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gerontology social worker

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Description

Gerontology social workers provide assistance to elderly individuals and their families helping them to cope with their biopsychosocial needs. They help connecting the elderly with community resources by gathering information about the array of services available to them. Gerontology social workers assess their clients' needs, functional capacity and health problems and liaise with medical professionals when necessary.

EssentialOptional

Theoretical Knowledge

social sciences strategies for handling cases of elder abuse company policies older adults' needs legal requirements in the social sector geriatrics social justice social work theory clinical social work disability care palliative care disability types stages of bereavement

Practical Skills

assess social service users' situation tolerate stress apply anti-oppressive practices review social service plan apply holistic approach within social services apply socially just working principles advocate for social service users develop professional identity in social work deliver social services in diverse cultural communities involve service users and carers in care planning accept own accountability follow health and safety precautions in social care practices build helping relationship with social service users negotiate with social service users promote service users' rights communicate with social service users conduct interview in social service manage social crisis work within communities provide social counselling plan social service process cooperate at inter-professional level contribute to protecting individuals from harm apply crisis intervention organise social work packages undertake continuous professional development in social work apply organisational techniques meet standards of practice in social services address problems critically apply problem solving in social service adhere to organisational guidelines apply quality standards in social services apply decision making within social work demonstrate leadership in social service cases consider social impact of actions on service users make legislation transparent for users of social services promote social change empower social service users evaluate older adults' ability to take care of themselves have computer literacy communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields develop professional network refer social service users manage stress in the work place report on social development prevent social problems relate empathetically listen actively apply case management work in a multicultural environment in health care negotiate with social service stakeholders provide support to social services users apply person-centred care manage ethical issues within social services promote inclusion protect vulnerable social service users maintain records of work with service users identify mental health issues counsel on end-of-life care promote mental health support social service users at the end of life help clients cope with grief advise on mental health support social service users to live at home