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Aside from reading this – what are you doing right now? Are you looking for a desk to sit on? Preparing for court or a home visit? How many hours have you been working?
Social Work Watch is a project to find out how social workers spend their day. In partnership with Unison, Community Care is looking to find out what pressures you face, how much of your time is taken up by paperwork, and what your working conditions are like.
By taking our survey, you will help highlight the work of a profession that is too often hidden from view.
If you complete the survey on the day, or soon after, you will also be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad Mini.
Keep us informed how you are spending the day on Twitter, using the hashtag: #SocialWorkWatch.
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Screening Adult Safeguarding concerns and fact finding. Today’s work included exploring risk of modern slavery, giving advice to District Nurses and seeking advice from clinical colleagues re pressure ulcers.
Comprehensive handover at 3pm from last 24hour shift, medicine audit, meeting 16+ social worker regarding change in family dynamics and impact on supervised contact. Grabbed tea while updating logs and supervising residents upstairs in unit (mixed gender unit). Followed 3 residents in community who absconded to meet other LAC young people – Assessing risk is inherent throughout this as situations often change rapidly. Liaising with Police and Out of Hours Social Work service regarding CSE risks and strategies to secure their safe return. Administering meds before bed and final checks before setting alarms. Updating logs and sharing information in team communication book before setting to bed at 12.20am.
I’m a frontline safeguarding social worker, I have a 2 year old son and only work 4 days a week. Wednesday is my non-working day. This morning I dropped my son off at my cousins home as I had a 2 day hearing. I was in court by 9.15. I met parents and family members, I gave them as much reassurance as possible. Parents conceded at the last minute and I left at 12.30. I collected my son and spent the rest of my day off with my family. I had every intention of completing a C&F assessment that is out of timescales and case notes however I chose not to. Last week I did 16 hours overtime ( unpaid) in order to try to get on top of all my paperwork as I had emergency court paperwork to file. On average I do six hours a week over time, actual time visiting families and time on top of that at my laptop. I was on training for a day a few weeks ago and in my lunch hour I completed a home visit!!
Took fifteen minutes for my computer to come on. Replied to and sent emails. Spoke to parent to plan contact with child in residential placement and booked train tickets. Discussed move on options for young person placed out of area, finding it frustratingly difficult to clarify who will find support post eighteen. Redirected a call taken on duty to the front door service. Redirected another electronic referral incorrectly sent to my team. Wrote transfer summary for young person moving to transitions team. Home visit to patent struggling with behaviour of her son. Discussed options to support her with this, including additional overnight short breaks.
Drove back to office and had lunch in the park (a rare treat).
Followed up on actions from the meeting with the parent including discussion with community police officer. Gave feedback to ofsted on residential school. Discussed new case with safeguarding concerns with manager and agreed actions, to be followed up tomorrow. Chased parents and professionals to arrange dates for two meetings. Home visit to parent and young person. Supported parent with learning disability to contact child benefit office to get child benefit reinstated.