To Train As A Social Worker At 40?

[FanOfWicked]

Is it silly of me to consider a complete career change and to want to go into a role that so many people seem to hate?
I want to do something more meaningful and actually help in life although I understand it is a very tough job to do.

The degree would consist of a three year apprenticeship with a mixture of studying and placements.

Not unreasonable no, SW are highly needed

Are you talking about children or adult services?

I'm a SW. I've just got the details for my student starting Jan who's late 30s. Mature students bring life experiences. If you want to go for it!

FWIW I love my job. I retrained and there was a huge range of ages on the course. I've never looked back.

I am not sure I ever found the social workers involved in our family (multiple children with complex needs) helpful. One almost broke us. happened to many other families I know too. I think the system is just too overstretched. SW do not really have time. Everything seems a tick box exercises to show something has been done/considered even though there is tangible benefit to families in crisis and often it's counterproductive.

If you look for a meaningful job where you help people, I would look elsewhere.

I have several friends who are social workers and I'm sad to read this, there are some bad eggs. All the ones are know are absolutely dedicated to their roles and the families they support, the 'tickbox' feel comes from above - they have paperwork etc to do by certain time limits. But that's an aside- all of them are 'late' on their paperwork etc because they'd rather spend the time with the families,- meeting and talking with them and understanding their needs etc and putting support in place. I imagine there are some that feel under severe pressure to not be 'late' on stuff and take their eye off the ball about why they're there. Or some that are just crap at their job. Either way there are some good ones out there. Good luck OP.

I would be opting for the children route.
Also would hiring more new social workers not help with the lack of time currently had?

I think what puts me off is my age and also that I’d probably end up hated by most.

Whats your current job?

When you apply, they will look for you to have some experience of working with vulnerable people. This could be gained through family experience or volunteering not just work. And an understanding of the issues facing society and SWs.

There are many different types of social worker role.

But changing career at 40 in itself is absolutely fine. You've got another 27 years of working life ahead of you. You've probably got more working life ahead of you than you've lived already!

I’ve supported a few friends in difficult situations and seen the same thing. Social workers have done huge amounts of damage, I’ve yet to see one do anything actually helpful.

We do desperately need good social workers, and your age shouldn’t be a barrier, your life experience will be an asset. I’ve just started my teacher training at 48, and I’m not the oldest person on the course.

I’ll be honest I work in admin. I thought that might not matter with an apprenticeship as you do a placement along side it.
Id find it hard to volunteer whilst working full time so I’m in a bit of a catch 22. Whereas the apprenticeship pays a full time wage supported by the council.

Looking on job adverts my local council is full of vacancies for various social workers.

Don't worry about being disliked. Unfortunately it comes with the role but remember a lot of the more heated responses are based in fear. A SW knocking on your door can feel scary and intimidating. It's intrusive. We ask people at their most vulnerable times to share really personal things that they wouldn't wish to share with close family let alone a stranger with a badge. You also get used to it!

You have to be pretty tough to live with always being on catch up and being squeezed from all sides. The work with families is rewarding when you feel youve helped make a change , the paperwork and data is not an aside though. If you want to do this ,then absolutely go for it. It is a privilege to work with so many people from all walks of life but it is tough. I don't see why your age will mean you are more hated , many people prefer workers with life experience as long as you realise your experience is your experience and not everyone will see things the same way or can respond as you might or did.

Im 40 and currently at uni doing the SW degree. Many in my cohort are older than me.

To do the apprenticeship you have to be working in a social care role and I believe it is funded by your employer. I did the access course via distance learning and entered that way.

I have several friends who are social workers and I'm sad to read this, there are some bad eggs. All the ones are know are absolutely dedicated to their roles and the families they support, the 'tickbox' feel comes from above

I do understand that the tick box pressure comes from above. But in the end of the day, it boils down to to the question of support. And there isn't any. It's just meetings (TAC) without decisions which are then postponed to the next TAC (as everything is always 'early days' despite being in crisis for a long time). It's box ticking and arse covering. nothing else. Oh, and I am supposed to attend a parenting coursen though everybody agrees my suicidal child needs urgent treatment through Camhs (waiting list forever) as they have severe MH difficulties and undiagnosed ASD (5-6 year waiting list). That's all they come up with. world would be better off without them. No help, just intrusion. Sorry, I am at the receiving end of SS 'help'. I think I know what I am talking about.

I was a social worker now an IRO. I've honestly only been hated by very very few. It's all about relationships and soft skills as well as risk stuff. I've been in Court to get an order to remove children and had mums hug me and sit with me and cry the next day. I've put peoples children on child protection plans and they have thanked me for helping them see what is happening for their child. A couple of times someone has threatened to follow me or hurt me etc so that definitely does happen but not often.
When I did my degree there were people aged 40+ on the course.

TAC is early help.. not social work involvement.

I qualified in my early 30’s. Going back to studying was difficult for me academically wise.

There is a big age range in the course, your age definitely won’t matter.

I work in adult services and often spend time at weekends catching up on paperwork, and I know it’s much more intense in children’s services.

Be prepared for this, and also for the commute. Lots of sw’s in children’s services don’t work in the town they live in.

Our TACs are chaired and led be a social worker who is 'coordinating' all so called support.

Do you work in admin for the council? Apprenticeships are usually for people who already work for the LA. Usually family support workers really.
You are likely to need to go and do the degree unless you already have an under grad so you could do approach or think ahead.

I think there's also often a difference between a SW feeling & saying they're dedicated & helpful & their friend thinking they're great and what the client feels is actually helpful!

@FanOfWicked I would find out if there's anyway of shadowing someone before you spend 3 years training, for a job, where you don't actually feel like you are helping.

i think there are other jobs, where you might actually be able to help people more.

No I don’t work for the council. The apprenticeship is for anyone to apply. It is the local college doing the degree and you are working alongside it. I imagine that means shadowing social workers and learning on the job.

We’ve had many social workers (over 20 years in the ‘complex needs’ system). I can only think of one social worker who was a bully. Our last two social workers were so incredibly supportive and kind. We’ve stayed in touch even after they left and had babies.

Maybe pick your specialty, but I’d say go for it, and good luck.

There are lots of different creative routes in these days, you dont have to already be working for the council, you could start by doing some voluntary work with children to get some experience if you dont already have that. You wont end up hated by most at all but like any career or job someone will be finding fault with what you do, see tons of threads here about any type of worker, from charity shop workers to tradesmen with people finding fault, sometimes with good cause, sometimes not.

I love my job, can’t imagine doing anything else. Also there are so many teams - children in care, adoption, fostering, children with disabilities, kinship care, therapeutic intervention based. It’s not just safeguarding and a lot is dependent on the team, your manager and the local authority. I’ve thrived in some in child protection teams and others known it was a bad fit.
Also most students are “mature” so definitely not too old

I was 40 when I qualified. No problem with your age at all. At least 20% of the people on my masters course were my age or older.

When I was working, I had numerous SW students of 40 plus on placements over the years. All of them were thoughtful, caring people, who went on to have good, meaningful careers.
But is a tough job, with tougher working conditions, as people have said above.

I’m really confused, I thought the apprenticeship meant working 4 days a week in the LA, and a day off for Uni? How will you be able to get any practice experience? The placements would usually be your “work” in the LA unless I have completely misunderstood!

I don’t think you’d be able to continue working in admin in an unrelated role?