How not to do social work

The ten year plan

What every person needs is a ten year plan to work towards, a plan which sets out clearly step by step your actions that need to take place to affect change and also improve outcomes. Ten years? [wow] what a long time, I can barely set out a plan for...

Published 24 May 2012 6:30 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work, change, MASH

To survive?

A quick survival guide to social work, don’t you just love the idea that you could open a book and then it will tell you the answers that you need to be able to get through the complexities of social work practise on any given day. Okay I am a little...

Published 13 May 2012 10:21 AM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: outcomes, Social Workers, Social Work, change, GSCC, Guardian Social Care Network, How not to do social work, Positive Practise, Survival Guide to Social Work, The College of Social Work

Interviews!

Today has been a weird end of a weird week, and did anybody notice how fast the week went? But it is important for me to reflect on what could be important for me. Having been in post for two years I have been having itchy feet for some time, looking...

Published 4 May 2012 9:08 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Workers, Stress, Social Work, first social work interview, social work jobs

Gathering the data

Time is really running short now with just under four weeks left to gather my data and analysis what I have found in a meaningful way to write up in just 8000 words! I have not been sitting in a blind panic since I last wrote about my research, and the...

Published 30 Apr 2012 6:34 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Stress, Young People, Social Work, learning, methods, future of social work, Computer systems, assessments, listening, Long hours, paper

Children are the future!

One of the great joys of Social Work is that you can never be right, well at least that’s how it appears or portrayed by the media. And in a blog post by Abe Laurens in the ‘not so big society’ titled ‘Shine a light’ illustrates...

Published 27 Apr 2012 7:17 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Young People, Positive Social Work, Cuts, Social Work, Education, learning, vulnerable, politics, society, assessments, listening

Mission Work Experience

When you were younger or if you are young did you ever have a dream? That when you left school you would enter into the job of your dreams! My Granddad was in the airforce as part of his national service and my fondest childhood memories involved going...

Published 22 Apr 2012 11:40 AM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: outcomes, Young People, Social Work, Schools, Connexions, Employers, Finding work, hope and future, unemployment, Work Experience

Down with the Titanic

Have you ever heard your practise described as that of the Titanic? Maybe you are thinking, that’s not so bad! After all, at the time the titanic was advanced ship of its time, fitted with Luxury and built for speed. I know that is being extremely...

Published 20 Apr 2012 7:55 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Jobs, Social Workers, Young People, Social Work, learning, reclaiming, future of social work, changes, Computer systems, good, services

A rise in numbers!

“The family courts body received 10,199 new applications between April 2011 and March 2012, a 10.8% rise on the same period last year.” (Community Care). There is no shock here [sadly] and no surprise either. I say this because after reading...

Published 14 Apr 2012 4:02 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work

Research Diary (half way through)

Have you ever wondered how-for long periods of time nothing appears to be happening. Then, just when you are unaware, relaxed everything hits you at once. This of course never really happens in social work, because the case loads are to high-and even...

Published 11 Apr 2012 4:21 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work, adult learning, panic, Post Qualifying award, Research, timescales

Socialworkhelper.com Social Work of the future!

its not often that I get asked to review websites, mainly though I am asked to review pathway plans, care plans or assessment of needs or Core Assessments. So I write this with a little bit of excitement, and nervousness not only with the worry of the...

Published 31 Mar 2012 9:45 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work, future of social work, social-media, socialworkhelper.com, technology

Continuing Professional Development

For me it is the time of the year when I am asked to complete my appraisal and the appraisals of my staff. Which, is interesting as this week I have also attended my wife’s graduation ceremony in social work. In the back of my mind as I watched...

Published 30 Mar 2012 8:11 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work, Continuing professional development, GSCC, HPC, Social Work learning

One cut to many?

Sometimes when the phone is ringing, and two different clients waiting in reception wanting to see you urgently, and your manager is wanting more updates on your out of county placements and the latest pathway plan urgently. The heat in the office is...

Published 28 Mar 2012 8:15 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Guidance, Cuts, Social Work, changes

Difficult and Challenging

A critical time for all young people is in their late teens, understanding who you are is often a complicated task on its own. For some not knowing where you have come from or if you are a separated child from another country this process becomes even...

Published 24 Mar 2012 5:13 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Young People, Leaving Care, Cuts, Social Work, placements, Assessment of Needs, Care

World Social Work day, can it kick start positive change?

