Tell me about being a social worker.....?

[sim667]

I'm a social worker and trust me when I say that on the whole my clients are fine (there have been a few that have got me). You will find a very strange mix of people doing social work. Watch out for the manipulative, back stabbing, opinionated idiots that seem to make up a a large percentage of the work force.
I find myself asking why on earth some of these people do the work on a daily basis.
Also be prepared for you to see the world if a very different way. After several years of doing the job the world becomes a different place. You start spotting "people with issues" everywhere.

I often ask if I could be put put back in to the matrix and not remember anything.

I'm also now left wondering whether the work I do actually makes the problem worse.

What would happen tomorrow if there was no DHS?
How would people cope?
What would they do?
Its a big question and one I think about a lot?

I think I'm drawing close to the end of my social work career. Poor pay and conditions coupled with being treated and as a verbal, emotional, and on the odd occasion physical punch bag for clients and workers has finally got the better of me.

Thats my opinion anyway.

Thanks for that, I think thats a pretty clear idea.......

 

[mrsfran]

I'm a social worker and trust me when I say that on the whole my clients are fine (there have been a few that have got me). You will find a very strange mix of people doing social work. Watch out for the manipulative, back stabbing, opinionated idiots that seem to make up a a large percentage of the work force.
I find myself asking why on earth some of these people do the work on a daily basis.
Also be prepared for you to see the world if a very different way. After several years of doing the job the world becomes a different place. You start spotting "people with issues" everywhere.

I often ask if I could be put put back in to the matrix and not remember anything.

I'm also now left wondering whether the work I do actually makes the problem worse.

What would happen tomorrow if there was no DHS?
How would people cope?
What would they do?
Its a big question and one I think about a lot?

I think I'm drawing close to the end of my social work career. Poor pay and conditions coupled with being treated and as a verbal, emotional, and on the odd occasion physical punch bag for clients and workers has finally got the better of me.

Thats my opinion anyway.

The world does return to normal. After I left, I was still seeing problems and abused children everywhere for a while, but now it's faded. I think I'm probably still more aware of it than I would be otherwise, but life is much less troubled by it nowadays. If you're not happy, get out.

 

[TopCat]

I don't really want to go into my personal finances, thank you. Couldn't give a shit if that makes me sound facetious.

Yes, you do get financial help whilst doing the degree, but it isn't enough to live on.

Fees make up half my student debt.

You have the right stuff to be a Social Worker.

 

[Bajie]

There are some very odd social workers about, some of them I am really not to sure why they chose the job, perhaps because they could not think what else to do or maybe they like being a bit nosey.

Some of the social workers I have come across (at work) are great, others are passive agressive weirdos with half a brain cell thinking of it, the passive agressive thing is quite wide spread. I think that comes from having to pay lip service to diversity and non-discriminatory practise when all they really want to do is call everyone chavy wankers.

Then again, there are a lot of isolated and vulnerable people in society. Previous generations locked people with Learning Disabilities up or sometimes even sterilised them, at least now there is some progress and a lot of people lead reasonably good lives in the 'community'; a large part of this is due to the day to day work that social workers do.

An older people living by themselves with dementia has fuck all other people to give a shit about them, at least our society still provides some sort of support for these people, even though it is generally a bit shit. Which sums up social services really, some support but a bit shit. This is not the fault of social workers though, even if some of them are passive agressive weirdos who happen to make great social workers.

 

[Red Cat]

If you've got a degree then you can just do an MA in Social Work - I can't remember whether it's two years or one, or if your degree has to be in a similar subject or any old BA/Bsc.

I guess it depends on the Uni. At Birmingham you need relevent degree and experience I think. A 'lesser' university might not have the same criteria. When I first looked at this 15 years ago, when in Manchester and prior to having a relevant degree (since done post-grad stuff that's relevant) you needed relevant degree and a years experience in related work. Otherwise I think its what I'd have ended up doing. As it is, I still don't have a professional qualification

 

[TopCat]

Then again, there are a lot of isolated and vulnerable people in society. Previous generations locked people with Learning Disabilities up or sometimes even sterilised them, at least now there is some progress and a lot of people lead reasonably good lives in the 'community'; a large part of this is due to the day to day work that social workers do.

Community care was not driven by social workers. It was driven by cost.

 

[marty21]

No, it's the mad old bat, you petulant little twat.

£20,000 for a degree does sound pretty expensive. I'm doing a maths degree over four years and it will only cost me £5,000.

are you sure you've added it all up correctly

 

[kyser_soze]

As with anyone who is connected to the state and get involved in people's personal lives, when something goes right no one cares, when something goes wrong everyone hates you.

 

[miniGMgoit]

As with anyone who is connected to the state and get involved in people's personal lives, when something goes right no one cares, when something goes wrong everyone hates you.

Yeah init

 

[UnderOpenSky]

are you sure you've added it all up correctly

My student debt is far higher then that. I don't think your taking into account all the other costs like lack of earning when your studying.

 

[marty21]

My student debt is far higher then that. I don't think your taking into account all the other costs like lack of earning when your studying.

it wasn't me doing the adding up tbf