Unprotected layers of the population need additional attention, which a person can provide by vocation - a social worker. That is why the wards are interested in the question of what date the Day of Social Worker is celebrated. Officially, workers in this field are congratulated in Russia on June 8. This day is not a public holiday, but it is massively celebrated in all corners of the country, which emphasizes its importance and relevance in modern society.
Who is a social worker?
On a Social Worker's Day, local governments celebrate the best employees. But who is a social worker? This is the person who serves the vulnerable. These can be elderly people, people with disabilities, poor or large families, orphans. It is on the Day of Social Worker that the importance and necessity of such a sphere of employment is noted.
A social worker is that person who can help his ward not only with work, but also with a pleasant word of support. Therefore, people often become social workers not by coercion, but by vocation. Very often these are people who previously volunteered. It is also important here is a person’s determination, psychosensitivity, respect and sociability, since each ward will have to find his own approach, and sometimes it is very difficult.
Features
Activities on the day of the social worker in recent years began to be carried out massively in order to show the importance of this profession and the demand for it in the labor market. There are many vacancies of qualified social workers, since the demand for this profession is small.
In order to start working in this area, it is not necessary to graduate from a university, you can take special courses or have a secondary specialized education. A feature of the profession is that every year a specialist is assigned a certain category that affects the level of wages. So, after three years of work in this area, an employee can receive a bonus of 10% of the salary, and after five - 30%.
But a distinctive feature of this category is the lack of career growth, which inhibits young professionals from going to work in this area.
Pros and cons of the profession
Social Worker Day is another opportunity to remind modern society of the importance and necessity of such employment. Like any profession, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Among the benefits of social work, the following can be noted:
- demand, regardless of time, economic growth or decline in the country, since unprotected segments of the population have been and will always be in any state;
- versatility (often a social worker is not only a personal assistant who can, if necessary, buy bread, help clean the apartment and pay for services, but also a huge psychological and sometimes legal help).
Despite the demand, in this profession there are also disadvantages:
- an individual approach to each client (despite the fact that the social worker has certain responsibilities, very often it is necessary to approach the problems of a person or family individually, so the social worker is always a little psychologist);
- low pay (despite the relevance and necessity, such an area of employment is not considered prestigious, therefore, low-paid);
- human qualities and the ability to empathize (this is what the employee needs, but it must be his innate qualities, since this cannot be learned, often because of empathy and sympathy the employee transfers the difficulties of his ward to his personal life).
So far, in Russia there are much more minuses of employment in the social sphere than advantages, despite the importance and importance of the profession. Another shortcoming or imperfection of this system can be considered inadequate training of competent specialists, since they have recently started research in this area in Russia.
Social Worker's Day Celebration History
Social Workers Day is one of the youngest holidays in the Russian Federation. Officially, it is celebrated for only 17 years, since 2000. June 8, all social workers celebrate their professional day. Often on this day official events are held at the district and district levels.
The history of the development of the profession dates back to the Petrine era. The decree on the creation of special institutions for the elderly, the poor, as well as the sick was signed by Peter I back in 1701. Then such almshouses were opened on the territory of churches, and real doctors worked in shelters. Officially, the profession of a social worker appeared in Russia at the end of the twentieth century.
Now the Day of the Social Worker is a special holiday for those who themselves are called wards in this field. On this day, they can express their gratitude to their helpers and savior and thank for the work.
Event Format
Events that are held in honor of social workers are more formal than entertaining. On this day, in each district or district, as a rule, small presents and flowers are solemnly presented to the best workers in this field of activity.
The Social Worker Day Scenario is a cultural event held in districts of the same format. Often children and creative groups invite to such holidays.
Social work in different countries
As early as 1951, the United Nations adopted a resolution according to which social work was recognized as a professional activity. Workers in this field should have received special education or take courses. In many countries, there are special programs of study at universities to receive the profession of a social worker, while 70% of students and workers in this field are representatives of the weak half of humanity.
Social Worker's Day celebrates the importance of this profession. So, in many countries, people working in this field undergo mandatory continuing education courses, which is not available in Russia. State funds are allocated for these advanced training courses, according to statistics, about 75% of employees continue to study after receiving a profession, attending courses remotely or periodically. After passing special training, each employee engaged in the social sphere passes special tests to determine the level of knowledge he has learned.
There is also the International Association of Schools of Social Work, which includes representatives from more than six dozen countries. International conferences are held, a guide is published, which acts as a work manual for each social worker.
