Step Up to social work

[ladyapinks]

Please can anyone advise on how intensive this is .

I am mum to 3 primary aged children one with autism and I am worried how it will work around schook drop off and pick up times as he is unable to attend after school club .

Will appreciate any advice

It's a full time commitment in terms of the study and on the job learning combined. The placements will show understanding and flexibility to a degree however in Social Work particularly childrens services many of the visits etc take place after school depending on the age of the children. It is more intense than the usual university programme but it's designed for those with life experience which you clearly have lots of.

@purplesmiler

It's a full time commitment in terms of the study and on the job learning combined. The placements will show understanding and flexibility to a degree however in Social Work particularly childrens services many of the visits etc take place after school depending on the age of the children. It is more intense than the usual university programme but it's designed for those with life experience which you clearly have lots of.

Thanks so much .I missed your reply yesterday .

Hopefully I should be able to cope if I manage to get on.

Thanks

I’ve thought about Step Up several times, looked into it, spoke to someone currently doing it, it wasn’t within school hours. I think you’d have to expect to need to use childcare.

You’d need wraparound care fully available for the majority of working week and someone who can pick up the family stuff when you get delayed.

@purplesmiler

It's a full time commitment in terms of the study and on the job learning combined. The placements will show understanding and flexibility to a degree however in Social Work particularly childrens services many of the visits etc take place after school depending on the age of the children. It is more intense than the usual university programme but it's designed for those with life experience which you clearly have lots of.

Placements in children’s services will mean home visits after 4....i often joint work with social workers and they ask me to do 5 or 6 pm joint visits ( which I can’t as our service don’t work after 5pm) .... then you would have records to write up....but you could probably do these at home if you are issued with equipment to homework.

Thanks everyone.I have to think properly about this from your comments .

I once looked into this area too, visits until 7pm once you actually secure the job. Lots of paperwork and meetings on top.

Why can't the school accommodate an autistic child at their wraparound provision??

@tiredmum2468

Why can't the school accommodate an autistic child at their wraparound provision??

I haven't actually spoken to them about it but a lot of friends with children with asd have this problem of school not being able to accommodate their children but we are hoping to move schools so maybe the new school will be able to .

Though having second thoughts already as it seems to require a lot of commitment .

What would you do in school holidays?

@skeggycaggy

What would you do in school holidays?

This just occurrred to me just before you posted this as I didn't remember about school holidays . Now I have given up .

I'm sorry to hear that. It can be difficult to balance career plans against the desire to be there for the children... I am in the same situation! You posting about Step Up made me revisit it again (last looked at it in 2018) & was just thinking, but do I really want to do an intensive full time thing, currently work 3 days a week 9-4.30 & that seems like enough?! But on the other hand, in 5 years time even my youngest child will be at secondary school - things will be quite different...! Anyway, I hope you can find a satisfying job.

I am a social worker. Our step up students have to work 08:30-17:00 as this is the requirement for the service. Unfortunately if you can't work those hours you are unlikely to be accepted..

@skeggycaggy

I'm sorry to hear that. It can be difficult to balance career plans against the desire to be there for the children... I am in the same situation! You posting about Step Up made me revisit it again (last looked at it in 2018) & was just thinking, but do I really want to do an intensive full time thing, currently work 3 days a week 9-4.30 & that seems like enough?! But on the other hand, in 5 years time even my youngest child will be at secondary school - things will be quite different...! Anyway, I hope you can find a satisfying job.

Thank you .Mine are still young 5 year old twins and a 7 year old non verbal boy . I think I will let things be for now and revisit in the future except my husband gets a more flexible job .It can't work for me and I agree with you it can be hard .

@Kindlynow

I am a social worker. Our step up students have to work 08:30-17:00 as this is the requirement for the service. Unfortunately if you can't work those hours you are unlikely to be accepted..

Thanks for clarifying this .It can't definitely work for me .