How are you getting on?

My coworkers typically ask me this question with curiousity as to how I am settling into the job and more importantly whether or not I like my job.

Its a tough question to answer.

At this point, It is hard to know if I "like" my job or not.

Nobody in my office really seems to like their job, but they do it any way. It's sad in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, my coworkers do seem to like the good that comes from safeguarding children and young people. But, the tremendous amount of paperwork that goes along with it, the parents that verbally abuse you, the horrific sights and stories, and the feeling that you can never get caught up is overwhelming.

As I read through my case files, I saw social worker after social worker listed in the files of my young people that have been involved with social services for awhile. Let's face it, the job is HARD, and it seems that most people move on to the next job as soon as possible.

I have this internal dilemma as I continue to meet and invest in the young people that make up my caseload. From the beginning, I've known that I want to work on the Asylum team, and I am waiting for any opportunity possible to switch teams. However, I do not want to be just another social worker assigned to these young people's lives for a few months then move on to the next job.

I also think about some guidance that a good friend told me he was given regarding choosing a country to move abroad and work in. He was told to go to the country that no one else wanted to go to. The country where the work would most likely be the most challenging. Well, I am definitely in a job that in the scale of social work jobs is considered one of the most challenging---and at some level think that this job needs more "people like me". I know for the time being - I am placed here for a purpose.

On a more upbeat note:

There was one day last week that I really liked my job!

I was in a school meeting regarding a 10 year 'cheeky' little boy - the meeting is a statutory requirement. He had me internally laughing my butt off the whole meeting -- but I tried so hard not to laugh out loud because he was intentionally trying to make myself, the school professional, and his foster carer (grandma) crack. My favorite quote from him ... "oh homework....well... you see....I'm just RUBBISH at it!" (said with the straightest, most adorable British face). He then cracked a big smile and said... "no, I'm just kidding!"

Later I met with another young person and her foster carer, and she was so excited that she had finally been allocated a social worker. Her foster care placement was going really well, and she has gained so many social and life skills over past few months. Success stories... I just LOVE them!

It was this day that I realized, I am currently really lucky when it comes to my cases.

You see, I only have cases that are considered LAC (Looked After Children ie. children in foster care) and CHIN (Child In Need). I currently do not have a CP (child protection cases) because I am still considered newly qualified (PTL!!!).

My LAC kids fall under two categories: one is that their parents voluntarily have allowed the child to enter foster care for a time being and have joint parental responsibility for the young person along with social services. Or two, social services has gone through court proceedings in which the parent(s) were deemed unable to properly parent the child, so social services has a court order in which grants us parental responsibility for the child.

My CHIN cases are families that need extra support so that they do not enter into CP. Families have to agree to be considered CHIN, so at some level the family tends to work well with social services --- if they do not they will most likely become CP.

As of now, I get to work with young people, families, and foster carers that tend to engage well with social services. For the most part, my children are safe and are not in conditions in which their quality of life is being extremely negatively impacted at the time being.

I like this part of the job ..... but I tend to get really nervous when I think about taking on CP cases in the future.