Our Social Workers are inspired to join the profession for many different reasons. Stacey from Thurrock Council talks us through what inspired her and her career journey so far.
I previously worked in Banking which I did not feel was a rewarding role. After a personal difficulty within my family involving addiction of a family member which led to social services becoming involved, I developed an interest in Social work.
I played a big part of the support plan in place for my own family, working closely with a Social Worker. I saw firsthand the positives from intervention, but also the negatives of poor practice at times. This made me realise I could make a difference to other families going through similar circumstances.
Upon qualification I wanted to start my career in a role that was very hands on through lots of direct work, so I chose a role with an Early Help Service in Hammersmith and Fulham. Tier 2 intervention allowed me to have the time with children and families to really implement my plans of support, which are not always possible due to the pressures and demands of tier 3. I also chose Hammersmith and Fulham due to the diverse community, as I wanted to work with families from different backgrounds and cultures to development my own knowledge and learning.
Working within the Early Help Service allowed me to build my confidence, skill set and knowledge, particularly relating to engaging families, as this was a consent-based service. After 3 years in this role, I felt confident enough to apply for a statutory role and came to work for the Child and Family assessment team in Thurrock. I believed this would only further my skills, abilities, and knowledge further.
I spent 3 years in the Child and Family assessment team, which was challenging due to the increased level of risk, but it was very rewarding knowing I was safeguarding children from harm.
I then decided to gain experience in the MASH team to develop my risk assessment skills further, at a faster pace. I thrived in the team which strongly suits my fast pace working styles and ability to make quick decisions under pressure. I began as a Practice Manager in the MASH, was promoted to Deputy Team Manager and then to the Team Manager, within a 3-year period.
I developed by abilities to be able to work with challenging families within significant crisis, my knowledge of Children’s law and a better knowledge of threshold. I implemented CIN/CP plans, attended court for ICO’s and learned the importance of parallel family for high-risk cases.
In my current role as MASH Team Manager, I manage a team of 5 Social Worker, a Deputy Team Manager and 4 admin staff. The MASH team is an important part of the Children’s social care system within Thurrock, as we are making quick decisions on risk posed to children and what the best outcome should be. I screen, brag, and allocate all referrals into Thurrock Children’s social care whether it be a request for support or a safeguarding concern. The level of risk will depend on actions taken. The outcomes range from ‘no further action taken’ to ‘strategy meeting under section 47’.
Day to day I ensure robust partner agency working to ensure we are working with the right families. Alongside this I monitor the statistics of referrals and outcomes, as well as timescales and legal matters referred.
I have an open door and informal working style so constant conversations are being held with my Social Workers throughout the day. This ensures the team are remaining curious when completing risk assessments.
The fast pace and increasing demands within the team can be a challenge. I make hundreds of decisions each month, so the support of my Deputy and Service Manager are very important to ensure decision fatigue is managed well.
Most families we contact in the MASH are thankful for the support we can offer and hearing feedback from visits undertaken if the decision has been made for a child to be opened to Children’s social care is important for the team and I. Knowing our immediate response has kept children safe from further harm is the most rewarding part of the job.
I also love my team and the accountability we all have for decision we make.
Social Work is the most rewarding job, but it does not come without challenges. Families and professionals can challenge you. It is okay to not have all the answers, knowledge and skill set when you enter your first role. Take your time, communicate with your colleagues, and gain oversight from your Team Manager.
As you gain knowledge and experience, the job only becomes more rewarding and the early days of constantly questioning yourself will soon be a distant memory.
Find out more about starting a career in social work or contact your authority for more information.
