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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what people think a social worker's job role is?

422 replies

filee777 · 28/09/2013 16:06

I am intrigued. I know this is in AIBU and its not really that sort of question but I want diverse and interesting opinions.

So what do you think a social worker does? What do you think a social work should do?

OP posts:
PeriodFeatures · 29/09/2013 11:48

All I am is a caring person who works in the community and who is studying to better myself, I don't think I particularly deserve such animosity. My study is born out of a wish to work with people and help people, nothing more

in the nicest possible way OP i shall say this.

If you are not willing to take on board criticism, are already judging your more vocal classmates as knowing less than you, you are setting yourself up for finding your plaCEment extremely difficult.

you need to

  1. approach this learning as an opportunity to iron out your personality - i.e reflect and learn

  2. listen to others, even those who annoy you.

I work in a role which enables me to rake sw over hot coals on behalf of SU. Your current 'vibe' would worry me in practice.

Start at the bottom. always assume you know less rather than more.

you have in yr own head put your self in a superior position to yr classmates on day one!!

If you can't see that, you might as well give up now as i guarentee you will rub too many people up the wrong way and wont survive placement.
sw students on placement are frequently viewd as cannon fodder.b get some humility now otherwise you will not be 'bettering yourself' perhaps consider the language you are using there too

PeriodFeatures · 29/09/2013 11:49

sorry typos nak

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 11:53

I'm not judging them so much as I want them to shut up and let us all learn! I am certainly not the only person in the class to feel that way I can assure you ;)

I embrace the journey, I know it's going to mess with some of my views on life and make me approach and think about things differently, we met the second years last week and they said they all changed dramatically in their first year. I really welcome that change.

I suppose that's one of the reasons I am far more interested in hearing about people's views on social workers they have met than on me or my abilities, because really they are just not there yet, I am just starting out on something that will change me so much and I have no idea what sort of social worker I will be based upon who I am now.

It's going to be a big journey, that's for sure!

OP posts:
Canthisonebeused · 29/09/2013 11:53

Why did you have limited resources?

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 11:55

Because I didn't have access to the libraries or e study or online journals that I do now.

OP posts:
FavoriteThings · 29/09/2013 11:56

filee. I think the point that keeps cropping up in my head is that you may well end up being a social worker to any of the people in your class, people you dont get on with in real life, anyone and everyone, and MrsDeVere for all I know! In short, I presume, that some of the skills you learn will how to be and how to treat nicely, absolutely anyone you come across.
And you will learn I presume that none of your clients and what they say can be dismissed. They have to be talked to nicely and talked through things with and sympathised with etc. Forgive me anyone, if I am being horribly naive.

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 11:57

I wouldn't be a social worker for someone in my class, it would cross professional boundaries.

OP posts:
Souredstones · 29/09/2013 12:00

You can't snap at people like that!

The point being made was you will encounter all walks of life including people you will not like. You have to remain impartial and professional at all times.

Hopefully you can learn it because it doesn't appear to be a natural skill for you.

Canthisonebeused · 29/09/2013 12:00

Metaphorically you could be a social worker for anyone in your class.

FavoriteThings · 29/09/2013 12:01

You might be for their grannie, aunt, brother? Perhaps not.
Or the person who you dont get on with eg a neighbour, her sister? Whoever really.

PeriodFeatures · 29/09/2013 12:09

Climb down OP. There are no places for high horses in sw!

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 12:13

soured I am sorry if you feel I have snapped at you, it has not been my intention to snap at you at all.

Who am I snapping at?

Why am I on a 'high horse'?

I am really quite confused by this thread, surely I have made it clear that I am aware I know nothing?

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 29/09/2013 12:17

social work and rurality .

Do you not do any placements in yr 1 now? i did 40 days week

Canthisonebeused · 29/09/2013 12:18

But you have failed to take any of it on board your defence can't simply be I started this thread to ask what people think a social worker does or to say but I already said I know nothing. You have given off an air that you know more than you actually do, you have been quick to shoot down others on this thread as well as those on your course because their insight agenda or contribution is not valued by your self.

