Anyone work in adult social care?

[TheLionQueeness]

Sorry it's not aibu but hoping to find someone with experience!

Have been considering a career change to adult social work.

Anyone who can give me some advice, pros / cons I would be very grateful!

My advice would be to steer clear. There have been so many cuts and restrictions that, even if you want to help people, you can't. I currently have a family friend, woman with a mental age of 8, living in an unsupported flat, infested with mice, no clue about hygiene or cleaning.
She doesn't know how to feed herself other than junk and drinks all day.
There is NOTHING SS can offer her. Not 1 single thing.
She is only in this position because her mother, who'd always cared for her, died and she has no other family. Council kicked her out of the family house into a 1 bed flat in a completely different town. Council can't offer her anything either. All I ever hear is 'cuts, cancelled schemes, no funding'

Do you have relevant experience / qualifications or would you be starting from scratch, as it were?

It’s a rewarding job but the hours can be long. The stress is high. It’s fast paced work which I like but not everyone does. You get blamed for everything the government does and you have to fight a lot of red tape. That said, when someone says thank you for something small or is just grateful you spent time with them, then it feels worth it.

Very rewarding. Couldn't imagine doing anything else. I love the difference you can make. Although to do this you often work extra hours etc.

I imagine it all depends on where you work... some local authorities will be better suited to you. The most important thing is a supportive team and management.

There's a few different routes in... and there are jobs where you can work in adult social care without needing university degrees etc I suppose it's dependent on your experience and how far you'd like to retrain.

It's pressured and challenging... but it makes every success so rewarding.

It is a very soul destroying job, if you can say no all day long to people who in are absolutely desperate circumstances and not get affected by it then go for it. Sorry to be negative but that is the bones of it.

I'm extremely lucky obviously! Maybe try to aim for a small private firm. Ensure they are registered with cqc and have a good rating or more. All training will be given on the job. Good luck!

I'd like to add that I've worked with adults with learning disabilities since I volunteered at 14 (20 years). I've never felt more disillusioned with the service or wanted to walk away from someone who relies on me than I do now.
I'm executor for the estate of the parents (still alive) of another friend who has cerebral palsy with learning disabilities and paraplegic and I'm seriously considering telling them I can't do it. Despite promising them I would 12 years ago

Op dont be put off, go have a look at the type of place you might like to work in first, my adult dc is in a good care home, the staff are lovely, ut they need more carers. Its a very worthwhile job and with the right setting you could get a lot from it.

Maybe do the training, get qualified, and then work as a Case Manager? Better money, lots of client-facing work, social care the way it was meant to be before the admin and forms took over the world. (and I speak with bitter experience about our statutory sector which is so restricted in what it can offer now, having spent so many years just looking into a computer screen to prove my worth)

I have a friend who is manager of a DoLS team - loves it - very low staff turn over - seems like a nice role

I work in children's services - it's grim due to poor staffing and funding

I work in a home for disabled adults and I love it. It’s hard work but very rewarding. The cuts are upsetting and frustrating at times. We can’t often access the types of therapy our service users need but we do try to give them a good quality of life.

Don't. The Adult Social Care budget in my area is cut to the bone. The staff turnover is very high. The service is over run with agency staff with no real commitment. The service and the local hospital fight over funding which causes bed blocking. I can't think of one positive comment.

Wow lots of advice here, I'll give it some good thought! Thank-you.

I work in Adult Care and I love it. Our Council is not in the same position as some others mentioned in this thread and we do provide care to those who need it.

I think the message is to pick your local authority very carefully.