According to the United States department of labor social work employment has a great outlook. With a 12% project growth from 2014 through 2024. It’s definitely faster than the average of all occupations. As any other occupation there are many types of social workers and different paths to getting into this profession. This article focuses on what it takes to become a medical social worker.
We took some time to interview Amauche Ihenacho, a medical social worker, to gain insight on what it takes to begin a career in this field.
What does a career in Medical Social Work Entail?
As a medical social worker, I assist with discharge planning, case management, and I am also responsible for any social work consults. This would mean anything like substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, assault, and any child abuse or elder abuse suspicions.
What I like most about medical social work, is that it allows me to be in a position to help others, but also provides enough distance for me to maintain self-care. This is possible because a client is in charge of what they want their outcomes to be. It is important for social workers in the field to allow clients to move with their own self-determination.
This falls under the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics for Dignity and Worth of a Person (NASW, 2008). Therefore, I am not obligated to set them up from start to finish, which helps me determine how serious they may be about seeking help. If they decline the resources, then that is their decision and I must respect it.
What are some thing someone should know if they are striving to become a medical social worker?
Firstly, get your feet a little wet. It is important that in undergrad, you get some foundation classes in psychology. To know what specific classes, look into what is required of the masters program you plan to apply to.
Once you have finished undergrad, next step would be to receive your MSW. This is important because although you can major as a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), without the master’s degree and the experience, you will not be taken seriously. And let’s be real, you won’t receive “acceptable” experience for a career unless that experience was done while in, or a part of, your master’s program.
What is something that you would say is key success while completing your masters program?
While in your program, it is absolutely necessary that you get one year of therapy experience, and one year of medical social work experience. This is important because most social work careers require experience in one or both. Sadly, with the way to workforce is now, you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job. So, my friends, get the experience in your program.
How prestigious is being a medical social worker?
In the field of social work, being a medical social worker is one of the higher-paying positions, therefore a more challenging field to get into. That is why it is best that if you are able to lock down a medical social work internship, to try and gain inpatient experience in a clinical setting, i.e a clinic or hospital. Make sure both of your selected internships are somewhere you would not mind working at in the future. That is the best way to attempt at having a job lined up when you graduate.
Ok, so lets say I’ve graduated with my Masters in Social Work, what’s next?
Once you have finished your master’s program, naturally the idea is to apply for jobs. However, you should be applying for a job before you graduate not after. This will get you ahead of the curve. Many people apply for jobs in May and June, which means companies are overloaded with applications and your application may get lost in it all. The idea is that by April or May, you already have a couple interviews under your belt.
If you truly like your internship, by mid-April you should have sent a formal email to your supervisor expressing your interest in working for the company along with your resume. It is pivotal that you do not wait for them to inquire. I almost made that mistake, and after I emailed my supervisor, she called me expressing excitement. She stated that because I had not mentioned it to her, she did not think I wanted to work with them. So again I reiterate, email with your resume if you wish to work where you had your internship.
What should we keep in mind when selecting their first job/per-diem positions?
My recommend would be that new graduates, should not turn down a per-diem position if you can’t afford to. I say this because it allows you the time to gain necessary experience, and the freedom/flexibility to still travel or do whatever your heart desires to rejuvenate after graduation.
Just make sure that if you are offered a per diem position, make it clear that you are willing to temporarily accept a per-diem position, and the end goal is to have a full-time role in the next 6-months to 1-year. Make sure you get a clear understanding of the the likelihood and timeframe of being moved to full time. This is the best way to hold them accountable — Make your goals clear, and make them express clear opportunities they see possible for you.
How do I ensure my per-diem position turn into a full time position?
Once you are in the position, as you get closer to the deadline, have a discussion with your supervisor about becoming full time. Send a formal email or inquire in person, to ensure things are on track to gaining a full time position. You do this because:
1) You don’t want them thinking you’re complacent with where you are.
2) It shows that being promoted to a full time position is important to you.
3) You’ll gain an understanding of any challenges or delays with getting you to that position in the timeframe discussed.
If you adhere to the above suggestions, while of course working hard, you should be able to move through the process without too many challenges. Of course everyone’s story to success is different, but that is mine and I believe that if others are aware of how to navigate the process, then it could end up being their success story too.
Author
Amauche Ihenacho
Medical Social Worker
