be a social worker

I wanted to be a Social Worker over 5 years ago. I had an interview and didn’t get in. I didn’t give up though, I just got jaded. Moving from Private to Public sector employment, I still kept my hand in with the world of Social Workers, but the posts I took entailed me seeing the dark side of social work. Dealing with complaints about social workers for a living made me think, why would anybody want to do that? I told myself that Social Work was not for me.

But for the past year, the urge to be a social worker has been unfurling in me again. I realised that yes, you get abuse and mistakes can happen, and the media will always hate you, but what about the social workers who do get it right, the ones that make a differnce to peoples lives. The ones we don’t hear about? I too want to be one of those people.

I have heard a theory that many people go into Social Work to heal their own problems, however I can honeslty say that I dont have any issues to air through Social Work. I just want to make a difference to peoples lives.

The one thing my job has taught me, is that helping people makes me feel happy. It makes me feel like I am least contributing something to the world, and not just taking. I love the contact with people, and a recent visit I made to an elderly gentleman, made me realise with more clarity then ever that this was what I wanted to do. I didn’t particulary impart any pearls of wisdom on the gentleman, but I was able to have a glimpse into his life and find out what could be done to improve it for him, by understanding a bit more about him and his desires.

I have one more year on my social policy degree. I have been philosophical about why I didn’t convert at the start of my second year, but I think I needed to come full circle to understand why I want to be a Social worker. My degree gives me an understanding of policy which will enrich my work as a social worker.

I am going travelling, and I will probably have a baby before I do my masters, but now I know what I want to do, and it’s here on this list to remind me, then it does not matter whether I qualify in 3 years or 10 years time.

So, I am new and in school to become a social worker. So far so good. Although school makes me nervous. Can’t wait to meet some new people!

Fingers crossed for MA Social Work at local uni for 2009/11

I should have done this years ago. I have been in several graduate programs that I have ended up hating. Now I am 38 and don’t want to go to school anymore. Don’t know what to do. :(

I am starting to reevaluate my decision to go to seminary. I actually wish I had come all the way across the country and just gotten into Social Work school in the first place. siiiigh.

It’s what I’ve wanted to do all my life, and now I’m doing it! Completing university (Bachelor of Social Science) and Tafe (Diploma of Community Welfare Work), my dream is to work as a Child Safety Officer in Sydney!

I hope my dream comes true!

Is post-qualifying consolidation training and the need to produce portfolios or other ongoing post-qualifying training, the jobs difficult and time consuming enough without that.

I’m thinking of using task centred theory and practice, systems theory and practice and possibly cognitive-behavioural theory or solutions focused practice.

In addition to providing an bit in the introductory essay about these theories and methods, I’m meant to include critical reflection on my practice, my views about personal and professional development and something about accountability and service user lead practices.

Bloudy hell if that doesnt make me think that whole thing is less about my personal and professional development and more about training units and universities prospecting for business.

If you are considering social work as a profession I’d recommend that you think about what you are going to study, generic diplomas or undergraduate degrees can be gateways into the profession but if you study psychology prior to or following studies in a social work qualification I’d say you are much better placed to diversify, maybe as a clinical psychologist.

I would also say that the insights in psychology, particularly ego psychology, groupthink, personality and character psychology are very useful.

Because I’m highly ambivalent about it, perhaps every field of work is the same but I have met, and had to deal, with many nuerotic individuals or individuals who are consumed by insecurities since I trained and began work. That’s the professionals, not the public!!

I think when you are training and qualified to work in this field its vital that you act with extreme caution in electing to work in any field, like childcare, mental health, elderly people, learning disability, you could get stuck there.

Consider who will be your senior officer and your colleagues, if you can and you have a choice, everyone has to earn a living but their views on team work, peer support, even trust worthiness or temperament.

I wouldnt be blinded by theory either, it is vital, absolutely, but often its organisational skill and knowledge of local services, bureaucratic referral processes stuff like that which means the most to getting tasks done.

I would also recommend that anyone who is motivated by wishes to changing the world or doing good, on the one hand or who have a passion for social and psychological topics or learning on the other hand, should think about it before they elect to make a cross over into profession or career pathway. It may not prove to be what you expected.

I’m in undergrad for psych now. I have a pretty good GPA, I’m an upper junior. I’ll be applying for MSW programs in less than a year. I’m really hoping to get into Hunter College School of Social Work because it’s a good school and really affordable.