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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Thinking of going to uni to study to become a social worker.

21 replies

Stopthebusnow · 11/08/2021 16:44

I’m thinking of retraining as a social worker, I’m going to college for a year then hopefully uni next year but I will be 55 when I qualify.

Does anyone think this is a bad idea?

I’m currently a foster carer, the young person I have in my life just now is a teenager, and has been living with me for 7 years, and will hopefully be living with me forever, but I’m not wanting to foster any more young people, as I feel it’s time to live my life going forward for me.
Social workers I deal with just now are telling me to go for it, the life experience I’ve had and the fostering experience will be so valuable that I will get a job no problem, but I’m just wanting other peoples advice.

I didn’t do very well in school so I am a bit concerned the course will be too academical and I might struggle.

Any advice would be great fully appreciated.

Thank you.

OP posts:

changemynameforme · 11/08/2021 16:46

I can't help with the academic level of the degree as I haven't done it to comment, however what I can say as someone working in residential child care that having a social worker who has experience with young people in the care system is honestly invaluable!!

Christinayangtwistedsister · 11/08/2021 16:56

I think you will do fine on the course and your life experience will enhance any learning

Social work is so hard now though , lack of supervision, heavy caseloads and a blame culture make it a really pressured environment

Good luck on whatever you decide

Signalbox · 11/08/2021 16:57

Go for it. I didn’t do very well at school and later went back and retook GCSEs, ALevels, a professional qualification and a degree (in my 30s). It’s much easier to learn when you are enthusiastic about the subject and if you have any learning difficulties that make studying difficult there is much more help available now than when we were at school.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 11/08/2021 16:58

Go for it! Loads of vacancies where I am (I’m not a SW but I work with them). We’re crying out for staff.

Allllchange · 11/08/2021 17:05

Your experience will make the course significantly easier as you will already have the procedures, attachment theory and analysis skills. The course is incredibly intense but that is to do with the mix between placements and uni days. But if you have been a foster carer you will likely be used to full on. You can always go part time when you have qualified. And you will be in a strong position to get a job as many don't have that level of experience. I'd say go for it.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 11/08/2021 17:07

Do it!!
I love being a social worker

Looubylou · 11/08/2021 17:11

I'm going to encourage you because of your life experience but also because of your age - it's a stressful high turnover job, but you could do 5 year and still finish on a high

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 11/08/2021 17:19

I'm speaking as somebody who's had a lot of SS involvement (I'm a recovering alcoholic with severe mental health issues). I've had two utterly fantastic social workers.

One was a former foster carer and a complete force of nature. The other was absolutely dedicated to listening and learning from the families she worked with, and changed my life.

Both are in their mid 50s, both women are a credit to the system. Go for it!

kazillionaire · 11/08/2021 17:30

Just about to start my third year of my social work degree and I would definitely encourage you, I'm 46 now and there are quite a few people older than me so age is no barrier, academically it's not easy but if you do the reading they recommend and give yourself plenty of time to do assignments you will be fine, placements are good too, I had to be withdrawn from my first one due to the massive failing of the provider and it was my experience in social care which helped to emphasise this to the uni and they are now under investigation, my second placement was in an area I have always avoided working as I was completely not interested in it however it was brilliant and I could happily work in that area now 😀 go for it 😀 pm me if you have any questions x

deedeemegadoodoo · 11/08/2021 18:18

My sister did this in her early 40s. She’s not particularly academic, but was very interested in the role. She loves her job now. You could be working for another 10 years yet. I’d rather be doing that in a job I loved.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 12/08/2021 10:16

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

I'm speaking as somebody who's had a lot of SS involvement (I'm a recovering alcoholic with severe mental health issues). I've had two utterly fantastic social workers.

One was a former foster carer and a complete force of nature. The other was absolutely dedicated to listening and learning from the families she worked with, and changed my life.

Both are in their mid 50s, both women are a credit to the system. Go for it!

