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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you expect from your school Social Worker?

53 replies

NCtonotgetroasted · 20/10/2022 23:11

Hello,

Just a question for parents who have children at school.

What do you expect/what would you like from your school social worker? I have recently (last 2 days!) started in this role and based on some recent threads re schools/SWs/safeguarding I am torn as to what parents might want and what they might find intrusive?

I'm planning to make contact but wanted to see what families might like from me?

OP posts:
Hoardasurass · 20/10/2022 23:23

Daft question but I'm in Scotland so a different system and don't have school social workers, but when you say school social Work are you employed by the school or the council? Also are you an actual trained social worker?
When you talk about contacting do you mean family's who are under the care of social services or where there is concern of harm? Or are you talking about just randomly contacting family's for no good reason?

Johnnysgirl · 20/10/2022 23:25

What families are you planning to make contact with?!

PandaOrLion · 20/10/2022 23:27

I’ve worked as a DSL for years and never come
across a school social worker! Is this a new role?

MuckyPlucky · 20/10/2022 23:27

I’ve never heard of schools having their own SW either. Is this a new thing then?

Was there no job spec for you, which indicates what your key duties and responsibilities are?
All a bit strange.

Starlightstarbright1 · 20/10/2022 23:28

I have never heard of one. Can i ask what country you are in ?

SpinningFloppa · 20/10/2022 23:28

our school doesn’t have a school social worker

littleblackno · 20/10/2022 23:30

Never heard of a school social worker. What do you think the role should entail? Is it a guidance/ counsellor role? Are you in primary or secondary school?

RonnieMcdonnie · 20/10/2022 23:32

Never heard of a school social worker so no expectations, would assume they’d be for vulnerable children only

MutheroGod · 20/10/2022 23:34

We have some school social workers in Northern Ireland now, mostly in areas that have lower socio economic status. Employed by the school/department of education I think, but would be quite a new thing. I think it's a good concept. I don't know but would think that the school social worker worms with children already known to social services or can be referred by school.

Proteinpudding · 20/10/2022 23:35

Are you referring to this scheme?

whatworks-csc.org.uk/blog/new-funding-announced-to-run-and-evaluate-programmes-in-schools-to-improve-safeguarding-and-educational-outcomes-for-children-with-a-social-worker/

They have it as a pilot in the area I live, but it's still quite new and we're the only one locally that have it I think (and it isn't in every school here, just a few that were selected)

Whoopsywoo · 20/10/2022 23:36

best Practice is you tell child and parents if you are visiting In school, however if there is a safeguarding issue you just go in. Child protection is paramount, and if your concerned about their safety you put that first. Bear In mind it’s unsettling and hard for kids to be pulled out of class

howshouldibehave · 20/10/2022 23:36

I have taught for 25 years and have never had a school social worker.

We have individual children or families who have a social worker. They have never lasted longer than about 6 months, so lasting in role longer than that would be a plus.

Can I ask where you are in the country? This sounds a very unusual role so I’d go back to your job description and look at what the expectations there are.

FrankTheThunderbird · 20/10/2022 23:39

I've never heard of a school social worker so am confused as to your exact role.

Having said that I would want you to stay away from my family as my experiences with SS (both as a child and an adult) are not positive. Sorry.

ADialgaAteMyDog · 20/10/2022 23:41

Our school has a family support worker which I assume is similar. She's allegedly there to support families but I have no idea how busy she is as we also have a dedicated SENCo with no teaching responsibilities.

Assuming people have a social worker if needed through actual social services, it just comes across as interfering and overkill. The support worker at our school seems to mostly signpost to courses like cooking on a budget and parenting classes. Not sure a full time post is entirely necessary but I've never had reason to deal with her I do not intend to.

TurtleTatt · 20/10/2022 23:42

Definitely a thing - we have SWIS teams in my area. This might help. https://childrenssocialcare.blog.gov.uk/2021/05/13/social-workers-in-schools-bringing-our-expertise-into-educational-settings/

Stressedout1980 · 20/10/2022 23:44

We have school social workers in the area I live/work in. They are employed by the local authority and are usually based in 2 schools across the week where there has been identified a high level of need, either run terms of referred young people to social care, police incidents or escalating safeguarding concerns . The SW’s are fully qualified and experienced in education and community settings, becoming a trusted person for young people and families at the school as far as possible and responding quickly to concerns raised. Must schools and YP speak very positively of them

sunflowerdaisyrose · 20/10/2022 23:50

@ADialgaAteMyDog I'm sure most people don't intend to need to work with the family support worker/social worker. Ours was invaluable when my children suffered a trauma (witnessed a horrific fatal accident, and also lost a close relative within 2 days) and one really struggled to cope with it.

