To request a female social worker

[IIama]

Hi,

My friend has a male social worker. I was wondering if she has any legal right to request a female social worker as she finds men to be quite triggering owing to past experiences. She has requested a female social worker but her request got denied by her male social worker.

Thanks

He totally ignored her request? Didn't even put it to his supervisor? He'd have to have a watertight explanation.

@Onlyforcake Thanks for replying. He said there were no available female social workers and that was it.

She doesn't have a right to change social workers, she can request it but it rarely happens. She can ask the social worker directly or contact their team manager. The decision would be made on the basis of the best interests of the child (or vulnerable adult). Often, social workers are changed if there's a complaint upheld (obviously) but you can't "complain" that's male - he's not done anything wrong by being male.

I just googled it. A dementia support website came up. It didn't say anything about a legal right to a female social worker but you can request a different one. It suggested putting the request in writing to the team manager. I'd be very uncomfortable about the request being denied by the male social worker.

Thanks both. I’ve passed your messages on to my friend.

Put it in writing. It's harder to ignore.

Social workers have specialist areas and can offer work in work small teams or solo. It might be that there isn't a female counterpart in the team.

As foster carer I currently have a male SW.
You can request a new SW but as others have said not normally for being a different gender. If your friend has issues needs support and help of a SW and the issues relate to men that could be put in her request, especially pointing out it's not a personal issue with the SW ie he hasn't done anything wrong.

Her social worker can't deny it as it's not his call, it's his managers call.
She can put in a formal complaint giving reasons. This will need to be escalated.

In the health service you have the right to request care by the same sex as you are. (Men often want women actually and can't make this request) It should be upheld where ever possible. Obviously not always possible but reasonable steps should be taken and if not explained to the patient. I'd have thought they were bound by similar rules

This is a tricky one. If it's purely because she finds intense male involvement triggering (and SS intervention IS often intense), that might be a valid reason. However, requesting a change of social worker can be perceived as the parent being obstructive and unwilling to cooperate in my experience.

I need help and I prefer to speak to women because I get on more of them

I don't believe there would be a legal right, there are few circumstances where you're allowed to discriminate based on sex. If she's put the request in directly to the service provider in writing they may choose to accommodate depending on reason/why SW involvement/capacity, but if not then likely will just have to get on with it.