Hi everyone!

Hiya! I am a social worker with a CWDTeam for a Local Authority, and I love it! I think the hardest thing in my experience is leaving the work at work and not bringing all of it home - and I really think that this is the most important part of any job, but especially where children with a disability are concerned. Over the last 2 years, we have had a couple of children pass away and it is really difficult but to do the best job you can for the families that need you, you have to leave the work behind when you go home.

 Hope this advice is of use to you and good luck, I'm sure you'll love it!

I have no employment experience of CWD, however, my son has Aspergers Syndrome (a form of Autism).

My biggest frustration is the long list of professionals involved, Ed. Psychologist, Psychiatrist, CAMHS, GP, LEA, SS...the list goes on!!

All these professionals have their own remit, models of work and boundaries...of which can often clash with each other.

I often have a change of worker, sometimes feel my life is an open book and my home is not my own, witness clashes between health and social care (medication Vs therapeutic interventions) and have become very critical of Education.

Thankfully I have only ever had fantastic experieces of social workers who realise the frustration this can sometimes bring.

Multi agency work eh - lol

Sue

xx

Thats very interesting to me Sue, Im about to take up a job as social worker in intellectual disability and I also have a child with an intellectual disability (Kabuki syndrome). Multi d team work can be difficult I know, and certainly as a service user I know your frustrations. What in your opinion would have helped you most/ did help you from your social worker?

Hi Chris

to be honest, son and I have received relatively good support.

However, I can say I have often been overlooked in the whole scheme of things, For example I once sat through a review and wasn't given any introductions. I found/still find medical terminology a different language. My big stumbling black has often been with Education who I feel (IMO) have only focussed on educational issues and have not looked at the larger picture.

Both the social wokers that son has had have always fully included me. I know this is what SHOULD happen...but believe me, it doesn't always. They have ensured I have been treated as an integral part of sons' life and not someone who just happened to give birth to him.

I have found social workers to be very positive when working within the wider context of sons' disability and to be very inclusive of siblings and other family members. Sons' disability does not just effect him medically and educationally...it effects every aspect of his life, my life and his siblings lives and this is where I feel social workers adress these issues better.

I don't want this post to come across as if I am disregarding other professionals...I recognise that everyone has their own remit and ways of working towards good outcomes and at times I would have sunk without the support I have received.

Sue

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I was in asimilar position my son had leukaemia mrsa total respetory failier and was blind all at the same time.  Our multi- disiplinary team was enormous.My childs social worker was not qualified as a social worker at this time  and going through the open university DIPSW while working, she was an amasing person and during my last placement was the manager of the disabled childrens team locally. I trainned to be a social worker at derby uni, did Open University to prove I was academmic enough, my personal experiences can not be taught nor relayed to others, but make me very good at what I do. ps my son is well my desrtation was called "childhood Cancer an Understanding" I now work in children and families team.  I will go back to disabilities but need child protection experience to be able to offer best service to disabled and sick children as well as their complete  families.