Retrain as a social worker?

[SarahBcn]

I've been a teacher for over 10 years, now working in a specialist role. While I love it, I feel like there's not much room for progression and I'm getting a bit bored. The Local Authority are always threatening to cut the department I'm in too.
It's been great while I've had young children - the flexibility, holidays etc. But I'm thinking as they're getting older, I'd like to have a change of direction and more opportunities to get further in a role. Teaching feels like you can only go towards SLT which I'm not drawn to.
The peripatetic aspect of social work appeals, as does the working with a variety of people and other agencies. My teaching work now puts me in contact with families and I often have to advocate for them - I really like that aspect of the job. I know that it's demanding and stressful, but I have been a class teacher so know a bit about what that's like. Am I really stupid to consider this? Have others retrained when their kids were older and found it doable?

Interested in replies, I feel at a bit of a turning point in my life, mid forties with grown up/older teens and love the advocating side of my job (family work). I’ve had a lot of people ask me why don’t I consider training as a social worker

Social Work is a fantastic profession but don't go into it thinking you'll be 'helping people'. That sounds awful but you really do little of the direct work and, instead are case managers. If you want a job with tangible outcomes, again think again. It is so difficult sometimes to see positive outcomes.

I was fortunate that I led on an interesting project and had roles that were specialist but also very autonomous. Bear in mind many LAs practice in a very risk averse way. You'll need to earn your stripes working for a LA if you want a chance of picking the good jobs in the future.

However once you've got that qualification and gained experience the options are endless.