Social Work Placements

shelley_crow

Hi everyone.

I am so worried. I am in my 3rd year at uni now studying Social Work. My placement is being arranged at the moment and I am being told that I am expected to travel on an 80 mile round trip every day for the 100 day duration of the placement.

I'm not happy with it for a couple of reasons,

1) It's a hell of a lot of travelling to do and will make a long day even longer.
2) Financially it's a nightmare. My OH got made redundant at the beginning of the year and currently has no income, he is not entitled to benefits so I am supporting my family (me, OH and DS, 4) on my student loans/bursary. I understand that £500 is built into the social work bursary but this won't scratch the surface. My last placement was a 60 mile round trip and this almost killed us financially. I understand that I can't expect to be placed right next to where I live but 80 miles a day is stupid.

I realise that there are shortages of placements nationwide but surely it can't be that bad?

I haven't approached the uni about this yet, the woman who organises placements is known for being erm, temperamental. I desperately want to finish on time this year but can't see me finishing at with the way things are going.

Has anyone else got any experience of having difficulties with placements like this?

alwaysonthego_2

Can you not speak to her and explain your situation, if she gets 'temperamental' with you, you should approach your personal tutor or course leader.

swstudent

shelley_crow wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I am so worried. I am in my 3rd year at uni now studying Social Work. My placement is being arranged at the moment and I am being told that I am expected to travel on an 80 mile round trip every day for the 100 day duration of the placement.

I'm not happy with it for a couple of reasons,

1) It's a hell of a lot of travelling to do and will make a long day even longer.
2) Financially it's a nightmare. My OH got made redundant at the beginning of the year and currently has no income, he is not entitled to benefits so I am supporting my family (me, OH and DS, 4) on my student loans/bursary. I understand that £500 is built into the social work bursary but this won't scratch the surface. My last placement was a 60 mile round trip and this almost killed us financially. I understand that I can't expect to be placed right next to where I live but 80 miles a day is stupid.

I realise that there are shortages of placements nationwide but surely it can't be that bad?

I haven't approached the uni about this yet, the woman who organises placements is known for being erm, temperamental. I desperately want to finish on time this year but can't see me finishing at with the way things are going.

Has anyone else got any experience of having difficulties with placements like this?

Hi I'm a social work student. I'd check with the GSCC requirements - I thought students were supposed to travel for up to an hour away from where they live! Even a 60 mile round trip is quite a lot, well done for surviving that! Maybe approach your personal tutor first and try to get backed up by them. Drop your placements tutor an email and see what they have to say. Explain about your commitments and situation and they may be able to find you somewhere else. Bear in mind they don't have to find you somewhere else and therefore if you don't take this placement you will fail, unfair really! The best thing is to not dwell on it but have a chat with someone and see if they can help you.

There is a large shortage of placements - what sort of placement are they thinking of placing you in? If its a statutory team you may have to go further as there aren't many of these and they are sought after by all!

Hope you manage to sort everything out!

swstudent

Oh forget to say - try and find out about an access to learning fund. They don't usually give them to social work students as we get a bursary but if you are going to be in financial hardship and can prove this they may be able to help you! Think grants are up to £3000.

libbyc3

shelly - not much help but just wanted to say I am so full of admiration for you getting to year 3 - I've just started year 1 and am so overwhelmed with the amount of reading and getting my head around the concepts year 3 seems light years away!
if it does help, social workers i know have all said to me, don't worry to much about the debt - its not politically correct to voice it, but once qualified there are several ways of earning good money outside the 9-5 statutory job to pay off debt run up as a student.
if your OH not working at the mo, is he fully supportive and taking on the full quota of responsibility for kids and housework?
if your placement is the required statutory one it may be difficult to change it, if it is in the voluntary sector, you need to stand your ground and demand a swap.that's what i'v heard from 2nd year students at my uni anyway.

Moneytroubles_2

Hi, just wanted to say hello as Im starting year 1 social work this week

Also really hope you get your placement sorted! xx

leebee11_2

I just wanted to say well done for getting to third yr after the 60 mile trip in second!
I have just started first year and praying they dont expect me to do a 60, never mind 80 mile trip!

crispeater

i have no valuable input on this subject but i want to say well done to all!!

i'm hoping to start next year