Social work in Bermuda can be divided into two main branches -- clinical or medical, and general.

And the goal of both branches is to improve and maintain the functioning of individuals, families, and small groups.

Yet the methods they employ are quite different.

Clinical social workers generally receive their training in hospitals, mental health clinics, or family practice agencies.

Indeed, according to Mrs. Sharol Simmons, president of the Bermuda Clinical Social Work Council (BCSWC): "The practice of a clinical social worker includes providing mental health services for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.

"It is based on knowledge and theory of psychosocial development, behaviour, interpersonal relationships, and environmental stress, among other things.'' General social workers do not have the depth of training in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy as do clinical social workers, she says, although this does not diminish their role in society. They still require rigorous training.

Such professionals tend to work in teen services, addiction services, welfare departments and the like. Their approach to treatment is not as analytical as social workers who are trained as clinical social workers.

"The Bermuda Clinical Social Work Council is a group of professional social workers who organised themselves in February, 1992,'' Mrs. Simmons explained.

"They felt that there was a need to standardise social work in Bermuda.'' The goal was to regulate and introduce criteria for clinical social workers who wanted to practice independently and privately. By organising themselves into a professional body, they believed the public could be assured of competent, clinical social work service of the highest level.

Another concern was that of qualifications. "People were claiming to be social workers, and were not qualified,'' she noted. "A number of people were opening private practices who we felt were not qualified to be taking people's lives into their own hands.'' To be qualified as a clinical social worker, one must have a Master's degree in social work, plus two year's experience under a clinical supervisor.

For many years Bermuda did not have an accrediting body for social workers, although accreditation was available overseas, and some Bermudians were recognised by the National Association of Social Workers in the United States.

In the US one cannot get a supervisory position without this designation. In Bermuda, however, this is not necessary.

"We have people working in social services departments who do not have what we feel equates to a Master's degree,'' Mrs. Simmons observed. "And they are not certified, yet they are in these positions.'' "So the Council was set up, similarly to the Nursing Association, so that there would be control over people coming into the Island, professing to be social workers,'' she said.

Another reason was so that insurance coverage could be provided for individuals who might need their services.

In an attempt to provide such services, the Council endeavours to provide social research in Bermuda. To promote professional development, the Council is hosting its first Annual Clinical Social Work Conference, called "Families in Crisis''.

A panel of 15 local professionals, including Mrs. Sharon Apopa, Sen. Dr.

Norman Astwood, Canon James Francis, and Mrs. Jo-Carol Robinson will present their views on topics ranging from domestic violence to the crisis of the black male to the broken family.

"This conference's focus,'' Mrs. Simmons said, "will be very broad. We did a survey of a segment of the Island's social workers to determine what they perceived to be gaps in services in Bermuda.

"We have listed several problem areas. The most common area that was identified was family services.'' "This conference will address the needs of specific training for social workers in working with families. This is not to say that we were not trained in this area; it simply means that the kind of family issues that are coming to the forefront in our practice area tend to be very complex.

"You have to be very skilled at what you are doing if you are going to make any meaningful impact.

"We wanted to open this conference with someone who has expertise in these areas, and could offer techniques rather than theory. We want someone who can come in and tell us `these are the kinds of issues that you are going to look for when dealing with a family that has just gone through a divorce,' for example.'' And to accomplish this, Dr. Jannah Hurn, Dean of the School of Social Work at Florida State University, will present theory along with techniques of treating families in transition and crisis.

Her focus will be preventing family break-up and divorce, working with families with step-children and step-parents, single parent families, and addressing cultural issues.

The public is invited to attend the conferences, which will cover Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 at the Hamilton Princess. The registration deadline is Friday, April 8.

A $35 reservation fee covers both sessions, and $30 to attend the Saturday session only. The student charge is $20, with a late registration fee of $40.

Seating is limited, and lunch is not included in the fees.

For further information, contact Alfred Lewis at 236-3770 ext 241, or Peggy Jackson at ext 281.

LEADING THE WAY -- BCSWC directors and members rely on the direction and dedication of their leaders. Pictured are President Mrs. Sharol Simmons (left) and Executive Committee member Mrs. Doris DeCosta.