Are there any Social Workers out there?

[PhaseFour]

I am considering training to be a SW in the next couple of years - preferably by being accepted onto one of the programmes where you can get paid to train.

If you are / have been a social worker, please can you tell me the worst and best elements of your role? I imagine it is very stressful, and you are dealing with some very emotionally challenging situations whilst trying to protect very vulnerable people, and depending on your role, children.

Would you recommend it as a career? I am in my early 50s and have worked in education for the past eight years.

Thanks.

The worst part is that in pretty much any social work role I've been in, there's no relation to the hours you're employed and the work you're expected to do. I found it infuriating to be constantly expected to deal with everything that came up or asked of me when I already had a back to back diary. And of course, the implied criticism or judgment from others (eg partner agencies, court arena) when things aren't up to standard. It can be better or worse depending on how the local authority is run, but I would typically expect to work on average 10hrs over a week and still have loads of overdue work (eg I'd get my visits done, assessments done on time, but have visits to be written and other routine updating of reports that never got a look in)

It can be hard when dealing with traumatic events, though I find the busyness, and the feeling that you're doing something about it, helps a lot. The politics are the worst part, eg when you're pushing that a family need something and it's declined due to resources.

Things I love - the families I work with. Being stretched and challenged, mentally - I'm always learning. Doing something that feels worthwhile. The small wins, when you make a difference. And not to be underestimated - the wage is not amazing, but it's solid, Im in demand and I'm never worried about being out of work. Pensions aren't nearly as good as they used to be, but again they're still pretty solid.

I'm a social worker, been doing it about 8 years. I've worked in Children's and Adults. I loved the degree, it was really interesting. I love assessments and really getting to know people. It can be really rewarding when you have a breakthrough and someone's barriers come down and they start to make positive changes. I loved the children I worked with, so interesting and fun. Despite the positives I'm not sure I would say it is worth it. High levels of paperwork, social worker is usually the last resort after help from universal services and early help so your often up against a lot of complexity and it can sometimes be really difficult for change to come about. I was in Child Protection so the cases that came to me were children experiencing or at risk of significant harm, there would often have been Child in Need plans prior to my involvement that hadn't been successful, therfore, there were a fair few were removal of the children was needed and it is just dealing with the lesser of 2 evils really- trauma of separation from birth family or continuing to be at risk of harm. It is emotionally draining, adults can also be emotionally draining as you are working with adults who can chose to do as they please of they have capacity, so you can be up worrying about people using drugs/ sex work/ risk of suicide. So many social workers burn out and end up with mental health problems. There are often extra hours unpaid, the pay isn't all that great as it is.
I would say that if you don't have young children I think it would be easier. I find my emotional capacity is drained at times and I don't have the ability to be present for my own DC and DH sometimes. There is also the practicalities of extra hours/juggling school pick ups, activities etc.

Retrained at 37 on a 2 year degree and been doing the job for 5 years now. I work in adults and it’s incredibly rewarding but massively challenging.
Theres never enough hours in the day, the demands are relentless and the criticism you are constantly on the receiving end of from families/general public.
Still wouldn’t change it as I love the feeling of actually having a positive impact on peoples lives and contributing to society on some small level.

I've been a social worker for the best part of two decades and I've never known anyone come through the 'Step up to social work' type routes.

My local authority recruits nearly all of its social workers in house now and puts them through a degree apprenticeship to gain the qualification. You would need to get a job with the council first and then apply.

We also get some recruits through the traditional university route but in recent years the quality of graduates has been very poor and we've struggled to appoint to ASYE roles from non apprentices.

I love my job (Adults). It has its challenges but it's rare I go home at night feeling like I've not achieved something positive that day.

Thank you everyone for replying. @hatgirlThat's really useful to know - I will take that on board re applying for a job with the council first.
It's inspirational to read your replies. SW do get a bad press, and I have heard so much about lack of resources & SWs being overworked, but you all have just made me more determined to proceed with this.

My sister has just qualified through Step Up to Social, she is now doing her ASYE with the same authority. It was a LOT of work doing the coursework alongside the job, and she was lucky that she didn’t have to travel too far for the study days as some people had hours of commute too, but she’s in her 30s and has found it overall a great route in to the job and is really glad to have done it. She works in children’s services so the good and bad bits are kind of what you’d expect.