What didn't you know about your profession until you had to experience your profession as a client rather than a professional?

[bluetrampolines]

I have name changed. This could potentially being outing.

I am a teacher. I had NO IDEA how awful homework was until my own children recently started school. If you don't have time to teach it at school don't bother me with it at home.

I worked with mental health service users. When I had to see the psychiatrist and team, I realised how looked down on we are as service users. I wanted to shout all the time 'I have a brain, I'm not deaf nor am I stupid'. I found it hard to to get people to listen to me properly.

SW

Having been through the adoption process I have an even stronger sense of how bloody difficult child protection meetings are for parents. I was attending meetings knowing the process, having the respect of the attendees as a SW and coming from a very positive place. I don't think I've ever felt so exposed so can completely understand the shame and humiliation of being called to a meeting to discuss how shit a parent you are.

I train SW now and really focus on support and empathy for the family as a whole to make the meeting more effective for everyone.

Hospital care assistant

• having a shower, help getting dressed and a cuddle can make you feel 10 times better than any painkiller.

• hospital food is disgusting

• hospitals are very, very cold if you're in your pyjamas

• hallucinations are petrifying at 2am in a single room