social worker

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English

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Noun

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social worker (plural social workers)

  1. A person, usually employed by the state, that supports the welfare of individuals or groups, especially those that are socially disadvantaged.
    I had a visit from my social worker last week.
    • 1887 January 14, “To the Editor of ’The Times’”, in The Times (Letters section), number 31969, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6:
      These are but a few instances of the benefits conferred by him as a social worker; but until these can be fully recorded, let us bear in mind as no small part of the debt we owe to the truly noble man []
    • 1899 March 5, St. Louis Post-Dispatch[1], volume 50, number 202, St. Louis, Missouri, →OCLC, Mr. Martin of London Here: He Will Deliver a Series of Lectures on Social Subjects, page 24:
      Mr. J. W. Martin of London, England, will deliver a series of lectures in St. Louls this week. Mr. Martin is a member of the famous Fabian Society of London, and an educator and social worker of note in his own country.
    • 1899 August 5, “Germany”, in The Times (Latest Intelligence section), number 35900, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 5:
      Professor Virchow, as chairman of the commemoration committee, opened the proceedings in a speech in which he recalled the services which Herr Schulze had rendered Germany as a social worker and as a politician.
    • 2005, Jennifer Worth, Shadows of the Workhouse, Weidenfeld & Nicholson (2009), page 274:
      There canʼt have been many social workers at that troubled time who heard an expression of gratitude.

Usage notes

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Popularised in the United Kingdom following the 1940s social work reforms of Clement Attlee.

Translations

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See also

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