Jobs for Bachelor of Social Work Graduates

Working with people and communities

A Bachelor of Social Work (sometimes offered as Social Work and Community Development) prepares you to support vulnerable individuals, families and communities. Students study social policy, human behaviour, community development, child protection, counselling skills, research and case management, with supervised field placements. In Kenya social workers are employed across government, NGOs, faith-based organisations, hospitals, schools and the large humanitarian sector.

Typical roles

• Social worker and case worker in hospitals, children's homes and rehabilitation centres
• Child protection officer and children's officer, including in the Department of Children's Services
• Community development officer and project officer in NGOs
• Protection, gender-based violence and psychosocial support officer in humanitarian programmes, including refugee settings
• Youth, gender and social protection officers in county and national government

Entry requirements

University places are allocated through KUCCPS with a minimum C+ mean grade. Diploma holders in social work or community development can often join with credit transfer.

Professional standing

Social workers in Kenya organise through the Kenya National Association of Social Workers, and the profession has been working towards statutory regulation. Check the current position when you graduate, because registration requirements may apply by the time you are job hunting. Child-focused employers will require safeguarding training and police clearance as standard.

Building a strong application

Field experience is the core of a social work CV. Use your placements well, and add volunteering with community groups, helplines or humanitarian organisations. NGOs value case management experience, knowledge of the Children Act, 2022, data collection skills with tools such as KoboToolbox, and clear report writing. Fluency in local languages is a real advantage for field roles.

Career path

Social workers often start on project contracts and move to senior officer, programme coordinator and programme manager roles. A master's in social work, public policy or development studies supports advancement into technical advisor and management positions. Because the work can be emotionally demanding, look for employers who offer supervision and staff care.