Social Worker CV Guide

What to include in a Social Worker CV

What you include in your CV will depend on the social worker job you are applying for and your background and credentials. However, to give you more of an idea of the information to add, it is advisable to thoroughly read through the job description and identify the mandatory and desired qualifications, skills, experience and attributes.

Once you have determined what the organisation is asking for, you can add your information to your CV. One thing to remember before you make a start is that your CV is a clear and concise introduction and not your entire history. Only include pertinent information and make it as easy to navigate and read as possible.

To make the task easier and more manageable, break down your CV into sections, including your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references. You can then go through each section, which we will now cover, along with suggestions on what to include.

Contact information

At the very top of your CV is your contact information, which can be in the centre or side of the document. You want to ensure recruiters can easily connect with you, so make it clear, concise, accurate and up-to-date. Here is what you should include:

• Full name – your first and last name is sufficient.
• Professional title – you can add your title, e.g. “Social Worker” (optional).
• Location – add your town, city or county; full details are unnecessary for privacy reasons.
• Phone number – provide a reliable number where recruiters can reach you. If you have a voicemail, ensure it sounds professional.
• Email address – include a professional email address and avoid one containing nicknames.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio – if relevant and well-maintained, add links to showcase your professional presence.

There is certain information to avoid adding for security, bias and discrimination reasons, for example:

• Personal social media accounts – leave them out unless they are professionally relevant.
• Personal information – no need to include your age, date of birth, gender, marital status, religion and national insurance number.
• A photo – avoid adding a photo and only include one if required.

Professional summary

A professional summary is a brief, compelling statement at the top of your CV, under your contact information, highlighting your qualifications, key skills, experiences, and achievements. It serves as an introduction, giving potential employers a snapshot of who you are and why you are a strong fit for the role.

Usually 3–5 sentences long, your professional summary focuses on your career goals, unique strengths and how you can bring value to the organisation. Here are some key elements you might consider including:

• Your current role and years of experience – mention your most recent or current role and how long you have worked in social work or related jobs.
• Education – add your highest and most relevant qualification. You can also add your registration with a professional body.
• Specialisations – highlight areas of expertise, such as working with children, mental health, community development or substance abuse.
• Key skills – include essential skills like case management, crisis intervention, advocacy and knowledge of relevant policies or programs.
• Achievements – briefly mention notable accomplishments, such as successful projects, increased community engagement or measurable outcomes.
• Values and approach – show your commitment to social justice, empathy, and ethical practice to reflect your values and professional attitude.
• Goal orientation – state what you aim to contribute in your next role, such as empowering vulnerable populations or improving community well-being.

It is impossible to fit all these suggestions in your summary, so choose those most relevant to you and your background.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a social worker:

“Dedicated social worker with 5+ years of experience specialising in family support and community development. Proven expertise in case management, crisis intervention and advocating for underserved populations. Passionate about fostering positive change and improving lives through empathetic and ethical practices.”

Make your summary punchy and eye-catching and tailor it to the specific social worker job to quickly grab the attention of employers. It is your chance to make a positive first impression.

Education

The education section of your CV is where you detail your academic background and any training relevant to the social worker job. It is important, as social workers require specific qualifications, such as a degree or higher. When you provide information to prospective employers about your qualifications, it helps them to identify that you meet the basic requirements.

You can add your education section after your professional summary or include your work experience first. If you have recently graduated and/or have limited direct experience in social work, you may want to focus on your education first and here are some pointers on what to include:

• Degrees – detail the degrees you hold relevant to social work and include:
  • The title of your degree(s).
  • The institution’s name and location.
  • Dates attended or graduation date (month/year).
  • Grade achieved or expected (if relevant).
  • Any modules or coursework related to social work, such as psychology, community development or child welfare.
  • Honours, scholarships or awards, especially if they are relevant to social work.
• Other formal education – if the job posting details lower qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels (or equivalent), include them. Otherwise, save valuable CV space and focus on your higher qualifications.
• Field placements, apprenticeships or internships – mention any other academic experiences you completed during your education, including the organisation, role and outcomes.
• Courses, training and certifications – include any required certifications or licences, such as social worker registration, mental health first aid, safeguarding or other industry-recognised credentials.

Ensure you add your qualifications, training and certifications in reverse chronological order (most recent first).

Work experience/employment history

Your work experience is also known as your employment history on your CV. It is where you showcase your professional journey and highlight how your skills, achievements and previous roles align with the job’s requirements.

It is a crucial section, as it provides prospective employers with a narrative of how your career has developed and showcases the skills you have honed. It also shows your hands-on experience in handling social work duties and establishes your suitability for the position you are applying for.

