Social workers

[greenstiles]

That's rather making light of peoples experiences on here :shock:

Were not talking parking tickets....were talking family break ups and courts and i'll pull the heart strings now......children being distressed for no reason quite often.

Well 6 pages and it's startting to water down.

Thanks for all the real people who had real trouble with SW. You know the reality of what can happen when they get it wrong.

Glossing over an issue doesn't make it go away.

But hey this is just a debate on a forum. I hope that by reading some real life accounts on here people realise that there are a lot of bad SW who get it wrong at the expence of families who were inocent, but are left without any apology or compensation for their ordeal.

Saving one child ' doesn't cancel out the stories and pain of others who didn't need saving but had to go through the painful processes for no good reason other than the hunches from bad social workers who think they can never be wrong.

 

[highlandsflyer]

That's rather making light of peoples experiences on here :shock:

Were not talking parking tickets....were talking family break ups and courts and i'll pull the heart strings now......children being distressed for no reason quite often.

Well 6 pages and it's startting to water down.

Thanks for all the real people who had real trouble with SW. You know the reality of what can happen when they get it wrong.

Glossing over an issue doesn't make it go away.

But hey this is just a debate on a forum. I hope that by reading some real life accounts on here people realise that there are a lot of bad SW who get it wrong at the expence of families who were inocent, but are left without any apology or compensation for their ordeal.

Saving one child ' doesn't cancel out the stories and pain of others who didn't need saving but had to go through the painful processes for no good reason other than the hunches from bad social workers who think they can never be wrong.

Rubbish.

I was very clearly referring to the idea that anyone has to wade in defending their profession in any arena populated by Joe Public for that profession to be validated.

That is in no way making light of anything, and you should perhaps think twice before aiming such a suggestion.

Hrumphhhh.

 

[greenstiles]

No offence, but i did think you were using a bad comparison as this thead was specifically about Social workers and their differences to other people in other jobs, that was my whole point. Hmmmph.

We could go on till the cows come home, but i hope people will read all the real life situations on here, they speak volumes. Ta Ta

 

[highlandsflyer]

I really must be getting old. I haven't stomped back into this thread swinging an axe.

There really is nothing to be had from getting upset about the general public having no time for your profession.

Purely a public relations issue.

My sister in law began as a Traffic Warden, before moving on to the Met.

Thank god she never took criticism to heart.

I merely suggest being part of an unpopular profession does not oblige one to right public misconceptions, especially those based on individual experiences. It is important not to take it on. Social work is a hard enough area to be involved in without getting involved in defending the indefensible. If you were not individually involved in the experiences of individuals decrying your profession you cannot make a meaningful challenge to their reasoning.

As far as this thread is concerned, regardless of your profession you can take everything to extremes in discussion. There are many more informative arenas to learn more about social work, where you can read broad based opinions and accounts from more than a handful of individuals.

If I wanted to compare the role of social workers to that of traffic wardens in any way, other than to make the obvious reference to them being generally unpopular professions, I would do so; but there is no reason to, and in no way has any reference or statement I have posted here made light of anything. Damn insulting to suggest it does; and to persist with that.

 

[greenstiles]

I think your trying to wriggle out of a flippant remark myself. But hey no hard feelings.

I get what your trying to say, after comming into contact with SW on and of for nearly 20 years, studying psychology twice and recently attending a course full of SW expressing some pretty worrying comments, coming on here to hear many true life accounts of the bad things that commonly go wrong and having all be it just 1 SW defend his profession, but finally admit they are constantly confused by changing policy and have to cover their asses..............it is really silly of me to try and form any opinion at all. I'm sorry i'm not that numb to the world.

If you can use traffic wardens i'm going to use garage mechanics......'' quite a lot of garage mechanics don't do a good job'' sweeping statement or just what most people already know ? But if you say it's too easy to complain about others professions, that means next time one of us gets swindled at a garage, we shouldn't complain and should just think about the good jobs they have done.


Nah doesn't sound right to me. But I respect your opinion.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I think your trying to wriggle out of a flippant remark myself. But hey no hard feelings.

I get what your trying to say, after comming into contact with SW on and of for nearly 20 years, studying psychology twice and recently attending a course full of SW expressing some pretty worrying comments, coming on here to hear many true life accounts of the bad things that commonly go wrong and having all be it just 1 SW defend his profession, but finally admit they are constantly confused by changing policy and have to cover their asses..............it is really silly of me to try and form any opinion at all. I'm sorry i'm not that numb to the world.

