Public ignorant of social work role

A lack of understanding about the role of social workers continues
to undermine the profession, new research for Community
Care reveals.

The survey of 1,000 people across England, launched to mark the
start of Care in the Capital Week, finds that despite nine out of
10 people believing social work to be an important job, more than
half admit they understand little or nothing about it.

Almost two-thirds of those interviewed from London and the south
believe social workers have a worse image than nurses, while 57 per
cent and 41 per cent think it’s worse than teachers and police
respectively. However, social workers are still viewed more
positively than journalists, estate agents and traffic wardens.

Community Care managing editor Mark Ivory said that Care
in the Capital Week and the accompanying photographic exhibition
showing London social workers at work would challenge “negative and
outdated” perceptions of the profession.

Co-author of the report Charlotte Rastan (pictured above), a
specialist in public sector marketing campaigns, said the research
showed that people still did not see social work as a desirable
career.

Those surveyed felt creating a social work soap opera could help
dispel negative media coverage. 

– The Changing Face of Social Care from 020 8652
4861/4699.