social work

jimbms

SarEl wrote: »

Or realistic? People have to make some effort - the help you got wasn't "enough". Being a social worker is a serious job and a serious commitment. If you aren't committed enough to do a google search on your own to find a job for yourself (and heh - you are sitting at the computer!!!), or ring a few council's to find out how and when the recruit, the how can anyone have confidence in your ability to care for vulnerable people and children. Things like jobs don't get handed out on platters. Grow up.

I have to fully agree here, I remember years ago a firm I worked for went bang, I spent the next 6 days in the library looking at virtualy every telephone directory then on the phone and fax (pre internet days) until I found a job. If you really want work then the only way is to get off your !!!!! and find the work.

SarEl

pisces72 wrote: »

Actually I have had several agencies that have accepted my CRB which was issued in March without asking me to reapply.

I missed this post earlier. I am afraid in that case the agencies are breaking the law. An ECRB id a snapshot now, not last week or last month. Who is to say that you haven't committed a serious offence since March. I can think of at least one Council which has been seriously slammed by OFSTED (admittedly for a lot of other faults too!) for allowing agencies to do this. The agency is supposed to confirm to the social work department (it's part of their standard contract) that they have undertaken an ECRB and that you have been continuously in their employ/on their books since they did so. There are a lot of faults and problems with the ECRB system, but on this one the law is pretty clear - both the agency and the Council would be responsible in law for failure to adequately obtain clearance. The agency for not doing so and the Council for not checking it.

Oldernotwiser

oki1875 wrote: »

I think you and SarEl are both quite rude and nusty.

We both gave our time to help you, with no thanks and no thought from you that you should be doing anything for yourself - even when we suggested that you should be doing more we were polite and pleasant.

liney

SarEl wrote: »

I missed this post earlier. I am afraid in that case the agencies are breaking the law. An ECRB id a snapshot now, not last week or last month. Who is to say that you haven't committed a serious offence since March. I can think of at least one Council which has been seriously slammed by OFSTED (admittedly for a lot of other faults too!) for allowing agencies to do this. The agency is supposed to confirm to the social work department (it's part of their standard contract) that they have undertaken an ECRB and that you have been continuously in their employ/on their books since they did so. There are a lot of faults and problems with the ECRB system, but on this one the law is pretty clear - both the agency and the Council would be responsible in law for failure to adequately obtain clearance. The agency for not doing so and the Council for not checking it.

Would it not be the case the the agency can accept the current CRB as long as the inform potental employers/Clients that the CRB is not current, and apply for a new one once interest is shown, and before work is undertaken?

Savvy_Sue

:mad:

SarEl wrote: »

I missed this post earlier. I am afraid in that case the agencies are breaking the law. An ECRB id a snapshot now, not last week or last month. Who is to say that you haven't committed a serious offence since March. I can think of at least one Council which has been seriously slammed by OFSTED (admittedly for a lot of other faults too!) for allowing agencies to do this. The agency is supposed to confirm to the social work department (it's part of their standard contract) that they have undertaken an ECRB and that you have been continuously in their employ/on their books since they did so. There are a lot of faults and problems with the ECRB system, but on this one the law is pretty clear - both the agency and the Council would be responsible in law for failure to adequately obtain clearance. The agency for not doing so and the Council for not checking it.

I'm glad SarEl posted this, because it saved me saying that as an employer, while we MIGHT allow someone to start work on sight on their copy of an enhanced CRB, we would promptly apply for another one. Until that came through, what we allowed them to do would be restricted.

liney wrote: »

Would it not be the case the the agency can accept the current CRB as long as the inform potental employers/Clients that the CRB is not current, and apply for a new one once interest is shown, and before work is undertaken?

If I were using agency staff, I'd expect the agency to have carried out their own ECRB, and not to be relying on the employee's copy, which may not have full information on it. Some information is only released to the employer, and will never be seen by the employee.

noname123_2

Off the top of my head, Halton borough council have quite a few vacancies for social workers

Savvy_Sue

To the OP: you know exactly where in the country you are (the North West is quite a large area), and how far you are prepared to travel, and what hours you are prepared to work. We do not.

It's the work of moments to find out whether the council you trained with is recruiting or not: I don't know of any local authorities who do not advertise all their vacancies on their own website. You can do the same for any neighbouring authorities that you are prepared to travel to, and for authorities further afield that you'd be prepared to relocate to.

