It might be enlightening at some point in the near future to poll those who had been either near the July bombs in London or who had relatives, friends or loved ones personally affected, to gauge if their view of the social work profession had been altered by the support they received.
Much of what those in social care do is too easily maligned and misinterpreted as the powerful telling the vulnerable what to do and how to live their lives. No matter how varied and wide-ranging the scope of social work is in the 21st century; no matter how strongly social workers argue that one of their goals is to encourage self-determination and empower those often tragically lacking in confidence and social skills - their activities are too often treated as suspicious by those who have no personal contact with social care but who do read the sensationalising tabloids avidly.
At a time of events such as the siege of the school at Beslan or the July attacks in London - the strengths of the social care profession become plain. The discovery for many people is that while they are accustomed to associating social workers with the problems that arise from dysfunctional behaviour - they are less familiar with their ability to help with the complexities and practical challenges of so called "normal" family life, when individuals are suddenly and violently taken off guard.
In the wake of the four bombs that went off on 7 July, social workers from several London boroughs worked with police and hospital staff to set up a family assistance centre and offer help.
Counselling is the unmet need that comes to mind in the wake of a tragedy - but trained volunteers can and do fill that role. Also, it may not be what individual members of the public require most. A survey of 1,000 Londoners conducted by the online version of the British Medical Journal after 7 July but before the second attack said that almost a third of Londoners suffered serious stress.
The researchers concluded that most had, nevertheless, coped well with only 12 seeking professional counselling, the rest relying on family and friends for support.
Reports at the time and subsequently indicate that where social workers did make a significant difference was as "navigators", offering individuals a way through the bureaucracy of the modern welfare state. Janet Haddington, a social work manager from Westminster Council, helping to co-ordinate social services' involvement in the aftermath of 7 July, put it succinctly to Community Care. "We are trying to ensure that people get the information that they are seeking when everything around them is chaotic. Our role is to problem-solve and signpost - and not leave them to make it on their own..."
People obviously have different needs. It's in dealing with the range of the solutions required immediately post-crisis that social workers come into their own - helping with benefits if a breadwinner has been killed; organising care for children if both parents are hospitalised; providing temporary aid to an older person if their carer is missing or injured - as well as being prepared to listen, advise and co-ordinate a longer term network of support, if that is required.
The main questions of those involved in such tragedies have an eternal resonance - who, what, why, when, where and how do I cope now? The core skills of social care provide not only many of the answers but also a much-needed anchor for individuals enduring perhaps the most extreme personal turbulence they will ever encounter.
Of course the lessons of what worked best and why in the aftermath of Beslan and the London bombs are worth learning - but, as many more members of the public now know, what counted for many at the time personifies the very best of social care practice: constructive and emotional support in a way that works.
Yvonne Roberts is a writer and journalist.
