Human Service Worker

What Is a Human Service Worker? 

Human service workers aim to meet the needs of humans through the use of solutions to problems, remedies, disciplines, therapies, and other techniques designed to improve their overall quality of life. Many human service workers find positions in drug abuse rehab centers, including alcoholism, halfway houses, retirement homes, and an array of establishments that cater to recovering patients, those who are mentally ill, and the elderly. 

If you pursue a career in this field, you will be trained to work with patients by coordinating group projects or by speaking with people on an individual basis to figure out what is needed for them to live happily and to function the best way possible. 

Job Responsibilities of Human Service Workers 

If you pursue a career as a human service worker, you will provide client services, which includes support for your patient’s families in an array of fields, including social work, rehabilitation, and psychology. You will also assist other people in this field, such as social workers, and help your clients find community services and benefits. 

As a human service worker, you will typically have some or all of the following responsibilities: 

• Check in with your clients to make sure the services are provided properly 
• Help determine the type of aid your clients need 
• Help your clients complete the paperwork needed to apply for various assistance programs 
• Work with your clients and other professionals, including social workers, to create a treatment plan 
• Coordinate services provided to your clients 
• Research various services, such as Medicaid and food stamps that may be available to your clients 
• Help your clients find help with day-to-day activities, including bathing and eating 

In this field, you may have an array of job titles. Some that are found in this field include human service worker, addictions counselor assistant, social work assistant, family service assistant, clinical social work aide, case work aide, and others. 

Common Employment Settings for Human Service Workers

Working in human services opens a wide range of career opportunities across various employment settings. While you could be a social worker, case manager, counselor, psychologist, or development director, there are a common number of settings where you can practice each of these, such as: 

• Retirement Homes 
• Halfway Houses 
• Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehab Centers 
• Social Services Agencies 
• Hospitals 
• Shelters 

Human Service Worker: Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social and human service assistants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.  

About 47,400 openings for social and human service assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.  

A growing population of older people and rising demand for social services are expected to drive demand for these workers.  

An increase in the number of older adults is expected to result in growing demand for the social services they use, including home-delivered meals and community center activities. Because social and human service assistants often arrange and provide these services, more of these workers will be needed to meet the increased demand. 

Additional Training/Requirements

As a human service worker, you can hold a degree in several fields. Virtually everyone working in this field will have a bachelor’s degree that is related to human services, such as sociology, substance abuse counseling, social work, or psychology. Human service workers may also train for their career in several different environments. There are some who begin working in residential care facilities or hospitals as interns or assistants to gain the experience needed to work with mentally ill or elderly individuals. 

You will likely need to figure out what type of work you want to specialize in and then concentrate your educational studies on that field. If you want to work with recovering alcoholics or with drug abuse patients in rehab centers, you need to take courses that deal with substance abuse patients. 

Based on the level of services that are provided to a patient, a human service worker may need to further their education. For example, if you wish to distribute medication to your patients or work as a psychiatrist, you must have the proper license to do so. This is a field that is extremely broad, which means that specific careers may require different certifications or licenses to qualify. 

If you are interested in pursuing this career, you will find that Bryant & Stratton can help you get the education and training that you need. You can reach out to the counselors at this academic institution to learn more about their BS in Human & Social Services program and how to begin following this career path.