MY SPECIALITY

I’m a second year student of Omsk State Technical University. I study at the Humanitarian faculty. It trains personnel for working at social services.

The course for the social worker lasts 5 years. The students study different subjects: psychology, history of social work, philosophy, foreign languages and others.

The term «social work» has some meanings. It is the applied science of helping people achieve any effective level of psychological functioning; any of numerous publicly or privately provided services intended to aid disadvantaged, distressed or vulnerable persons or groups and it is also the profession engaged in rendering such services. There are many different aspects in the profession: medical social work, school social work, police social work and others.

As I already have experience of working with people who have mental health problems I have been offered a good job this year. I have joined a highly successful home treatment team, providing early assessment and support for people with acute mental health illness who otherwise would be admitted to hospital. Our team operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so I work flexible hours.

After graduating from the university I want to be a family support worker. I want to provide outreach and support for families, especially women and children. A family support worker works closely with families and children to identify their needs. He also provides emotional and practical support to the clients. A family support worker like any other social worker should behave in a calm and understanding manner to enhance communication and understanding within the family.

XII. Ответьте на вопросы

1. What faculty trains personnel for working at social services?

2. What does the term «social work» mean?

3. What does a home treatment team provide?

4. What does a family support worker do?

5. How should a family support worker behave?