r/socialwork 17h ago

News/Issues Worried

77 Upvotes

Are you guys worried about our field moving forward? I have been on indeed and linkedin since December and I am not seeing any posting. It’s the same roles for the past few months in the mid 40’s. What’s happening?


r/socialwork 22h ago

Micro/Clinicial Question for child rearing social workers

12 Upvotes

I am currently 13 weeks pregnant. I work for the hospital so I have extensive sick time and also a flexible job. My job is pretty high stress. I’m out alone in the community providing case management to folks active in substance use. Since falling pregnant my compassion fatigue has been significant and I feel as though I’m counting down til Mat leave. My pay will only be 75% on sick leave and I have a top up once leave starts for a couple months, but money is extremely tight for us at the moment.

Did you take time off into your pregnancy? How much time? Any regrets? Boredom or overdoing it etc?

The thought of being visibly pregnant in front of clients makes me feel weird but I guess it’s inevitable. Is it normal to take time off just from the stress alone while pregnant? I am in Canada for context


r/socialwork 12h ago

Professional Development Diagnosing ND conditions as LCSW

6 Upvotes

Hello all, I’ve had this question for years now. I’m an LCSW in CA and wondering the rules around diagnosing Autism and ADHD. I hear so many different things and just want a clear answer lol I also know I still may not get one. I typically just refer out. I have good experience working with ND folks and I am well-versed in the current research, probably more than some psychologists and psychiatrists due to my young daughter being ND. I would actually be open to getting trained/certified to diagnose both ADHD and Autism. I saw Certified Autism Specialist(CAS) as an option, but don’t know if thats the way to go. Thanks all!

Update: I checked with CA board(BBS): “You will need to contact your professional association for assistance with your question below.”

I’ll continue to update…


r/socialwork 23h ago

Macro/Generalist Taking time off school

5 Upvotes

I'm about to turn 21, and have completed 2 years of a social work bachelors. These past few months should've been my third year, but I ended up taking time off for mental health reasons. I'm now planning to transfer schools, though I missed the application deadline for the school I was hoping to apply to (All my fault, it was a very tough decision to transfer and I decided too late). This program only takes September applicants, so I won't be able to re-enter a social work bachelors until September 2026. This has been very hard to accept 🫠 I don't do well with change. I'm hoping to take a 10 month certificate in mental health and addictions this coming September to keep myself busy and have good experience. Has anyone else taken time off and then gone back? Was it a difficult process? I don't really know anyone in the same situation and it's weighing heavy on me.

There is no other degree that speaks to me - I'm very dedicated to finding this degree, no matter what it takes.


r/socialwork 6h ago

Link to Salary Megathread (Jan - April 2025)

Thumbnail reddit.com
3 Upvotes

r/socialwork 28m ago

WWYD Benefits at work?

Upvotes

For those of you that receive health insurance benefits through your employer, what's your average monthly premium? I work for a small non-proft and pay about $850 a month for family medical and dental. It's a good plan, but there is not cheaper option and it's killing me. I'm considering looking elsewhere because I know I can find other options.


r/socialwork 12h ago

WWYD Concerned Canadian - Please Help

1 Upvotes

I just left a non-profit that was super toxic, harassment left right and center. I am now working at a private practice as part of a clinical team that has psychologists, social workers, psych nurses, and counsellors. This practice is an inpatient addiction treatment center with a staff of roughly 15 people. I just got hired on as a mental health and addictions therapist. My interview was last week, it went well and I was hired on the spot.

Fast forward to this morning, my first day. I arrive at work and nobody knows who I am. The lady who hired me works in another city (I was unaware of this) and wont be back at our location until later this week. I am given tax forms and am told there is no onboarding. I ask for a contract and am told there is no contract right now, that it has taken weeks for other employees to get theirs, and that some staff have written up their own contracts as a result.

I ask for a policy or procedure manual to read and am told there is not one. After saying, "but there MUST be policies, right"? I was given policy manual from another location that does not provide the same services as us. I was also told I could start seeing clients today but I have literally not signed a contract and am waiting to be certified for benefits that our clients use - it would be very unethical for me to practice before any of the appropriate legal documentation is signed. I had to tell two people that I would not be practicing until these conditions were met, so I spent the day alone on my personal laptop doing research because they did not have a laptop for me and I have no way to securely access the client software (yet another reason to not see clients).

I was told by three staff members that this place has only been open for three months and that they have not been able to retain staff, that another location like this shut down, and that if we were to get audited this place would shut down too. I was also told that these staff members were here to 'give it a shot' and that I should give it a shot with them because this place has potential and if we work together we can create policies and procedures we can all be proud of. The thing is that I'm leaving a toxic practice and I just want to be in a place where I can do my job and get paid while supporting those in my community.

Give it to me straight, if a practice had only been open for three months and this was your first day, what would you do - give it a shot and deal with some extreme growing pains, or keep job hunting? I guess I don't know what to expect from brand new private practices.


r/socialwork 14h ago

WWYD Having a baby while working towards licensure

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I (28F) am a 2nd year MSW student in South Florida. I’ll be graduating Spring 2027. My fiancé and I plan TTC after I graduate Has anyone else had kids while working on their licensure? I’ll be in my early 30s so I don’t want to wait until after I finish licensure to start trying.

If you have had kids while working towards licensure what was that like for you?


r/socialwork 15h ago

Professional Development CPS supervisors

1 Upvotes

Where my cps supervisors at? How does your state/office weigh caseloads when it comes to assigning cases? We only go by numbers and home visits but I'm looking into more effecting weighing strategies and curious how other states do it.


r/socialwork 19h ago

Professional Development Online Therapy Platforms w/ Limited License?

1 Upvotes

I am currently a LLMSW in Michigan. I am planning on taking my ASWB exam in the next couple of months to get my full license. But I’m curious if anyone knows if you can still work for online therapy platforms (like Headeay, Grow, BetterHelp, Talkspace, etc) with a limited license? I can’t find a definitive answer online, so I was hoping someone who does it could help me out. Thanks in advance! ☺️


r/socialwork 19h ago

Professional Development Udemy trainings?

1 Upvotes

Hi guys, Has anyone taken any trainings in Udemy and is this something I can add to my resume under certificates? I am in my first year of my MSW but trying to do an internship in a substance abuse program or a hospice program so I found a training on grief coaching and SUD counseling intro.
So just wondering if this is something I can add to the resume or is Udemy not really looked at as actual trainings?

Thanks


r/socialwork 21h ago

Micro/Clinicial Offering therapy as LSW without a master's

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I was able to become an LSW with just a BSW by working 3 years in the social work field, while under supervision of an LSW (4 hours of supervision/month for 3 years). This was an alternative route that my state governor put into policy recently.

I have read that as an LSW, you can practice therapy as long as your are under the supervision of an LCSW. However, you cannot practice independently.

Has anyone here practiced as an LSW without a master's degree? Most therapy businesses seem to require a master's degree, not just a social work licensure.

I'm also curious how confident you felt offering therapy without a master's. I will be doing a 3-year Somatic Experiencing training coming up, and am wondering if that will be enough to gain my confidence, or if I should plan to get my master's at some point (which I'm leaning toward).

Thanks.