Social work, like many careers in the community, involves a highly demanding and diverse working routine. It’s a role that requires a particular set of soft skills in order for a professional to be successful, and while some need online training to develop them, for others, they come naturally.
Nobody is perfect in every area, so social care professionals must continually work on these skills, honing them as they gain experience. In this blog, we’ll be looking at some of these essential skills and how flexible online training can help you enter the industry.
Active Listening
As the old adage goes, we should listen twice as much as we talk - it’s why we have two ears and only one mouth! This applies to social work, as clients need you to fully understand their needs in every conversation.
It’s also something that will engender respect and help you to build great client relationships, with the opposite happening if your actions show that you weren’t paying full attention.
A Tolerant & Non-Judgmental Nature
Something that online training can’t teach you is tolerance and acceptance, but it’s something you’ll need lots of as a social worker. Whether talking about those with different lifestyles, religions or cultures, you’ll deal with a diverse range of people from all walks of life.
It’s vital that you treat everyone the same, regardless of race, socioeconomic status or culture, in addition to refraining from being judgemental. If you can’t, it’s probably not the profession for you.
Great Organisation
As a social worker, you’ll be very busy, and it will probably feel like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. This means that your organisational skills are going to be put to the test, as you try and keep track of all those phone calls, meetings and house visits you’ll need to make.
If you’re not able to keep up with all of your casework, then your clients are going to be impacted, so it’s perhaps one of the most important skills of all.
Inner Strength
As community-based online training will teach you, social work can be emotionally challenging, with some days being worse than others. Even for dedicated professionals, it can take its toll on your spirit, which is why professionals need a certain amount of inner strength.
Being happy and healthy is essential for anyone in this line of work, as you can’t provide the care required if your mental and physical well-being is not where it should be.
Enjoy a Career in the Community With Online Training
You’ll be involved in very meaningful work as a social worker, as you get to make a real difference in people’s lives. These are just some of the skills you’ll need, and believe it when we say there’s much more to learn! The good news is that with flexible online learning from OCA, you can get the knowledge you need on your own terms.
For instance, our Working Effectively in the Community Sector is just an example of a wide range of CPD-approved training that can fit around your current obligations and even be paid for in manageable instalments. You can learn all about it by visiting us at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au today, where you’ll also find a professional online course covering more than 20 different industries.
However, if you would like to talk to us about anything discussed here, just call our friendly team of advisors on 1300 611 404, and they’ll be more than happy to steer you right. We have many short courses in Aged Care that can be completed in the comfort of your own home, 100 % online with 1 on 1 mentoring.
