I am a mental health social worker, and have been practising for two years after completing my MA. I work in a busy team who are really supportive but have come to realise that the job is not for me. I went into social work specifically to do mental health work and there is no other area I'd want to work in. I find the role frustrating (lack of resources, too much paperwork, risk averse culture) and don't feel I am making a difference in any way. As that is the reason I went into the profession, I cannot see a reason to stay.
My questions are a) What on earth do I do as a career? I think I need a complete change of direction but would still like to use my degree if possible. I really don't know what else to do because I thought this was it when I completed my training.
b) I am pretty stressed and burnt out at work. I find my entire role very anxiety provoking, feel that my caseload is too big for me to practice effectively, and don't feel able to share this with my manager because at the end of the day I need a reference from her. I need to survive somehow whilst I decide what to do but not sure how to do this.
I really am at a loss as to what to do, and I'm disappointed that I've ended up feeling this way. When I got my job (I've done the same job for two years) it was my 'dream job' and now I feel like I hate it and have pretty much lost all passion for it.
Thanks
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” Maya Angelou
Sorry to hear your so stressed.
For a start sounds like you need to talk to your manager about the work load.. With a slight easing of ammount help?
As for what else to do have you thought about doing the Nurse training side of Mental Health, or the charitable social sector as you could still use your degree.
I've been at my company now for 5 years and about the 2 to 2 and a half mark I felt as you do that my dream job was not what it used to be. I got a secondment and tried something slightly different, it helped as I realised I still enjoyed the meat of the work.
Have you got any annual leave you could take to clear your system and do some other work research?
Sorry if any of this is not what you wanted to hear, but hoping that it helps
Good luck in what ever you choose to do.
Are you an MHO?
Hi EmC,
I feel the same - been in a love/hate relationship with this job since I started, and I don't want to walk out yet (from statutory services) because, like you, I'm at the two year mark and I don't want to be perceived as 'not being able to hack it'. I'm considering my options and would love to be in the charitable sector. Not much work there now though.
Sorry to not offer much advice - I would say to take your time though, don't rush. The grass is always greener, and once you're out, would you be able to come back if the 'new' job wasn't what you expected?
'He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master' - HST.
JBD - thanks for the reply and sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this. I did speak to my manager and she is now very aware of how I am feeling. She's so supportive I feel bad telling her how much I am struggling with things at the moment! I don't want to be a MH nurse - really don't fancy more training and I like the social work value base more. But I do think an eventual move to the voluntary sector would be lovely! I am glad you're enjoying what you are doing now. I do think secondments can help. I am out of AL for this year (used it all up having random days off when I felt it was all too much) but I am going to book a week off in January. I don't really want to give up on it yet it is just that it has felt such a struggle over the last year or so. It has helped - thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy your role.
Silver Sage - I'm a mental health social worker. Not sure how that differs from a MHO but I am not yet an AMPH and don't really want to be to be honest. I prefer the therapeutic side of what I do.
AOGT - I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling as I do! It is weird because I do have some days where I like it, and feel I can persevere, and other days when I literally would leave if I didn't need the money. Like you I don't want to give up on it because I have never left a job just because I found it difficult! I think eventually the voluntary sector will open up again.... maybe when we have a change in government!
You're also right about the grass always being greener. I know compared to a lot of people I do have a workplace where I can grow professionally if I put my mind to it. I have a supportive team and manager and I have been given some training opportunities more recently. It is just that sense of not being able to help people because the system prevents good practice a lot of the time and general lack of confidence/experience which makes things worse I think.
Thanks for the support.