The average social worker's pay for middle-ranking posts is just over £29,000, according to the preliminary findings of a survey by Unison.
Is this more or less accurate in terms of your experience? I think the findings show how badly a nationalised structure or pay scale is needed to bring social workers' pay into line with comparable professions. Without this it's difficult to see how the revolving door of staff can be stopped.
Read here for the full story.
Social Services needs to integrate with Health, then pay may reflect better outcomes. ( possibly? )
In our authority you don't get to 29000 unless you have the full PQ and even with that you can only go until about 30000. New Qualified Social Workers don't get anywhere near the starting point mentioned in the article.
so why do my nhs colleauges always complain about comparable pay reates in the cmht?
and probation officers too; they get more pay
I'm actually quite happy with my pay and certainly my conditions when compared to the NHS-employed staff in the CMHT I work in.
As a non-senior member of staff who has completed a full PQ award and getting an AMHP supplement, I get about 40K + travelcard but that is in an inner London borough.
i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this.
Why should it?
Deek: Why should it?
because i am of the belief that there are public servants who should be paid more than s/w's. the police being one of them. i think a cop being killed in the line of duty whilst protecting protecting others very much underlines that.
but i suspect you won't agree because you think cops just randomly go around killing innocent left wing 'protesters' and cause trouble at g8 summits.
Just to throw some more figures into the mix
The average annual salary for the Registered Manager of a care service is £26,526 and the average hourly rate for a care worker is £6.20
So you are saying that people should be paid in relation to how dangerous their job is?? So bankers and MPs should be on minimum wage and the money redistributed to the army, police and fire service?? Im cool with that.
But I think you will find that the thread also mentioned Teachers and Nurses, neither of which is noticably more dangerous than Social Work. And, being evidence based as opposed to just spouting hot air like yourself, I think you will find that there have been a number of well publicised cases of social and care workers being attacked and even murdered, by clients. Having worked in secure care, I know that people on £14,000 per year are subjected to far more violence in the working week than your average policeman. But those care workers can look forward to your proposed redistribution of wealth, at least! How very communist and far left of you!!! :-)
I have friends who are Police and PCSO's, but we have very different political viewpoints, as you might imagine. But thats an entirely different issue.
The big question is how long did have you been practising for in order to get 40K.
Deek: I have friends who are Police and PCSO's, but we have very different political viewpoints, as you might imagine. But thats an entirely different issue.
indeed it is, why bring it up. just another rant eh?
titchmagoo: Deek: I have friends who are Police and PCSO's, but we have very different political viewpoints, as you might imagine. But thats an entirely different issue. indeed it is, why bring it up. just another rant eh?
Nope, I mentioned it because you started making assertions about what I do or do not attribute to the Police:
"but i suspect you won't agree because you think cops just randomly go around killing innocent left wing 'protesters' and cause trouble at g8 summits."
You have proved you are incapable of representing your own views, so please dont presume to start representing mine; you do that poorly too.
whilst i enjoy my role as a social worker and firmly believe that you need to be truly dedicated to making a differrence to children and young people's lives i really feel that frontline workers should be paid danger money, i have been working in safeguarding children for over 15 years and have been verbally abused, threatened and even physically assaulted by service users who were not happy that i was not telling them what they wanted to hear. There have been many times when i have laid in bed wondering why i am doing this job? i came into social work because i wanted to make a differrence, perhaps naive some might say but i still truly believe that i can make a difference to people's lives. increasingly though pay is becoming a big factor after all i still have bills to pay and i still have to live, the fact is one cannot live on a social worker's salary our pay has not kept up with the rising cost of living and this adds to the low morale in social work today. i spent three years at uni training and i feel that i deserve to earn more than £29000 a year, i can't afford to run my car which i need for my job and to top it all i am now being told that i am going to use my essential car users allowance all of £92 a month and only receive 40p per mile for milage. Now this won't go anywhere to cover wear and tear, business insurance and general upkeep of my car. If I wasn't doing this job i wouldn't have a car, we are being told that we can use public transport but i think they are taking the P..s, and who ever came up with that idea certainly has not walked in my shoes as a social worker. there has been many a times when i have left the home of an angry and abusive parent after a difficult visit and just wanted to make a quick get away and one cannot imagine the feeling of getting in my car locking the doors and driving away. Not the same if i have to stand at a bus stop waiting for a bus and being chased by a angry parent. I am sick to death of all the talking about what's wrong with social work today, what i want to see is some action from people in power and i don't think that is asking too much. the fact is social work is just as hard as working in the police, teaching and the NHS, we all deal with the same people and they have extremely complex issues which we have to deal with.
