The Social and Community Support industry is one of the largest employing industries across the U.K.
There are several in-demand roles across the sector including Youth Workers, Social Services Specialists, Childcare Workers and Case Managers.
Working in social and community care often means supporting vulnerable people experiencing poverty, discrimination, domestic violence or economic hardship. You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team with other healthcare professionals and liaise closely with patients’ families or carers.
6 Reasons to Get Involved in Social and Community Work
While a demanding industry to get into, offering care, support, and guidance to those who need it most undoubtedly comes with all the feels too.
Narrowing down the reasons to get involved in the sector was no easy feat, but here are six of our top recommendations for why this is an excellent pathway to pursue:
1.You can contribute to your local community and other people’s lives.
Many of the people you’ll support will be vulnerable and need guidance for different reasons. Every day, you’ll work to help individuals get back on their feet, help them build a better life for themself, and support them in managing life’s challenges.
You’ll directly impact others and get to work with other professionals, all aiming to make a difference for the better.
2. Lots of job variety and opportunities for growth.
Many different roles sit under the social work and community services banner.
Not only does this mean you’ll have plenty of opportunities when choosing a career path to start with, but there’s also plenty of opportunity to keep growing as you learn more about the industry and make more decisions on the type of work you want to be involved with.
A few roles you could explore include:
- Social Support Case Worker
- Crisis Intervention Worker
- Community Services Manager
- Community Program Coordinator
- Counsellor
- Child Protection Officer
- Welfare Worker
- Women’s Centre Program Supervisor
3. You’ll advocate for the rights of people who can’t fight for themselves.
If you’re a firm believer in giving back and helping others have a voice when they can’t, a career in social and community work career could be just right for you.
By advocating for others, you help reduce the social, legal, and economic barriers that often trap individuals in poor circumstances.
Step by step, you can show others how to fight for their rights while supporting them every step of the way.
4. It’s a massive area of job growth.
The sector is vital for healthy and supported communities. Anyone starting in this industry will have a long-term career ahead of them, with plenty of opportunities for ongoing professional development and the chance to specialise and diversify their work.
You could work for the NHS or other public or private health services. You could work across hospitals, community outreach, community education, or schools. You could also participate in policy development and use your experiences to make things better for all in the future.
5. There’s heaps of variety in where you could work.
The social and community work industry works across governmental services, for-profit, and not-for-profit sectors. Each sector has its own ups and downs, but the flexibility to choose means you can find the area that works best for you.
These roles are also in-demand nationwide, across our biggest cities and remote and rural locations. Again, this flexibility means you can have many options on where you work depending on the type of lifestyle you’d like to lead.
6. It’s a career that allows for personal growth.
Through the work you’ll do, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people daily through the work you’ll do. Whether they’re clients, other health professionals, or other advocates within the community – there are so many people you’ll get to learn from.
When we live our lives surrounded by people who think and live differently from us, we get the chance to engage with new perspectives and ideas and be challenged on how we view the world. This creates space for greater empathy, increased emotional intelligence and a whole lot of personal growth!
Ready for a Career in Social & Community Work?
What do you think? A career in social and community work sounding better by the second?
We think it’s a fantastic place to grow a career, and the next step, if you want to know more, is to start researching some of the key roles you could pursue and the different entry pathways to get onto!
Entry into the sector is as varied as the roles available, so no matter what academic pathway you choose, there’ll be an opportunity that’s right for you.
