A Day in the Life of a Social Worker

Social work is a dynamic and rewarding field where no two days are the same. Social workers work with a number of people at any one time. This is often referred to as a caseload and involves a great deal of adaptability and multitasking. We balance direct support, collaboration with other professionals, and administrative tasks, all while responding to new challenges and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

Starting the Day: Organising and Planning 

A typical day begins with checking emails and reviewing the calendar to prioritise tasks. Some days include meetings, home visits, or appointments, while quieter days allow time for administrative work like updating case notes or following up on referrals. Despite planning, flexibility is essential as urgent calls or crises may require immediate attention and shifting priorities quickly. A social worker may log into their laptop, planning to type up an assessment, only to receive a call about a resident they support who has refused to let carers into their home. This urgent matter must now take priority. 

Meeting with Residents: The Core of Social Work 

Much of the day is spent directly with residents, whether in home visits, office appointments, telephone calls or virtual meetings. These interactions focus on assessing residents’ needs, strengths, and challenges, providing tailored support to help them make informed decisions and cope with their circumstances. Through these one-on-one sessions, social workers foster resilience and self-determination. All interactions with the resident must be recorded on their case file.  

Collaboration and Teamwork 

Social work also involves working closely with other professionals. Collaborating with doctors, therapists, and other agencies ensures coordinated care and the best outcomes for residents. Team meetings provide a chance to share insights, discuss progress, and plan next steps, while ensuring that the resident is at the heart of these discussions. These meeting minutes will need to be recorded and sent to all participants. 

Crisis Intervention and Urgent Situations 

Social work is unpredictable, with unexpected events often requiring immediate action. Whether it’s a housing emergency or a sudden change in a resident’s situation, social workers must be prepared to act quickly. This could involve providing immediate advice, arranging emergency support, or conducting an urgent home visit. These situations require quick thinking and emotional resilience. When these events occur, the plans for the day can instantly change. For example, a social worker may plan to complete an assessment expected to take 1–2 hours; however, they might discover that the person has no food, water, or heating in their home. Addressing these immediate risks must take priority over other tasks for the day. 

Administrative Tasks and Case Documentation 

In addition to direct work, a significant part of the day involves administrative responsibilities. This includes updating case notes, writing reports, and ensuring accurate documentation for compliance and continuity of care. Social workers also handle referrals, connecting residents with other services and following up to ensure they receive the needed support. After completing an assessment, social workers will need to record the information and may complete several referrals for one individual.  

How can AI help? 

While paperwork can be overwhelming, it’s crucial for maintaining quality care and tracking progress. This highlights how generative AI can act as a valuable tool, supporting social workers in managing their daily tasks more efficiently, allowing them to focus on what matters most: providing direct support and care to clients.  

I have been trialling Agilisys’ NoteTaker Tool and can already see its usefulness in completing paperwork. If I had used this tool while managing a caseload, it would have saved me significant time on administrative tasks, such as typing up assessments and recording meetings. An assessment that typically takes between 1.5 hours and half a day to complete (depending on the social worker and case complexity) can have a first draft completed in just 15 minutes. This efficiency could help prevent burnout by making the workload more manageable and freeing up time for other important tasks.