Social Worker-to-be

Corporal punishment in schools- a necessity?

2011-09-17T14:54:50Z

A study was published yesterday that received a fair bit of publicity, suggesting that almost half of parents support the return to using corporal punishment in schools. The argument goes that since the demise of corporal punishment, children’s Read More......(read more)

6 months down…

2011-08-06T12:37:58Z

I’ve been in work now for over 6 months down and this sadly neglected blog has been calling my name a lot lately again… For so long I’ve been too mentally and physically exhausted to be able to compose my thoughts and formulate a post Read More......(read more)

Spinning plates

2011-03-06T12:42:24Z

After 5 weeks in my new job in a fostering team, and no longer being a social worker-to-be, I’ve changed the name of my blog. After much thought about the new name, the last week in work crystallised my thinking very clearly and made the choice Read More......(read more)

Being a social worker

2011-02-13T22:36:03Z

I began my new job two weeks ago- at times it has been exhilarating, at times overwhelming, at times frustrating and at others exhausting. I can honestly say that this fortnight has made the last two years worth the hard work, but it has made me reflect Read More......(read more)

Disabled & want to work? Think carefully!

2011-01-22T12:17:46Z

Part of the coalition government’s passion for cutting expenditure has been to attack the disabled who rely on welfare benefits to exist. It has/ will be made more difficult to claim the range of disability benefits available and the message is Read More......(read more)

CRB now received!

2011-01-21T14:03:09Z

I wrote in a previous post about the frustrations I was experiencing while waiting for completion of the CRB checks which are necessary before beginning any employment with children. I discovered on Monday evening through the tracking service that my Read More......(read more)

A ‘safe’ NHS?

2011-01-20T09:44:42Z

If you follow the UK news coverage, you cannot possibly have missed the fact that another Health & Social Care Bill was published, with massive implications for the future organisation of health care provision. There has been plenty of comment and Read More......(read more)

CRB frustrations

2011-01-12T15:55:00Z

I was offered my first social work post almost 2 months ago now and still haven’t started work, to my great frustration. There is only so much daytime TV a person can take and I suspect my brain may be slowly turning to mush. I long for the stimulation Read More......(read more)

Student tuition fee proposals

2010-12-09T09:39:05Z

I felt I had to comment on this political hot potato eventually, especially as I have only just left student status behind. It is also extremely relevant to a social work blog as the effects it may potentially have on the training of the future workforce Read More......(read more)

First social work post!!!

2010-11-27T22:57:49Z

Last week I had an interview for a social work post in a local authority fostering team, the same one in which I spent some of my first placement. I felt I did well on the written test- an assessment based upon a case study- but not the interview itself Read More......(read more)

Now an NQSW

2010-11-13T20:01:19Z

It has been so long since I last posted on this blog, but life has been incredibly busy since my last post. However, I am now no longer a ‘social worker-to-be’. I passed my Masters with merit and am now simply a ‘social worker’ Read More......(read more)

Job interview

2010-08-22T18:10:53Z

After applying for quite a few jobs, I have an interview on Tuesday. I am excited but nervous too- it’s a job in a crisis resolution and home treatment team, which I think I would really enjoy based on my experiences during my placement in a CMHT Read More......(read more)

Job interview

2010-08-22T18:10:53Z

Almost there!

2010-08-09T08:08:57Z

Since starting this blog about life as a social work student, I’ve never been able to update it as often as I’d like- but maybe that says more about life as a social work student than a thousand words could! Today is day 76 of my final placement Read More......(read more)

Mental health or social health?

2010-06-11T07:30:00Z

I completed an extended initial assessment with a CPN recently- the person is experiencing a number of social problems and is feeling overwhelmed as a result. The referral was made to us following a visit to the GP in which he expresse3d suicidal ideas; Read More......(read more)

Person centred services?

2010-05-31T19:49:49Z

The Trust within which I am based on placement states that it provides person centred services which are focused around the recovery model. In theory this sounds fantastic; the reality is slightly less fantastic. I have been working with a young woman Read More......(read more)

Forms and paper galore

2010-05-14T20:56:37Z

The last 5 weeks seem to have passed by in a blur of trying to get my head around each day’s challenges in a new placement, finishing off academic work and also fitting in some sort of life too. Although I did some work with a statutory fostering Read More......(read more)

Book review

2010-03-25T15:19:15Z

I’ve been doing some preparatory reading prior to beginning my final placement in a CMHT and thought it may benefit other student readers to review some of the books I’ve found especially helpful. One such book I’ve been reading lately Read More......(read more)

World Social Work Day yesterday

2010-03-17T13:02:29Z

I didn’t even know that yesterday was the day set apart to celebrate social work across the world until a friend informed me at around 9pm. I had spent the morning in lectures for my Masters in Social Work. The lecturer was one of the senior staff Read More......(read more)

Stress… and anticipation too

2010-03-11T17:50:04Z

The last month has been a rather stressful time due to academic work and further placement concerns. Hence my total silence. As usual the assignment accompanying the last module was accompanied by a set of criteria to show what the tutors would require Read More......(read more)

Placement update…

2010-02-05T16:09:00Z

Just had an email this afternoon to let me know my placement application papers have just been sent to the same local authority I was placed with last year. I don’t know if me forwarding the email from the placement team to my personal tutor (and Read More......(read more)

