To be constantly referred to as "unqualified"

[Weathergames]

I am "qualified" to do my job as are all of us on our team. Some of us have degrees some qualifications/diplomas specific to our roles.

We have been merged with another (statatory agency) who all have to have a specific degree to do their role.

My new line manager is one of these (although ironically doesn't have the degree as was enough to have diploma in her day) but we are constantly referred to as "unqualified" - "this is so and so she's unqualified" when you meet a new colleague "are you qualified?" "TO DO MY JOB?!!!! Fucking yes!!!!!".

Today my line manager phoned a new contact of mine to explain and correct her that I am "unqualified" but didn't clarify my role or the fact I am indeed and always have been qualified to do my job.

AIBU to feel really really fucked off, undermined, belittled and devalued by this every day?

I think you might need to be more specific with the job itself. Is it something you need a degree for now whereas in the past you didn't?

I don't do the actual job I still do the same job I always did - We have now just been merged with a different team (Social Care).

Hard to say as you haven't said what 'qualifications' you hold personally, or what field you work in. In some professions it's a regulatory offence to hold yourself out a qualified if you don't hold the correct qualifications. There may be a reason why they are so concerned to make the distinction i.e insurance.

Are you qualified through experience or through the specific required degree? The difference may be in the actual technical side of the role. I do agree though that it is undermining and very demotivating to hear this.

I am qualified to do my role. I have qualifications and 12 yrs experience.

I have never wanted to be a social worker I have just had the misfortune to be in a team that have been merged with them.

My role is therapeutic (and I project manage) which I am fully qualified to do.

Then yanbu. If you hold the qualifications to do the job you are employed to do, you shouldn't be referred to as unqualified. Speak to your line manager. It sounds like you are involved in situations where assumptions are made about your role by other people which are incorrect. That isn't your fault and I can see you would feel demotivated. Good luck.

If they say "unqualified" with reference to social workers then YAB a bit U as being a qualified social worker is an important distinction in that field, as is "newly qualified" and there are statutory responsibilities you can't carry out if you are not qualified as a SW

I was never employed as a social worker though?

And I am FULLY aware of ALL those distinctions trust me.

I guess they are just emphasising that you are not a social worker (as if you didn't know!). This happens in nursing too, sometimes healthcare assistants are referred to as 'unqualified staff' when they are not unqualified nurses, they have a completely different defined role. I agree it is patronising.

YANBU.

I have worked in a social work team made up of people with different roles, and when I joined that is how they were introduced - "This is x, she is a carer's assessor/social worker/social services officer". And that was that. Nobody was really referred to as 'unqualified', except when it was necessary, explaining why SSOs could not lawfully carry out certain tasks.

Constantly calling you unqualified is belittling and inaccurate - you are not a qualified social worker, nor are you claiming to be, but are perfectly qualified to do your job, as you say.

Next time she says it is be asking her what exactly it is im unqualified to do before declaring that I qualified to do my role of X with XYZ diploma and if she means I'm not a qualified social worker then she is correct but as I had never been hired to do that role I would appreciate if she could address me by the correct one and acknowledge the recognised qualifications I hold for it..

Unless she is scary-then Id prolly speak to her manager and clarify the situation lol

I am on the same wage as a "qualified" social worker.

YANBU if it's said in a scathing way but in general, I think you are a bit unreasonable because in social care, the distinction in duties is very important.

I am a social worker but we have some incredible "unqualified" SW assistants in our team who have years of experience and are an asset to the team. However, there are still things they cannot do and duties that are not ascribed to them.

Just to add, we don't use the word qualified and unqualified in our daily speak. We do have "this piece of work is for a social worker" though, so the distinction is made.

**speech not speak!

Can you legally carry out the exact same duties as a qualified social worker though? Because in some circumstances it needs to be made clear if you can't. I have an accountancy certificate but I'm not a qualified accountant and I run a payroll, I've had to explain that I'm not a qualified accountant to some staff- and I'm paid the same as our qualified accountants.