Why you should become a
A day in the life of a social worker
Advice for new social workers
People with lived experience
Hear directly from social workers
What’s next? Further resources
Supported by
Introduction Ruth Hardy-Mullings
why you should become a
Home
a day in the life of a social worker
advice for new social workers
introduction and a word from our sponsor
people with lived experience
hear directly from social workers
what’s next? further resources
Ruth Hardy-Mullings Head of content, Community Care
In June 2023, Community Care – the leading news and information brand for social workers – launched our Choose Social Work campaign. We wanted to show the reality of social work: of dedicated, hard-working people, working alongside families and adults, supporting them to make changes in their lives.
If you’re thinking about becoming a social worker, then this resource pack will help you understand more about what it might be like. There’s a day in the life of a children’s social worker, as well as some brilliant advice for anyone thinking about joining the profession – from social workers themselves. Then there are stories from people with experience of social services, that show why social work is so important, as well as the stories of social workers themselves. Thank you to Cafcass, for supporting this digital resource. Once you’ve finished going through this and are wondering where you sign to become a social worker, there’s a list of routes into social work, as well other helpful resources. I hope that you Choose Social Work.
Be their voice At Cafcass, we are united by our purpose - ensuring the unique voices of children and young people are heard in the family court. We put their needs, wishes and feelings first when big decisions are being made about their futures. When you join one of our social work teams, you will help improve the lives of children, families and carers for years to come. No other organisation does the kind of work we do. And in 2024, we were rated by Ofsted following a full inspection as ‘outstanding’ both overall and across all judgement categories including the quality and effectiveness of our private and public law social work practice. At Cafcass, we give you the tools to do the very best work possible. Here is how one of our social work colleagues put it: “Staff are well supported to ensure that they can work in an environment that is conducive to achieving the best outcomes for families and children.” Be supported To support over 140,000 children every year, we support each other every day. Everyone plays a vital role so that together, we can do our best work. In return, we support you. We promote a good work-life balance, flexibility, and self-care. From learning and development opportunities to ensuring your health and wellbeing, you will be encouraged to ask for what you need - and know we will do all we can to help you. Be trusted When it comes to children and families, we are confident our social workers will do the right thing. It is why we will give you independence over your work and value your judgement. Whether you are visiting one of your families, getting to know a vulnerable child or standing up in court, we have faith in your abilities. That extends to your career development too. You will get the freedom to identify your own needs, ask for training to enhance your skills - and have the flexibility to work in a way that is right for you. Be empowered We give children and young people the opportunity to share their unique thoughts, wishes and feelings. We build trust. We help shape futures. We collaborate across offices, teams and business areas. We knowledge share. We adapt. We mentor. We provide the equipment you need. With that support behind you, you will feel empowered to inspire children, families, and each other.
Staff are well supported to ensure they can work in an environment that is conducive to achieving the best outcomes for families and children
For more information about working for Cafcass as a social worker, please scan the QR code opposite or click here
Kirsty Ayakwah Gemma Balmford Jessica Chapman Ruth Hardy-Mullings Anastasia Koutsounia Gillian MacFarlane Mithran Samuel Joanna Silman Natalie Valios Sharmeen Ziauddin
Caroline Howlett Adrian Dobbie Sarah Duree
Why you should ‘Choose Social Work’
editorial
production
Subscription learning resources
So, in 2023, four journalists from the Community Care team spent a day shadowing practitioners at Wandsworth children’s services, to understand what it’s really like to be a social worker. This is a snapshot of what a day might look like if you become a children and families social worker: home visits, direct work, family therapy, unit meetings, genograms, small wins, difficult decisions, risk, trauma, public transport. And snacks – never forget the snacks.
