To get an impression of this branch of work, you can look at the function, the purpose and the types of work in practice.

The function of social work is to support people in solving and dealing with problems and disruptions in their functioning in interaction with their social environment. With his assistance, the social worker aims to improve the social functioning of persons or the interaction between persons and their social environment. The realization of this goal constitutes a joint activity of the social worker and the person(s) concerned

Social workers try to give their clients insight into their problems and support them in solving their problems. At the same time, they aim with the assistance that their clients are better able to solve their problems after the assistance has ended. Social workers are also committed to tailoring the services offered by institutions as closely as possible to the problems of their clients. To this end, they also provide information to authorities and other parties involved. They also collect data on shortcomings in the functioning of agencies and in the implementation of legislation, so that policy can be adjusted.

Due to the broad range of tasks (psychosocial assistance, information services, research, collective promotion of interests, etc.), the social worker can be deployed in various organizations, in general social work, but also in institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, youth care, care for the disabled, etc. . Large companies also often employ company social workers and there are social workers with their own practice.