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Natalie
My name is Natalie, I started this blog as a Newly Qualified Social Worker working with adults. I have now progressed to a level 3 Social Worker and want to continue sharing my experiences.

Hidden skills

 

One of the most difficult things I have found since going back to work is the change to my working hours. I now work 3 days a week. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Which is brilliant don't get me wrong but also it is one of the hardest things about going back. I get a 4 day weekend which is lovely but as I regularly remind people that does not mean I just get to chill. I have a 15 month old so I am in mum mode as soon as I finish work and everyday I am off. I solo parent 2 days a week so they are definitely busy.

The tricky thing about the days I work is that Thursday to Tuesday is a long gap. If I am working with a family regarding a situation that needs sorting fairly quickly if I have not completed the work by the end of Thursday then it will be almost another week before I work on it again. They have the option to contact my team in my absence but that is not the best continuity for the family.

I am lucky that I am in a role where I manage my own diary so that means I can make sure that Thursday afternoon for example is kept free so that I can finish off anything that needs doing. I am fortunate that I am an organised person so I find booking things in and keeping on top of my appointments fairly easy but I also know that some people struggle with that side of things.

It is crazy how many small skills you need to be a Social Worker outside of the face to face, front line speaking with people. You also do all your own admin so you need the IT and typing skills to complete that side of the work. You manage your own diary so you need the organisation and planning skills too. You get people who want to use you as their therapist too.

We end up with a lot on our plates and that can make it difficult when you are struggling. When you have other things going on outside of work and then you log on after a few days off and have voicemails and emails galore waiting for you when you come back. I only experienced this previously when I had been off on leave whereas now this is a weekly occurrence and it is tricky. It means I try not to book anything in first thing on a Tuesday because I need some time to go through all of the emails and voicemails. I am an ASYE so I take weekly study time of 2.5 hours so if I keep Tuesday morning fairly free for voicemails and emails, take 2.5 hours of study time on a Wednesday afternoon and keep Thursday afternoon fairly free to finish off anything before my weekend that does not leave much time left to actually visit people and do my job.

It makes it feel like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole and wondering why it doesn't work. I know that as time goes on it will get easier. My ASYE is almost finished so the study time will stop so that gives me back 2.5 hours a week and a full day which means I could fit in 2 or maybe 3 visits depending on the situation. It would allow me a bit more wiggle room when booking things into my diary but it also means that my caseload is no longer protected and I don't have an assessor anymore. It is swings and roundabouts in terms of positives and negatives but I definitely think that seems to be what Social Work is.

There are good days and bad but fingers crossed that overall it is more good than bad.

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