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The media could be more of a friend than foe to social work professionals, delegates at Community Care Live Scotland were told this week, writes Clare Jerrom.

Jo Roe, who produced a six-part series about the work of Edinburgh Council social work department for BBC Scotland, said she had wanted to “shatter the myths” that social workers either snatch children away or were “do-gooders” who don’t do enough.

“There are complex relationships between social workers and their clients which is largely invisible on television,” she said.

But she warned that social work professionals were very wary of the media, which was “not surprising” given the reports in some of the tabloid press.

“A lot of people didn’t trust us [when we were making the documentary] and weren’t prepared to take a risk. I don’t blame them for feeling like that,” she said. “But that blanket mistrust is not helpful.”

Roe explained that when she was working on a documentary about medics, they were “less wary of being stitched up”.

However, she said she had sensed a shift towards participation from social workers. “Love it or loathe it, the media does play a vital role.”