Are you someone who cares deeply about others? If so, a career as a community service worker could be right for you. The services that community service workers provide are essential in helping individuals and communities to access the support, resources, and guidance they need to improve their situation and circumstances. As a community service worker, you’ll be working with individuals and communities struggling with a range of social and personal problems, including physical and mental disabilities, substance abuse problems, homelessness, and more. Community service workers find employment in group homes, correctional facilities, mental health agencies, social service agencies, or other organizations to support the communities around them.
If you’re considering a career as a community service worker, read on to discover five different ways you can support your community while on the job.
1. After Your Community Service Worker Program, You Can Provide Emotional Support and Counselling to Communities
After completing your community service worker program, one of the most important ways you can provide support to communities is through emotional support and counselling. Community service workers are a valuable resource for clients struggling with social and personal problems. Clients may be in stressful or frustrating situations, or suffering from mental health issues. As a community service worker, you can support those in need by talking them through their worries, troubles, and hopes. Clients will see you as someone they can trust, and your support can help them to feel understood, contributing to their motivation to change their current situation.
2. You Can Connect Individuals and Groups to Resources
As a community service worker, part of your role within an organization will be to connect the individuals and groups you work with to relevant services that will improve their lives. Your clients may be in need of social benefits, pensions, social assistance, and other community resources. They may also be in search of employment, daycare, housing, transportation, and other services that can lead to greater independence and ease the burdens associated with their daily lives. In order to effectively support your community, you can assess a client’s situation and needs to identify resources which could be most beneficial for them, and work to connect clients to these resources and services.
3. Help People to Develop Independence and Build Skills
When working with individuals and groups after getting your community service worker diploma, one of your main goals will be to equip them with the skills necessary to become more independent. Helping your clients to gain independence through skill-building, counselling, and goal setting will enable them to get back on track and become healthy, capable individuals. In order to support your clients as best you can, you can assess their strengths and work with them to develop goals and plans of action which may improve their situation.
4. Plan and Implement Social Assistance Programs
In addition to supporting your community on an individual level, you can also develop and implement a variety of social assistance programs for the communities you work with. With the guidance of other healthcare professionals, you can develop programs which cater to communities in need. These programs will help communities to build new skills and get the treatment they need in a group setting. Some of the programs you might plan and implement throughout your career could include substance abuse treatment programs, programs focusing on behaviour management, life skills workshops, and more.
5. You Can Support Your Community by Remaining Empathetic Towards Those Struggling with Social Challenges
The job of a community service worker comes with its share of challenges. During your career, you’ll be interacting with individuals and communities in difficult situations, which can often be disheartening. One of the most important ways you can continue to support the community you’re working with is by remaining empathetic to those around you. Clients in need will feel most supported and understood when you treat them with compassion, letting them know that you’re there to help them rather than to judge them.
As a community service worker, the support you provide to communities in need is invaluable in enabling individuals and groups in need to change their situations and improve their lives. If you’re a caring and empathetic person, this could be the career path for you.
Ready to enroll in a community service worker course?
Get the training you need to support your community with a program at Oxford College today!