To find my boss exhausting

[evangeline1989]

I started a new job 6 months ago as a social worker. With practically no training I was handed a huge caseload and expected to simply learn as I go on.

Now, luckily for me I have worked in this field before and so had a fair idea what I was doing but I had to get used to processes in this new team. All my work colleagues have been supportive and the feedback from other higher up managers has been great.

My manager has pulled me up on the most minor of details since I started. She does this to everyone except the most experience members of staff who she wouldn't dare do it to.

She will send a text asking for you to ring. You ring and she asks you to see her the next day to discuss an 'issue with casenotes, issues with an assessment' etc.

Then you spend the whole day worrying and she finally calls you in in front of everyone to discuss her issue.

I feel she should either bring any issues up in supervision or just call you in there and then to discuss.

This time she has called me in to discuss 'poor casenote keeping'. She has been sat going through my casenotes checking if they are upto date. There are some that need writing up from a few days ago but this is completely normal and necessary when your caseload is high and priorities come along. It feels like she is deliberately looking for ways to criticise.

I've had fantastic feedback from patients and other professionals so I know I am doing well. AIBU to find the nitpicking so exhausting? I welcome constructive criticism but feels this is a very oppressive manner in which to deal with any concerns. The 'concerns' are always things that every social worker does and within the normal range.

It's not like I've forgotten to do home visits or something major.

I've no idea how I will approach her latest issue. She called me when I was on a training course so I should not have even been called as it was a none work day.

Any advice on how to deal with her?

Even if all my casenotes were perfect etc I am sure she would find things to be concerned about.

Honestly, I'd try to give her absolutely nothing to complain about if it were me. Do everything to the T and she might leave you alone.
If she still nit picks about nothing then keep a note of it.

It's not possible to 'do everything to the T'. Sometimes paperwork has to wait as emergencies come in.

Obviously simply not doing paperwork at all is not acceptable but not having it done a day or two after the event is sometimes unavoidable. Her expectations are unreasonable and unattainable.

I do a very similar job to you and when I had a difficult manager I actually just called her bluff and said "would you like me to leave?" As soon as I said that she back peddled and huffed and puffed as she knew the realities of the job and knew she was being unreasonable. Taking on a full caseload that you are not familiar with is a massive task. I also have to write case notes and what I did was to write a very brief summary rather than nothing at all. They will usually be satisfied with that. Then if you have time to go back and expand on it later, then great but at least you have written something.

Try not to spend the whole day worrying - you can change her management style but you can respond differently. You know she’s nit picking, you know your work is ok so when she does the whole “need to see you urgently” thing try to park your anxiety about it until you can see her otherwise you’ll drive yourself crazy.

Can you just speak to her about it? Request a meeting and ask for her advice/suggestions.

People who nitpick or micromanage do so because they're out of their depth. The job is beyond them, so they manage what they are comfortable with: the trivia, when you take holidays, timekeeping, keeping notes up to date, even spelling.
You'll never grow while working for someone like this. Have a look around the organisation and you'll find someone you'd love to work for. There will soon be a vacancy as her staff will always be getting promoted. Keep an eye out for a transfer and bail out.