Social Worker Sharing

  Isn’t it interesting the number of different approaches and types of communications that exist? The main one that most people think of is verbal communication which is strange because a high percentage of communication is non-verbal. The tone of voice someone uses, their facial expression, the volume they speak at, whether they turn their body to you, where they put their arms and many more. Some of these only occur when you can see someone, with the pandemic that has been going on for the last couple of years a lot of time has been spent having interactions over the phone and for us that has included assessments too. I have worked with some people for months and never seen what they look like. Its strange to think I could easily walk past someone in the street who I have spoken to numerous times a week and never realise. This has been the new way of working for a little while now and when you really think about it, it’s so strange. Don’t get me wrong most people have adapted...

 I was having a conversation with my friend the other day. She is also a Social Worker, but she works in Child Protection. We were chatting about the topic of my blog post last week. I mentioned that I felt there was more information out there for Social Work relating to Children as opposed to adults. She raised an interesting point and mentioned something that she has heard a few times since starting her role a few weeks ago. She said that a lot of the people she works with will make comments about retiring to adults Social Work. Now I understand where the comment comes from because Child Protection specifically is notorious for being really difficult. I hear people talk about the pressure that they are under and when my friend explained that they have to see every child on their case load every week I understood it a bit more. That sounds like a juggling act to me especially if you are working in a team or area that has less staff and higher caseloads. I haven’t worked in chi...

I don’t know if other people have found this, but I feel like there is much more information out there about Social Work in regard to children than there is for adults.  I feel that when doing my degree although we did a module in each, I feel like the information for children was much more in depth than it was for adults. I don’t know if this was just my specific module on my course or whether this is more universal, but I find that by the time I finished that module I knew the full section 47 process for children’s safeguarding concerns but for adults I feel like we only really knew what section covered it but not really what it looks like. I feel that in cases where there was the death of the child these were much more publicised that those of adults. Most people have heard of Peter Connolly (Baby P) or Victoria Climbie but I feel like if asked about deaths or serious harm of adults people would not be able to find the names as easily. They may be able to mention situation...

One thing that people keep telling me is so difficult about my Social Work journey is that I did most of it in a pandemic. I have discussed my views on this in a previous blog post that was on Social Work students page and I have now added onto here. The main worry for people is that I have yet to really spend any time in an office. I was fortunate when I started my final placement that the team, I was in meant that I had a couple of days a week in the office and had my supervision face to face. I agree that I was fortunate but since changing team I have not been in the office at all. I don’t see this as a major issue because I have still been able to build really good relationships with the people I work with. I know that in an office you get the buzz, and you learn through being around people and that is something I am yet to experience but also, I think speaking on the phone provides something different. It has added benefits because I find when someone can’t see you, they are ...

We keep talking about what a tough year it is, how we are working through such a difficult time. They don’t understand how students are managing. Or on the flip side people saying you aren’t really doing a proper placement are you. You aren’t learning what social work really is because you can’t visit or see the person face to face.  Yes, I am.   I’m learning what social work looks like right now. Not what it looks like ‘normally’ but how we have adapted. Parts that may end up staying that way when Covid is over or different ways of working that make people feel more comfortable and connected. I am not only learning how social work functions, but I am also learning how resilient and open to change social workers are and isn’t that what social work is? Adapting when something doesn’t go your way. Making changes to how you communicate to do it the best possible way for that individual. Waking up in the morning and expecting your day to be one ...

Just because I have the title doesn’t mean I know it all. In fact, far from it. Don’t get me wrong I have learnt a lot throughout my degree but there is so much that they do not teach you because that would be impossible. I know a lot about law and legislation, and I have mesmerised sections or principles of these, and they are extremely helpful. You are taught different approaches you can use “in practice”. In practice is an interesting way of wording it because I know that I personally feel that I am practicing at my job most of the time. I believe it’s known as imposter syndrome and everyone I speak to about it, especially in Social Work not only knows what it is, they feel it too. Right up to the highest level. People are waiting for someone to catch them. Ask why they are there. Tell them there is a mistake. I personally think its because we work in a profession where you can never know it all. Things change so often that you feel like you are playing catch up. Plus, Soc...