Career change: teacher to social worker?

[Marrilou]

Hi I'm wondering if anyone can advise as am unsure of the way forward... I've been a teacher for 15 years but resigned when I went on maternity leave and have since had two little ones who have just celebrated their first and second birthdays. I am now thinking about not returning to teaching, mainly as sadly I just don't think it's a career that's compatible with family life any more. All my friends who are parents and teachers wish they were doing something else and now I'm not attached to a school, I'm thinking this could be my chance to try something different. However, I am not entirely sure what to do and think am having a bit of an identity crisis as have only ever really known myself as a teacher! I would like a people-centred job and recently came across the Think Ahead postgraduate course where you train over two years to be a mental health social worker. I think this looks like an interesting and rewarding role but don't know if it'd be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire in terms of workload?! If anyone has anyone experience of such a change and could share their thoughts that would be much appreciated!

Social work is tough at the moment. It probably would be out of the frying pan into the fire.

What about Occupational Therapist? You could do a two year masters.

Im a social worker and have friends who are teachers. I'd say workload is about the same and obviously no school holidays for social workers which becomes a nightmare when children are at school.

I love being a social worker and couldn't imagine being anything else but it isn't very family friend in my experience.

I wouldn't say that social work is more family friendly than teaching. Your hours would be fixed but you will rarely just work your set hours.
Working school holidays, probably OOH duties.

I have family who are Teachers and I am a Social Worker. We have friendly 'competition' about who has it worse. I think both professions are demanding with significant workloads. Both professions come with stress.

As a Social Worker, I defo don't find it to be family friendly. I often have to work extra hours for various reasons. It's under resourced: my team is never at full staff capacity due to turnover / sickness. Most of us are on medication for anxiety.

Covid has caused significant difficulties in my field (adult LD) and we are constantly fire fighting just now.

Having said all that, it's a job I enjoy and am passionate about. However, I defo wouldn't make the move in to it if you're looking for something of a better balance in your life.