Tell me what you think of social workers!

[ScummyMummy]

Pleeese! For my final piece of college work. Go on- you know you want to...

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Powerless Supportive Interfering Non-judgemental Overworked Powerful Oppressive Prejudiced Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive
b) Mostly neutral
c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly succeed in protecting children
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

Interfering Overworked

2. mostly neutral
   Due to reading about too many cases where they don't help and they should have intervened, and then cases like I experienced where they turn up unwanted and unecessarily.

3. sometimes offer useful support

4. rarely

5. rarely succeed.
   I never had any support when in this situation, when I probably could have used it.

6. b

7. i had two social workers and a policeman turn up on my doorstep unexpectedly because dd was telling stories at school which caused concern. The dts had jsut been born and she was attention seeking. They were incredibly nosy, offered no real support with the situation, and I never heard back again.

8. I felt like I was beign pigeon holed. Look at individual needs.

9. I thinkt hey should be more forthcoming. It doesn't help the feeling that you are being judged when they are so secretive. No one could tell me anythign I wanted to know, or give me any real advice. The family courts should be reported too, to take away the secrecy surrounding the social services.

thank you thank you thank you guys.

Can anyone else fill this out for me? It's about general public perception so I'm interested in EVERYONE'S views, not just those who've had a social worker. The stuff so far has been brilliant. But I need as many views as possible so anyone else's contribution would be greatly appreciated...

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Powerless Supportive Interfering Non-judgemental Overworked Powerful Oppressive Prejudiced Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive
b) Mostly neutral
c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly succeed in protecting children
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

what I think about social workers is unprintable, based on my experiences of knowing them in their leisure moments.
They spend so much time with weird people that after a while, the weirdness seems normal to them and they behave accordingly. take note and beware, scummy!

Pleeese! For my final piece of college work. Go on- you know you want to...

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers?

Interfering
Overworked
Powerful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers

b) Mostly neutral

2b) Why do you think this is?

My personal experience has been either that they were extremely judgemental with views that seem to have been (half) baked in 1970's, or fantastic caring and helpful. It averages to neutral.

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers

b) Sometimes offer useful support

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know **

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers

b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers

c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?
   Yes - for adoption only

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

Try to think about what works for real people in real life and not what it says in a text book written 25 yrs ago. Imperfect solutions are better than terrible solutions (eg children are better adopted into a family of a different race than in foster homes) and perfect solutions do not exist.

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

It they are almost always overworked and generally mean well and relative to their incomes they have massive issues to consider but they seem very bogged down in dogma.

Hope that helps.

thanks fistful- intriguing! but I need to incorporate your knowledge into my official work so you need to fill out my questionnaire now!
Thanks suejonez.

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers?

Interfering
Powerful
Prejudiced

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers

c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

Not ever had anything to do with them personally - but from press coverage - stories all seeem to be very negative "they'll take your kids away" kind of thing. Also - several high profile cases where they took kids away on very little real evidence - I think they are too powerful !

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers

b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?
   No

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

Use your judgement, your gut feeling and be open to being wrong ! When you are playing with people's lives you can't afford to stick with your first decision even when you now feel it is wrong !

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

You need rebranding !

nutty - as you can see from q 7 I have no direct experience so this is just a gruaniad reader's/joanne bloggs perspective

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Supportive Overworked Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive

2b) Why do you think this is?

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?
   no

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?
   I think it is important to distinguish between social services as a whole mechanism - which unfortunately sometimes fails quite spectacularly (eg Climbie report) and social workers as individuals. Unfortunately I think individuals may get a bad press when the problems are much bigger and more structural.

sorry scummy - I just called you nutty. not sure why!

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Supportive Interfering Non-judgemental Overworked Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive

2b) Why do you think this is?

my mum was one. she's quite nice
so are some of my friends.

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   b) Sometimes offer useful support

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   b) Sometimes offer useful support

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

No

8. ignore the bad press.

9. no

not sure how Interfering got into my question 1 answer, can you strike that! sorry

) Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers?

Overworked

2 Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive

2b) Why do you think this is?

Have known some.

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers

a) Mostly offer useful support

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers

a) Mostly succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers

b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

Had in the Bibilcal sense, yes. Otherwise, no.

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

Ignore Daily Mail readers.

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

Vastly underrated and vastly over maligned. Remember, we only hear of the cases that go wrong, not the day-to-day stuff that goes right. And mistakes are nearly alwasy due to underfunding = not enough staff, not enough/inadequate training etc, etc, etc

ooo! more answers. Am v excited. Thank you.

Interfering, Oppressive, Prejudiced

Mostly negative

2b) Because I have dealt with social workers professionally for the last 20 years. They range from the completly inneffectual to the blatently prejudiced and patronising. I have never met one that was worth the time we wasted on them. Usually we end up doing much of the work ourselves because otherwise we would be waiting for months for anything to happen.

Rarely offer useful support (I'm being generous here)

4. rarely offer useful support

5. I don't know

6. I don't know

7. No, I've only encountered them in a professional category

8. Please don't promise what you can't deliver. This only makes the situation worse for vulnerable people. Please leave you agenda and personal values at home and don't let them interfere with your work.

) Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers?

Non-judgemental
Overworked
Powerful
Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive

2b) Why do you think this is?