pearlene star: the fact is social work is just as hard as working in the police, teaching and the NHS, we all deal with the same people and they have extremely complex issues which we have to deal with.
the fact is social work is just as hard as working in the police, teaching and the NHS, we all deal with the same people and they have extremely complex issues which we have to deal with.
so all these frontline services should be paid exactly the same?
titchmagoo: pearlene star: the fact is social work is just as hard as working in the police, teaching and the NHS, we all deal with the same people and they have extremely complex issues which we have to deal with. so all these frontline services should be paid exactly the same?
"frontline" conveys the wrong impression? Should everyone have performance related pay. You should get credit for effective outcomes. But equally "debits" for poor performance?
titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this.
Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service".
As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this.
voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this.
I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role.
You take our profession too seriously mayhaps. When was the last time you put yourself in a "real" life threatening situation where the ultimate outcome would be loss of life.
when was the last time you had to put on a stab jacket to got to work?
when was the last time you were attacked by a drunken mob and you were the lone worker?
What's the first thing you do if you start a S47 - you call the Police,
Who do you call on for support in a dangerous situation with a potential for real violence, not just an irate adult who screams shouts and takes the odd swing or the teenager who flies at you in a residential home? It's not the team clerk from adoption is it? It's someone who puts their life on the line on every shift.
And before you harp on about putting oneself at risk I have several years behind me of dealing with the dangerous and violent and have been attacked by convicted murderers.
To imply that social workers put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children is a total slur on someone whose job role would be to put their life on the lne to protect you, Joe Public.
voltaire: titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this. Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service". As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this.
That policemans response is to do with HIM rather than his job, and he sounds like a thoroughly decent individual. Like some of the other posters, I know plenty of social workers and nurses -or for that matter, shop assistants, librarians, window cleaners-who might have done the same, so because you could not have done it (and lets be honest, you have absolutely NO idea how anyone else would react in that situation, so you can only extrapolate from how YOU would respond), dont try to suggest none of us would have.
voltaire: You take our profession too seriously mayhaps. When was the last time you put yourself in a "real" life threatening situation where the ultimate outcome would be loss of life. when was the last time you had to put on a stab jacket to got to work? when was the last time you were attacked by a drunken mob and you were the lone worker? What's the first thing you do if you start a S47 - you call the Police, Who do you call on for support in a dangerous situation with a potential for real violence, not just an irate adult who screams shouts and takes the odd swing or the teenager who flies at you in a residential home? It's not the team clerk from adoption is it? It's someone who puts their life on the line on every shift. And before you harp on about putting oneself at risk I have several years behind me of dealing with the dangerous and violent and have been attacked by convicted murderers. To imply that social workers put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children is a total slur on someone whose job role would be to put their life on the lne to protect you, Joe Public.
That may have been true in the days of "Dixon of Dock Green" but it very rarely the situation today. Todays Police are likely to tell you that it is a civil Matter when confronted with a violent neighbour.
Deek: voltaire: titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this. Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service". As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. That policemans response is to do with HIM rather than his job, and he sounds like a thoroughly decent individual. Like some of the other posters, I know plenty of social workers and nurses -or for that matter, shop assistants, librarians, window cleaners-who might have done the same, so because you could not have done it (and lets be honest, you have absolutely NO idea how anyone else would react in that situation, so you can only extrapolate from how YOU would respond), dont try to suggest none of us would have.
It,s not to do with him, its to do with his job description, what we do as individuals is to do with our make up, I agree, but I suggest that none of you would take a job where there was a salient risk that you could get killed. Funny, I don't seem to read much in the press about social workers facing the ACTUAL physical assault, of an intensity that the police and nurses get subjected to on a sometimes daily basis.
Again what we do as individuals is to do with ourselves, what we do as part of our day to day work, as part of our job desciption is something we don't have a choice in and something that can't be shirked.
adriand: voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role.
