Almost all social services in Israel are publicly funded, including private agencies. The majority of social workers are employed directly by government or local authorities; the remainder are funded by volunteer or private organizations. The following is a list of the major social service providers and the populations they serve.

Social Services in Israel are mainly provided by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs (Misrad HaRevacha), through local offices and municipalities. Services in the municipalities include child and family welfare, care of the aged, care of the handicapped, rehabilitation and community organization.

The National Insurance Institute, known in Hebrew as HaMossad LeBituach Le’umi, is the agency for most government pension and financial assistance programs. Bituach Leumi dispenses various insurance benefits to those eligible for them. Bituach Leumi employs social workers to provide various vocational rehabilitation programs and counseling services for the elderly.

The Ministry of Health, Misrad HaBriut, maintains psychiatric hospitals, community mental health clinics, treatment programs for substance abusers and homes for the chronically ill. They employ social workers for these facilities, as well as medical social workers in hospitals and community health centers.

The Ministry of Defense, Misrad HaBitachon, provides social services to soldiers and their families. These include counseling services for individual soldiers, counseling, financial aid and other programs for families of fallen soldiers, and services to handicapped veterans and their families.

The Ministry of Education, Misrad HaChinuch, employs social workers to provide appropriate educational programs for special-needs children, including the developmentally disabled, emotionally disturbed, the physically handicapped and children with learning disabilities. The Ministry also maintains residential facilities that employ social workers.

The Police Division of the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad HaPnim) employs social workers to meet the needs of law-enforcement personnel, while the Prison Services branch employs social workers to prepare reports on new prisoners, maintain contacts on their behalf with their families and outside social agencies and help them to prepare for life after prison. In addition, there are social workers working in the prison system and for the probation department.

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad Ha’Aliyah V’Haklita) and The Jewish Agency for Israel (Sochnut) employ social workers to meet the needs of new immigrants, including financial assistance, counseling and other services necessary for adjustment to a new life. Further, The Jewish Agency for Israel is involved in urban renewal programs, and operates a network of boarding schools through Aliyat HaNoar.

In addition to the major government bodies providing services, social services are provided by numerous public and voluntary bodies. Social workers, for example work in hospitals, where they support and assist patients and their families, providing short and long term outpatient planning. Local Community Centers, or Matnasim, run educational programs, recreational facilities and after-school programming for youth. Numerous non-profit organizations and self-help groups exist to provide assistance to such populations as the blind, the deaf, the developmentally delayed, battered women and children, rape victims, cancer patients, large families, and others. Other organizations, such as Yad Sarah, provide medical and rehabilitation equipment to anyone requiring it. On a more limited scale, there are social services provided in the private sector. These include residential treatment centers, institutions for the elderly, and family therapy clinics. Social workers may also work in private practice.

The greatest challenge in the field of social work is landing your first position in Israel. Your first position will give you “a foot in the door”, which makes it much easier to obtain subsequent jobs. Keep in mind that you cannot work as a social worker until you become officially licensed.

It is worthwhile starting out in low paying or temporary positions in order to gain experience, knowledge of the field and a local reputation, which will all contribute to helping you land subsequent positions. The best places to start out are local departments of social services (Lishkat Revacha), where you will have the benefits of learning the system, getting to know the various populations, gaining professional Hebrew skills and making important contacts in other areas of social services such as child protective services, foster care, and other social service providers. Local Lishkot Revacha also offer enrichment courses pertaining to the needs of their clientele. Because the local Lishkot Revacha offer low pay, they are often happy to hire new Olim who bring to the table valuable experience and are searching for a first job in Israel.

Hospitals are also a great place to start out. Hospitals have many options for social workers in various departments and are frequently recruiting for temporary or part-time positions. While the compensation is low, hospital workers gain excellent experience that can be applied to subsequent positions.

If you work for either a Lishkat Revacha or a hospital, you will receive an excellent package of benefits including a pension plan, disability insurance and savings plans such as Keren Hishtalmut. Be in touch with the Social Worker’s Association to verify that you are receiving all of the benefits to which you are entitled.

It is also important to be flexible regarding the type of position you look for and not to limit yourself only to your area of specialty. Israel is a small country and being open to a niche outside of your specialty will greatly increase the pool of potential jobs.

