To think I've made a massive error in career choice?

[maybeyesterday]

I'm doing my post grad in social work. Worked hard for 5 years to get my degree in something more general. This is my final year and final placement.

Last placement was with a voluntary agency and was more like support work I was doing. Intensive contact with service users, helping them manage day to day life, attending court and appointments, doing risk assessments and care plans. I loved every second of it. It was such a positive experience and my confidence just grew.

However, I'm now on my second week of a statutory placement. And I just don't think I can do it. I feel like they're speaking a different language (although getting to grips with the acronyms now), I find it so intense and just feel like it's so much responsibility. I know I am protected as a student but I am worrying about when I qualify and whether I'm up for the job. I have been flung in the deep end, have been allocated cases and have had to do visits alone. I haven't even shadowed a visit on this placement, just done visits myself. Is this usual because it's my last one?

Also in the office the social workers were talking today about how they're working 60 plus hours a week to get everything done and are only getting paid for 37.

I honestly don't know if I can do this. It would be a shame to quit now though. Is this usual nerves for just starting somewhere? Or a sign it's all been a waste of time?

Also - off topic slightly @Cheeseandlobster same! It’s a real surprise feeling so much more supported and valued in the stat sector compared to 3rd sector - not what I expected when I first qualified.

Maybe a job on the tills at Tesco would have been easier

Are you on a graduate scheme like think ahead?
I think it's normal to realise that it's going to be tough and that you worry about how stressed everyone is. Are you in NHS or local authority?
I'm on placement and I feel equally overwhelmed although less so with the acronyms. I feel that the job the social workers are doing is more akin to psychology or talking therapy. I wanted to go into social work as I like concrete solutions. It's just made me realise that I really want to go back to inpatient units rather than community. When is your placement over?
You could always ask to switch to something you feel more comfortable with.

I don't think you should just be given a caseload, that's totally overwhelming. I have be given three people and I share them with another person who can advise me.

I don't think you should just be given a caseload, that's totally overwhelming.

You so realise that in a few short months final placement students will in qualified jobs and will be carrying many many more than 3 cases, most of which will be worked as a solo or lead worker?

Of course the OP should have a proper induction and be supported on more complex cases but final placement students should be able to manage a small caseload. Better to feel, and manage, that sense of overwhelm in a supported student placement than find themselves feeling that for the first time on the job when they are professionally accountable for their practice.

I feel that the job the social workers are doing is more akin to psychology or talking therapy. I wanted to go into social work as I like concrete solutions.

Social work is as far removed from talking therapy as night is from day - there are no concrete solutions though, the work is complex and relationship based, with a whole range of ethical and practice dilemmas, and very few concrete answers.

@Jellycatspyjamas I get that. But I think we offer more in the way of external solutions, be that help with housing, care, family work etc, rather than spending hours talking.

I agree that student SWs should be given a small caseload, but not in week two and not without any introduction to the job. Presumably won't have ever worked in an adults team before, how are they supposed to know what to do on a visit? It's one thing to have developed the people skills to knock on the door and talk to someone, but they'd need to shadow visits to know the role, eg if it's an assessment role what is covered, what support is available to offer etc.

I work in an authority that is struggling, and even our fully qualified/experienced social workers can't be allocated cases until the end of week 2, the system actually blocks it - to allow them to complete the mandatory training that is expected before they can have allocations (eg GDPR, our practice model intro and a refresher on how to use the database/workflow)

Not helpful but I'd switch to an OT career if I were you. Same pay scales, managed, planned workloads, variety, travel opportunities, private or public practice, far less stress.

Social work is tough, but in a good team survivable . The rewards can be huge, but that isn't a day to day reality / experience. The economic climate and political climate is making it very difficult across health and social care.

My advice would be not to go for child protection when you qualify. Of everything it is the toughest job and in my experience where practitioners are working the longest hours and burning out the fastest. There are pressures everywhere of course , but it is my child protection colleagues who I really worry for as they are under so much pressure .

Don't give up. You are needed and will be valued. The last placement of the course is tough but you will be OK.

The OP is due to complete a MASTERS degree. Why would she want a job on the tills at Tesco? Far too qualified for that.

How's it going this week OP?

Are you in adults or children's?

OP, I really think you should carry on and get your qualification.

It's one placement at the end of the day, you can grit your teeth and get through it, and if it puts you off working for the local authority that's OK. LA social work is infamously stressful and busy and definitely not for everyone.

But there are so many other jobs that ask for a social work qualification which won't be like that placement. You don't even have to be a social worker but the qualification is really useful. Believe me - I'm in a related field and it will take you far to have that piece of paper!

Honestly? Yes it’s basically a pretty horrible job. I just left after 17 years and I should’ve done it earlier.
but one of the pluses is that there are lots of different settings you can work in so it’s fine if that type of statutory team isn’t for you. Find something where it’s more old fashioned therapeutic social work, probably employed in the voluntary sector.
a hospice for example, or even mental health ward where your caseload is clearly defined by those staying on the ward.

I think you are right be concerned you are going into an area which is severely understaffed, under funded and under appreciated/respected. Whilst your role could actually benefit and help people I would say get your qualification and when looking for jobs be seriously looking at management style and what measures are in place to protect staff and retain them.
And for God sake don't do extra hours without claiming for them.
It appears that most public sector jobs run on the kindness and extra time of staff. No wonder sectors are pissed off.
Hopefully you find an area of social work you can enjoy and a team you can respect

And in respect to you doing visits alone I would flag this immediately