ALL s/w's, dr's and nurses face threats and actual violence on a daily basis. to copare your role to cops who move into and not away from violence is frankly delusional. the police and firemen risk their lives everyday, you don't.
titchmagoo: adriand: voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role. ALL s/w's, dr's and nurses face threats and actual violence on a daily basis. to copare your role to cops who move into and not away from violence is frankly delusional. the police and firemen risk their lives everyday, you don't.
Real life is NOT like "the Bill" on TV.
Do you remember the miners strike in the early 1980s.
okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay smokey.move along, nothing here to see.
Smokey: titchmagoo: adriand: voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role. ALL s/w's, dr's and nurses face threats and actual violence on a daily basis. to copare your role to cops who move into and not away from violence is frankly delusional. the police and firemen risk their lives everyday, you don't. Real life is NOT like "the Bill" on TV. Do you remember the miners strike in the early 1980s.
Assinine response smokey, real life is this copper getting killed, selflessly doing his duty, without thought for his own safety.
I do remember the miners strike and live in the town that is the home of the NUM and will be one of those who will dance in the street when we hear of thatchers death,
and to end your discourse I am not pro Police when I look at some of the tactics they use and the people they stitch up!!!
But by christ I,ll raise my glass to the likes of this guy, and his colleagues, who act as he did and they do it on an hourly basis, not sit on their backsides filling out core assessments pontificating about how hard their job is and what danger they face.
Not so. Most social workers do NOT face actual violence on a daily basis. Most doctors do not face actual violence on a daily basis. Most nurses do not face actual violence on a daily basis. most police officers do not face violence on a daily basis.
voltaire: Deek: voltaire: titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this. Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service". As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. That policemans response is to do with HIM rather than his job, and he sounds like a thoroughly decent individual. Like some of the other posters, I know plenty of social workers and nurses -or for that matter, shop assistants, librarians, window cleaners-who might have done the same, so because you could not have done it (and lets be honest, you have absolutely NO idea how anyone else would react in that situation, so you can only extrapolate from how YOU would respond), dont try to suggest none of us would have. It,s not to do with him, its to do with his job description, what we do as individuals is to do with our make up, I agree, but I suggest that none of you would take a job where there was a salient risk that you could get killed. Funny, I don't seem to read much in the press about social workers facing the ACTUAL physical assault, of an intensity that the police and nurses get subjected to on a sometimes daily basis. Again what we do as individuals is to do with ourselves, what we do as part of our day to day work, as part of our job desciption is something we don't have a choice in and something that can't be shirked.
Voltaire, im not at all sure what your point is. Are you suggesting that the most dangerous jobs in society should be the most highly rewarded?? As Ive said before, I dont have a problem with that, if you are suggesting we redistribute the wealth of MPs, bankers, film stars, sports people, musicians amongst people who work in, say, the construction industry (which normally contributes the highest number to workplace deaths annually), agriculture, or manufacturing, as well as in public services. But since that is not what is being proposed, I really dont see what point you are making. People are suggesting pay commensurate with qualifications, experience, difficulty, rather than some measure of dangerousness- which as I say would suggest construction and manufacturing workers should be best paid, if deaths in the workplace is your arbitrary measure.
I also think that if you look at the figures for deaths in the workplace you will find that plenty of people are killed at work who work for the NHS and Social Services, though they arent necessarily murdered- although that has happened in a number of high profile cases which you seem to have missed in the press. I come back to the fact that I worked in secure care with people who suffer greater levels of aggression than the police, for £14000 a year.
