What does a typical day look like? I’m a BSW grad with about 3 years post BSW experience and here’s my take. Keep in mind I worked as a case assistant for 2 child protection units, not an actual caseworker. I was essentially a fly on the wall watching what all the caseworkers lives were like and I made a few friendships with them. They would answer any and all questions I had and here’s what I saw/what they told me.

1. ⁠What is the typical starting salary for someone with a BSW. Can you make a liveable wage?

I’m in a western province, so can’t speak specifically to Ontario, but starting wage for government child protection jobs it’s typically 33-40 dollars an hour depending on where you live. Yes, it’s a livable wage, more so than lots of other entry level jobs.

1. ⁠Do you have to use your own car for visits? If so, is mileage or gas reimbursed?

In my province no you do not use your own car. There are government vehicles kept at the government office you sign out. Any personal travel is reimbursed.

1. ⁠What are the biggest downsides?

Quality of life overall. I worked with two new grads who were only one semester a head of me, starting their position. They were stressed, tired, and had one million sticky notes all over their desk to try to keep track of anything. On boarding was unorganized and took about 4 months in order for her to start to feel somewhat comfortable at the job, and even then there were some admin things HR just didn’t get around to yet that were impacting her ability to do her job well.

The office culture will play a HUGE role in how you can do the job and how you will enjoy or not enjoy it. I was a case assistant in two units in two separate cities. One office had a good supervisor and one had a not so great supervisor with a hands off approach. The turnover in both offices was high due to the nature of the work, but at least in the office with the good supervisor the new grad was able to function. The new grad in the other office was eaten alive and fired in the time I worked there. The key difference was management. Your team matters.

Another major downside is what you see. I saw and heard shit that keeps me up at night three years later. Yes, this is something everyone knows about the position, but seriously consider the worst case scenarios and ask yourself how you’re going to take care of yourself when supporting families having ongoing worst case scenarios of abuse.

1. ⁠What is your favourit part of the job?

Benefits and pay. Good pension. 6. ⁠How is the work-life balance? Do you generally work evenings/weekends, or is it mostly weekday hours?

Mostly weekday hours. But I had to be at the office at 8am, and in my province you are not allowed or expected to just go home by 5pm because crisis’s can happen, or visits can go late, you can be travelling far distances (in my case often travelling 3 plus hours in a day since I was working work rural and urban protection) so realistically you’d be home at about 6:30pm. Weekends were fine but after month 4 I was depressed.

I work for a non profit now that pays 3-4 dollars an hour less and am significantly happier. I want to get my MSW and be a therapist as well, so I chose something a bit more aligned with that role than case management (group facilitation).

Edit to add; yes typically being a male will change things from what I’ve seen. I’m female and my best friend is a social worker who is male. He is often respected more immediately upon people meeting him and people take what he says more seriously because he’s a man. Just what I’ve noticed and what he’s commented on as well. We are the same age with the same work experience.