Human service workers

Human service workers

Social work, conducted as charity or pursued as profession, forms the basis of modern human services. At its most elementary level, human services can be defined as a generic term attributed to people actively involved in social welfare, such as life skill counselors, social service workers, childcare and gerontology experts, alcohol and drug abuse councilors and rehabilitation workers. Some of the social organizations have well equipped structural facilities and are ably directed by professionals such as doctors, psychiatrists, nurses and surgeons. Smaller units may be exclusively be handled by individuals with the zeal to help society. As such, human services workers may be guided and closely supervised by professional experts, or they may function according to their own initiative and instinct to make the world a better place to live in. (Ong, & Loukaitou-Sideris, 2006)

The ultimate aim of the human service worker is to improve the lives of peoples or societies, eradicate the chronic problems of society through the application of social work, and positively change the human condition. It is the religion of the human service worker to pursue social justice and enhance the quality of life. Generally, it is the duty of the human service workers to fight against social atrocities, yet special attention must always be accorded to the poor, the sick and the aged. As such, the human services workers are not only concerned with the prevalent wrongs in the society, but also must try to identify their causes and assimilate their effects on human beings. Only after the cause and its effect have been identified, can they actually take steps to eradicate the problem. (Lewis & Widerquist, 2001)

The Industrial revolution transformed the face of Europe…along with its benefits it also brought about multifarious societal problems. It was in response to such problems that social services began to be scientifically studied in eminent institutions of the 19th century as a professional pursuit. By the 20th century, it had already developed into a practice oriented and research based study with thorough scientific logistics. Modern social workers are involved in myriad activities and more often than not are professionally registered and licensed individuals who may function individually or in a group. (Evans, 1996)

The human services worker needs to analyze and appreciate evidence-based knowledge. Additionally, research-oriented results should be looked after and should pay particular attention to the indigenous knowledge of a particular group or society. The logic of such an approach is that it securely anchors the problem to its location characteristics and may actively help in resolving it. The human resources worker perfectly attuned to the delicate nuances of the interaction of the human with the external environment and should analyze the multiple influences working on individual lives and the diverse bio-psychological factors. The profession of the human services worker makes it imperative that heshe should be conversant with the theories of human development and try to apply them so as to engender socio-cultural and individual changes. (Evans, 1996)

Traditionally, it has been the ultimate aim of professional social workers to work for social justice and alleviate inequalities of society. As such, they provide a wide network of help to communities and individuals. Their line of work starts from actually identifying crisis areas and determining eligibility for health and welfare programs.  A professional human service worker is expected to conduct a variety of services such as counseling on childcare, providing mental and medical support to clients with physical or mental problems, counseling drug or substance abusers, providing healthcare and physical and mental rehabilitation. Usually the human services worker closely follows the directions and supervision of doctors, counselors, psychiatrists and nurses. Some of the dedicated human service workers are often attached with non-profit organizations like faith-based institutions, grass root counseling centers, community health care and orphanages. Some even serve the military and look after the wounded and psychologically shattered war-victims and soldiers. It is also a prevalent practice among the human services workers to work as counselors and psychotherapists, often working in collaboration with eminent medical practitioners. (Dickson, 2004)

Human services workers for the benefit of the poor and indigent organize workshops; administer emergency food banks and fuel programs, communal activities, health camps and charitable services. Human services workers who check their financial records and income tax records assist clients applying for welfare grants and various doles. They also provide emotional support, medical assistance, transportation facilities and daycare facilities to their clients. Part of their profession is to work as mediators who help the client to track the proper agencies or represent the client before social service providers or governmental institutions. Service can be provided to clients in such diverse locations as rehabilitation centers, daycare organizations, hospitals, penal institutions, office settings, clinics, schools or private homes. It is the usual practice of the human service worker to work forty hour a week, which may well include night shifts and working even on holidays and weekends. Their clients may range from the potentially hostile to mentally deranged and physically challenged individuals and may call for duty in less than ideal locations such as homeless camps and makeshift shanties. In psychiatric wards and outpatient clinics, they teach living skills and proper sanitation to the patients and help them to communicate better with their fellow human beings. (Evans, 1996)

Such work, while eminently satisfying at times can also be emotionally draining, compounded by the fact that the social services organization are perennially understaffed and the working conditions are often gruesome. Most organizations prefer candidates with a college degree in human services, social work or behavioral sciences, while some are content to hire high school graduates. The amount of reasonability assigned to a human services worker is directly proportional to hisher level of formal training and hands on experience. (Murphy & Pardeck, 2005)

Thus, high school graduates are more likely to get on the job training in daycare centers, while formally trained workers may lead group homes or assist in psychiatric counseling. However, formal training should also be complimented with the strong desire to help the poor, sick and needy. The peculiar traits of a human services worker is that heshe should be patient, understanding, and supportive, with excellent communication skills, acute sense of responsibility and dexterity of time management. Institutions in USA offering human services programs generally have a core curriculum which seeks to train students in observation, documentation and recording as well as learning communication skills, behavior management, group dynamics and crisis intervention. (Ong, & Loukaitou-Sideris, 2006)

In conclusion, it should be noted that such formal education is usually necessary for advancement and as such, the human services worker should successfully complete hisher bachelors as well as masters degree in social sciences. Statistics predict that between the mid 90s and mid 00s the human services workers will be among the most quickly mounting occupations and as these jobs are not striking to everyone, competent candidates will have little difficulty to find good jobs. (Evans, 1996)

 References:

Dickson, Donald T; 2004; Law in the Health and Human Services: A Guide for Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, And Related Professionals; Simon & Schuster

Evans, Paul E; 1996; Description of Human Services Workers; Occupational Outlook Handbook; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Retrieved on 17.09.2008 from http://www.personal.psu.edu/~pph1/humserv.htm

Lewis, Michael Anthony & Widerquist, Karl; 2001; Economics for Social Workers: The Application of Economic Theory to Social Policy and the Human Services; Columbia University Press

Murphy, John W & Pardeck, John T; 2005; Disability Issues for Social Workers and Human Services Professionals in the Twenty-First Century; Haworth Social Work Practice Press: University of Michigan

Ong, Paul M & Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia; 2006; Jobs and Economic Development in Minority Communities: realities, challenges, and innovation; Temple University Press