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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To work fulltime for no money!

36 replies

katedan · 19/11/2013 17:32

I am in my second year of a social work degree course and have just started a 7 month placement with a child protection team which is full time (9 - 5) but obviously as the work is quite frontline I may have to stay on later. I am not paid for the placement and during this time I also have essays and exams to work for. I have 3 children who apart from the last couple of years studying I have been at home with and I hate being apart from them (they are all primary school age). The childcare bill is massive for afterschool child-minder and at the weekends I am studying instead of getting time with them. So am I mad to do this? My husband is very well paid (I say this not to brag but to make you understand I am not training to give my family financial stability). I am not sure after starting work on the team I even want to be a SW once I graduate as it is low paid and comes with long hours and a lot of stick! However I have studied for the last 2 years to get here and will graduate in less than 2 years time and up to now have passed all my assignments first time with average grades. So please mums netters tell me truth am I mad to put all my family through this for no pay!

OP posts:

Joysmum · 19/11/2013 17:35

I feel your pain but this isn't just about the here and now. Your hard work will all pay off for you.

When hubby and I started out together, he was earning £55 doing an apprenticeship. Not worth it for the money but it was investing in his future. Likewise when I did my degree course as a mature student.

NorthernShores · 19/11/2013 17:36

I was wondering about retraining as a social worker. I wanted to train as a psych or an otbut can't without moving.

Its not badly paid though is it? Comparable to other health care roles, teaching etc and more as you go up the ranks.

We'd be doing it as we need the income though. Must be different if you husband is on a good wage.

You might as well qualify. Is there a different area you'd rather work in once qualified?

WilsonFrickett · 19/11/2013 17:39

Why are you studying something you don't want to do?

Topseyt · 19/11/2013 17:39

You sound as if you are having doubts about whether or not YOU want to do it for yourself.

It isn't a career choice I could make because I know it would drive me nuts, but that may be just me.

What is your husband's take on all of this? Would he support you whatever your decision?

givemeaclue · 19/11/2013 17:39

Keep going.

You knew all this before you started. You are training not working. You don't have an independent workload

If you leave you have wasted two years.

mrssmith79 · 19/11/2013 17:40

You're not 'working' in the true sense though, you're learning. I'm a 3rd year student nurse in the same position, 37.5hr weeks on placement for months at a time including weekends and nights - often 40 mile round trips, all at my own expense as the uni is further than the placement location so I can't claim fuel / parking.

If it's truly not for you, give it up now but only as long as you've given it total consideration and can guarantee that you won't regret it further down the line. No-one else can make the decision on your behalf.

NomDeClavier · 19/11/2013 17:47

I second whoever said it's more you're having doubts about whether you feel what you're doing is worth it for you.

I personally think it's worth carrying on but I'm not living your life. If you would be a good, caring, competent SW then don't give up.

Original poster

katedan · 19/11/2013 17:48

WilsonFrickett - Good question but seriously there are parts of SW practice that I thought I would enjoy however nothing can prepare you for being amongst the team and it is really shocking to see how unhappy they all are.

I could get my degree and do something like family support worker or work in a children's centre but that would be a hard work way to work in those jobs which is more about experience (which the placements will give me) than a degree.

NorthernShores - It is badly paid for what they do, starting salary outside London in the south east is 24k.

OP posts:

thebear1 · 19/11/2013 17:54

I know it is not much but do you get a bursary from the General Social Care Council? I think that is paid on top of loans etc to encourage people into the field.

NorthernShores · 19/11/2013 17:56

Jobs near me (not London) are advertised as 24-34. It will go up incrementally on experience, very similar to teachers,nurses, occupational therapists,mental health nurses etc.

Its not going to make you rich like a city job -but its not badly paid.

I agree its a long way around to be a support worker though, I agree - II've wondered about family support worker roles myself.

I meant if you didn't like current placement could you look at working in another asda of social work. My memories dim - but there's areas such as older folk or learning disabilities aren't there? There's quite a few teams near here that are mixed - so you can work on the team regardless of whether you have ot, sw or nurse training.

morethanpotatoprints · 19/11/2013 17:57

If you don't want to do it once qualified/ have no intention of doing it, then hell no, don't work for nothing.
If its a means to an end and something you really want to do then you have to do it really.

