Social Work Personal Statement Example
My ambition to study for a degree in social work and then pursue a career in this field has developed steadily out of my own personal experiences in the world and in the workplace. I am a mature student who has spent some years in employment, and I have also suffered personal trauma, both of which have served to concentrate my thinking and make it clear to me where my real passions and inspiration would lead me. I feel very strongly about the importance of maintaining human dignity, of offering people the opportunity to be able to choose and control events in their lives, of social justice and the unfairness of oppression. I know that I have much to learn in order to become an efficient social worker, that I need to study the law as it affects social work, theories of sociology and the way human beings develop and grow through the course of life. I appreciate that much of my work will be with children and young people, and that some of the problems that affect my clients will be intractable and frustrating, and that the work will always be challenging and sometimes harrowing. Nevertheless I am committed to my ambition and can also see the immense human satisfaction and fulfillment that can come from a successful career as a social worker.
After I left school I worked for several years working as a Civil Servant and the as a police officer, which led me to serve in a number of central London locations, such as Buckingham Palace. Following an accident involving a family member, which resulted in my being responsible for their full time care for several years my first hand experience of working with the disabled was developed, honed and often tested to its limit. These sobering experiences contributed strongly to my growing sense that the welfare of others is the most important of human concerns. My own career was interrupted, and I also had young children. I had begun a degree course in psychology with sociology, but was unable to complete it because of the aforementioned incident, however I have now re-enroled on an alternative degree. I decided that the best way back into the employment world would be through voluntary work and became an adviser with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and it was here that my involvement with social work really began. I was trained to understand topics such as debt, benefits, housing, relationships, employment problems and other areas of potential difficulty. I found the work very much to my taste and enjoyed immensely the opportunity to support disadvantaged and troubled people who need help dealing with crises in their lives. I now run several CAB surgeries in local villages and I am already, after only a year in the service, the Social Policy Co-ordinator for one of Norfolk’s largest surgeries, which involves meetings with the DWP, the District Council and government agencies. I am the first point of call in all social policy matters. I work at least one full day every week as a general adviser, and attend many meetings and liaise with several other bureaux.
These are the experiences which have informed my choice of a future career. I enjoy working with people and the sense of being part of a professional team. I communicate well with others and respond quickly and intelligently to their needs. I believe I have a cool head and the ability to remain calm and rational in difficult situations, skills which were often tested in my years as a police officer and carer. I feel strong sympathy with those who are in difficulties and can understand their feelings, but I am also able to avoid being overpowered emotionally, which I think is an essential requirement for a social worker. I am also very tactful and discreet, and very sensitive to the need for confidentiality when dealing with people’s intimate problems. I have also read widely in the field. My commitment is total and my ambitions are clear. I hope you will consider my application.
Social Work Personal Statement Sample
