Why I won’t be going back to social work

This morning it was announced that The Local Government Association (LGA) will be trying to encourage ex social workers back into the profession. The LGA, which hopes to tempt back 5,000 of us, says 10% of posts in the profession are unfilled.

This is sited because of the death of Baby P, but I’m sure is not helped by the government limiting overseas social workers coming to this country from outside the EU, who have previously been picking up the shortfall of qualified workers.

Added to this Reading University has decided to cut the social work course something other universities may also follow.

So what’s going on is it that the profession has been spooked by Baby P or is it deeper than that?
Well I have been a practicing social worker for a very long time now and don’t think a child’s death no matter how tragic hasn’t substantially hit the exodus from the profession.

No the main barrier is the red tape which now surround the workers. Now I am not saying all paperwork/ IT is bad, but when you travel around the country as much as I do meeting Social workers you hear the same issues reoccurring time and time again.

In essence social workers don’t prevent abuse, they stop more occurring. They have become social policeman and are blamed for every bad parent in the country.

There are good things brought by the development of our service of course, built on good practice and sound judgement. But there is too much that now hinders this. Managers talk about outcomes and timescales rather than the quality of the practice. The average social worker can now spend about 80% of his or her time ticking boxes without achieving anything nobody asks how long you have spent with a child they just want to know that you saw the child.

Of course there is no simple answer to this, no quick solution or ground breaking theory. Just lots of ideas as the profession plays catch up with society’s views.

Personally I feel we will never make any real ground until we can all grasp the idea that children’s welfare is everyone’s responsibility. Social work has to be part of our society not an overseer of it.

It’s not money that would drag me back. It is the ability to be able to practice my profession which for me is a way of life not just a job.

Check s and balances our fine, we need to be accountable but let’s be driven by good practice not politicians. Social worker started by good neighbours and friends helping each other, after all parenting is the hardest thing to achieve we all need every help we can get and it’s time for our society to recognise that and get involved.