Having never witnessed a home visit in action, I was excited that my day at Wandsworth started with shadowing a visit to Kelly, a parent to four children. It was 9am when Annie, the social worker, and I got on a bus to Kelly’s home. Luckily for us, it was a beautiful sunny day – I did wonder what these bus journeys and walks would be like in the depths of winter. But, as a Londoner, Annie uses public transport for all her visits. Annie’s reason for visiting was to do a graded care profile for Kelly’s four-year-old boy. He and his siblings had been placed on child in need plans after their school raised some concerns regarding possible neglect. The graded care profile is a tool, created by the NSPCC, to evaluate the quality of care parents provide for their children. Only trained practitioners can use it – it had just gone 9am and I had already learnt something. Annie had obtained Kelly’s permission for me to attend the visit. But she was understandably anxious, and had invited her mother to be present too. Kelly, her mum and Annie sat on the sofa, in front of the TV, which was on. I sat at the far end of the room, as Annie suggested, doing my best to fade into the background and not add to the anxiety. The conversation started with Annie asking how Kelly was doing and how the children were, as they were at school that day. Her whole demeanour was friendly; if you hadn’t known she was there in her capacity as a social worker, you might have assumed Annie was one of Kelly’s friends. She went through each question of the graded care profile with Kelly. Annie told me afterwards that she wouldn’t normally go into so much detail but, as Kelly had learning disabilities and was also quite shy, she needed a bit more prompting. Every word that came out of Annie’s mouth was considered and thoughtful; she clearly really thought about the language she was using. Despite Kelly’s initial anxiety, she soon began to relax. The visit lasted an hour, and they ended by booking in the next session. Kelly’s assessment was very positive and she scored many ones and twos on the profile (with five being the least safe). Back at the office after another bus ride, Annie put the results of the graded care profile onto the child’s record, along with her notes and observations. I reflected on the thoroughness of the visit, and how much thought, time and planning went into it. There were several components to the profile, and this visit focused on just one.
Her whole demeanour was friendly; if you hadn’t known she was there in her capacity as a social worker, you might have assumed Annie was one of Kelly’s friends
Like Annie, Lauren – a children’s practitioner at Wandsworth – was off to do some work using the graded care profile, with Caitlin, a mother she had been working with for several months. “I like to go into my visits with an intention or with a purpose, but I’m never fixed to the idea,” Lauren told me. “I’m mindful that families are complex and go through different things. And sometimes they’re not in a place where they can focus on that activity… sometimes they just need someone to lend an ear and help them to problem-solve and think through some of the difficulties that they’re having.” As a children’s practitioner, Lauren’s role is to meet regularly with families who are involved with a social worker. Typically, Lauren will work with a family for around four to six months, but the family she was going to see that morning – Caitlin, her toddler and two older teenagers – had needed support for almost a year. “Lots of my work has been parenting support for Caitlin,” Lauren said. “So, just helping strengthen some of the skills that she already has.” For instance, in relation to the toddler’s physical health, Lauren had worked with Caitlin to agree a goal to provide a healthy diet. This was then broken down into really simple steps that Caitlin could do. “So [the toddler’s] given one unfamiliar food to try at each mealtime, and then again he’s offered a healthy snack throughout the day.” Caitlin found these specific goals really helpful, Lauren said. “She pinned it up on her wall so she could refer back to it.” Even though Lauren’s role is as a children’s practitioner, she was working with a few families where her sole role related to parenting. “Because, actually for the child to be happy and safe, a lot of the time we need to look at the system that they live in and their environment around them. And so a lot of the time it does come back to strengthening the skills that parents have.” Lauren’s favourite work is with children and young people – she started off working in nurseries – so after she did her work with Caitlin, she wanted to make sure she dedicated some time to the teenage daughter, Skye, who wasn’t attending school. “I designed an activity to do with [Skye] about trying to figure out what her goals are,” Lauren said. “I think at the moment she’s feeling quite hopeless, and doesn’t really know where to go next. So my main aim of this activity hopefully is to help her set some goals, and think a little bit more positively about how she can then get there.” Lauren was also starting to think about and talk to the family about endings – the end of her working partnership with them, “and what that’s going to look like, and helping them to think about their onward journey and … what we’ve already achieved and what also they have to continue on their journey.” “As much as I dislike ending work because it means that, you know, I’m stepping away and it’s an end of an experience for both me and families, I think it’s sometimes nice when children say ‘Oh, I’m going to miss you’ … I think I see it as playing a small part in a child’s life.” Lauren continued: “And this family have been known to children’s services for over 20 years. So their involvement and their experience of services has been quite negative. So I think that is a real strength that we’ve been able to, despite the family’s views, build that relationship.” All names and identifying details have been changed.
