HEllo,
I am a qualified social worker in UK. I work in a charity which support victim of crime.
I would like to work in as a supervising social worker fostering and adoption. I do not have any experiences in this field. I haveworked as a child minder, but I immage is not important.
Do I need a specific qualification or course? How can I get into this field?
Thanks
Usually you would need some statutory experience in children and families social work first.
Do you have a problem with writing? The grammar / spelling is very poor.
Sorry to be potentially critical but if you are a qualified social worker then one would expect better than this unless dyslexia is an issue.
Thanks Whispers.
Rupert, well more then critical, I suppose this is: `be rude`. Probably there are dyslexia`s issue.
It`s about be sensitive, another important skill that a professional social worker must have.
I do believe writing is very important, and I hope this is just what you have to do in your work place, because if they let you talk with clients...well...it could be dangerous.
Sorry, but it is also about an acceptable level of english, especially if in a role where formal reports are required.
Rupert M: Sorry, but it is also about an acceptable level of english, especially if in a role where formal reports are required.
Crisdell, I took the diplomatic view that English is probably not your first language? (As you specifically mention you are in the UK) If I was posting in a second language I would do less well than you have, but it is probably worth getting someone to check over any application forms for you, just to give yourself a better chance.
Exactly, English is not my first language. It is hard, because it means that I have to work twice more then normal work, but nerver mind this is what I would like to do. I will ask somebody else to check out my application, I think is a good idea.
It is not acceptable, for my point of you, a comment about dyslexia, considering the fact that the a very high percentual of the popolation suffer of it, in different forms. It is very frustrated for those people dealing with this issue.Who work with clients and even professional , have already realised that it is important to approach people sensitively.
English language reports have to be able to be properly understood and writers have to have acceptable comprehension and written abilities - 'crisdell' writes in a manner which I would regard as not acceptable for Assessments and Court Reports and if considering an Application Form of a similar standard I would struggle to short-list never mind Interview.
'whispers' makes an excellent suggestion but there has to be a time when workers have reached an acceptable standard.
I know that I probably sound horrible but I am just trying to be realistic and the standards of the spoken and written word are so very important - they don't have to be perfect but of an acceptable standard.
I have only just realised from reading this thread that my use of written English when posting on the internet must be of the same standard I would use in a court report! I feel I have been letting myself down very badly.
What about smilies? Not acceptable in a core assessment so not acceptable online?
Hi Rupert,
Where this `anger` is coming from?Who are you? If you need to talk to somebody about your frustrations there is no problem. All of this it is inappropriate and irrilevant for this post.
Have you read my post? I asked a simple question..no a judgment.
Have a good weekend and chill out man...
There is no 'anger' but if you don't want to take the advice offered that is up to you.
Anyway to work within Fostering and Adoption you would ideally need some relevant prior experience - certainly within Children & Families social work such as Referral & Assessment / Looked After Children's Team. You would also need to have a good understanding of the relevant legislation.
There are a number of Private / Voluntary organisations within the UK as well as Local Authorities but the former recruit from the latter as a number of social workers seek to get out of Local Authority work.
If you have specific experience in working within a different culture that may also be helpful.
Try contacting one of the larger agencies such as FCA,
Hope this helps.
Thanks very much Rupert.
This is helpful.
Its a sad truth...but Rupert is so very right on this issue.
Its absolutely critical that social workers have an excellent standard of written English. East shoots and leaves and all that...
A grammar lesson.
Its; meaning= it is= it's. Absolutely critical to get this right, as you say. (Lucky for you this isn't a job application.)
Afraid not 'whispers' - you are only patially correct!
its, it's or ITS can mean:
Rupert M: Afraid not 'whispers' - you are only patially correct! Jump to: navigation, search Look up its, it's, or ITS in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. its, it's or ITS can mean: it's, a contraction of it is or it has its, the possessive adjective and possessive pronoun form of the personal pronoun it
Yes, so used in the context above it should have read 'it is' or 'it's', not its. Good of you to confirm it though.
If you want to split hairs on spelling and grammar, you might want to revise your use of the word 'patially'.
Fanfuckingtastic hypocrisy. (Crisdell, you will not find that one in the dictionary)
Have a nice day.
