In the thread on hot desking, Redana asked where social workers would put vital stuff like cup-a-soups, sunblock and flea spray if they didn't have their own desk.
It made me wonder what items you feel you cannot be without at work - what would you include in a social work survival kit that would perhaps be issued to all NQSWs?
CareSpace support
It would be a good idea to get to know them and discuss their own unique needs and then meet those needs by providing something that is unique to them.
A bit like assessment in social work.
However, in order to keep it authentic, they would have to be in Critical Need and have to pay for whatever is on offer.
interesting stationary,sensible shoes!
A Guide to anger management to help them cope with bureaucracy and ineffective and unresponsive managers.
Free BASW membership - whilst BASW still exists!!!
L Plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - or is it P Plates??????
Free Helpline to 'Titchmagoo' and 'Shirack' - both would give conflicting advice!!!
'JoSoPhines' Guide to how to find out anything and everything - that would help keep them away from Service Users and ensure that they became proficient computer users, we don't want them having time on their hands to meddle in people's lives!!!!!!!!!!
'Flowergirl's' Guide to anti-discrimatory Practice - or 'Abortion is murder, I have no sympathy.'
Just a start but best ignored!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAAAAAAAA
nice to see sarcasm alive and well in here, looks like I'm gonna enjoy it here
Survival kit?
Choccie biscuits (better still without the biscuit bit!) Coffee/ Pro Plus. Turbo charged wings/ wheels for shoes. Broom to stick you-know-where to do three jobs at once. Thick skin. Magic wand.
In addtion, I think it essential to have the following;
paracetamol and ibuprofen- even if you do not suffer with headache or backache, with all the inputting, driving and stress, you soon will,
tissues -good for tears and colds and you will be catching quite a few germs,
for the car- a smart jacket- you never know when you will need to EPO,
crayons and wet wipes and all manner of things to amuse children,
stress balls,
panic alarm and go faster trainers- you could be in a few sticky situations,
a packet of jelly babies and a packet of peanuts for a balanced diet- there will be lots of missed lunches.
Totally agree with the medication. Our team has enough meds in drawers to fill several shelves in a pharmacy - all prescription and legal of course!
In the boot of my car --- Box of latex gloves, 2 plastic aprons and shoe protectors. 1 litre (industrial size) hand sanitiser. Roll of bin bags, especially useful for protecting your car seats when transferring adults with continence problems . Strategically placed under a blanket of course to save embarrassment.
Biscuits, salt, pepper and salad cream.
Sweetners - less calories than sugar (biscuits conveniently forgotten).
Over trouser underpants.
anti-bacterial hand gel
Shares in whoever makes hobnobs
A Massive, fat, full of decent paper, notepad
A complementary NVQ in secretarial skills
Big black marker pen to tick off the days in diary until annual leave
24hr access to an AMHP for when you want some respite ;)
A magic wand... even to just wave about in hope that something will happen
An athens login
Change of clothes
Air freshener.
Body spray/Deodorant/perfume (depending on preferences - but something to spray on self and clothes).
A "changing your career" guide
Marmite, Chewing gum, Assam Tea, supply of biros, post-it notes, flame-thrower.
Application form for Tesco shelf stacking job in your top drawer....so it's ready and waiting to be filled in, when you've finally completed that court report, those ten case notes, the few hundred emails, twenty phone calls, supervised that contact session, answered that duty call and....
lol wow, dont i have something too look forward tooo? would it be better if i just completed that tesco application form out now lol! ill do one for you too........ i start uni in september to do the ba hons social work degree. ill bare your tips in mind! thanks for the heads up
minime
AK-47
antibacterial hand wash
baby wipes
deodrant
carrier bags (useful as seat covers and rubbish collectors)
a couple of booster seats in your boot
spare trousers (for the first time you sit on a urine soaked sofa... you'll check next time or stand!)
pens - lots of them
hardbacked notebooks where the pages dont fall out all the time
a complementary diary - you wont get one every again and have to buy your own
sat nav
snap - never fails to amuse children and easy to loose at
coffee, sweeteners and a mug
a big bag that fits A4 files in (court docs)
I wonder what is genuinely the most random item that people carry/keep at work?
A set of screwdrivers
spare mobile phone charger
Rupert M: A Guide to anger management to help them cope with bureaucracy and ineffective and unresponsive managers. Free BASW membership - whilst BASW still exists!!! L Plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - or is it P Plates?????? Free Helpline to 'Titchmagoo' and 'Shirack' - both would give conflicting advice!!! 'JoSoPhines' Guide to how to find out anything and everything - that would help keep them away from Service Users and ensure that they became proficient computer users, we don't want them having time on their hands to meddle in people's lives!!!!!!!!!! 'Flowergirl's' Guide to anti-discrimatory Practice - or 'Abortion is murder, I have no sympathy.' Just a start but best ignored!!!!!!!!!!!
my bag has supplies of cocodamol and kalms for the stress, and packets of mugshots (soup/pasta) for a quick lunch in a mug!! this job is great for the diet!!
i always have a mental health social work book in my car so can swat up whilst waiting for service users to come hom,answer the door or get out of bed,
also a packet of ciggys
deodorant
sweets
and a dummy for stealing children! (not really its my neices but i like to joke with my nursing colleagues that that is what its for -some of them have believed me!
a raincoat
and headache tablets
pens,pens and more pens
I was just thinking the same Minime - I start in September, haven't confirmed my place yet - got till June, but after reading this I'm thinking maybe I should just stick with what I'm doing LOL!!!
Funny how nobody has mentioned mobiles and movement book, which is mostly what the authorities think we need.
You will need:
- Flat pair of shoes that you can run in
- Police number on speed dial
- cold/flu medicine
- Wet wipes
- Thick skin
- supportive collegues
- sense of humour
- ability to control anger and supress feelings
- 20 cigerettes per day and good quality lighter (one for a back up!)
Absolutely agree with your list - including vomit resistant, snot repellent, urine avoidant clothing...urgh!
....potentially super ninja skills for pesky clients with challenging behaviour?
....charm
...GSOH
....rhino skin, don't take things personally!
Hey guys,
This conversation put a smile on my face...you lot certainly have a good sense of humour (too funny!). I also start a MA at Keele in September, im not to keen on starting after reading all this lol.
Kiran
I was thinking about this thread the other day.
I also think being subscribed to one of those sites that sends you 2for1 resturant deals etc.
From my experience, social workers are the masters of finding a good deal (usually, whenever there is a birthday or xmas do to be had, a social worker prints of a voucher that makes a fabulous night out relatively cheap [financially])