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.

@lepricon .Why are you only acknowledging the posts that you want to argue with? You have ignored the posters who have made positive comments.

@lepricon

Point made.

I sort of agree with you - being a social worker, a good one, is a calling. BUT it doesn't mean that you can't become jaded, burnt out, exhausted by it. It's not the work itself, but the system in which we work.

I've just left social work after 16 years (8 in children's, stat & 3rd sector, 8 in adults, statutory). I still love social work and what it should be, but I hate the climate and environment in which I'm doing it. So I'm not going to any more because I'm no longer effective.

I'm a CP SW - have been for 13 years in the same LA. Initially I loved that I made a difference and had time to build relationships although felt I was always chasing my tail. As the years have gone on, the complexity has massively increased and I never have chance to catch my breath. This is against a backdrop of austerity which has seen more and more support services close each year. Things are made worse by a 40% vacancy rate plus further sickness and an inability to recruit. Staff morale is low - buildings closed during COVID and we're now hybrid / hot desk working so we're not even being with our team on tough days. This is in a "good" LA, I can't imagine how awful things are in the inadequate authorities.

I have so much work can't find time to even have supervision to talk about how I'm feeling but I'm close to breaking. I physically cannot fit everything into a day that I should and know I'm dropping the ball (not on safeguarding things but everything else). I'm exhausted but can't sleep and it's currently Sunday afternoon and I'm still worrying about things that happened last week. I feel trapped though as I don't know what else I'd do and I can't afford a pay cut. I don't expect changing LA would help.

I do get what you say about a calling. There are definitely some people who are made to do CP, and I felt like I was one of them (and I'd imagine it's the same in other areas of SW). However, I think the long term reality is that the passion and enthusiasm gets beaten down by the relentless workload and stress. I really hope that things improve in the future - we desperately need a change of government and much more financial support. I'm at breaking point, trying to reassure NQSWs that there are always peaks and troughs while crying to my husband all the time as things have been bad since before Covid and I don't see a way out!