Previous Career Clinics

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Q: I have recently changed from working with children to working in adult social work and have received a pleasing job offer. However, there is a huge amount to learn and this has greatly knocked my confidence. Any advice?
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Q: I’m struggling to keep up with my workload and it’s affecting what my boss thinks of me. It’s also affecting the way I work with my team and I’m now finding I can’t switch off from work properly. What can I do?
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Q: My time off over Christmas has given me the chance to think about my future. I want to remain working with service users, but at the same time want to progress. Is there a way I can move up a rung without becoming a manager and losing touch with the people we’re here to serve?
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Q. Half my team are off sick at the moment and consequently my workload appears to be growing by the day. Is there a limit to the amount I can be expected to take on before I can refuse?
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Q: Half my team are off sick at the moment and consequently my workload appears to be growing by the day. Is there a limit to the amount I can be expected to take on before I can refuse?
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Q: I want to take two weeks off at Christmas but, although my boss initially said it would be fine, we have now been told that everyone’s leave will be limited. What are my rights? Aren’t my holidays mine to use as I see fit? And shouldn’t I be able to take them given that my boss had already verbally given me the green light?
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Q. I have just returned from maternity leave to find that, despite retaining the same job title and terms and conditions, my job is quite different. My line manager says this simply reflects new ways of working
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Q: A member of my team is complaining that another team member is lazy, delegates to others despite not having the authority to do so, is dismissive of service users and abrasive with other staff. He only does this when my deputy and I are not around, and the team member complaining does not want to go public. What should I do?
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Q. I’m a member of Unison and have been asked if I’d like to play a more active role, possibly as a shop steward. Although I am interested in taking this on, I am worried that it may affect my career prospects. What do you advise?
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Q. I took up my first social work post eight months ago. Most of the cases I deal with involve serious child protection issues and I am terrified of making a mistake. I feel I have been totally dropped in the deep end, and am working long hours just to stay on top of everything. I passionately believe in what I do but already feel on the verge of burning out. My manager is normally too busy to talk. What should I do?
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Q: I’m thinking about doing voluntary work abroad, but don’t know how long for. I am concerned about the effect of this on my GSCC registration and my ability to meet my 15-day training requirement over three years if I’m away for a substantial period. I e-mailed the GSCC to enquire but didn’t get a reply.
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Q: I’m about to leave my job as a social worker in a local authority and move to a neighbouring council. I’ve got a few things I’d like to get off my chest in my exit interview, mainly about my  immediate line manager and his management skills (or lack of them). Colleagues fear about speaking out in case of repercussions, and I’d like to do this for them. But is this likely to backfire? Could my reference be withdrawn or changed? Or could my words somehow get back to my new place of work?
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Q. I have seen an advert for a job in a neighbouring authority but know that if I apply for it my current boss will find out as she knows people who work there. I don’t want to miss this opportunity but equally don’t want to make my life hell if I don’t get the job and have to stay put with everyone knowing I tried to leave. What should I do?
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Q. I am a team leader in a learning disabilities team and would like to involve my service users more meaningfully in the recruitment of our care staff. Do you have any suggestions?
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Q: I am a qualified social worker with past experience as a manager in adults’ services, approved social work and residential management in England. I have been out of work for the past couple of years since a fall. Lately, I have had several interviews in Scotland but can’t evidence recent practice, and all my references are from five years ago in England. How can I get to a position where I can use my skills and my 20 years’ experience again?
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I qualified as a social worker in 2000 and became a senior care officer in a large local authority. In 2004 I was assaulted at work and received a back injury, and ended up leaving work on health grounds. I am now looking to return to work as a social worker but am concerned about my length of absence and previous job title.
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A member of my team has a very poor sickness record. I was just about to tackle him about it, but he has now gone off with “stress”. Is there anything I can do?
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My parents are in their 80s, still in their own home and generally manage to live an independent life. I live two hours’ drive away, and to see them am forced to take annual leave. My colleagues seem to come and go as they please to look after their children without it affecting their holiday entitlement. I don’t feel I am being treated equally.
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I´m a mature student looking to start my career in social work. How much importance should I attach to training and development – and how much should I expect or demand?
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I am just about to graduate as a qualified social worker and would like to work in an older people’s team. What advice would you give a newly qualified social worker about to start job-seeking and going to interviews?
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I have just failed my probation period. My union says I can appeal, but the HR person where I work says I can’t. Who is right? And why do they say different things?Read the advice

I have a member of staff who will not co-operate with the team. I have tried to address the issues and my manager has told me to “just manage her – that’s your job”. But when I’ve tried to do this, she accuses me of being racist, and colludes with my manager, the only other Asian woman in the team. What can I do?
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Sometimes I’m written to by the human resources department, at other times it’s the personnel department. They all seem to talk to me about the same things, so why are we wasting resources (which I could put to better use in my social work team) having two support departments?
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I am a volunteer driver in my local area, most of the time using my own car. I am also a smoker, although I never smoke when I’m driving a client. I have been told that I have to put “No Smoking” stickers in my car in readiness for the 1 July 2007 law change. Surely this can’t be right?
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I am thinking about applying for a job that I´ve seen advertised locally but a friend says an internal applicant has already been lined up. Is it worth me applying?
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Two years ago a colleague went part-time. Recently I discovered that she is still being paid a full-time salary. I have lodged a complaint. What are my rights?
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I have a “poor performer” on my team. I’ve tried the informal approach to help them to improve, but nothing seems to be working. What do I do next?
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I am a new manager. One member of staff is doing all he can to provoke me and his colleagues – arriving late, leaving early, avoiding team meetings. What can I do?
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My manager wants me to attend a “performance management” meeting with her and HR. I want to take my solicitor but they won’t agree to it. What are my rights?
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My organisation has announced that it is having a “reorganisation”. Does this mean I’m going to lose my job?
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