Should I go back to Front Line Social Work?

[DezBoro]

Hi all

I am relatively new to MN. I joined to ask some educational questions as we have been living in the Middle East for the past couple of years (due to our husband's job). We are returning to the UK, to Surrey where I grew up. I worked as a front-line CP social worker for over 15 years. I left and have been working in a school in ME as a school counsellor/wellbeing person. Since I posted on the educational board, I have now secured a job as a Safeguarding Lead for an independent girls' school near our home in the South East. It comes with the offer of a full bursary for my daughter to attend the school till 6th form ends (she is year 9 at the moment). This will start in August 2025.

However, I am wondering, after all the news about safeguarding in the UK, if I should return to frontline. I am a very experienced social worker; I always challenged difficult parents and had the reputation of taking on the hardest to manage families. I had some good results with kids. I feel guilty that I am going to a job that will benefit my daughter but my skills will be wasted. Does that make sense? What I am trying to ask is should I give up the safeguarding role, put my daughter in the local school (where I attended!) and go back to child protection work?

Thanks for all your comments. I have been busy and wasn't able to respond. I spoke to another social worker I know has moved into a S/G position in a school. She said that you really need to adapt the way you work as DSLs are not experienced in S/G, and they are often only in position as they do a half-day DSL training. She finds the job infuriating as her manager is not an SW and patronising. So that has made me worried.

Think about what is best for your own child. Time to think of other peoples children later.