FairyJen · 19/11/2013 17:59

As a sw I can tell you it's bloody gr. the work is hard, the hours long and there is not enough money in the world to witness some of the things you have to see. You live under constant pressure that one false move could leave you front page news with the nation calling for your blood.

BUT helping just one child, one family and seeing the results make up for this. You just really need to learn to value the small things

hettienne · 19/11/2013 18:00

Even if you decide you don't want to be a social worker at the end of it, having the degree is worthwhile. Is it your first/only degree? If you've already sunk 2 years of your life into it and can afford to continue then I would.

FairyJen · 19/11/2013 18:01

*bloody grim

Original poster

katedan · 19/11/2013 20:04

Thank you everyone, have been in a real tizz about this really not sure which way to jump.

It will be my first (only) degree if I graduate so will have the confidence boost and even if I don't become a sw long-term the degree will help with other jobs.

I just needed to sound it out in case you all thought I was bonkers and as many of you have pointed out it is not work but training!

It is so hard to start at the bottom of a career at nearly 40 with three kids but I do want something I can do once they are older and I seem to be attracted to the jobs which don't make you popular (previous career was with the police!)

OP posts:

Xmasbaby11 · 19/11/2013 20:11

It's a placement, not a job. If you do well, you will be snapped up for a paid job.

DH is a social worker and now trains students. He wouldn't do anything else.

It is very hard work though - lots of unpaid overtime.

lizzzyyliveson · 19/11/2013 20:11

You could probably convert your degree into a different one if you speak to your institution. There is no point working like this and getting experience that you don't need. You could be doing a regular degree and working part-time in a supermarket which would also give you a confidence boost as you would have your own money. Talk this over with your tutor as they will know what is possible.

bimbabirba · 19/11/2013 20:21

No YANBU to do it. I did something similar when I had two primary school children and was lucky enough that my Dh's job could sustain us all perfectly well while I was doing my degree. I never regretted it but I didn't end up doing the job I studied for, did something else which I like more although it doesn't pay much at all. It sounds like you should keep an open mind about other career opportunities.
GL

MissDuke · 19/11/2013 20:26

I am in a similar position I suppose, I have 3 children and am a student midwife. I don't begrudge it though because I love it and know it is what I want to do forever. If you are certain you don't and are miserable, then leave! No disrespect, but we don't need more unhappy social workers!

bellablot · 19/11/2013 20:30

But honestly, why would you study something that a) you wouldn't intend on finishing and b) you wouldn't want a job in that particular field in the end. You could have done something far less taxing of your time, less stressful and more interesting. SW isn't for the faint hearted or a past time to be enjoyed, it's a serious profession. And whilst you took the place on a very popular course which you may not complete as it doesn't pay too well (very condescending actually) you also took away the chance of someone who may have completed the course and pursued a career in SW.

tattyteddy · 19/11/2013 20:34

OP I know how you feel, I've just started my second/final year on an MA social work. I've just finished a 5 month placement and it's a drag working full time for free! I have a toddler aswell. I'm quite determined to finish as I don't want all this hard work to have been for nothing. Do you think you might prefer to be a social worker in the voluntary sector? X

MrsLouisTheroux · 19/11/2013 20:39

If you want a job related to your degree you need work exp. As others have said, you are not working for nothing, you are training. I worked at Tesco alongside doing my teacher training. I taught 40% - 60% of a teacher's timetable for 20 weeks. Unpaid.

FreeWee · 19/11/2013 20:50

I did a whole placement year for no money (highly competitive industry) but the place I worked for to get the experience offered me a well paid graduate job at the end of it so that ended well for me. Not the case with other friends but we all had a good chunk of experience on our CV for when we graduated.

CreamyCooler · 19/11/2013 20:51

I second the idea of perhaps converting the two years of the social work degree towards another course. I did a Sociology degree when DS1 started school and although it was hard work I was never resentful as I loved the subject and knew I would regret not going to university.

littlewhitebag · 19/11/2013 20:57

I am a SW. I did the training like you and did placements with two young children and a DH who was working way from home. It was hard going but so worth it. The placements should be seen as part of the training not as work done for free. It gives you real insight into the actual job. It is never going to be a well paid job but it isn't so bad. Pretty much same as teachers. I work part time but i think the full time wages are over £30k. I would keep going with it. Once you graduate there are so many different work avenues your qualifications can take you down.

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