Social workers find employment in various types of organisations that provide support to people with psychosocial or physical problems. Social workers can find careers in institutions for general social work, Bureau Jeugdzorg (Office for Juvenile Care), Raad voor de Kinderbescherming (Child Welfare Council), after-care and resettlement organizations, battered women’s shelters, general hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, detox centres, and social care centres. Social workers are also employed by schools as school social worker or by companies as corporate social workers.
In their future careers our students will closely collaborate with other professionals, including doctors, nurses, police officers, psychologists or special education experts and educationalists.
Differences between Social Work & Social Services and Social Work & Social Pedagogics
There is a distinct overlap between the professional fields of these two study programmes that both lead to a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. In many institutions social workers and social pedagogical workers are colleagues and collaborate closely. There are some differences in emphasis, though.
Social pedagogical workers mainly support young people and adults in groups. The Social Work & Social Pedagogics study programme prepares its students for group work but also pays ample attention to working with individuals. The study programme is characterized by its focus on applying agogical methods such as musical therapy, drama and visual arts.
Social workers usually help (adult) individuals or families. The Social Work & Social Services study programme focuses on social work methods used in the fields of psychosocial work, (sexual) violence support and debt coaching.
Do note: this programme is only taught in Dutch