Social Work and Counselling Professionals

analysing the client's situation and presenting alternative approaches to resolving problems

compiling case records or reports for courts and other legal proceedings

providing counselling, therapy and mediation services and facilitating group sessions to assist clients to develop skills and insights needed to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems

planning and implementing programmes of assistance for clients including crisis intervention and referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services

investigating cases of abuse or neglect and taking action to protect children and other at risk persons

working with offenders during and after sentence, to help them to integrate into the community and to change attitudes and behaviour in order to reduce further offending

providing advice to prison governors and to probation and parole review boards that helps determine whether, and under what conditions, an offender should be incarcerated, released from prison or undergo alternative correctional measures

acting as advocates for client groups in the community and lobbying for solutions to problems affecting them

developing prevention and intervention programmes to meet community needs

maintaining contact with other social service agencies, educational institutions and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall situation and progress.