For the child to be happy and safe, a lot of the time we need to look at the system that they live in and their environment around them. And so a lot of the time it does come back to strengthening the skills that parents have
Unless you know a social worker personally, or have had involvement with social services yourself, you might not know what a social worker does every day.
9am – Home visit
find out more
10.30am – children's practitioner
click here to follow the full day
As part of Community Care’s Choose Social Work campaign, we asked social workers to write a letter to the next generation of practitioners. Here, we’ve compiled the best advice they shared, and what they wish they’d known when embarking on a social work career.
There’s more to social work than child protection Yewande, manager and practice supervisor
Prioritise and uphold your supervision Steph Downey, service director in adult social care at Gateshead Council
I wanted nothing to do with social workers – until one gained my trust Rebekah Pierre, social worker and BASW Officer
Take care of yourself first – it’s not selfish, it’s necessary Lori Goossen, principal children and families social worker, Medway Council
How to cope when you feel like you’re failing Kayleigh Rose Evans, adults’ social worker and YouTuber
Always bring your authentic self to work Colleen Simon, head of social work, social care, adult safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act
read
One day with social workers showed Fatima Whitbread how much the care system had changed It’s a warm summer’s day when I meet Fatima, in the offices of Essex County Council. We are here for her to meet social workers and take part in the ‘It’s My Life’ festival, a week-long event for children in care held by the council at Danbury Country Park. She’s dressed for a day of outdoor activities, and her yellow Action for Children top with cycling shorts and trainers are hard to miss. She is an ambassador for the charity, having run the London Marathon 2023, and continues to fundraise in various walking challenges. But first we meet the many social care staff who are eager to have their photos taken with the legendary Olympian. Fatima, always smiling, is keen to see how social work has changed since she was in care, and revels in the multiple photo requests. When I interviewed the 62-year-old a few weeks ago, she talked very openly about her childhood in children’s homes. What became apparent was how much the care system has changed since Fatima was young. As a Community Care journalist, I was eager for Fatima to see the changes in social work practice since the darker days of the 60s, which she describes as an era “where children should be seen and not heard”. A childhood of abuse and abandonment And Fatima was equally as eager to spend the day with social workers and children in care, and share her childhood story with them. And what a story it is. I hear it a few times throughout the day but it still shocks every time. Abandoned as a baby and taken into care by Hackney Council, Fatima vividly recalls the memories of her early childhood. In the 60s and 70s, house aunties and uncles used to run children’s homes with the children contributing to the chores and having to abide by strict routines. There were 25 children in one home where Fatima lived. What motivated her to become an ambassador for Action for Children and speak so candidly about her upbringing? “It’s really important to know where I’m coming from. I spent the first 14 years of my life in children’s homes, so I have experienced what it’s like to feel vulnerable, neglected, insecure, not loved and guilty, or to think, ‘perhaps I’ve done something wrong?’ “I’ve been emotionally, mentally and physically abused, and sexually abused too so I guess at this stage of my life it’s because I want to help give these children a voice so they can be heard and be seen.” Being adopted Fatima was 14 when she met Margaret Whitbread, a PE teacher and coach, who gave her the first gift she had ever received: a javelin. Fatima practised javelin throwing in the garden of the children’s home but got into trouble for breaking a few windows. Soon after, she was invited to stay with the Whitbread family for the summer holidays, and Margaret went on to adopt her. “When Mrs Whitbread asked me to stay I was nervous and excited. When the house aunty found out she said, ‘what do you want to do that for?’