As a Gerontology Social Worker, you will need to master following:

• accept own accountability
• advocate for social service users
• apply anti-oppressive practices
• apply case management
• apply crisis intervention
• apply decision making within social work
• apply holistic approach within social services
• apply person-centred care
• apply problem solving in social service
• apply quality standards in social services
• assess social service users' situation
• build helping relationship with social service users
• company policies
• conduct interview in social service
• consider social impact of actions on service users
• contribute to protecting individuals from harm
• cooperate at inter-professional level
• deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
• demonstrate leadership in social service cases
• develop professional identity in social work
• empower social service users
• follow health and safety precautions in social care practices
• maintain records of work with service users
• make legislation transparent for users of social services
• meet standards of practice in social services
• negotiate with social service users
• organise social work packages
• prevent social problems
• promote inclusion
• promote service users' rights
• protect vulnerable social service users
• refer social service users
• review social service plan
• strategies for handling cases of elder abuse
• tolerate stress

More generally, a gerontology social worker is also versed in:

• address problems critically
• adhere to organisational guidelines
• apply organisational techniques
• apply socially just working principles
• communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
• communicate with social service users
• develop professional network
• evaluate older adults' ability to take care of themselves
• geriatrics
• have computer literacy
• involve service users and carers in care planning
• legal requirements in the social sector
• listen actively
• manage ethical issues within social services
• manage social crisis
• manage stress in organisation
• negotiate with social service stakeholders
• older adults' needs
• plan social service process
• promote social change
• provide social counselling
• provide support to social services users
• relate empathetically
• report on social development
• social justice
• social sciences
• social work theory
• undertake continuous professional development in social work
• work in a multicultural environment in health care
• work within communities

It also helps to know the following:

• advise on mental health
• counsel on end-of-life care
• disability care
• help clients cope with grief
• identify mental health issues
• palliative care
• promote mental health
• stages of bereavement
• support social service users at the end of life
• disability types
• support social service users to live at home