Could anyone here describe working conditions for social workers in the UK? As there is a shortage are you working a ridiculous amount of hours?
Okay, hyacinth. I'm back from work, so I'll try and answer your question better than this:
At the moment, most posts are in Children and Families / Child Protection, as the welfare state is being cut back. I'll try and answer in a more detailed fashion later.
At the moment there are a lot of changes going on in the UK welfare state, both legally and in terms of funding cuts, both to the social welfare system and the disproportionate impact of spending cuts on lower income families, women and disabled children.
For current research in this area, see the Economic and Social Research Council research project, Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK:
http://www.poverty.ac.uk/tags/government-cutsand the Joseph Rowntree Foundation:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/The College of Social Work published a report on how budget cuts are affecting eligibility thresholds for care that you can download:
http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-activity/social-work-care-services/collegeofsocialwork/collegesocial13.aspxThe Centre for Welfare Reform published a Briefing on How Cuts Are Targeted:
http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/library/by-date/briefing-on-how-cuts-are-targeted.html The Guardian's section on public sector cuts and social care:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/public-sector-cuts+social-careThe main social work magazine, Community Care's article, Social worker or benefits adviser? Examining the impact of welfare reforms:
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2013/05/07/social-worker-or-benefits-adviser-examining-the-impact-of-welfare-reforms/And Community Care's articles on workforce issues:
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/workforce/Most recently, Community Care's article 'Exhausted social workers on the edge of burnout but still achieving positive change'
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2015/07/14/social-workers-on-the-edge-of-burnout-but-still-achieving-positive-changes/I'd say if you can afford the pay cut, I prefer working in the voluntary / non profit sector. It allows more direct practice and freedom to get back to social work's roots, with less bureaucracy, in my experience.
More about social work in the UK:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/social_worker_job_description.htmhttps://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/socialworker.aspxOther alternatives that use a social work degree:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_social_work.htmMake sure you get registered to be able to practice:
England:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply/international/Scotland:
http://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/what-qualifications-do-i-need/non-uk-qualifications-for-social-workersWales:
http://www.ccwales.org.uk/register-as-a-social-worker-qualified-outside-the-uk/Northern Ireland:
http://www.niscc.info/index.php/registrants/applying-to-registerHope that gives you the flavour of the climate that you were after.
PS the shortage is in posts are in Children and Families / Child Protection (April 2015 UK Government Shortage list for Tier 2 visas):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423800/shortage_occupation_list_april_2015.pdfWhere in the UK and on what visa basis will you be coming to the UK?
