Miss Maria: A Social Worker Interview Revealing the Roles of Direct and Clinical Workers - Essay Sample

Introduction

Miss Maria is a social worker with whom I had the pleasure of having an interview. I found her through a seminar sponsored by the hospital she works. Through this interview, I got to learn a lot about what entails social work. Primarily, I got to understand what social workers do. Social work has two main categories. Direct-service social workers and clinical social workers. The direct -client workers help people in need cope with their day to day problems while the clinical workers help in diagnosing and treating people's behavioral and emotional issues.

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Therefore they get to work in settings such as clinics, hospitals, and other private practices. A social worker requires a big heart to cope with the challenges that come with the work. Such situations include adopting children diagnosed with terminal illnesses, people with disabilities, and addictions. Social workers offer services to the most vulnerable people in society. Their goal and the professional requirement is to help relieve those suffering and improve life in communities.

I conducted my interview on April 30th at 1:20 pm through a face to face meeting. Miss maria works in Riverside healthcare as a social worker. The hospital's location is in Bourbonnais, IL, USA. I had called her earlier on the phone to schedule the interview on time.

The Most Challenging Aspects of the Interview

The face to face interview required a reasonable amount of time. That said, I had to check in on miss Maria's work schedule so that I could catch her at a good time and not inconvenience her. Specifically, her lunch hour. I had some issues, too, when it came to meeting her since I had to travel a long way to where the interviewee was. That made the interview somewhat expensive, but worth it in the end.

What Were the Most Exciting Parts of the Interview

social work is a sub-sector in the broader field of health services, an area that deals with diverse tasks. Social worker addresses various social aspects in society. Social justice is an example. Social workers deal with social justice, such as helping women suffering from domestic abuse, helping the homeless. Also, they help in addressing basic needs in society. They help connect homeless people to get shelters, help families get food, and even children welfare. For a social worker, the requirement is they must have individual skills and qualities relevant to the field of work. Such include balance, whereby there are boundaries set between personal life and work. Empathy is another excellent quality. A social worker should be able to understand and put themselves in the position of their patients so that they can improve the patient's outcome. Ethical standards involve upholding the required principles and standards, adhering to the law regarding the patient's confidentiality.ability to solve problems faced by the clients efficiently. A sensible sense of humor is a bonus in this kind of work. Humor helps soften edges when conditions or situations get rough. A good sense of humor helps to relieve pressure when it's too much. It's a good trait commendable for the well being of the social workers. Last but not least, time management. Social workers have unpredictable working hours. A good schedule helps in coordinating responsibilities without falling behind on workload.

The Questions that Worked Well with the Interview

Interviewer: What made you go into social work as a career?

Interviewee: everyone has a reason that motivated them to become who they are. It's vital to choose a job that you love. That way, you never have to feel like you are working on any day in your life. I chose social work as a career with the sole purpose of helping people from all walks of life. The most vulnerable people in society. I precisely wanted to be a clinical social worker from a personal experience I once encountered. That way, I'm able to work with clients and still impact their lives positively. I have personally earned growth from my work as I have come to respect, vulnerability, relationships, and people's right to choose what they want.

Interviewer: why did you choose this specific field of social work?

Interviewee: social work is a broad field, and everyone prefers to work in a position where they feel comfortable and useful. I chose to work as a clinical health worker for rather personal reasons. When I was thirteen, my grandmother died of cancer. The hospice nurses and social workers allowed her to die at home on her terms. Seeing all that first hand taught me how cancer fighters think and how they feel and what they need. That experience alone was a revelation to me. I decided that I wanted to help anyone who was in such a position at that hour of need. Being a social worker would allow me to do that effectively? From then onward, I decided to help others like grandmothers to advocate for themselves.

Interviewer: would you be prepared to make home visits?

Interviewee: yes, I would, and I do. Visiting a client's home is not a small thing. It's a big step to take and can be emotionally challenging if you are nor ready or experienced. I have done several home visits. That's because I am mentally prepared and prepared since I have been in that position before. Either way, home visits are an excellent way to know your client better. I get to spend quality time with them, laughing, crying, and empathizing. Eventually, they open up to me on what they feel or fear. That way, I can comfort them and work with them at a relatable level.

The Questions That Did Not Work So Well

Interviewer: how would you handle a problematic/uncooperative client?

Interviewee: Being a social worker involves a lot, including dealing with clients who are aggressive and acting difficult. I will give you an example where I once had a client who was in too much pain. But still, he refused to take his pain medicine. As challenging as this is, it is crucial to remain calm and collected. The first step is to avoid any retaliation, shouting, or even force. Instead of applied empathy, composure, and listening skills. Once I listened to him, I realized that the client felt taking medicine made him seem week. Thus he did not want to appear as a weakling. Forcing him to take medicine would mean that he had no control over his situation or condition. That would be so wrong. After listening, I explained to him the benefits of taking medicine and how that would help him heal faster and be able to go home sooner.

Interviewer: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a social worker?

Interviewee: it is essential to note that everyone has some powers as well as weaknesses. Every day as I prepare to go to work, I feel some enthusiasm. That's because I love what I do as a social worker. I am good at communicating with my clients, understanding their problems and needs. I also praise myself on my capability to solve problems or conflicts that come along with the job. Social work is not just like any other job in the market. It requires many commitments since there are many responsibilities involved. However, nobody is perfect. I have some weaknesses on my own. I'm particularly over-friendly to my clients. It can sometimes bring up tricky situations at the workplace. Another of my weaknesses is being too honest. With that in mind, I try my best to rectify and overcome these weak spots.

The Most Relevant Information From the Interview

Social work is not a career for just anyone who wants a job. It requires a lot of commitment and compassion. That is why the only people who make it in this field are those with essential qualities. Not only educational training but also work experience is crucial. It s not an easy task to work with people who are facing different difficulties in society. That's why social workers have a responsibility to make things easier for those having it hard.