Fried Social Worker® Blog

Today I received an interesting comment to this blog from a Mr Sam Kingsley in the United Kingdom. I decided to post it here for social workers in the UK. Mr Kingsley writes that he is seeking information on the working conditions of “Children’s Social Workers” (presumably child protective services) social workers in the United Kingdom.

If you decide to contact Mr Kingsley, please be prudent about it. Please be sure you don’t violate your ethics or reveal identifying client information (even client initials in a diary–consider use of a numbering system or other coding system instead of names or initials.) Please check your employment contract to be certain you aren’t violating any provisions that would place you or your clients in jeopardy. And while you’re at it, I’d suggest that you safeguard your own confidentiality in e-mail or other correspondences.

Having made those caveats, here’s Mr Kingsley’s request:

Hello,

My name’s Sam Kingsley and I’m making a report for Channel 4 News on working conditions for children’s social workers.

I’m looking to speak to children’s social workers in the UK - off the record - to hear about your experiences, if you think the system is working well and, if not, what the problems might be.

Specifically, I’m looking to find out whether:

- Caseloads are too high

- There is adequate support from managers

- Social workers fear being made a scapegoat in the event of something going wrong

- College training and on-the-job training sufficiently prepare new and less-experienced social workers for the realities of working in child protection.

I’m also looking for children’s social workers across the country to complete an anonymous ‘diary’ every day for two weeks, recording how much time they spend in front of a computer, what pressures they come under, what support they get from managers, and so on.

Any conversation will be strictly confidential and off the record.

If you are interested in keeping a diary, would like to talk to me, or if you’d like any more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch at
samkingsley@moonstonefilms.co.uk

Many thanks and I look forward very much to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Sam