Diary Of A Social Worker Week 1

‘This isn’t the social worker I wanted to be’: week 1 at a career crossroads

By Andy McNicoll on 29 April , 2013 in social work

Piles of unread emails, office politics and an all-too-rare chance to connect with a family all feature in this week’s update from a social worker who feels pushed to the brink of quitting the profession they love

Monday
161 unread emails. I love that my office is in the area we serve – I was able to do an unannounced visit on my way to work this morning. I’m going to find it difficult to do unannounced visits when we move to the other side of the borough.

The family is doing well and the mum is managing the children well given that it’s the school holidays, she has no money and the family centre has shut. I didn’t even try to ask my manager for the money that could make a difference; there’s nothing left in the pot.

That makes me feel bad; I shouldn’t not ask. He needs to know that there’s a need even if he can’t meet it.
I hate feeling like I’m resigning myself to providing a crappy service. This isn’t the social worker I wanted to be.


Tuesday
155 unread emails. Annual leave today! I grab a quick peek at my work emails while my daughter watches a movie.

My inbox has notification that my Interim Care Order (ICO) application will be heard on Monday and the family are contesting. Now to liaise with the contact team in order to get them to agree to some contact.

I stick on another film to distract my child while I make some phone calls.


Wednesday
158 unread emails. More annual leave; another sneaky look at my emails while my daughter plays with her friend in the garden.

Damn – the contact team don’t want to give me contact. Like most services round here they’re overstretched and offering very minimal contact.

The case is in court on Monday and I need to have concrete details as to what contact we can offer.


Thursday
163 unread emails. Great – the admin in the reviewing department are no longer sending correspondence to families or professionals; this is now, apparently, a social work task.

They’ve another thing coming if they think I’ve got time to send invites and minutes out.

I felt guilty today; rather than respond to urgent calls and emails I went to see a family and take the kids out for lunch.

It was great to see and talk about the positive changes they’ve experienced since I’ve had the case.

This is what I want to do for a job; connect with families, not sit behind a computer screen.

Tonight the guilt got too much; I’ve logged on at home and responded to the emails I missed when I was out with the family earlier.

The contact team don’t have the capacity to offer a family the high level of contact they need.

I know the contact team is stretched but I’m here for the children – they need a high level of contact if they are to return home.

I’ll ask the contact manager to come to court with me Monday to explain why she won’t offer the contact hours – that should do it.

I’ll spend tonight sitting and watch CSI and filling out a family holiday association application for a family I work with.

There’s no time to do it at work but I feel strongly that this family would benefit from a holiday. Plus, it won’t hurt for me to sit and do it in front of the TV.


Friday
171 unread emails. I’m on duty today. I really hope it’s a quiet one but sadly I don’t have a very good history when it comes to being duty on a Friday. I wonder if I could unplug the phone?

Turns out the contact manager doesn’t want to go to court and will offer me 70% of what I’m after. I don’t think she likes me much now.

Two parents pop into the office to see me; their son is going for adoption and their learning difficulties mean that they need to continually go over the plan with me.

I don’t mind seeing them on my lunch break; I’m glad they feel they can pop in.

It won’t be like that in the new building; services users aren’t allowed there. Even if they wanted to, it’s not accessible by public transport.

I assure the couple that I’m looking for the best family I can. I haven’t told them that I’m worried their son still isn’t adopted 12 months after the plan was agreed. There just aren’t the adopters.

I’ve got review of arrangements to write; now how to tactfully put that this child’s complex needs will go unmet due to cuts to the CAMHS service?

Home. Another week completed. Don’t feel like I’ve achieved much. Must hold on to the positives of the week. Catching up on the Archers while filling out another family holiday association application.


Saturday
My daughter has gone to play with her friend so I’m going to have a quick read of my statement, make some notes and prepare for Monday.

Our view here at reform the Social Services is this..

If this is not the true reflections of the world of social work I fail to see what is.
overworked to the point that when off work he is dealing with cases whilst watching Tv or listening to the Radio.

When he is supposed to be in work he takes a family out to lunch

and when he should be on call wants to unplug the telephone.

It appears that he has a grasp on the damage being caused but fails to see that he is apparently overworked to excess the best thing he should do is resign even after 1 week or become cold to human feelings and just keep taking the cash.