Qualified social workers are increasingly valued. Promotion and career development opportunities are excellent. Social workers can be found in:

• Local authoritiesÊ- from main-grade workers to directorate level. Social workers will be providing, managing, purchasing and organising services to people with very diverse needs across the life span in different settings
• Voluntary organisationsÊ- at all levels, usually working in relatively specialist ways with children and young people with particularly challenging needs, as well as vulnerable adults, especially those with learning disabilities and those affected by mental health issues. Settings and contexts vary as widely as in local authorities.
• Private sectorÊ- often at senior practitioner and management level with services focusing on home-based support to vulnerable adults and residential services to older people as well as foster care support and services to people with offending histories.
• Central governmentÊ- experienced social work managers advise and support ministers in monitoring and developing social work services.
• Social work regulationÊ- a range of independent bodies, likeÊtheÊCare InspectorateÊandÊScottish Social Services CouncilÊemploy social workers at a senior level to lead and manage registration and inspection of social work services to ensure they meet appropriate standards.

Job titles include:

• Criminal Justice Social Worker
• Mental Health Social Worker
• Prison Social Worker
• Social Worker

Employers include:

• Local authorities