On World Social Work Day 2012, I find myself reflecting on Social Work practise. From all over the globe other professionals are engaging with Social Work on a daily basis. And in a recent conversation with a social worker from Nigeria I found...

Published 20 Mar 2012 8:23 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Young People, Positive Social Work, Social Work, change, Trauma, Why I became a Social Worker, World Social Work Day

Change and Hope?

If every day was the same life would quickly become boring. In social work this is one certainty you can guarantee, that every day will bring something new and exciting. But with this comes a lot of pressure and responsibility that would be expected when...

Published 17 Mar 2012 1:12 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Young People, Cuts, Social Work, current-events, politics, Changes in practise, future of social work, government, pot hole, public sector workers, social work in a positive light

Am I ready to move on?

Working in a looked after children’s team working with young people preparing to leave care, I was not surprised to read in my daily Community Care e-mail this article on Care Leavers. Although it does not surprise me, it does worry me and whether...

Published 13 Mar 2012 8:51 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: crisis, outcomes, Social Workers, Stress, Young People, Leaving Care, Cuts, Social Work, independent living, placements

Workshop

It is easy to forget something when the majority of your week is a blur of chaos and tension. however, this week I did find an interesting e-mail asking whether I would be interested in running a workshop on ‘Equality and Diversity’...

Published 10 Mar 2012 5:00 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: outcomes, Social Workers, Young People, Social Work, Diversity, Equality, Students, Workshops

feeling drained

Its one of those weeks again when despite everything you do, you still find it hard to feel like you have achieved anything meaningful. At the moment it feels like having sole responsibility of painting Golden Gate Bridge on your own. Knowing once you...

Published 9 Mar 2012 6:40 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: outcomes, Social Workers, Stress, Young People, Cuts, Risk, Social Work, current-events, politics, society

Research diary March 2012

As part of a research project it is often useful to keep a diary or journal, I do not have a diary but thought how about writing posting my thoughts here. Hope you do not mind? The formal learning part of this module is scarily going past quite fast,...

Published 5 Mar 2012 5:44 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: outcomes, attachments, choices, Age Assessments, discrimination, Post Qualifying, draft proposal, kholi, ordinary lives, sound of silence, unaccompanied asylum, undertaking research projects

Still working on work

Would I want to be young again, I wonder? It amazes me every year we hear that the GCSE grades are getting better because the exams are becoming easier. Yet, does this really say what is happening. In my experience I have been fortunate enough to have...

Published 3 Mar 2012 5:02 PM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Jobs, choices, Leaving Care, development, Doubts, Cuts, Carers advice, work, first job, vulnerable, workfare

future changes

There is one thing that I can say about social work, and that is you never really know what direction you could be going in. What I mean is that working in a Local Authority you are always subjected to the effects of budget cuts, and in all the years...

Published 1 Mar 2012 10:08 AM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Clip Board Profession, concerns, fish bowl working, Confusion, Doubts, Cuts

Can I assess who is a child still?

Its an interesting time working with children. I have recently put myself forward for a research project and as it has to be relevant to my work place and my employers. I have decided to look at the thorny subject of age assessments. Probably a bad idea...

Published 24 Feb 2012 5:31 PM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Mental Health, Age Assessments, Merton Compliant, Young People, Guidance, Risk, Good Enough, learning, training

Getting there!

Recently I wrote about my entry route into Social Work in the Guardian Social Care Network. However, today I am writing about my wife's route into social work, which for me is a far more impressive. For me social work was always a reachable role and...

Published 15 Feb 2012 10:15 AM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Social Work Supervision, Emotional Abuse, student learning

feeling positive?

Sometimes and only sometimes I wondered whether I made the right choice in becoming a Social Worker. You never finish on time, you can never achieve what you want to achieve and always blamed for something that has not gone right even if you have no control...

Published 11 Feb 2012 1:59 PM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Social Work Supervision, Positive Social Work, Social Work

Did I understand you?

Have you ever wondered how easy is it to communicate what you want to say? When you are anxious or nervous, angry, sad or just confused! for me I can find it very difficult and often find myself tripping over the words that I want to say. However, as...

