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How to become a welfare support worker

Support individuals and families with emotional, financial, or social difficulties.

What does a welfare support worker do?

Welfare support workers support individuals and families with emotional, financial, or social difficulties. They may directly help secure housing or food or refer clients to agencies that can provide additional services. They also frequently do larger coordination and management work for welfare agencies.

Duties and tasks

  • Counsel victims of abuse or others who need assistance.

  • Evaluate community groups and social agencies for efficiency and quality.

  • Interview clients to discover specific needs.

  • Provide emotional support for clients going through difficult times.

  • Refer clients to appropriate agencies.

  • Work through channels of command and power to get clients what they need.

Industry bodies

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