. But she was constantly telling me, ‘we’re going to push you up to a place in London and you’ll end up on the streets as a prostitute’. “It’s not the ideal encouragement for us kids and I was petrified about what was going to happen to me. So obviously when Mrs Whitbread offered me the love of the Whitbread family it was no surprise what a wonderful experience that was for me.” Unsurprisingly, Fatima is a huge advocate for fostering and adoption, and wants to raise awareness of the need to recruit more foster carers. “There’s a shortage of 9,000 foster carers,” she tells me. “We need social workers in the same vein as we need foster carers, that have got that wealth of knowledge, that empathy and understanding, that have got the passion and the drive to make a big difference in a young child’s life.” A key professional There is one professional in her early life who Fatima speaks of fondly: her Aunty Rae, one of the support workers in the children’s home. “I was fortunate to have Aunty Rae. She was such a lovely lady. My day didn’t start until Aunty Rae got me out of bed. When she was on duty I’d wait there, she’d say, ‘come on Fats, up you get’. She kind of humanised me and that made me feel happy and I know I was eager to please, and that’s all kids really want. “Aunty Rae was a shining star in my life and this is what I want every child to have, a shining star, someone they can connect with so that they can believe in themselves, and feel loved and secure so that they can thrive, not just survive,” she says. In an incredible coincidence, Fatima tells me that Aunty Rae’s granddaughter, Jo, works at Essex County Council. When we are walking around the council offices in the morning, Fatima spots her. Not only is Jo a social worker, but she is in the fostering team. They have an emotional embrace, and the rest of us are left stunned, thinking what a small world it is. Becoming an adult One of Fatima’s main concerns is the support care experienced young people get when they become adults. When she was growing up, the state relinquished responsibility for children in care at 16. Her own son is 25 and still lives with her. “I experienced this myself in my childhood days, but if you’re emotionally disturbed and your emotional needs are not being met, it’s very hard to concentrate and study and get the qualifications. You need them to skill you up enough to be able to survive so it is a great concern of mine. Eighteen is still a very young age to ask these children to stand on their own feet and support themselves,” she says. At midday, when we get to the outdoor centre in Danbury Country Park, Fatima is in her element. After all, it is sport that she refers to as her “saviour”. The outdoors and physical activities, such as the high ropes and zipwire, make her feel right at home. The annual festival invites different groups of children in care on separate days. Today, it is all about the 8 to 13-year-olds, and Fatima is keen to talk to as many of them as she can. She shocks some of the children when they find out she’s been on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (twice). “Have you met Ant and Dec?”, one girl asks in amazement. Fatima reminds them that it’s not about celebrities and glamour, but about believing in yourself and going out and doing what you love. Her warmth and the passion she has to help vulnerable children is obvious. There is a certain child-like innocence that Fatima possesses which makes her the endearing character she is. She spends the afternoon talking to many different children while joining them in the various activities. Reflecting on change in the care system Towards the end of the day, when we leave the country park, I ask Fatima if her opinion of social workers has changed. “Yes massively! Completely different. [They have] much more connection with young people. They’re all passionate about what they do.” She explains that when she was young, she used to see a social worker about once a year, across a table in a stuffy room, and then never saw them again. “Now they live in [the child’s] world, they’re not segregated in the way that we felt with our social workers, they came every so often and disappeared and that was that. “They’re [now] someone [the child] can trust, someone [with whom] they can share what’s going on in their lives, what’s in their hearts and also emotionally as well. They don’t have to be hiding away, they can be themselves.” Does she think her childhood would have been different if she had the support of a social worker like one of the ones she met today? “Massively,” she says. “I wouldn’t have felt isolated, and I wouldn’t have felt so scared of the future.”
I spent the first 14 years of my life in children’s homes, so I have experienced what it’s like to feel vulnerable, neglected, insecure, not loved and guilty, or to think, ‘perhaps I’ve done something wrong?’ Fatima Whitbread
As part of Choose Social Work, we spoke to people with lived experience of the care system about how social workers made a difference in their lives.