When someone wants to enter into a discussion or debate it's important to not only recognise you know nothing or defend your stance, but to also be open to advice and criticism and debate.

It's not possible to simply ask what you think a social worker does without giving a reasonable response to your ideas, experiences or expectations.

You have not opened your mind and that is not a good position for you to bed in at this point in your career.

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 12:23

What haven't I taken on board? I've changed my essay and reiterated that I don't know anything right now and am looking forward to learning, that I expect to change dramatically over the next three years.

I have continued to express that my wish is to hear other people's views and experiences because I think it's valuable that I keep in touch with that. This thread is not about a dissection of me, that would be pointless, none of you know me.

I agree any input into a debate is valid but when there is a debate going on and someone continually shouts about how much they feel chocolate would aid their learning and other such pointless crap, it's hard not to feel they have really nothing relevant to add!

There are judgements going on here but they aren't from me. I am fully aware I am starting at the bottom (as I've said a number of times now) and just wanted to hear about people's experiences so that I could learn both what people thought a social worker was and, conversely, what they should be.

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 12:24

No one there are no more year 1 placements.

OP posts:
Souredstones · 29/09/2013 12:28

You didn't snap at me. But you did at someone else with your 'but I won't be a sw to my uni friends' comment.

Slow down

Breathe

Think

Then respond

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 12:30

I can't see how you read that as snapping, there was nothing negative in it, it's words on a screen, you read it how you want to I suppose.

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 29/09/2013 12:30

"You seem to have gotten a bit hung up on the whole regulatory body thing, OP. Can I just say, it doesn't really matter. Yes, you need to know who regulates you, you need to know how the absorption of one body into another changed framework and guidelines, but it's background knowledge.

You should be aware of it and not much more, just as I am aware that my institution is the research department of a larger body but it has no impact on my day to day practice."

I respectfully disagree with this. I can't speak for other professionals but for SW, it is crucial to know the HCPC Standards of Proficiency inside out. (Incidentally, I just looked and they were published on 25th June 2013.) OP will be assessed against these on placement and they will form a large part of any exam work and/or coursework. She will fail her academic course and placements without an in-depth knowledge of these standards. Just a little heads up, file - read them, read them, read them!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 29/09/2013 12:31

Bold fail! Blush

You seem to have gotten a bit hung up on the whole regulatory body thing, OP. Can I just say, it doesn't really matter. Yes, you need to know who regulates you, you need to know how the absorption of one body into another changed framework and guidelines, but it's background knowledge. You should be aware of it and not much more, just as I am aware that my institution is the research department of a larger body but it has no impact on my day to day practice.

I respectfully disagree with this. I can't speak for other professionals but for SW, it is crucial to know the HCPC Standards of Proficiency inside out. (Incidentally, I just looked and they were published on 25th June 2013.) OP will be assessed against these on placement and they will form a large part of any exam work and/or coursework. She will fail her academic course and placements without an in-depth knowledge of these standards. Just a little heads up, file - read them, read them, read them!

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 29/09/2013 12:32

Filee
There are 'unqualified social workers' doing the same job as sws. I was one for 8 years. I held a caseload of looked after children, held lac reviews, wrote assessments and did exactly the same things that a SW in my team would do. No reduced or easier caseload. Plenty of local authorities do this.
I also disagree that £26k is well paid. Social work is highly skilled and extremely responsible. It is extremely hard work and deserves a much higher salary. £26k is a lot compared to a care worker but the jobs are incomparable so the salaries are also incomparable.

onadietcokebreak · 29/09/2013 12:32

so how many days at uni do you do in yr1, 2 and 3.

how many days placement in year 2 and 3?

FavoriteThings · 29/09/2013 12:33

fwiw, I didnt think it was snapping or took it as snapping. Smile

Original poster
filee777 · 29/09/2013 12:34

We do 3 days a week, 100 days placement in yr2 and I think it's 200(?) in year 3

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 29/09/2013 12:34

so how many days at uni do you do in yr1, 2 and 3.

how many days placement in year 2 and 3?