Social workers - talk to me please

[ZigZyah]

I've been toyign with the idea of retraining as a social worker for years.

I have a media background (10 years experience), have done a fair amount of youth work and retrained in Advice & Guidance not long ago. Currently working for Connexions but am much more interested in the 'intensive' clients. Every job I think looks interesting requires social work qualification. Should I go for it?

I am 35, have three young children (6, 3 and 1), a supportive husband (in every respect) and decent childcare arrangements. I am scared of retraining again at this age, though. What will people (employers) think? Will I have just be signing myself up for a life of competition against bright, childless young things with endless reserves of energy?

Talk to me!

toying obv

Hi Zigzah,

I worked in children's services for a few years and it's most certainly not the domain of "bright young things".

to be taken seriously by clients or colleagues; life experience and a non-judgmental nature are the most important qualities.

Employers would be biting your arm off based on your experience (and if you got your quals).You might also be eligible to take a Community Support Worker post and get the local authority to pay for and support your training as well.

hope that helps.

Hi.

I am currently retraining to be a social worker.

I know other connexions workers who have gone off to train as S.Ws too.

Your work and life experience will put in at an advantage point. Highly recommend you start considering applying to UCAS for next septembers intake if you are at all interested.

The financial side of things isnt too bad whilst a student but you will need to bear in mind it really is a very intensive full time course.

Good luck with your decision!

Do it. Most social workers are about 175- you will be the bright young thing with the energy!

Thanks for the replies

onadietcokebreak and other social workers - could you tell me a bit about the training? I've looked at universities in London offering the course and so know roughly what the modules are and how long placements go on for, but I'm wondering about the realities of studying intensively for two years

I found the PG Dip Advice & Guidance hard going stamina-wise (it was only one year full time, but three days at uni and two days a week placements with continuous assessment, and it was pretty relentless). Although in fairness, part of the hardship was realising half way through the course that I was on the wrong course and should have done social work!

Am I mad to be considering this with three little ones?

What kind of course would you be doing? I am doing a BA Hons In Social work. 3days Uni 2 days placements.

Are you based in England OP?

I'm doing the social work BSc in Northern Ireland, and I think we do things a bit different to you over the water.

I'd say that 80% of my classmates have at least one child and are on average around 35 years old.

I myself have one DS and a very supportive husband :)

I don't think you're mad to consider it at all.

As other posters have said, it is a hardcore course. Not like some of the arts degrees where they are only in 4 hours a week. In social work full-time course means full-time!

Is hard to get the right home/study balance, but once you get that cracked you'll be grand.

I am a social worker and I am the only person on my team with children. They are all in their 20's. Across three teams there are three women in their 40's all of whom have children. Everyone else (around 20 people) are in their 20s. I think it depend on the teams though I know in other areas there are older people eg fostering, adoption but I work on a child protection team which does not fit very well with having children and there are terrible staff retention issues for a variety of reason. Don't be put off by my negative (part negative) response. If you do decide to go for it just pick your team with care. Although its not so bad being the oldest person on the team!! I have just as much (if not more) energy than the rest of them and I have 4 kids!! Lots of luck