So now we're clear!!! Hopefully, end of. The lessons for formal Job Applications are to ideally have someone else read your Application first, we do not always read things in the ways that others do.
Also, SpellCheck is useful but will not always pick up grammar / spelling issues such as 'there' and 'their' - also to split up paragraphs so that they are not too lengthy and use Headings to assist.
Address all aspects of the Person Specification / Job Description - if certain appears are 'weak' draw on previous relevant experience / transferable skills.
Do not assume that Shortlisters will take anything for granted - they often Shortlist in a very 'prescriptive' / 'tick-box' way.
Shame that CareSpace does not have a Spellcheck facility!!!
Amazing Rupert, tell us the truth: you are a genius!!!
Basically you can be a teacher a social worker, you can be whatever you want. You must have a very good job. I am sure of that.
However I do not really care about your grammar corrections because I asked a simple question and the only thing you had to do it was focused on that question and answer it if you know the answer. But, instead of that you changed my post: `online English lesson`, which I think it could be usefull, but it is absolutely out of the discussion proposed.
Apologise if I was not born in UK ,and English is not my first language Sir, I have never studied English in my life and I have been living in London for 3 years and I am quite proud of me. Also I have got a really good job in London which I think this will surprise you Sir, but there are some other points to consider when you apply for a job. Person Specification, does not mention just - excellent written and communication in English- but so many other things that you probably do not consider, because it sounds that the only skill that you have got is `English language`.
You seem a person who can give lots of problem if you work in a big Team, one of those persons who complain all the time about things that are not relevant to the subject discussed. I have worked with people like that and I have always struggled to understand their point and the reason why if we talk about A they want to talk about Z.
Can you please think and read before reply to my post in the future? Or if you do not understand posts, because the `grammar is poor` you more then welcome to do not reply at all. IS THAT CLEAR?
I hope this is the last one and if somebody like Sir Rupert want to reply please be costructive other wise open a new post about English grammar or whatever you want to call it.
ps Sorry about the other people involved in this, which they tried to be costructive but obviouvsly get invoved in this sort of `foolish circle` of posts.
OH Sir sorry OBVIOUSLY...
'crisdell' - fine, do as you wish. Clearly advice is not something that youy warm to and you clearly ignore what you don't like.
Crisdel, I am sorry to jump in on this but like you, English is not my first language. I am currently a social work student and before this I worked in my LA as a specialist ADHD and AS advisor (Often with a co- morbidity of deslexia). You state that writing “isn’t that important”, I beg to differ my friend. Things you put in reports and Emails about families can have significant impact on their lives, and others need to understand what you wrote. Most computers that have office software installed will have a spell check (which I use) and dictionaries do not cost allot. If you want to manage any cases successfully I would hope that you could read the information in them to a level that is adequate, and with the level of your writing abilities, this would concern me.
Now again, I am not bashing you, after all I am a guest in this great country myself and all for career progression. I am just asking you to be realistic about where you would like your career to go, and what would be safe practise and achievable by you taking into account your current writing ability.
I wish you success.
Excellent post 'Dutchconnectionuk' - we do need workers with overseas experience and it would be a shame if adequate levelsof spoken and written english prevented them being appointed.
No employer would be looking for 'perfect' english but formal written Reports do need to be understood and, also, Service Users do have a right to see their records and if they couldn't properly understand them they would have a right to question the worker's competence.
This is an issue for me. I would like to work in the UK but I realise it would be difficult to write reports in english when I can barely write good reports in my own language. So I will work in my country a couple of years and get some experience. I dont know if I will try to work in the UK in the future.
i think that thisforum has lost track of its original thread, but i have to agree it is vital that good verbal and written english is evidenced , i appreciate that it is very difficult if english is a second language , however to practice in any area with confidence and clarity appropriate two way dialogue and written records must be in place.
i could not practice in another country unless my language and ability to write was satisfactory , but i have to also say that there are many people who have extremely poor literacy who have english as their first language and make no attempt to develop skills or improve.
i would value a trusted friend or appropriate collegue proof reading any important application or submission i had to make that was not confidential in regard to others
Was just wondering if the OP would enjoy reading the "Standards" thread, for a little light relief.