Many positions for social workers are posted online (& remember to right click and Google translate if you have trouble navigating the Hebrew):

• Shatil: Site that lists social work positions.
• Association of Social Workers: Site that lists social work positions.
• HebPsy.net: Hebrew job listing.

It is also possible to turn to the government employment bureau for academics, known as the Bureau for the Placement of Professionals (Lishka Le Ta’asukat Acadama’im). The bureau can link holders of academic degrees with appropriate job openings.

You may wish to join the Get Help Israel professional network, a private association for English speaking mental health care practitioners serving the English speaking population in Israel. In addition to providing an online portal for advertising services and running professional conferences, the organization has an official Aliyah Committee to answer questions and guide prospective and new Olim in the mental health field. On this page, you can click on the profile of the committee member that closest represents your training and send a message with your questions and request to consult.

Job openings are often advertised in the situations-vacant sections of the major newspapers, particularly on Fridays. While the English language Jerusalem Post carries some ads, the majority are to be found in the Hebrew press. In particular, the local weekend papers include many advertisements (such as the Kol Ha’Ir supplement in the Jerusalem area).

In some cases, when paid employment cannot be secured right away, it can be worthwhile serving in a volunteer capacity. This can be a good way to keep your skills intact, develop professional language skills, and familiarize yourself with the social-service network. Then, once a position opens up, you will among the first to know. Volunteer work is also a valuable addition to your curriculum vitae, and can help you in your job search.

Finally, word of mouth is often one of the best sources of job leads. Don’t hesitate to let everyone you can know that you are seeking work, and follow up on any leads they may offer. Many positions are filled without ever being advertised.

If you are interested in building up your own private practice, the following recorded article is a great resource:

1. Letters from previous places of employment. These letters are NOT meant to be letters of recommendation. Make sure the letters specify start and end dates for each position, the number of hours (part time or full time) and type of work. Employment letters can include work experiences outside of the social work field.
   Note: These letters are critical because they enable you to list as many years of experience credited to the Israeli salary scale as possible.
2. Original diplomas and certificates
3. Letters of recommendation from past employers
4. Resumes
5. Transcripts from university
6. Letter from your graduate school listing your field placements and how many hours a year of field work you did

To be certified in Israel as a social worker, you must be registered by Misrad HaRevacha (Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs) in the PinkasL’Ovdim So’tsiyalim (the social worker’s registrar).

1. For the official application and overview (in Hebrew), please click here.
2. Registration fee: The current fee is 280NIS which can be paid online or at the post office. If you choose to pay at the post office, The fee must be paid in cash to Bank HaDoar (the Post Office Bank) Branch 001 Account number 0032170, for registration as a social worker. Please verify prior to paying as the fees change periodically.
   You should receive a payment voucher composed of two sections. Complete your personal information on both sections of the voucher.
3. Download the necessary forms from the Misrad HaRevacha from the link above, complete the form requesting registration on the web as well as the criminal registration declaration. For overseas graduates, scroll down to רישום בעלי תואר של מוסד להשכלה גבוהה בחוץ לארץ and complete the vocational training form.
4. Additional documents to submit:
   – Copy of your Teudat Zehut including addendum. If you have a biometric Teudat Zehut, you will need to submit copies of both sides. If you do not yet have a Teudat Zehut, you can provide a copy of your passport + visa.
   – Documents indicating that you completed fieldwork in the course of your social work studies. A minimum of approximately 850 hours is required as well as a description of the type of work that you did. Make sure this document specifies years, months, and days of practical training (fieldwork).
   – If the fee was paid at the post office bank, a copy of your receipt indicating that you paid the processing fee.
   – Notarized copy of your original diploma, indicating you completed studies in Social Work. (No need to translate if the documents are in English.) The diploma must be notarized in Israel.
   – Transcripts (No need to translate if the documents are in English.)
   – The ministry will submit a request for Teudat Yosher (police background certificate) on your behalf. (The 3rd page of the application form is a letter of consent.)
5. Submitting your documents: Forms should be sent by mail or dropped off.
   Mailing information:
   ,רשמת העובדים הסוציאליים
   משרד הרווחה והביטחון החברתי
   רחוב ירמיהו 39 ת.ד.1260 מגדלי הבירה ירושלים 9446724
   Drop off information:
   You can drop off your documents in a sealed envelope at the box located outside the Misrad Ravacha V’bitachon Chevrati (Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs) at Yermiyahu Street 39 Jerusalem (second floor). Drop-off hours are between 7:00-20:00.