Deek: voltaire: Deek: voltaire: titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this. Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service". As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. That policemans response is to do with HIM rather than his job, and he sounds like a thoroughly decent individual. Like some of the other posters, I know plenty of social workers and nurses -or for that matter, shop assistants, librarians, window cleaners-who might have done the same, so because you could not have done it (and lets be honest, you have absolutely NO idea how anyone else would react in that situation, so you can only extrapolate from how YOU would respond), dont try to suggest none of us would have. It,s not to do with him, its to do with his job description, what we do as individuals is to do with our make up, I agree, but I suggest that none of you would take a job where there was a salient risk that you could get killed. Funny, I don't seem to read much in the press about social workers facing the ACTUAL physical assault, of an intensity that the police and nurses get subjected to on a sometimes daily basis. Again what we do as individuals is to do with ourselves, what we do as part of our day to day work, as part of our job desciption is something we don't have a choice in and something that can't be shirked. Voltaire, im not at all sure what your point is. Are you suggesting that the most dangerous jobs in society should be the most highly rewarded?? As Ive said before, I dont have a problem with that, if you are suggesting we redistribute the wealth of MPs, bankers, film stars, sports people, musicians amongst people who work in, say, the construction industry (which normally contributes the highest number to workplace deaths annually), agriculture, or manufacturing, as well as in public services. But since that is not what is being proposed, I really dont see what point you are making. People are suggesting pay commensurate with qualifications, experience, difficulty, rather than some measure of dangerousness- which as I say would suggest construction and manufacturing workers should be best paid, if deaths in the workplace is your arbitrary measure. I also think that if you look at the figures for deaths in the workplace you will find that plenty of people are killed at work who work for the NHS and Social Services, though they arent necessarily murdered- although that has happened in a number of high profile cases which you seem to have missed in the press. I come back to the fact that I worked in secure care with people who suffer greater levels of aggression than the police, for £14000 a year.
Deek, read what I have written properly; I am not making any suggestions about anything, all I am pointing out that there is a difference between an individual engaging in acts of supreme bravery and someone doing it as part of their job description. Both have their merits but one is about existential choice at the given time and the other is about job description and public expectation.
The only recent workplace related death of a social worker I can recall is from 2008 when a Mental Health Social worker was stabbed to death in Preston. I reiterate there is not a glut of Qualified Social workers, particularly in childrens services, who complain of being assaulted with the same frequency that say nurses and doctors and police officers are over a weekend in any large town. You should be able to pick up that my beef is with Children's social workers who are comparing their plight to that of the officer that died, I'm afraid that there is no comparison, end of!!!
furthermore I congratulate you on the work that you do, I spent many pre qualification years working with the difficult and violent both in secure settings and the community. I know how taxing and unacknowledged your work is. In my opinion you are worth what a qualified social worker is. When I started in that line of work I was paid £8200 a year!!
The Chief Inspector didn't do this and he is better paid than the policeman... Is that fair? And I still don't follow your argument. The Police officer bravely ran to the rescue of others with tragic cponsequences. He is a hero. No doubt about this. Social Worker/ Care worker gets killed by service user and he is just unlucky?? The result is still the same - a committed worker died doing his job!! The risk is the same. Only that one is more obvious and the other one may be hidden! The key difference is that we don't always get to make a choice to take the risk or not - we just find ourselves in it, not that job is not dangerous!!
Smokey: titchmagoo: adriand: voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role. ALL s/w's, dr's and nurses face threats and actual violence on a daily basis. to copare your role to cops who move into and not away from violence is frankly delusional. the police and firemen risk their lives everyday, you don't. Not so. Most social workers do NOT face actual violence on a daily basis. Most doctors do not face actual violence on a daily basis. Most nurses do not face actual violence on a daily basis. most police officers do not face violence on a daily basis.
For gods sake smokey, do you spout this stuff to get everyones goat up? you do succeed, I feel like getting out the crack pipe and jack daniels when i read some of your contentious statements
RP: voltaire: titchmagoo: i think the thread about the tragic death of the copper in cumbria should draw a line under this. Absolutely Tich, I listened to the news of his going missing and ultimately the finding of his body, I was very moved when listening to one of the first tributes to him; "He was last seen running TOWARDS danger to save members of the public, acting in the spirit of public service". As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. The Chief Inspector didn't do this and he is better paid than the policeman... Is that fair? And I still don't follow your argument. The Police officer bravely ran to the rescue of others with tragic cponsequences. He is a hero. No doubt about this. Social Worker/ Care worker gets killed by service user and he is just unlucky?? The result is still the same - a committed worker died doing his job!! The risk is the same. Only that one is more obvious and the other one may be hidden! The key difference is that we don't always get to make a choice to take the risk or not - we just find ourselves in it, not that job is not dangerous!!