The FSW met with her daily, became a very trusted adult that made school a safe place (teaching staff didn't have time really) and also signposted me to groups for my husband and I, and her, of people who have been through similar things.

A year on and she doesn't need extra support now and is much happier.

Id guess a school social worker would be similar and potentially help all children and families who need it and not only SEN children.

Original poster
NCtonotgetroasted · 21/10/2022 06:29

Ah okay so to explain, it's the DSL role but in my area a lot of the schools specifically want qualified Social Workers to do this role. So the full title is School SW and Designated Safeguarding Lead.

I am employed by the school not the council,
I will not have case holding responsibility in the way that I did as a CLA/CP Social Worker.

Is there anything you'd have wanted as a parent in this safeguarding capacity?

And it's not so much about me visiting kids as I will be based in school anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
NCtonotgetroasted · 21/10/2022 06:30

@sunflowerdaisyrose absolutely, thank you for your input here. I'm glad you've had a good experience of this role.
I am also a trained psychotherapist so yes there would be elements of this type of support in my role,

OP posts:
ahunf · 21/10/2022 06:56

Didn't / don't think they have one. Mine are 12 and 10.

PenguinMama · 21/10/2022 07:05

I'd start by looking at the areas of need in your school eg what is coming up lots (mental health, online behaviour etc) and then work on preventative and early help measures. So for example would more pshe lessons on online safety help? Could you put in place quick access support for students starting to show poor mental health, the aim being to stop it becoming a bigger issue.

Good luck!! How great for the school to invest with mental health skills and direct access to social care!!

Hayliebells · 21/10/2022 07:05

Ah, I understand more of what you mean now! I’m a teacher, and having undergone so many safeguarding training sessions, I actually think it would be good to offer some training for parents. I’ve read numerous threads on MN when a parent has been unsure about raising a safeguarding concern, with responses ranging anywhere from “call social services”, to “don’t interefere, it’s fine”. Some training on what to do if parents have concerns about a child they know would be very valuable I think. Maybe even a regular notice in a school newsletter would be a good idea. Just so parents know what sort of things they should be reporting to you, even minor things, as it might form part of a bigger picture and ultimately safeguard a child.

Toomuchtoolong · 21/10/2022 07:18

Parent sessions - preventive school room. So if u was in that role I would so info sessions, evenings/ weekends/ zoom on things like cse, online safety, anxiety, exam stress, resilience, aces , county lineS, radicalisation etc. equally some sessions for the pupils for these- maybe afterschool programmes.
I would prepare packs on info on same and maybe record. Video discussion and put on school internet/ Facebook.
would organise a cofeee morning/ or even if not possible a video for the school Facebook introducing yourself and your role so to avoid any concerns and know you are there for support.
I would link in with police and local safeguarding team and build a good relationship re. Safeguarding concerns- look up operation encompass .
I would do workshop sessions for teachers on signs/ indicators of abuse next steps etc and have a workshop practicing recording - how to fill out their safeguarding concern documents- whatever they maybe be.
havnt read all the previous posts so apologies if some duplication. Good luck, it’s a fab job !

breakingthebank · 21/10/2022 07:27

There is a SW at my dc's school. My dc has disabilities and school is not a great place for her. The SW has had a couple of conversations with her - once after she had an outburst at a teacher in a lesson and once after dc's friend raised concerns about a text she'd sent. The SW rang me both times to let me know she'd spoken to my dc and it prompted really helpful conversations at home where dc opened up to me and I was then able to support her with trying to navigate friendship problems and issues with a teacher.

However one of my dc's close friends is in the SW's office several times a day. She will skip lessons to go and speak to the SW and seems to find anything to say to go there e.g. when she couldn't sit next to her friend in a lesson she stormed out and went to the SW. I'm not sure that level of dependency is the best approach but obviously I don't know all the ins and out of this child's issues.