If you can use traffic wardens i'm going to use garage mechanics......'' quite a lot of garage mechanics don't do a good job'' sweeping statement or just what most people already know ? But if you say it's too easy to complain about others professions, that means next time one of us gets swindled at a garage, we shouldn't complain and should just think about the good jobs they have done.


Nah doesn't sound right to me. But I respect your opinion.

Quite frankly you are being a total ass on this.

No one with a grasp on reality would suggest I am trying to 'wriggle out' of anything.

I have made it clear for you, but you insist on misinterpreting me.

Quite the troll.

 

[dyna-ti]

Come on now ladies,lets keep this civilised

Agree to disagree if need be
Cheers

 

[Charlieboy28]

I really must be getting old. I haven't stomped back into this thread swinging an axe.

There really is nothing to be had from getting upset about the general public having no time for your profession.

Purely a public relations issue.

My sister in law began as a Traffic Warden, before moving on to the Met.

Thank god she never took criticism to heart.

I agree 100% that it is very much a public relations issue due to years of propganda and negative portrayal in the media which has gone unchallenged.

I do now feel this needs to be addressed, the ignorance needs to be dispelled and people need to understand what it is that social workers actually do. This process has begun to a very small degree with the forming of the college of SW , the stand up for social work campaign and a few mps now saying enough is enough.

While not negating the experience of people on here or the serious case reviews and enquiries that have been mentioned i still maintain this is a tiny tiny proportion of the many thousands of families that come into contact with social services. Given the nature of the task i am actually suprised there are not far more people are not writing how negative their experience was.

the public needs to have time for the profession in the same way they have for nurses, drs, police, and the armed forces, professions that have all in their time committed as many mistakes as SW, yet these seem to be forgiven and forgotten very quickly.

it is being currently argued that the best way for SW to show what it does, what it deals with and how, is to allow media reporting into the family courts. It actually makes me feel physically sick to think what the likes of the Sun newspaper would do with the information should this ever be allowed to happen, as we deal with the most vulnerable damaged people in society.

I also think that Sw as a profession is completely defensible, often the individual practice of certain SWs leaves a lot to be desired, but the profession itself is as noble as they come.

Oh and greenstiles you really have got the wrong end of a large club shaped stick and now are repeatedly hitting yourself on the head with it. The parralell being drawn was the unpopularity of both traffic wardens and social work in saying thats the ways it is your necessary but no one likes you ,stop bleating about it and get on with the job, if you want adulation, understanding and recognition, find another job.

 

[Charlieboy28]

I get what your trying to say, after comming into contact with SW on and of for nearly 20 years, studying psychology twice and recently attending a course full of SW expressing some pretty worrying comments,
.

You see greenstiles while this may qualify you to have an opinion, there is no validity or weight to that opinion, especially when you are just reiterating the common misconceptions that abound in the scummy press.

as discussed earlier a SW as the lead professional in the CP process has to conduct their assessment and then present that to a meeting of family and other professionals. If the case goes to court your case will be torn apart by vicious barristers and a judge if you have not done your job properly, if your evidence if flimsy etc. these are just two examples from the role, but i think you have to be exceptionally together, supremely confident and the complete opposite of flaky. If your own issues or demons were affecting your practice or judgements you would not last five minutes in the job. You know, having studied psychology extensivley also , can you point me to the theory to which you refer the one which has researched and evidenced the possible correlation between early life experience and choice of profession?

unless it is that having studied psychology twice( you dont say at which level) in itself qualifies you enough to make observations and statements like this .[/quote]

 

[greenstiles]

Sorry you don't like my opinions guys. I have had support behind the scenes who agree with , but sadly are cautious about coming on here for a bun fight or being baited.

As for using the internet term 'troll' for someone who hasn't aimed any personal insults like some remarks made to me at 1st have been, i find that a very blunt tactic.

I have given my honest opinions and tried to learn some thing along the way.

I have even had a bit of self doubt at times, but thanks to the people who have posted up their bad experiences with SW and a couple of people who have expressed support behind the scenes, I know i am not alone with such opinions.

I only reason i used the mechanics analogy was to prove how silly it was to compare what we were talking about to non relevant professions.

I am happy in my opinions and that is what they are. No I am not trying to cause trouble either, so you can stop that one please.


I will bow out now finally as I just feel that from this point i am going to be baited and made out to not have the right to expess myself.


Thanks for everyones input.