Is anyone a social worker? Specifically mental health social worker?

[MushroomTree]

I'm looking at applying to the Think Ahead programme for 2020 start to qualify as a mental health social worker.

Can anyone tell me what life is likely to be like once qualified? Are there enough jobs to make it likely I'll be employed? Will it be so stressful I'll be burnt out within a year?

I'm under no illusions that social work is an easy job. I know many through my current job.

I'm also a single parent to DD who will be 3 when I start my training and 5 when I finish. Is being a social worker in any way compatible with being on my own with a small child?

Please tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly about social work! Thank you

Bump

I was a mental health nurse so I have some idea of what the job migh entail a lot of our patients lived quite chaotic lives, with the cuts in mental health and lack of beds ,it will be a stressful job, I expect you would have a heavy case load,a lot of our patients had accommodation problems ie keeping somewhere to.live,finding somewhere appropriate to live ,you could go on to do further training and become an AMPH which is an approved mental health professional, and they apply for a person to be detained under the mental.health act (this might mean increased unsocial hours ) it's certainly a hard job but I imagine it can be very rewarding.

Only just seen this! Thank you for the reply.
I'm definitely aware of the demands of the job. I meet a lot of social workers in my current role but it's always good to have more opinions.

@MushroomTree I realise this post was a year ago now, how did you get on? Did you go for Think Ahead?
I'm in the process of applying for 2020 (applications are still open!) and have similar dilemmas to you. My little girl is 4 now and will be 6 if/wehn I finish. I feel really driven to help people and have worked in similar roles before, but I'm nervous of working really long hours or getting totally burnt out.
So if you have time I'd love to hear how you got on, and I wish you all the best with your career plans.

I'm a mental health nurse but I work in a secure children's home and work closely with a number of social workers.

I can honestly say I wouldn't do this job. This are quite bad working for the NHS but they are worse for my social worker colleagues. They are constantly managing impossible caseload and are unable to do what is expected of them, because it is not possible.

I can divide the social workers I know into those that work long hours and feel bad, and those that seem so burnt out they don't seem to care much.

In the ten years my poor mum has been qualified she has aged a good 20 years. She’s amazing at her job, and she helps so many people I’m so so proud of her