Becoming a Social Worker

TJH_2 · 18 May 2007 at 9:22AM

Hi all,

Just looking for a bit of advice, I am 35yrs old married woman, with two young boys.
I have a half decent job working 22hrs a week, I earn around £14k before deductions my husband is on approx £20k, we just about manage and have a little debt on a credit card.

For some reason I have got it my head I want to switch careers and re-train as a social worker, but I dont have the qualification which would entail 3 years of study, would i be entitled to a grant(are they still called that?) or an increase in tax credits.

I live in west yorkshire and have looked at work based placements but they seem hard to come by, or maybe I am looking at the wrong places.

I would dearly love to be able to go to uni but for the financial restrictions.

Is there any help for me, or should I just "put up and shut up" and stay at my current job.

Thanks for reading, all advice welcome.

lbl · 18 May 2007 at 10:34AM

Hi JTH,
Well done to you for going for a change, if you contact your local college or university they will advice you of what you are entitled to. There is a bursary or grant for this course, in some places you can even do it part time. There is also tax benefits for you to look at depending on your situation. Once again the advice centre in the college will help with this. REMEMBER colleges and Universities want YOUR business!
If you don't have the entry qualifications required for the course you can do a 1 year access course which will give you what you need.

One thing to bear in mind when getting a little anxious about the time it will take to qualify is that whilst it appears to be three or four years this is term time, sept-june with lots of holidays in which you can work. Also full time generally means 15hrs contact time at college/uni so you could also work around this time.
You may also wish to contact your local authority and tell them you are thinking of doing the course and do they have a supply bank/agency bank you could join for casual work. This will help bring in money but also give you valuable experience. It will also look good when you tell the college/uni that you are doing/thinking of doing this.
Good luck, remember nothing to fear but fear itself, so turn around and face the fear and it will loose its power.

TJH_2 · 18 May 2007 at 11:06AM

lbl thanks for your reply.
I will contact my local uni, I have done some research on the internet but its a minefield and I am going round in circles, thanks again.

ohreally · 18 May 2007 at 3:12PM

From speaking to course delagates i've met at training events, social work appears to be well populated with managerial bullies and traits which i wouldn't have thought appropriate for social work....i was told the job attracts them!

ohreally · 18 May 2007 at 5:26PM

Catseyez wrote: »

I have never heard such a load of uninformed tosh.

Two social workers on the course approached me with a catalogue of persisting problems which have been ongoing for sometime, the issues were endemic throughout the management structure and were not confined to a specific office but were present throughout the area.
One of the people actually dropped out the course because of pressure from social work lower and middle management. I discussed some of the issues at great length and have been networking with others from the organisation who had similar verifiable stories. I personally saw the staff statements of case for grievances prosecuted against social work management which were upheld.
To correct you, it's not uninformed tosh.

amibovered? · 18 May 2007 at 5:43PM

Hi

I qualified as a social worker 10 years ago and have to say that it can be rewarding and fulfilling. It can also be very challenging and frustrating both in terms of the people you work with and the systems and processes that impede progress!!

The latter makes it important not to have a naieve or blinkered view or imagine that you will be greeted with gratitude.

A core part of the role is about values, and yes there are a few people as in other walks of life that lose sight of being empathetic and person-centred. On the whole though, I think the stress is such that only those who genuinely want to do the job, survive.

You have to be able to involve yourself in situations so that you give people the support they need but also detach yourself from what can be the worst aspects of our society.

You earn a good wage but not the best wage out there and some would argue this doesn't really compensate for the emotional investment you make.!

Good luck in your studies and be prepared to have your eyes opened wide!!

TJH_2 · 18 May 2007 at 6:55PM

Hi all
Thanks for the replies, I knew MSE folk would come up with the goods!!!
Just a bit more background, I have always wanted to do some sort of social work, but on leaving school further education was not really an option, I wanted/had to get a job and start earning some brass!

I joined the police service 7 years ago and I have seen it all, I enjoy my current role but dont want to live the rest of my life thinking "if only..."

Firefly · 18 May 2007 at 7:57PM

It took until I was nearly 40 to discover my vocation in the Social Care field. Don't forget you can study for a Social Work Degree with the Open University too but would still need a work placement.

Your life experience in the Police Force would put you in an advantageous position as a social worker.

Good Luck and go for it!

lynzpower · 19 May 2007 at 5:52PM

ohreally wrote: »

Two social workers on the course approached me with a catalogue of persisting problems which have been ongoing for sometime, the issues were endemic throughout the management structure and were not confined to a specific office but were present throughout the area.
One of the people actually dropped out the course because of pressure from social work lower and middle management. I discussed some of the issues at great length and have been networking with others from the organisation who had similar verifiable stories. I personally saw the staff statements of case for grievances prosecuted against social work management which were upheld.
To correct you, it's not uninformed tosh.

I have to agree, having worked in social work for some years, my managers were exceptionally bullying. Im hard though and could tolerate it for some years, also being a union shop steward helped

In advice to the OP, I suggest you look into the job ( in fact competition for the course can be very high) and undertake some voluntary work with the client group you want to work with ( children & families/ 0lder people etc) to really get a flavour of the clentele.

The job is rewarding but can be very hard indeed. It certainly isnt nicey nicey as the media portrays it, Ive had to turn an elderly lady onto the streets, remove children, being threatened with weapons, and generally abuised on a daily basis. this is what happens to people in crisis and is part of the job.

the hours can be very demanding- not only are you expected of course to do the 9-5 but then there are reports to write on the evenings & at weekends

I had my holidays cancelled due to pressing matters at work, which I was happy to accept, although I would not do it now.

Im not trying to put you off, but if its what you want to do GO FOR IT! but get experience in the field first- forwarned is forarmed as they say.

Oldernotwiser · 19 May 2007 at 6:36PM

Firefly wrote: »

It took until I was nearly 40 to discover my vocation in the Social Care field. Don't forget you can study for a Social Work Degree with the Open University too but would still need a work placement.

Your life experience in the Police Force would put you in an advantageous position as a social worker.

Good Luck and go for it!

I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this. You can only to a Social Work degree with the OU if you are sponsored by your employer; it isn't a route that you can take independently.

I also have experience of advising a client who wanted to move from the Prison Service into social work; she found that she wasn't welcomed with this experience and found the differing standpoints of these professions quite difficult to adjust to. Not an impossible transition but not an advantage, I feel.

Oldernotwiser · 19 May 2007 at 11:38PM

I think that there are many similarities between the roles when dealing with victims; the differences arise when dealing with the perpetrators.

Becoming a Social Worker

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