Published 2 Feb 2012 9:20 PM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: family support, Decision making, Fear, Child Protection, Future, Young People, change, discrimination, tools, communication

Reclaiming Good Suppervision

One of the most important resources that Local Authority's have in supporting vulnerable families and children is their Social Workers and their valuable support staff. Which is worrying in a time where cuts are being made to budgets that for some...

Published 22 Jan 2012 11:01 AM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Social Work Supervision, tools

Reclaiming Good Supervision

One of the most important resources that Local Authority’s have in supporting vulnerable families and children is their Social Workers and their valuable support staff. Which is worrying in a time where cuts are being made to budgets that...

Published 22 Jan 2012 11:01 AM by hownottodosocialwork

Filed under: Social Work Supervision, tools, methods, reclaiming, supervision

The Fun Fair

Have you ever wondered how working in social work is like riding on the 'Merry-go-Round'. Every day, week and month you get back on the ride appearing to go around in circles. Restricted by the legislation and budgets from veering off the path...

Published 14 Jan 2012 3:05 PM by How not to do Social Work

Assessments?

Life has a funny way of having patterns, last year my second blog was about assessments. And again this year I am left thinking about the effect of assessments especially when they have been done badly. An assessment is being described "as the beginning...

Published 5 Jan 2012 8:59 PM by How not to do Social Work

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year to everyone! Its an exciting time for me writing this blog as I only started writing "How not to do Social Work" this time 12 months ago. The excitement is still there, not know whether anyone is going to read it or is interested...

Published 2 Jan 2012 12:47 PM by How not to do Social Work

is it working?

Have you ever wondered or noticed how young people's behaviour can sometimes replicates those around them. I only ask because as a social worker you are often asked about outcomes for young people and what are we trying to do to raise these outcomes...

Published 18 Dec 2011 9:05 AM by How not to do Social Work

Christmas looked after spirit

Its not long to Christmas to now, even in the office the decorations have gone up under strict health and safety guidance! I have even forced myself and the kids to listen to xmas albums on our iPod every morning during breakfast, to try and find some...

Published 15 Dec 2011 9:05 PM by How not to do Social Work

Post Qualifying Learning

As a qualified social worker its easy to get caught up in the work, easy to become bogged down in assessments, crisis and supporting families and other workers. But sometimes what it is not so easy to do is to look at your own training needs. Thankfully...

Published 4 Dec 2011 9:18 AM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: Education, learning, Post Qualifying, training

Child Protection

If you could point a finger at someone to blame for the cuts that we are starting to shoulder and feel the bite of who would you point it at. I would imagine that it would be like a game of spin the bottle but no one wanting to get in the cupboard with...

Published 21 Nov 2011 8:35 PM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: family support, concerns, Big Society, Doubts, Cuts

Caring

Why did you become a social worker? it is a weird question and each of us have our own reasons as to why we trained, studied and qualified as a social worker. The reason I am now wondering this is because I was asked or I suppose told that the reason...

Published 17 Nov 2011 9:59 AM by How not to do Social Work

Filed under: family support, crisis, Cuts, Social Work, caring, discrimination

Long week

Is it possible to keep positive in social work at present after the amount of cuts that have already been made and the level of cuts that have not yet come? For me the answer has to be yes, why? in my second student social work placement in the youth...

Published 11 Nov 2011 9:01 PM by How not to do Social Work

The bite is getting tighter!

Could you save money when working with children? Would you be able to decide who can have a therapeutic placement or who would have to leave a foster placement to live alone or in a shared house? It's not easy, is it? The impact of this decision could...

Published 7 Nov 2011 5:25 PM by How not to do Social Work

No new Mail!

One useful tool Social Workers have, is knowledge and information. Being able to access information to aid assessments quickly helps to develop and maintain relationships. Whilst also making these assessment more accurate and essential to the families...

Published 2 Nov 2011 10:09 PM by How not to do Social Work

Smile on my face

There is not many times in my life where I have felt extremely happy or that I feel I have achieved something extra special. Social Worker is a battle either to keep families together or to get funding to provide the right service to the young people...

Published 1 Nov 2011 10:20 AM by How not to do Social Work

Young, Pregnant and in care!

The hardest realisation you can face is often the one you find out to late about it. For years there has been a stereotype that if you are young and pregnant you will be given your own flat. And having worked with young people for the past two years this...

Published 27 Oct 2011 8:58 PM by How not to do Social Work

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