What is the difference between 'social work' and 'social care'?

Social care involves looking after vulnerable or needy members of society. Qualified social workers make up a large proportion of the sector but there are also allied professions such as occupational therapy, counselling, residential care and advice. The sector is huge and encompasses hundreds of roles, suitable for people from all backgrounds and with any level of qualification. 

What is a social worker?

Social workers need a degree to practise and are required to be registered with the General Social Care Council. They are professionally qualified people involved at a senior level with people who use social care services. Social workers receive regular training to help equip them with the skills needed to assess individual service users' needs and be able to offer support and advice.  

Social care workers may work with service users in their own homes, in residential care facilities, hospitals and health centres, in schools or at advice centres. These organisations may be run by local authorities, voluntary organisations or private companies.

What is a social care worker? 

Social care encompasses virtually any occupation that helps people overcome obstacles in their life. Care provision may be needed in the early or final stages of life, or in response to specific obstacles faced as a result of physical make-up, environment or lifestyle (eg physical handicaps, mental health problems or substance misuse).

Social care workers work in a wide range of areas, such as probation, special needs support, and youth and community work. These allied professions often overlap with social work, although only those people with a formal social work qualification call themselves social workers. Social care workers often do not need formal qualifications to start a job, but will be offered on-the-job training and support from their employers.

Who are service users?

Social workers deal with a variety of ‘service users’. They protect and care for the elderly, children and both physically and mentally disabled people, and work with people on probation, families at risk or people recovering from substance abuse.

They are the people who are in need of your services such as older people or those with HIV/Aids. Increasingly, service users play an active role in the development of social work policy and training, development and hiring of social workers. Some of the main groups include children or families who are under stress, people with disabilities and people with problems related to drugs or alcohol.

Where can I work?

Since social care deals with so many issues, it operates in many different contexts: hospitals or health centres, educational or community settings, residential homes, advice centres or in people’s homes. Whatever your interests there is plenty of choice.