOPSS England: www.topss.org.uk.
Wales Council for Voluntary Action: www.wcva.org.uk

CRCI: V