Start main content

Social Workers

Descriptions & Duties

  • Social Workers provide advice and assistance to individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations to tackle personal and social difficulties. They may encounter to issues related to unemployment, poverty, disability, addiction, criminal and delinquent behaviour, marital and other problems. They analyse and determine the types of services, e.g. helping clients develop skills, arranging treatment or counselling sessions via interviews and provide information on social welfare to them. They follow up and evaluate the services and supports offered to the clients to determine the effectiveness. Besides casework, Social Workers also do indirect services like social work research, social work administration, social issues advocacy, social policy and legislative lobbying.

Generic Competencies

Physical Abilities

Physical abilities

  • Physical strength
  • Eye hand coordination / precision / dexterity

 

Importance:2 (Max:5) 

Skill is occasionally required

 

Technology Skills

Technology skills

  • Computer literacy
  • Application of technology

 

Importance:2 (Max:5) 

Skill is occasionally required

 

Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities

  • Creativity
  • Visualisation
  • Logical thinking

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Comprehension And Expression

Comprehension and expression skills

  • Reading comprehension
  • Oral / written expression

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Social Skills

Social skills

  • Communication
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Organisation And Execution Skills

Organisation and execution skills

  • Planning
  • Organising
  • Judgement
  • Decision making

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Problem Solving Skills

Problem solving skills

  • Ability to solve simple and complex problems effectively and efficiently

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Management Skills

Management skills

  • Leadership
  • Management of finance / time / people / other resources

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Trade Specific Competencies

Empathy

Social Workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations. They must have empathy to foster a healthy and productive relationships with clients.

Knowledge, skills and application of the social work profession and practice

Social Workers must be able to understand and effectively apply the foundation knowledge and skills of social work, following work-related guidelines, procedures, ordinances and social ethics.

General Requirements

Academic qualification

  • A recognised diploma or a bachelor's degree in social work, or equivalent

Professional qualification

  • Registered Social Worker under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, Chapter 505

Career Path & Salary

Private Sector

Monthly Salary $10,000-$30,000

Monthly Salary $20,000-$50,000

Monthly Salary $30,000-$70,000

Monthly Salary $50,000-$110,000

Government Sector

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 16-33

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 34-39

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 40-44

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 45-49

*For more details on Civil Service Pay Scales, please visit website of the Civil Service Bureau.
http://www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/pay/952.html

Related Education & Training

Work Environment

  • Social Workers work in a variety of environments including schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, government agencies, courts, etc. They generally in an office but they may spend time visiting clients during work day schedule.

Related Occupations