5 ms·

What’s the reasoning behind this? Like librarians, firefighters and cops often serve as de-facto social workers… And sure they can’t handle the most complex cas

What’s the reasoning behind this? Like librarians, firefighters and cops often serve as de-facto social workers… And sure they can’t handle the most complex cases. But a lot of times someone’s problem might boil down to something simple, like they just need shoes or a meal.

aidenn0 5y ago
My guess is it's liability. 99% of the policies that the department of social services has is to cover their asses when they get sued. The remaining 1% sometimes manages to help people as well. I should note that a lot of the work for open cases goes to (lower paid) case-aids, and certain things can be delegated to volunteers (e.g. I've provided transportation to school for kids who were placed in a foster house outside their school district).
levi-turner 5y ago
> Like librarians Funny you should mention librarians. It is not uncommon for any role which is titled "librarian" to require a masters of library science / information science. Example job ad: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=32cd786e-c6b9-4eee-afc2-3fdbcaeb90cb&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=428109&lang=en_US&source=CC4 https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/... * Other roles are commonly called "Information Specialist" or assorted similar titles (example: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=32cd786e-c6b9-4eee-afc2-3fdbcaeb90cb&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=391896&lang=en_US&source=CC4 https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/...). * Picked this library at random. I'd imagine smaller cities are a bit more flexible here, but I'd still take an even money bet that anyone who is under 45 at any library at random with the formal title of "librarian" has a masters degree.
- robocat 5y ago
  Librarian is a very high status job for “alternatives” in New Zealand. Because of that, libraries can demand high levels of credentials for low levels of pay.
notJim 5y ago
My dad was an lcsw and it’s nothing like what you’re describing. A lot of what he did was counseling people with very serious mental health issues and trauma, often with criminal histories. He was specifically involved in helping people find careers and housing that would allow them to build a stable life. These people had such difficult backgrounds that it took counseling just to get them to that point. I would also add that if you follow the news in the us, it certainly seems like cops need far more training for dealing with these issues.
- jdavis703 5y ago
  I clearly wrote an exemption for the most complicated cases. There are cases where all someone needs is for someone to point them in the right direction (navigating all the agencies and non-profits providing help is daunting). My mom ran a daycare that partnered with a women’s shelter. Some of the cases were just a person who need a few months to sort out their life and rebuild. Other’s had deep emotional trauma, little means of supporting themselves independently (e.g. lacking a high school education) and needed help with navigating the criminal justice system (either as a victim or a defendant). These folks clearly need a social worker with deep expertise in multiple areas.

aidenn0 5y ago

My guess is it's liability. 99% of the policies that the department of social services has is to cover their asses when they get sued. The remaining 1% sometimes manages to help people as well. I should note that a lot of the work for open cases goes to (lower paid) case-aids, and certain things can be delegated to volunteers (e.g. I've provided transportation to school for kids who were placed in a foster house outside their school district).

levi-turner 5y ago

> Like librarians Funny you should mention librarians. It is not uncommon for any role which is titled "librarian" to require a masters of library science / information science. Example job ad: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=32cd786e-c6b9-4eee-afc2-3fdbcaeb90cb&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=428109&lang=en_US&source=CC4 https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/... * Other roles are commonly called "Information Specialist" or assorted similar titles (example: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=32cd786e-c6b9-4eee-afc2-3fdbcaeb90cb&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=391896&lang=en_US&source=CC4 https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/...). * Picked this library at random. I'd imagine smaller cities are a bit more flexible here, but I'd still take an even money bet that anyone who is under 45 at any library at random with the formal title of "librarian" has a masters degree.

robocat 5y ago
Librarian is a very high status job for “alternatives” in New Zealand. Because of that, libraries can demand high levels of credentials for low levels of pay.

notJim 5y ago

My dad was an lcsw and it’s nothing like what you’re describing. A lot of what he did was counseling people with very serious mental health issues and trauma, often with criminal histories. He was specifically involved in helping people find careers and housing that would allow them to build a stable life. These people had such difficult backgrounds that it took counseling just to get them to that point. I would also add that if you follow the news in the us, it certainly seems like cops need far more training for dealing with these issues.

jdavis703 5y ago
I clearly wrote an exemption for the most complicated cases. There are cases where all someone needs is for someone to point them in the right direction (navigating all the agencies and non-profits providing help is daunting). My mom ran a daycare that partnered with a women’s shelter. Some of the cases were just a person who need a few months to sort out their life and rebuild. Other’s had deep emotional trauma, little means of supporting themselves independently (e.g. lacking a high school education) and needed help with navigating the criminal justice system (either as a victim or a defendant). These folks clearly need a social worker with deep expertise in multiple areas.