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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Social worker or teacher

57 replies

Soophia · 01/02/2025 15:11

Hi everyone, im new here but I was always reading nice topics that you guys share
Im here asking for advice. I just finished my education degree and took a year break to think about my next step I work in school as a HLTA and was considering PGCE until I met my friend who dropped out because of the stress. Also working with teachers I see how much stress they are under with workload and learning walks and working through theor weekends and holidays. I don't wana be working during weekends and holidays as i have a family to look after I want to be able to switch off while im at home and not have my mind with work all the time. Even as a HLTA I have to plan and deliver lessons and have SLT observations I have 6 classes that I teach each class need differentiation which takes lots of time and usually the PPA time is never enough. There is a government scheme to study social work I will be paid while learning and maybe join egency for flexibility.
What ur thoughts guys carry on and study PGCE or SW pls give ur opinions

OP posts:
Hibernatingtilspring · 01/02/2025 22:53

Children's social work always affects evenings; 4pm-5pm is our busiest time of day because one of the most important parts of the job is visiting children, who need to be seen at home and therefore most visits are after school. That means even if you aren't dealing with a crisis, you are usually finishing a bit late and at a different location to your office, which impacts the evenings - it may be a long visit and the other side of town to where you live. You may need to see a child who isn't home until after 6, if they're in wrap around care or their parent works office hours.
It's very common for SWs in children's to work in the evenings and sometimes weekends to complete reports. And if there's a safeguarding emergency, you're working until whatever time that is dealt with - it's not all the time, but there are days that you're out with someone until 9pm, 10pm. The latest I ever finished was 2am, after waiting for a child to be seen at hospital, and I regularly pulled all nighters when working in a team where I had to write a lot of court statements.

It can be a very rewarding and interesting job, but it is not a 9-5 role and likely never will be, because it's never funded/prioritised as it should be. And if you try and 'work to rule' you either risk your registration (eg if something bad happens and you hadn't written up your notes) or you let children down by not sorting out the things they need, so in reality you always work a bit over even when trying not to.

Agency workers in my experience work very long hours, because they are recruited by the authorities that are struggling the most, so they often take jobs knowing they'll be doing 50+ hours (bear in mind they can't charge that, only for the 37 usually) and then take a few weeks break in between contracts. You need to have a few years experience before you can do agency work and it is very very tough.

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/02/2025 22:56

both jobs sound rewarding, neither are, so I would say none of the above.

This is from a person who considered social work as a career and who has a husband who taught, before he burned out

PuttingOnMyPositivePants · 01/02/2025 23:05

I'm a social worker (children's) and the pressure is immense. I can't switch off. I have also been a teacher and whilst that is also a highly difficult job (core subject in secondary) it was nowhere near the level or responsibility and pressure that frontline social work is. I do, however, love working with my children and young people, but have many a sleepless night worrying about them. Just my experience!

Jellycatspyjamas · 01/02/2025 23:05

I have no idea what social worker job involves that's why im asking here and the idea of agency was my friend`s who said u can join agencies rather than working permanently it would be more flexible.

If you have no idea what a job in social work involves, why on earth do you think it would be a good move for you. People really need to go into social work with their eyes wide open. It’s a great job for the right person but it’s definitely not 9-5, or a job you leave at the office door in the evening.

Original poster
Soophia · 02/02/2025 02:19

Fountofwisdom · 01/02/2025 20:01

Your writing isn’t very literate tbh; your punctuation and grammar aren’t great. I presume English isn’t your first language but If you do a PGCE, you must prove competency in English and Maths, amongst many other standards. And in both teaching and SW, you need a high level of literacy.

Show quote history

Yeah i get what u mean but when im on social media i don't really bother about punctuation, grammar etc its not an essay i just type quickly to get my point across

OP posts:
Original poster
Soophia · 02/02/2025 02:30

Hibernatingtilspring · 01/02/2025 22:53

Children's social work always affects evenings; 4pm-5pm is our busiest time of day because one of the most important parts of the job is visiting children, who need to be seen at home and therefore most visits are after school. That means even if you aren't dealing with a crisis, you are usually finishing a bit late and at a different location to your office, which impacts the evenings - it may be a long visit and the other side of town to where you live. You may need to see a child who isn't home until after 6, if they're in wrap around care or their parent works office hours.
It's very common for SWs in children's to work in the evenings and sometimes weekends to complete reports. And if there's a safeguarding emergency, you're working until whatever time that is dealt with - it's not all the time, but there are days that you're out with someone until 9pm, 10pm. The latest I ever finished was 2am, after waiting for a child to be seen at hospital, and I regularly pulled all nighters when working in a team where I had to write a lot of court statements.

It can be a very rewarding and interesting job, but it is not a 9-5 role and likely never will be, because it's never funded/prioritised as it should be. And if you try and 'work to rule' you either risk your registration (eg if something bad happens and you hadn't written up your notes) or you let children down by not sorting out the things they need, so in reality you always work a bit over even when trying not to.

Agency workers in my experience work very long hours, because they are recruited by the authorities that are struggling the most, so they often take jobs knowing they'll be doing 50+ hours (bear in mind they can't charge that, only for the 37 usually) and then take a few weeks break in between contracts. You need to have a few years experience before you can do agency work and it is very very tough.

Edited

Thank you for the detailed comment, Im sure now that I won't consider SW as a career. I will definitely look for other options 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Soophia · 02/02/2025 02:33

PuttingOnMyPositivePants · 01/02/2025 23:05

I'm a social worker (children's) and the pressure is immense. I can't switch off. I have also been a teacher and whilst that is also a highly difficult job (core subject in secondary) it was nowhere near the level or responsibility and pressure that frontline social work is. I do, however, love working with my children and young people, but have many a sleepless night worrying about them. Just my experience!

Thank u darlings for taking the time to give ur opinion. Im very happy with ppl's comments and ive started to think clearly about what would be more suitable dor me and my family

OP posts:
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