That's wonderful to hear! One of my very good friends trained in her 50s after being a foster carer and she is just a fantastic social worker, just brilliant. Someone you'd want in your corner when things were tough.

Stompythedinosaur · 12/08/2021 10:55

Social worker is very, very hard. It is unsupported and poorly paid for the level of reaponsibility. We need good social workers, but I wouldn't recommend anyone I cared about to pursue this.

AdmissionsTutor · 12/08/2021 11:51

I'm an admissions tutor for a social work degree. We get lots of students your age and older so don't worry about that. Your experience will be really valuable.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 12/08/2021 12:16

@Stompythedinosaur

Social worker is very, very hard. It is unsupported and poorly paid for the level of reaponsibility. We need good social workers, but I wouldn't recommend anyone I cared about to pursue this.

Not everywhere

niceupthedanceagain · 12/08/2021 12:27

Hmmm I qualified at 41 so age isn't a barrier. I loved it but I had to FIGHT the management for everything, always having to prove why my care leavers needed such and such a resource (eg WiFi in their supported housing!) . I drove 500 miles a week on visits where children were placed out of county and had to leave after 3 years due to ill health. I did love working with the young people and (most of) my team though.

Christinayangtwistedsister · 12/08/2021 14:18

The thing is you are goi g to be 55 anyway so you might as well be 55 and doing something that you enjoy

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 12/08/2021 14:23

@Christinayangtwistedsister

The thing is you are goi g to be 55 anyway so you might as well be 55 and doing something that you enjoy

This is a fantastic way of looking at things. Go for it OP!

Itwontstopraining · 12/08/2021 14:45

Go for it OP. Many social workers aren't naturally academic - there were quite a few on my course who had done access courses as they hadnt got the required maths and English GCSE equivalents first time round. However when it's a subject you get and understand, the academia makes a lot more sense. It's very different to doing a dry subject.

People will frighten you with the workload. It is pressured and fast paced but most people adjust to it and it's doable. And there's a variety of roles and while none are slow, they do vary - for example child protection is always quite intense, working with children in care involves a lot of travel, fostering social work is a bit more predictable for the hours though a bit bureaucratic. Adoption is emotionally tough but usually better managed in terms of caseloads. Early help has fewer social work roles but the people I know in them, love them. Adult social work can be tough as there's a lot more saying no to people, but tends to be more manageable hours/workload because not everything is your responsibility (compared to children's where if a problem arises you generally have to find the time to deal with it)

Once you've got a year or two under your belt as a social worker you're considered experienced, so you're not losing anything by not having started earlier - and your fostering experience would count for a lot anyway.

Original poster

Stopthebusnow · 12/08/2021 23:28

Thank you so much everyone, I feel a bit more comfortable now with my decision.

Itwontstopraining it’s an access course I’m doing this year and I am looking forward to it.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm my parents were alcoholics so I can see that side of things too, but my siblings and I weren’t taken into care. I’m glad you got good social workers. I really do hope your doing well.

I’m not actually sure which side of social work I would like to go into. The criminal justice side does interest me quite a bit, but we will see.

I feel more confident about it now, just hope I can manage the course, but I’m very very determined.

Thank you everyone for your input.

OP posts:

StarryNight468 · 12/08/2021 23:35

Do it. You don't have to work front line in a LA. Loads of charities employ SWs, youth offending, secure units and MH provisions do too.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 13/08/2021 10:37

@Stopthebusnow, my kids weren't removed from me thankfully, but the SS involvement I had reached the pre-court stage, so it was very serious. My social worker was utterly fabulous and she had tremendous faith in me. I'm now over 2 years sober and I am forever grateful to her for her unwavering support.

I'm sorry to hear your parents were alcoholics too. It's a horribly rough ride for the entire family. I truly admire you for wanting to go into this line of work, and make a difference, no matter which area of social care you decide on.

I wish you every success!

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