To think that social work is...

[lepricon]

A calling? I am a newly qualified social worker. I have had soooo many people trying to scare me off it.

My first placement (third sector) I loved every minute. Thought it was a fluke and wait till I do statutory.

Did my second placement (statutory) absolutely fucking LOVED it! Feel so fulfilled, thrived from the stress. Thought it was a fluke and wait till I'm qualified.

Qualified for a year (statutory) and still loving it.

Have spoken to sooo many social workers that have left after qualifying as they hated it and it was so stressful.

Don't get me wrong, it's stressful but I'd be so bored if it wasn't and the work I get to do, the clients I get to build relationships with as well as professionals, I honestly love it.

AIBU to think that social work is either something you can do or something you can't? Love or hate? There doesn't seem to be an in between.

What shit you do talk OP. My sister is a children’s social worker, this job has almost broken her. Overworked, underpaid, huge responsibility, just like all her colleagues, the ones that are left that is. I don’t know where you’re swanning around but it sounds like cloud cuckoo land quite frankly.

And no you’re not better than others,it’s not a bloody calling. Get your head out of your arse.

God how depressing with an exception of some of the recent replies.

Of course social work is a calling or we'd all do something easier! I imagine nursing is similar. Its so sad to see all the 'just you wait' posts.

@lepricon I do agree with the suggestion that you will reach a point where someone overrides you and you feel frustrated, you make a mistake and there could be a consequence for your service users or you get exhausted or struggle. But it doesn't mean you should hate it from the start, just be prepared there are hard times and to be prepared to be challenged and listen. Its great you love it.

I'm nearly 20 years in, almost quit social work twice and at least semi burnt out once. I've moved roles when people treated me like rubbish or the hours are ridiculous. I've also accessed counselling when needed and try and be an energetic and positive team member. I love enthusiastic newly qualified workers.

So keep the enthusiasm but be prepared its not all roses in the garden

I'm around 15 years in and still find the job interesting and fulfilling.

I'm in adult safeguarding and out of all the roles I've had its my favourite so far. Yes you see and hear some really terrible things but at the end of it all you know you have done what you can to help make someone's life that bit better/safer.

I could probably have earned a shit tonne more money if I'd gone down a different path and put in even half the effort I put in to being a social worker. But I didn't so....

Plus my children get to tell people that mummy's job is helping people and making the bad people go away which basically makes me superwoman in their eyes.

😷 🤢 🤢

Your poor sister. Can't blame her with you as family. Poor sod.

My mum has dedicated her life to social work, she's now in one of the most senior positions she can be, and received an MBE for her work in social work 4 years ago. It's definitely her calling in life, she works 70 hours a week and thrives in it (as well as raising 3 daughters). That could be you OP!

Wow you swear a lot OP. You sound really angry to be honest and arrogant. You actually sound like a bad apple in the sector to be honest with you and there are certain people who thrive off power, and thrive for all the wrong reasons.

@lepricon I'm sure you feel insulted by some of these replies, but you're not giving a great impression of the profession with some of these responses.

I don’t believe for one moment you are a social worker. If you are that’s pretty scary as you lack any sort of self awareness with your replies to people, your defensiveness and you basic lack of humility towards others.

@Easterfunbun why do you think she would lie about being social worker?

You are inexperienced. And naive. And coming across badly.

@nakeklak

Because most have the self awareness not to respond in the way that she does? Yes they’re fallible human beings but most social workers are good, humble people who don’t come across like the OP. But I did say there is the odd bad apple who actually does thrive off power dynamics so…… 🤷‍♀️.

Look, you love the job right now. Enjoy it, but don't delude yourself either.

Social care in England is broken. Until a child dies that has been under your care, you can pretend it's inefficient and you can "make it work" for you and your people (clients is grotesque).

I'd invest in social care before the NHS. Social care here is the worst I've ever heard of in developed, European nations.

As a newly qualified social worker myself I think it’s fantastic that you are so positive . I have worked previously as an unqualified social work assistant for 10 years in children’s services. Now I’m 50 and have told management that I refuse to continue to work in safeguarding departments as I feel I want a somewhat easier role in social work (not that it’s without its stresses) I would much rather work with someone with your attitude than some of my colleagues who see the job as a means to a company car and a fairly decent wage for doing as little as possible. The way I hear some of them deal with vulnerable children and families is shocking! All the very best to you.

Sure I replied to an almost identical post a few months back.

No you aren't receiving some special calling other social workers haven't had.

Social work is an absolute shit show of a career, particularly if you are front line. I went into it with enthusiasm but over a decade later couldn't be happier to have left.

You lack experience, you are at the start of your career and it's fine to be optimistic but the way your posts come off I hope you manage to reign yourself in for the sake of those around you.