Ensure you tailor your work experience to the social worker role, only include the most relevant information, and add your previous positions in reverse chronological order. Here are some examples of what you can add to make it comprehensive and compelling:

• Heading: Include a heading, “Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
• Job title: Clearly specify your job title for each of your previous roles, e.g. ” Family Social Worker”.
• Organisation name and type: Include the organisation you worked for. You can also add the organisation type if relevant, e.g. a government agency, non-profit, or healthcare provider.
• Location: Add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Mention the month and year you started and ended each role. If you are still currently employed, add “present” instead.
• Key duties
  • Highlight your key responsibilities in bullet point form.
  • Start each bullet point with a strong action verb, like “assisted”, “organised”, “led”, “motivated”, or “provided”.
  • Keep it brief and aim for three to five bullet points.
  • Include any unique contributions, such as implementing new programs, leading training sessions or spearheading advocacy campaigns.
  • Highlight measurable accomplishments, such as successful cases, program improvements or positive community outcomes.
  • Mention specific skills utilised, like crisis resolution, advocacy or networking with community resources.

Here is an example of how you can add your work experience:

Work experience

Social Worker. Family Support Services. London (April 2020 – Present).

• Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify client needs and formulate individualised care plans.
• Managed a caseload of 30+ families, focusing on child safety and family reunification.
• Collaborated with schools, healthcare providers and law enforcement to support families in crisis situations.
• Provided crisis intervention and advocacy services, ensuring access to appropriate resources.
• Achieved a 90% positive feedback rate from client satisfaction surveys.

You can add any relevant volunteer experience to this section if you have had limited paid roles.

Key skills and achievements

Key skills are the abilities that help you do your job effectively, and it is crucial to add your most relevant ones to your CV to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have what it takes to do the social worker job and make a real difference in people’s lives. They also highlight your strengths and make it easy for employers to see how you match the job requirements.

You can add your key skills to the work experience section by weaving them into the descriptions of your previous roles or have an entirely different one combined with your achievements. When you add your skills to your CV, you should include a mixture of hard and soft skills.

• Hard skills – are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge that can often be quantified or tested, usually gained through education, training or on-the-job experience. Some examples for a social worker include case management, knowledge of social services systems and safeguarding, legal knowledge, report writing, cultural competence and crisis intervention techniques.
• Soft skills – are interpersonal and behavioural traits that define how you interact with others and navigate the workplace. They are trickier to measure but equally vital. Some examples for a social worker include empathy, active listening, communication, adaptability, resilience, problem-solving, organisation and conflict resolution.

Highlighting hard and soft skills on a CV ensures you present yourself as a well-rounded candidate with the technical expertise and the personal qualities required to excel in social work.

Before adding your skills to your CV, carefully review the job posting and include the skills they prioritise. Use the same language they use in the description to help your CV filter through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

You can also add your achievements to the key skills section, highlighting specific accomplishments demonstrating your impact and success in previous roles. Combining them with key skills shows how you applied those abilities to achieve results. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

The main sections of your CV should include your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references. You may find that you have additional information you want to include or some stand-out credentials that you want to keep separate. Therefore, it may be worth having standalone sections. Here are some examples of additional ones you may want to consider:

• Certifications and training – you may want to separate any courses, certifications, workshops, seminars and conferences to showcase your commitment to professional development. 
• Volunteering – if you have relevant volunteer work experience, mention it, as it demonstrates your dedication to supporting others, especially if related to social work. For example, volunteering at a charity, community centre or any place where you have helped people. If so, add the name of the organisation, dates and your tasks.
• Languages – if you speak multiple languages, include them here, as it shows you can work with diverse communities.
• Professional memberships – highlight any memberships with relevant organisations, showing your active engagement in the field, e.g. the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) of Social Work England.
• Hobbies and interests – include hobbies or interests that reflect transferable skills or values relevant to social work. You can also include any extracurricular activities, such as being involved in any club or activities.
• DBS – you can also add details of a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to your CV and the type, e.g. Basic, Standard or Enhanced.

If you add other sections to your CV, be mindful of adding too many, as it can make the document look cluttered. Only include information relevant to the social worker job you are applying for.

References

The last section in your CV will typically be your references. Here, you will provide details of individuals (referees) who can vouch for your skills, experience and character. You should include positive and professional referees, providing recruiters with reliable endorsements of your professional qualifications and work ethic, enhancing your credibility.

You should choose 2-3 references, such as former supervisors, managers or mentors. You could select a teacher, professor or tutor if you have yet to have a social worker role.

Once you have decided, always ask their permission before adding their details to your CV and provide details of the job you are applying for so they can tailor their reference accordingly.

Look at the job description to see if they ask for references at this stage. If not, you can add a simple statement, “References available upon request”. It can be useful if you have limited space on your CV.

If you do need to add your references, here are some pointers on what to include:

• Name and title – include their full name and job title. Example: “Jane Smith, Senior Social Worker”.
• Organisation – mention where they work or where they supervised you. Example: “XYZ Social Services”.
• Contact details – provide an email address and phone number. Example: “jane.smith@xyzservices.co.uk, 01234 567890”.
• Relationship – briefly state their relationship to you. Example: “Direct Supervisor during my placement at XYZ Social Services”.

Ensure you keep your referee’s contact information up-to-date and accurate.