The first of a series by teenager Heidi Osborne on positive experiences of residential social workers.
My motivation for writing this series of articles is that I would like to eradicate the stigma attached to residential social workers and their role in young people's lives. There has been an ever-increasing amount of media coverage where emphasis is on the negative rather than the positive practices of residential social workers.
Newspaper articles and television dramas have portrayed them as depraved old men or eccentric hippies, with hidden motives for wanting to work with children. I appreciate that there have been social workers as described above, and I also believe that local authorities and the public need to be aware of the perpetrators within this field of work.
However, there needs to be more of a balance. For example, one often hears about the residential social worker who carried out an indecent act, but one never hears about the residential social worker who improved a young person's self-confidence or took a group of children to the seaside and had a lovely time.
When I came to live in Maumbury House children's home, I was extremely introverted, emotionally insecure and had a chronic case of self-loathing. As time went on, I became ever more confident and competent in building and sustaining relationships. From the word go, the residential social workers treated me with dignity and respect.
But I must admit that in the early days they seemed only committed to catering for our basic needs. They weren't willing or particularly able to tackle the young people's problems. Whether this was a result of their inefficiency or lack of knowledge I'm still not certain. At the time, however, I did not notice their professional inadequacies. I was just thankful to be in an environment full of warmth and laughter rather than my previous environment, which was full of adversities and uncertainties.
On 14 October 2000 my 30-year-old brother suddenly died of a heart defect. I remember feeling numb, in total disbelief. During this time the staff at the home supported me and consoled me. The day after he died, a new staff member joined the team at the home. Fearing change, I made no effort to talk to or form a rapport with her.
But as I came to terms with my brother's death I became more contented and began to adjust to the working styles of this particular residential social worker. I rapidly began to appreciate her qualities. Not only did she have qualifications and experience, but she also had a wealth of common sense, compassion and humour.
She was a catalyst for positive change within the home and her refreshing attitude has influenced other staff members' practices. For example, I now feel that there is a mutual recognition of every young person's individuality, needs, wishes and difficulties. Furthermore, I believe that the team of residential social workers are now all passionate about fighting for our rights as "looked-after young people", which in turn has revolutionised the quality of care that every one of us receives.
Heidi Osborne has been a resident of Maumbury House children's home, Dorchester, since 1998. She will be going to university in the autumn.