Many Social Workers start with agencies, it's a good way to go because both you and the council get a reasonable chance to decide whether or not this is the right role for you. The only way you'll find out whether you're up to working for an agency is to apply: if they think you will need too much additional training or support you won't get placements, it's that simple.

There are also vacancies for social work trained staff outside local authorities, eg with adoption agencies and residential facilities. Many of these will be offered through agencies as well.

What are your fellow students doing, have they found vacancies or is it just you? Can your course leader advise on where vacancies are advertised?

easilydistracted

Hi oki875.

I have seen you post this on a social work website, where you mentioned that you were struggling to get any work.

I'm a social worker and the pressure is constant. Our authority often has vacancies but they need to fill them with people that can clearly fufill the role. This involves managing complex situations, gathering information quickly, working in the home with people who are often stressed and at times aggressive or frustrated and writing complex reports. These appears to be skills you need to work on.

SavvySue offers some good advice in getting experience in unqualified but related work which will help you develop. However your responses to posters who contribute here regularly and have a great more work and possibly life experience than you or I suggest why you are struggling to gain a post. Perhaps it is time to use some of those reflection skills you hopefully developed at uni!

kiwi07

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

To the OP: you know exactly where in the country you are (the North West is quite a large area), and how far you are prepared to travel, and what hours you are prepared to work. We do not.

It's the work of moments to find out whether the council you trained with is recruiting or not: I don't know of any local authorities who do not advertise all their vacancies on their own website. You can do the same for any neighbouring authorities that you are prepared to travel to, and for authorities further afield that you'd be prepared to relocate to.

Many Social Workers start with agencies, it's a good way to go because both you and the council get a reasonable chance to decide whether or not this is the right role for you. The only way you'll find out whether you're up to working for an agency is to apply: if they think you will need too much additional training or support you won't get placements, it's that simple.

There are also vacancies for social work trained staff outside local authorities, eg with adoption agencies and residential facilities. Many of these will be offered through agencies as well.

What are your fellow students doing, have they found vacancies or is it just you? Can your course leader advise on where vacancies are advertised?

The majority of my fellow students were british, so they are planning to go back to their previous councils and jobs. I think their way back will be quite straight forward. Some other were internationally qualified. As part of this programme I had my shadowing placement with Front Line Assessment Team.
My course leader (she was from HR department) quite welcomed us to apply for their social work vacancies). I actually applied for a few at their council. I assume I wasn't successful because I have never been invited for an interview.:(

Savvy_Sue

oki1875 wrote: »

The majority of my fellow students were british, so they are planning to go back to their previous councils and jobs. I think their way back will be quite straight forward.

Some of them were probably on the course with a guarantee of employment, of course.

oki1875 wrote: »

As part of this programme I had my shadowing placement with Front Line Assessment Team.

And how did you get on with that? Did you feel you would cope with the pressure of that? Because if not, it's time to look for another line of work, IMO.

oki1875 wrote: »

My course leader (she was from HR department) quite welcomed us to apply for their social work vacancies). I actually applied for a few at their council. I assume I wasn't successful because I have never been invited for an interview.:(

Then you need to find out what is wrong with your applications - maybe you don't have enough relevant experience (either in the UK or where you qualified) or maybe you're just not presenting yourself correctly. When applying for local authority jobs - in any field, not just Social Work - your application needs to give evidence of how you meet every part of the Job Description and Person Specification. It's not enough to list jobs you've done and expect the shortlisting team to extrapolate that you have the experience they are looking for, you need to spell it out.

For example, they may include 'report writing' within their requirements: you have to outline the contexts within which you have written reports, and your understanding of what is involved / the importance of reports. It's not enough to assume that they'll expect that any qualified social worker knows how to write reports and will have experience of doing so!

It may be worth phoning and asking if they are able to give you any feedback on your applications, if not now then next time you apply for a job.

Perhaps worth saying, btw, that we have had several social work students do placements with us at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. By the end of their placement, they certainly can 'hit the ground running and pick up speed': they still have excellent supervision and backup, but they've either grown into the work or realised it's not for them! We've also had people 'shadowing', which is a different experience, but they do get to know what's involved in our work - which isn't social work exactly, but does require many of those skills!