You are glaringly wrong RP, as a social worker you are not a public servant in the same way as a police officer is, if you think you are you are overestimating your self importance. Social Worker deaths and serious injuries are a very very rare occurrence, and usually as a result of poor risk analysis. A copper faces risk every time they put their flack jacket on and they do it to protect the general public. they don't get a chance to analyse the risk. If you think that you drop into the same category then you are mistaken. Take a walk round your town / city centre at midnight and see who is protecting the public, it's not the bloody EDT workers is it? En plus; what has the chief inspector got to do with anything?
This discourse is not about money by the way!
You have not been in this country long enough to remember the Broadwater farm riots, a young PC (Keith Blakelock?) got killed and they tried to machete his head off. all this was in the name of public service.
Well, the thread is about social workers' salaries compared to other public services. The key argument appears to be that pay should be linked to danger - which is where the chief inspector comes in, as he does not patrol the streets at night either, does he? I am not comparing myself to the Police - if anything, I've always made a point that Social Workers should focus their energy to request pay that mathces their responsibility and skills rather than look over the neighbour's fence. I am comparing myself, though, to my brave colleagues that work in frontline for Birmingham, Manchester, London, Leeds, Nottingham etc. and I will always recognize that they do a much tougher job than I do in a Shire authority. I wouldn't have an issue if they were paid more money but it does frustrate me when the dangers they meet daily are belittled. Some of them meet more risks than the Police officers that patrol the streets at night in the quiet market town where I live (not where I work). You are choosing the wrost aspect of the Policing job and seem to compare it to the least dangerous part of Social Work, and that's where I do not agree with you, because you seem to make a blanket of both and include all Police Officers and all Social Workers.
And yes, you are right, I have not been in this country long enough to hear about the incidents you referred. I have been though around enough to see Police making mistakes with fatal consequences and not being treated even by far as bad as the Social Workers in the Baby Peter case by the public. And I have also been in this country and in others for long enough to realize that Social Workers here get the worst treatment, least respect, most responsibility and least pay than anywhere else. And that's what makes me the most frustrated.
You are lucky. As full PQ holder, with practice teaching, and an AMHP our LA pays £28,500 +2 increments if on duty rota. If not on rota, regardless of AMHP status, on £28,500. Seniors on £30,000-£32,000
RP: Well, the thread is about social workers' salaries compared to other public services. The key argument appears to be that pay should be linked to danger - which is where the chief inspector comes in, as he does not patrol the streets at night either, does he? I am not comparing myself to the Police - if anything, I've always made a point that Social Workers should focus their energy to request pay that mathces their responsibility and skills rather than look over the neighbour's fence. I am comparing myself, though, to my brave colleagues that work in frontline for Birmingham, Manchester, London, Leeds, Nottingham etc. and I will always recognize that they do a much tougher job than I do in a Shire authority. I wouldn't have an issue if they were paid more money but it does frustrate me when the dangers they meet daily are belittled. Some of them meet more risks than the Police officers that patrol the streets at night in the quiet market town where I live (not where I work). You are choosing the wrost aspect of the Policing job and seem to compare it to the least dangerous part of Social Work, and that's where I do not agree with you, because you seem to make a blanket of both and include all Police Officers and all Social Workers. And yes, you are right, I have not been in this country long enough to hear about the incidents you referred. I have been though around enough to see Police making mistakes with fatal consequences and not being treated even by far as bad as the Social Workers in the Baby Peter case by the public. And I have also been in this country and in others for long enough to realize that Social Workers here get the worst treatment, least respect, most responsibility and least pay than anywhere else. And that's what makes me the most frustrated.
I still feel that a front line copper patrolling an inner city area faces more day to day danger than a front line social worker in the same area and commensurately should get paid more, I also feel that the payscale for both is inadequate.
You must have been around when one of our home secrataries donned a stab vest to walk round one off the rougher inner London areas with the Police? No one belittles the day to day aggro that inner city social workers put up with, and by the way I have worked in some of the roughest in the North. It's horses for courses though, I chose to be there and could dictate what I would and wouldn't do. A lot of the time I would prefer to work alone, based on my own local knowledge and inteligence than go on a joint visit with someone who is a liability. Coppers get posted there and nurses in the local hospitals put up with things that you and I could never imagine, they can't walk away from it either, I'm a social worker and those guys get my respect every time. The biggest problem with urban social work is the chaos and excessive caseload meaning you can only half finish everything; it's not a threat of violence.