Placement finding difficulties

2010-02-04T15:38:54Z

I was told about 3 months ago that my final placement application papers had been sent to a local authority for allocation to a team. The university advises students to notify them if nothing is heard within 6 weeks so they can follow up this up, which Read More......(read more)

Fish oils to prevent psychosis

2010-02-02T12:20:06Z

An interesting study has been published today, claiming that by prescribing fish oils to extremely high risk individuals the risk of psychosis occurring can be vastly reduced. The study followed young people for a year, with half receiving three months’ Read More......(read more)

Another New Year

2010-01-02T13:16:17Z

For a few days now, I’ve been aware that it’s been some time since I posted anything, and I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the past year and what the next may hold. 2009 saw me complete a full year of my social work training which Read More......(read more)

Social Work Taskforce report

2009-12-01T12:45:54Z

I’ve been unable to find the actual Taskforce report, entitled ‘Building a Safe, Confident Future’ on the net as yet, but the details have been published in both Community Care and The Guardian. The content includes tighter entry criteria Read More......(read more)

Final placement and other ramblings

2009-11-30T22:24:21Z

Once again I’m in the position of impatiently waiting to hear about my next placement. I know which authority took my application papers and when. Now I just have to wait for them to contact me when they have found me a suitable practice teacher Read More......(read more)

Sometimes love is not enough

2009-11-11T14:48:35Z

Yesterday evening, I watched When a Mother’s Love is Not Enough, a television programme that explored the issues and difficulties involved in being parent to a disabled child and was extremely honest, compassionate and thought provoking, and at Read More......(read more)

Changing views about ‘recovery’

2009-10-29T11:41:08Z

Once again, I have had to rethink and challenge my attitudes and beliefs. This time about mental health, provoked by the literature review I was required to write. I eventually chose the concept of ‘recovery’, which proved fascinating- and Read More......(read more)

Talking to the media…

2009-10-19T19:32:04Z

There’s been a lot of negative press recently in the general media about social work, from some areas more than others, but this morning, BBC Radio Manchester gave quite a lot of coverage to the profession, throughout the breakfast show. The programme Read More......(read more)

Too much choice…

2009-09-28T18:52:23Z

The mental health pathway for my course is assessed by means of 2 assignments- a literature review, of your own choice but discussed with the tutor to ensure suitability, and an essay about assessment within mental health services, including assessment Read More......(read more)

Back to uni

2009-09-22T18:05:02Z

Today was day 88 of placement; in 4 more weeks it will be over. Tomorrow I return to university to begin the second year of my MA. The combination of both has put me in a reflective mood. It seems like only yesterday that I was starting the first year Read More......(read more)

A carer’s lot

2009-09-06T18:05:11Z

A few weeks ago I went down to my mother’s for 10 days. She had recently had a mastectomy, and was having some problems with her recovery, and as my father was going abroad for business, I slipped back into my role of ‘young carer’. Read More......(read more)

Anti-oppressive practice?

2009-08-06T18:29:52Z

Yesterday I went on an unannounced visit to a carer’s home with a recently qualified male worker, to observe the way the checks are done. Some very real safety concerns emerged, but the carer gave two explanations, which, while not seeming totally Read More......(read more)

Hitting the ground running

2009-08-04T17:53:52Z

I posted a while ago about spending some time with the local authority fostering team to gain extra experience and meet the assessment requirements for my placement. I began last week and from now on, I will spend two and half days in each location. Fostering Read More......(read more)

Reflections after two thirds of placement

2009-08-01T18:29:40Z

Yet again it’s been ages since I last posted- I totally underestimated how difficult this stage of the course is. I am effectively working full-time- for no salary- and then coming home at night and having to write a reflective log, thinking about Read More......(read more)

Penalising the poor

2009-07-08T06:05:14Z

It suddenly went manic at placement this week, hence no posts- too busy during the day to write, too tired once I get home! But today this story lept off the front news page of the BBC at me. The government is hoping to reduce the unpopularity of it’s Read More......(read more)

Very long day, but very worthwhile

2009-06-26T21:51:19Z

Got home at around 9pm from the BASW student conference, with flea bitten legs and a headache (courtesy of one train passenger with a manky dog and a very annoying son with a loud and piercing voice), but it really was a worthwhile day. I’m tired Read More......(read more)

31 days down…69 to go…

2009-06-23T21:14:55Z

I’m almost a third of the way through my placement. Thinking of it like that seems very scary! It’s flying by. Tonight I have finished my first portfolio assignment, an assessment/ intervention report which I’m not happy with but it Read More......(read more)

BASW Student Conference

2009-06-21T06:59:03Z

On Friday, I am going to the BASW student conference in Derby and am really looking forward to it. This conference seems to me to be highly significant, as the social work taskforce is making many sweeping recommendations about the future of social work Read More......(read more)

The good, the bad, and the ugly

2009-06-20T17:49:47Z

Friday contained all three, I think! The day started with me visiting a 13 year old boy to give him some information about our service and what we can do for him if he ever needs us. He had got out of bed on the wrong side however, not helped any by the Read More......(read more)