A degree in Psychiatric social workers offers therapy, social rehabilitation, crisis intervention or outreach services. Psychiatric social workers help mental health patients and their families in a similar way to counsellors and psychologists. Their main job function is to assess patients and develop individualized plans of care. They may also provide therapy or counselling services to patients, as well as help family members learn to deal with mental illness in the family. Psychiatric social workers may either provide treatment themselves or make referrals to appropriate persons or facilities.
Normally, this requires team work between many different professionals, such as a psychiatrist, neurologist, speech therapist, nurses, and occupational therapist depending on the problems faced by the patient and his or her family. Other common settings include nursing homes, state and local governments, substance abuse clinics, correctional facilities, and ambulatory health care services.