By the way ,a lot of the social workers I had been working with in those areas were hopelessly out of their depth and had no idea of how to conduct themselves. you could smell the fear, this all boils back down to "communicate and engage". there is no point at all in rolling up at someones house on an estate where virtually every adult is out of work, and poverty is the key issue, and you are in a fine new car dressed in your finery with a bloody Sherwood social work diary under your arm. I am not saying either that social worker in these areas should get paid more, there should be a better selection process, I am not the only nutter that would prefer to be there than in the leafy suburbs just As long as there was a proper payscale that reflected the responsibilities that every social worker has and I include adult workers in this.
Its a very complex question coppers and nurses get paid more than us because of the awful shift patterns they work, a lot of the coppers Iv'e done joint work with have wondered how we do what we do!!!
total agreement with the sentiments you expressed in the final paragraph though!
Well, I agree with you now. And I do believe that an evening shift in an A&E in any city hospital must be a complete and utter nightmare for the nurses. And that being the first at the scene of a murder or an accident goes beyond the nightmare scene any Social Worker would ever encounter. And I do take your point about the Social Workers that do not know what they are getting themselves into and becoming a liability. I don't know about the leafy suburbs, but I could not believe what some of the tranquil countrysides and posh spa towns can hide though!
I am not saying that Social Workers should be better paid then everybody else and an A&E nurse is likely to meet different challenges to a midwife or school nurse for instance. I guess the frustration is that the top pay for everybody else is higher than for the most experienced Social Workers.
I wish i knew what the answer was to it all!! I used to work i what was regarded as a "pathfinder" multi agency team, there was a health visitor there who had her community practice tachers award and I recall that she was on more than the team manager!!
This irked the newly qualified workers as she was on nearly twice their wage. However she was bloody marvellous, only health visitor I ever met that dragged a duty manager up to the hospital to witness a "scenario" then dragged him down to judges chambers to get an ICO!!! she knew more about what neded to be done than he did!!
regarding public image and social work, if you get to any of the SWAN events I told you about you may meet a Greek Social Worker who is now an academic. He will tell you abouit coming into the UK and proudly telling people that he was a social worker; in Greece our profession is very highly regarded, he couldn't beleive the reception he got and stopped telling people what he did!!!
voltaire: Smokey: titchmagoo: adriand: voltaire:As a social worker I will state that I don't know any social workers that would do this. I know plenty who have put themselves in really risky and dangerous situations to protect children- I have encountered both threats of vioelnce and actual violence in in time in the role. ALL s/w's, dr's and nurses face threats and actual violence on a daily basis. to copare your role to cops who move into and not away from violence is frankly delusional. the police and firemen risk their lives everyday, you don't. Not so. Most social workers do NOT face actual violence on a daily basis. Most doctors do not face actual violence on a daily basis. Most nurses do not face actual violence on a daily basis. most police officers do not face violence on a daily basis. For gods sake smokey, do you spout this stuff to get everyones goat up? you do succeed, I feel like getting out the crack pipe and jack daniels when i read some of your contentious statements
The statement that someone made above that ALL S/Ws, all Doctors and ALL nurses faced violence on a daily basis was the sort of sweeping generalisation that the Daily Mail would come out with. Why do people feel the need to wildly exaggerate? I would guess that teachers are more likely to suffer abuse and violence than what doctors suffer.
voltaire: regarding public image and social work, if you get to any of the SWAN events I told you about you may meet a Greek Social Worker who is now an academic. He will tell you abouit coming into the UK and proudly telling people that he was a social worker; in Greece our profession is very highly regarded, he couldn't beleive the reception he got and stopped telling people what he did!!!
God, I know that feeling!!! Social Work is a highly regarded profession in my birth country, too. I'll never forget the first time I went out with Social Workers in this country and I has happily trumpeting Social Workers this, Social Workers that!! The panic!! The horror!! I am still proud of what I do. When people ask me what I do for a living, although I do warn them that they might not like me after I tell them, I am very happy to say that I am a Child Protection Social Worker. I was quite surprised to see people being more supportive post- Baby Peter than before, although all of them said they could not do my job.
I take your point abut the health visitor - I wish we had more of those!! I am sure she deserved every single penny!