What do social workers actually do?

[PassAnotherGlass]

Don’t take this as me judging SS, in fact it’s the opposite.

DD15 mentioned going into social work as a career. Obviously I’ll support her with whatever she chooses to do, but I’ve never had to deal with social workers. I do have a bit of experience with social care for the elderly, but DD will most likely want to work with kids. Can someone with experience tell me?

Visit families and children, assess possible safeguarding risks, write assessments on many many aspects of family dynamics, attachment, parenting. Help to make decisions on fostering/adoption, provide evidence in court.
The list goes on.

Adoption social workers help match families with children and support them in adoption.

Depends on which area of sw they work in. My husband works in fostering so they assess potential foster carers then approve or disapprove depending on the final report. He then follows up with families and their foster children on a regular basis.