I think they take on one of the hardest roles - a bit like police. Damned if they do and damned if they don't in many cases. We all seem to want them - note the number of times people advise other posters to inform SS about a child in need of protection or a mother in need of support, but obvioulsy, many of the people they work with are in no frame of mind or circumstance to be appreciative. Am NOT talking about MN-ers experiences as parents of SN kids, for e.g, but parents of children who are taken into care etc. Actually i do have professional contact with SWs - they seem to spend a lot of time and conscientious energy finding out about organisations like mine so that isolated and marginalsied young people can have a safe social life - we get loads of calls from SWs who find the time to do that. BUT also dislike a lot of SW policies - my friend adopted a baby from a family involved in child porn. The child spent two years in various foster homes before finally being adopted, and was v messed up as a result. the policy was to try and make an arrangement with some member of the birth family.....

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?
   no

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

Thnak you very much norah, hat, fennel, tinker, slug and blu.
lol at you only knowing a social worker in the biblical sense, tinker!

slug- are you in FE or did I misremember that? It sounds like your experience of social workers has been utterly dreadful.

Pleeese! For my final piece of college work. Go on- you know you want to...

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Powerless yes Supportive yes Interfering Non-judgemental Overworked yes Powerful Oppressive Prejudiced Helpful yes

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive yes
b) Mostly neutral
c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

my only contact with sw's has been through C.D.T
and they have always helped. but they are restrined by budget so can't offer the help they need too

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support yes
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know don't know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly succeed in protecting children
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children yes
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   d) I don?t know don;'t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

my dd has a socila worker and loads of people I know do

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

be prepared not to be able to do your job because of lack of funds

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers? no

Hope I'm not too late SM, good luck

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Powerless Supportive # Interfering # Non-judgemental Overworked # Powerful Oppressive Prejudiced Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive #
b) Mostly neutral
c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

#because one of my best friends is a social worker.

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support #
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support #
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly succeed in protecting children #
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others #
   d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

#yes

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

#Think outside the box, people are complex

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

They do a very difficult job, usually very well and do not get the support or resources they need.

Thank you 2shoes.
Feel I'm getting a helpful range of views here and am loving the experience of being legitimately on mumsnet "working"- hahahahaha!

Any more for any more?

Thanks patttsy. Not too late at all.

BUMP- all views valued and worshipped and logged on my database/

1. Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers? Powerless Supportive Interfering Non-judgemental Overworked Powerful Oppressive Prejudiced Helpful

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers
a) Mostly positive
b) Mostly neutral
c) Mostly negative

2b) Why do you think this is?

No direct experience of Social Services, so can only go on media coverage, which I think is inevitably at the very least tinged with hindsight and often downright biased, and, sadly, on stories on here such as Fio's
But I cannot believe they are all bad - watched a super documentary series on Child Protection Officers and thought they seemed wonderful people, making a real difference

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support
   b) Sometimes offer useful support
   c) Rarely offer useful support
   d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly succeed in protecting children
   b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children
   c) Rarely succeed in protecting children
   d) I don?t know

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers
   a) Mostly offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   b) Sometimes offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   c) Rarely offer useful support to the person and succeed in protecting others
   d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

No

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

Hmmm. Remember that the population is not all Daily Mail readers and most of us think that most of you are doing an OK job in difficult circumstances.
AND: try not to let whatever prejudices you might have seep into how you work with clients. EG what was said to Fio, FGS.

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers?

Just that I think the profession will be lucky to have you Scummy and you'll do a great job

) Which of the words on this list you would particularly associate with social workers?
Powerless
Supportive
Interfering

Overworked

2 a) Are your thoughts about social workers

b) Mostly neutral

2b) Why do you think this is?
Our own social worker is great but we have her because we are family link carers for a little boy with autism so she doesn't have to do an awful lot with us as the placement is very straightforward.

However, we see her boss and a couple of her colleagues at annual reviews and training sessions and they are the proverbial chocolate teapots.

3. When families with children need support, do you think social workers

c) Rarely offer useful support

4. When elderly people need support, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

5. When children are at risk of abuse, do you think social workers

b) Sometimes succeed in protecting children

6. If people with severe mental illnesses become dangerous to others, do you think social workers

d) I don?t know

7. Have you or anyone close to you ever had a social worker?

Sorry, kind of covered this in q.2. We've had the same social worker since the placement began 4 years ago but the family of the little boy have had 3 different ones and have just met their 4th after a gap of 2.5 years without one. There seems to be something wrong with the priorities that a struggling family is left with no support that they desperately need and we've got support that we don't need at our fingertips.

8. What advice would you give to social workers wanting to do a good job?

Be human, honest, don't come across as wet, have a personality and don't speak in that hugely irritating 'softly, softly' voice as if everyone you deal with is slightly stupid.

9. Do you want to say anything else about what you think of social workers? I think social workers do a very hard job in a system that is hugely underfunded and under appreciated. However, I also feel that an awful lot of social workers (that I've come into contact with so maybe a big generalisation)lack any kind of common sense or any inter-personal people skills. I appreciate that are hoops to be jumped through and boxes to be ticked but a mediocum of common sense wouldn't go astray sometimes. Then again, I am aware of the huge pressure most of them are under, the negative press the service receives and the fear of reprisals should anything go wrong. It's not a job I would do for any money.

Thanks Marina. You are always so kind to me and everyone.

And thank you too ollihan.