A psychiatric social worker is trained to care for individual with mental health difficulties. In North America, there are levels of psychiatric social workers to assist with data collection regarding psychiatric and mental health clients, to perform assessments or diagnosis, and to provide supportive therapy or psychotherapy for individual, couples, family, and group.
A psychiatric social worker may work in varied mental health settings such as acute ward, chronic ward, clinic, or community. A psychiatric social worker may also specialize in areas such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation, or child and adolescent mental health.