Here, we’ve highlighted Fatima Whitbread’s story. The former world javelin record holder’s traumatic childhood inspired her to advocate for children in care but left her without a positive view of social work. In 2023, Community Care and Essex County Council organised for the reality TV star to see how the profession had changed since she was a child.
fatima’s story
hear more stories
You can literally change a young person’s life
In this video, Jenny Molloy talks to Lizzie and her former social worker, Janet, about the special relationship they built when Lizzie was preparing to leave care, that continues today.
They helped me escape the life I was living as a teenager
watch
She’s been a mother figure to me
Watch our video to hear some of Ethan’s story of his time in care, and the positive impact particular social workers had at a vulnerable time in his life.
Dan has seen first-hand the stress social workers can be under and the impact this can have on young people. In this extract from a longer podcast episode, he shares his thoughts on the difference social work can make.
listen
At 2023’s Social Worker of the Year Awards, Omaid Badar won both the children’s practitioner and overall winner’s prizes, with one judge describing him as “everything the profession is about when it’s at its best”. The 29-year-old Kirklees Council social worker has overcome more than most on route to those accolades. Omaid was born in Afghanistan, then ravaged by civil war, became a refugee and, aged 14, made a perilous journey to England, enduring extreme hardship in pursuit of a safe haven. In an interview with Community Care, he opened up about his journey from being a young boy in Afghanistan to a social worker in England, his approach to working with children and how he handles those difficult days. You made a very daunting journey at age 14 from Pakistan to England. What was your experience like of being a refugee? You first need to understand that I was born in 1994 in Afghanistan, a war-torn country. I was a month old when we lost our dad. I don’t even know if he held me because, as a one-month-old, what could you possibly remember? That situation forces you to leave your homeland, become a refugee. We travelled to Pakistan, where we lived in refugee camps and areas that were so dangerous the police were not allowed in. It got to a point where my mum was really worried for my safety [and decided to send me away]. At the time, I had lost many people and I didn’t want to lose her too. I was going out, seeking a safe haven, but was I going to see my mum again? Was I going to be able to hug her again? And it wasn’t a pleasant journey. Most of the time we weren’t told where we were going. We would be stuffed in cars, inflatable boats and vans, sometimes 80 people, squeezed in together, one on top of the other. There was no room to breathe. At times, we would be walking at night so the border police wouldn’t see us, because they would shoot at us. It’s not an easy journey, you have to accept that you might not make it to the next day. There were days when we had no food and survived just on water. And when they did bring food for us, it would be stale bread that would be so hard to crack we would dip it in yoghurt to break it. I travelled that way to Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France, and eventually reached Bradford, England. I had been told to seek a police officer the moment I arrived, but I can’t say my first encounter was a good one. They did speak to an interpreter and understood why I was here, but then they put me in a cell. It was so cold. My shoes and clothes were all ripped and the only thing they gave me was a blanket full of holes that didn’t keep me warm. But in the morning, a social worker came in. I still remember her name, Lucy. As soon as she saw me, she hugged me. I think that was the first time I felt emotional warmth and I just cried. She took me to social services and then shopping at ASDA for clothes. She quickly found a temporary placement for me and then I moved to a children’s home and my schooling was arranged. What was your time in care like? How has it informed your practice? My experience in care had its ups and downs. I faced bullying and discrimination but also received support and care from some staff members. These experiences shaped my approach to social work – respecting cultures and being honest and committed to the children I work with. Lucy wasn’t my social worker for long. After her, there were a few temporary ones for a few months and then I didn’t have a social worker for a long time, probably because I wasn’t creating problems. But, at the same time, I realise now that you’re supposed to see your children once every six weeks. I do that for the children that I work with. And if they need to see me more, I will make time and go visit them again because they need that. I never got the answer why a social worker never came to see me. I am grateful to Bradford, but I would advise social workers to be committed to their children, to be open and honest with them. What inspired you to become a social worker? My key worker, Jerry Phillips. He’d always find me and speak to me when he was on a shift, bring me books to read, come to my school meetings and review meetings. He was patient with me, made me understand that nothing should be taken for granted. ‘Today you have support, tomorrow you won’t, so make sure you learn how to be independent,’ he’d say. He taught me how to cook and was my go-to person. He always used to talk about school, education, standing