Company car and decent salary for doing as little work as possible? Where are these unicorn social work jobs?

@TellySavalashairbrush

But with all due respect you never worked as a social worker. An assistant/unqualified isn’t the same at all. You have no awareness from the other side, neither do you understand the accountability. I don’t know anyone who goes into social work for a company car 🤦‍♀️. I’m certain there are far easier, more corporate avenues to achieve that, that wouldn’t potentially render a child dead under your caseload. Your post comes across as slightly bitter that you were never qualified.

It's great you're enjoying it, and sure like any job some people will find it less challenging and more enjoyable than others, I wouldn't put it down to the individuals not having it as their calling or whatever else though- its the system that wears most people down. As you progress through your career and move into more experienced posts (if you choose to) the pressure, responsibility and workload will intensify- great if you still enjoy it, hopefully you do, but it's hard to judge people and the career when new to it.

Lots of them went in bright eyed and bushy tailed, it doesn't seem the type of job you go into otherwise, they were broken by particular cases, investigations into their work when they'd done nothing wrong but procedure had to be followed, short staffing and underfunding, public perception including people tracking them down and threatening them, the general emotional toll. I sincerely hope you aren't affected by all of this, we need more social workers! I'd think more about why many feel as they do and leave rather than its a calling crap.

You’ve just finished your newly qualified year, which is protected to some degree - you should be enthusiastic at this stage in your career. Frontline social work does have a bit of a shelf life though, especially in public protection roles. It doesn’t mean people aren’t suited, the stress that you thrive on just now does wear you down. The level of risk you carry, the unrealistic expectations of families, the lack of resources, the public perception of what you should and shouldn’t be doing all take their toll.

Is it a calling? I don’t know. It takes a certain type of person to do it well, resilient, transparent, compassionate and tough minded all at the same time. Listen to colleagues who have the experience you don’t have yet, they’ll help you avoid some of the pit falls, have something else in you’re life that you’re equally passionate about, so you don’t get swallowed up, and enjoy the passion you have just now.

@TellySavalashairbrush

My apologies. You’re “newly qualified”. Something you have in common with the OP then. If you’re this judgmental about your colleagues I dread to think how judgemental you are in other areas of your practice 🤔.

I do think social work is a calling. You have to really want to be a social worker and value social worker to stick with it. Otherwise you simply just wouldn’t do it.

I don’t however think people’s individual ability to manage the toxic levels of stress that often go with social work is indicative of how much of a “calling” it is for them.

I did social work (children's) for 6 years. I loved it and still do, but didn’t want to continue to let it overshadow my life. I found it impossible to have a good work/life balance and the stress levels were not just high but toxic. I’m sad that that I left but it was absolutely the right choice and I love the work I do now in prisons. I do think it was a calling for me, but I have found similar fulfilment in a job that takes much less from me.

The thing with social work is I think it is incredibly easy to be a bad social worker and very hard to be a good one. The people that are good at social work and can manage the stress levels are a rare breed. If you are one I am very glad you have found your way to social work and hope you continue for a long time to come. Too many really brilliant social workers have left the profession due to frankly inadequate pay and toxic stress levels.

Bloody hell! The amount of negativity on here is unnecessary. I don’t think it’s something you can or can’t do, those who leave / get burnt out were likely very enthusiastic but jobs (in general) can wear people down. great you are loving it and long may it last!

This ! Am shocked TBH she/ he is letting down all the SW . Am hoping that she isn’t actually a SW !

I’m glad there are people like you, hope it continues to go well

OP-some of your responses don't sound very mature and you come across as wanting to argue with people..
Social Work can be a very rewarding career and it's great that you're bringing a lot of enthusiasm to the role.
Day to day (depending what branch of social work you work in) you will see a lot of injustice, a lot of abuse and a lot of sadness.
How will you feel when the 15 year old you have been working with kills themself or dies of a drug overdose, or is killed in an accident because of risk taking?
I "fucking love it" isn't how you will feel every day.
What about when the best course of action is deemed to be to go for a Care order when the mother is heartbroken about it but can't provide what the children need?-You may disagree with the decision but you could be over ridden and have to implement it. On another day an abusive parent with no conscience will try to pull the wool over your eyes.
The longer you are in social work you will find that things are often not straightforward, people are complex and decision making is difficult.
You might work in a hospital and see a single parent of three young children die full of worry about their future.
CAFCASS officers tend to come from a Social work background. Will you just write a report and then forget about it, or will you find it difficult not to worry about the child's future.
No-one wants you to fail and burn out and sometimes you will have a sense of having helped someone to improve their situation but I can see why posters are using words like naíve and arrogant. (The above are a few scenarios from 40 years as a Social Worker).