AIBU to want to be a social worker?

[user0512]

Hi All,

So, sometimes I contemplate on completing a child social work degree (I already have a degree - but I contemplate doing a conversion so I can practice as a social worker). But I wanted to know what it's really like?

What are the pros and cons? What kinds of cases are you currently working with (of course without mentioning any names etc)

Thanks

Thank you. This response was quite helpful.

Growing up one of my best friends was involved with SS. Her mum was an alcoholic and there was domestic abuse involved within her family setting. She didn't tell me about any of this until we were in year 11. I knew her since year 7 and it took her a long time to ever mention any of the above (understandably). I feel like all those years ago, she was failed by SS and I wish more was done to help her. However, in her own words, her mum was quite difficult and knew how to word things in front of professionals. Her mum could also get annoyed and agitated by their involvement but as far as I know there wasn't any violence towards the SW. I think what scares me is possibly being assaulted or having to collect a child from a drug dealer's house or something of that sort? But at the same time, I have seen how it impacted her and how it still impacts her to not get help. I feel like there are probably many other children who need intervention and help and it would be rewarding to try and help. But I guess it's not that easy with a lack of resources as this post has shown

Thank you for your response.

Yep, I agree. I feel like I would probably be consumed by the worry and if I've made the right choice in child protection cases.

Is there another career that involves helping children and young people but not as front line? Would you say a counsellor maybe?

Are you held accountable when they go missing? is it up to you to find them? Surely that would be down to the police right?

It is a job that you need high levels of resilience, but that also comes with experience on the job.

But it is also very rewarding, once you've got your head around the red tape and budgets, you work with what you've got. And seeing the impact and change families have made (some of the time) is really fab.

Of course there a times where families aren't able to recognise the harm and make the changes.

But if it's something you want to do, I think you can find your niche. After spending many years working in front line safeguarding - I'm now doing a role which supports student social workers and it's fab!

Did you get assaulted often? i watched a documentary on YouTube where the social worker has to enter a house with hardly any furniture. The mother (a pregnant lady who had many kids prior to being pregnant taken off of her) was with a man who was abusive and was on drugs.

When the social worker would visit he would give her such a hard time and his dogs would go mental. If it is like that then I guess it's defo not the career for me as that would scare the living life of of me

I am not a social worker but my job involves reading their (very long) reports - be prepared for a lot of writing and paperwork

What is your job title if you don't mind sharing? Perhaps it could be a career choice I research as I feel like I'm going through a career crisis 😩

I've never once been physically assaulted - I wouldn't even say I've been able personally verbally assaulted - I've had angry parents shout and swear but not directed at me.
Although I know colleagues who have!

Dogs are tricky - most of the time I ask if they can be put outside or in another room and that's respected. If I felt unsafe, I would leave and come back with a colleague / police (depending on how unsafe).

I may be just have been very lucky as well, but the type of families that show that level of violence, in my experience, are the exception rather than the rule.

Thank you. Your responses have been very helpful. I just wanted to make a somewhat informed choice this time as I feel like I've wasted three years 😳!

I'm I think if you want to go into a caring profession get an unqualified job on a related field. It will support your UCAS application. Good luck.

This is great advice! You can then also understand the challenges a bit better to make an informed decision

I’m a PA to a clin psych who assesses children in family law proceedings

@Snowpaw
What's your career or background? That sounds good too as you're still playing a key role in helping children but it isn't front line as such

I don't know if this is specific to Scotland but we have Social Work Assistants. In my team they essentially do the same job as Social Workers but can't do legislative work and tend not to get the extremely complex cases.

You can become a SWA with your current degree so you'd maybe be best looking at that type of role. Or a Family Support Worker type role.

If you don't have experience in this field (and from your posts it sounds like you maybe don't), I would really recommend you get some before starting the degree. Social Work is an incredibly challenging but rewarding role. But you literally are a Jack of all trades and you will see, hear and experience things that will stay with you forever.

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have qualified as a social worker, I'd have gone for a support role or early help. You have far more time to actually do some direct work with children and young people rather than having to write endless reports etc

Maybe look at allied health professions; training as an OT, Physio etc. Same pay, far less stress and responsibility in my opinion.

Having a social work degree is a very beneficial qualification even if you don’t work as a statutory social work, many many other jobs ask for a social worker qualification - eg project worker with specialist services - eg drugs, young carers, cse service etc or the likes of an independent advocate of an independent guardian for unaccompanied young people , team leader at a learning disability residential or day service - these need to be social worker qualified . If you do decide to do the degree I would recommend doing a various roles to build experience . You do need to be open minded, not easily shocked and prepared to work very very hard in frustrating circumstances at times.
As an alternative how about think what job you would like ( look up services online) and then consider what qualification would be most beneficial, for example a qcf5 in health and social care could be another good option . Or youth work( if interested in children and young people )

The worst I’ve dealt with is senior management in the Local Authority where I used to work.

Seriously though (although that is my honest answer) I’m now 9 years in, having worked in child protection and now in the courts. It is hard work but as long as you are realistic, resilient, have good personal boundaries and a mix of empathy and honesty, it can work well. I have built some great relationships with the families I’ve worked with, and I hope I’ve helped overall. If you go in thinking like a rescuer, you’ll burn out. I’ve never been attacked, sometimes been sworn at, rarely threatened. I don’t regret my career choice at all, but I can’t see myself going back to local authority work because of the toxic management culture.

I'm going to go against the grain. I've been a social worker with lac/cic since 1994. Some people are not cut out for working with this group of young people. I continue to love it

Well it depends very much on your motivation doesn’t it as to whether you’re being unreasonable or not, if you’re wanting to do the job for the glamour and the money you probably are being very unreasonable.

I did a psychology A Level but have an Administrative background really. I started out as his typist many years ago and he's trained me to score psychometric tests / summarise medical histories and court evidence bundles etc over the years. I proof read everything he writes and make the appointments / do the accounts etc. I find it really interesting and varied work, but all I'm doing is reading about it, not having the stress of involvement myself.

Don't do it. Frontline and burnt TF out!

Emotionally it's really taken it's toll and I don't have anything left over for my own dc. It's not a rewarding job, it's a shit job and one of the only jobs where you have to take abuse and continue to work. Drs etc all get to refuse service to an abusive person, we don't.

Also the current climate around corporate parenting is SHIT. Sound's good in theory, that you treat each child like they were your own in terms of getting them what they need, but it doesn't work in reality. Boundaries get blurred.

OP, could you work in addictions? That would be rewarding

I think from what you’ve said the unpredictable nature in frontline social work might not be for you. You can be dealing with really motivated but limited parents, really aggressive and dishonest parents, acting as an appropriate adult in a police interview, removing a child… all in one day!

You need to remember that as a pp said a lot of professionals can refuse to see people/ban them from services. Police for example go into risky situations with another officer, a radio, body amour and a baton. The first whiff of danger/abuse they can arrest. We often go in alone with a diary and a pen and tend to try to calm situations and build relationships.

I've been in adult social work for 6 years and I am utterly burnt out, stressed and depressed. Social work in children's and adults is such an essential job but there are literally no resources..no staff..no support..its impossible to help.
If you decide against social work..Still make sure you don't vote Tory!