up for your rights. But if you do anything wrong, put your hand up and say that. There’s always a way out. When he asked me why I wanted to be a social worker I said, ‘What you did for me, I want to do for every kid out there, because you changed my life’. He made me believe in myself, had faith in me, was committed to me. He was open and honest with me. I want to be that role model for the children out there. To this day, I still see him. He came to my graduation and he was proud. What is your approach to social work? I have just completed my fifth year as a children’s social worker and I’m loving it. I come to work and I’m always in a good mood because I know I’m here to help change families’ lives. My approach is to always explain what my role is – because there are misconceptions about what a social worker does – and have an open mind. On paper, a person can look like a monster, but when you visit them, you realise they might have never been given a chance. And change doesn’t happen overnight, it takes us [social workers] being committed. As a social worker, my values are to be committed to the people I’m working with, to be honest and open with them and to create an environment where they feel comfortable talking to me, they feel listened to and not judged. I think clarifying that you are not here to take the children helps; [I] explain which plan they’re going to be on and whether it’s consent-based. I say to them: ‘There’s nothing we cannot work on. But we need to communicate and work around it. If I can’t do anything in my power, there will be other services that can come on board and help you. I’m here to support you and help you get to where you need to be because you don’t want social workers to be involved in your life all the time.’ They’ll naturally be worrying about what’s going to happen. You need to reassure them so they feel that you’re working together – involve them in decision-making and ensure you’re doing things with their consent, not without. I think because I’ve been through it, I can also relate to the children more. I can understand what is happening to them, provide them with what they need from me and work with them using a restorative approach.
Tell them if there’s something you can’t do, tell them that you’ll go and see if you can find alternative ways, but don’t promise them because children hold you to those promises. And then if you can’t fulfil that promise, they won’t trust you Omaid Badar
As part of Choose Social Work, we spoke to current and former social workers about how they got into the profession, what they’ve learnt in their career and what they love about their job.
Omaid Badar was social worker of the year in 2023. Here we’ve spoken to Omaid about his experience of being a refugee, how his time in care has informed his practice and his approach to social work.
omaid’s story
Prior to being elected as the first female MP for South Shields in 2013, Emma Lewell-Buck was a child protection social worker. Watch our video to hear a first-hand account of her experiences.
I was proud to be a social worker
When social work becomes a family affair
A mother-daughter social worker duo speak about the impact social work has had on their family, the lessons they've learned and whether they would recommend it as a profession.
click here to read the full article
Our free, daily news and information site, so you can stay up-to-date on the issues that affect you as a social worker
Subscription learning resources for social workers and social care professionals
Your one-stop shop for jobs in social work and social care
A trusted, safe, positive space for professionals to get careers insights, network with peers and support each other
The UK’s largest free-to-attend social work event
Find out the different routes into social work, including university, fast track courses and apprenticeships
Information to support those returning to the profession and overseas qualified social workers looking to work in the UK
Career pathways and options in social work
Find resources on social work specialisms, including adult services, children and families, mental health and criminal justice
Find approved training providers who offer the social worker apprenticeship training course
A three-year social work training programme working directly with children and families
A 14-month, full-time programme for those who want to become a social worker but do not have a degree in social work
A two-year training programme to become a mental health social worker
How Community Care can help you
Resources for those thinking about becoming a social worker
Alternative pathways into social work
link for a full list of Providers offering approved social work courses in england and Wales
Our free, daily news and information site
Subscription learning resources for social care professionals
Your one-stop-shop for jobs in social work and social care
A trusted space to get careers insights and network with peers
How to become a social worker
Returning to the profession and overseas workers
Social work specialisms
Apprenticeship training course
A three-year training course working with children and families
A two-year training course to become a mental health worker
A programme for those without a degree in social work
Link for a full list of providers offering approved social work courses in England and Wales
Face-to-face legal masterclass providing expert learning on mental capacity
Regular webinars on key topics in social work and social care
Face-to-face legal masterclass on mental capacity
