Calling all Social Workers

I was just offered a job in Scotland to work as a Children and Families sw'er.  My recruitment agency told me that the Home office should have received the work permit application on Wed. Aug 9th.  Being that social workers are still on the shortage list, how long did it take most of you to get your work permit in hand?  Also, for those of you with US spouses, did your spouse then complete the work permit dependent application for the entry clearance visa?  We are trying to get everything together for the time when I receive the work permit.  If so, what supporting documents did you and your spouse provide?  Were you able to send in your visa applications together with the same set of supporting documents? 

Several questions that I just really need answered.  If anyone can help out, that would be great!  Thank you in advance!

Work permit in hand? Less than two weeks from the time the local authority sent it in.

Yes, your spouse needs to complete the work dependent app for entry clearance.

Supporting documents? Passport, letter of employment from borough, FBI clearance, original work permit, cv, gscc registration, I think that's all.

And yes, you may send everything on both of you in together. Doesn't take any time at all for entry clearance. Mine came back in less than a week.

Thank you for your answers. Just a couple clarifying questions.  What does the letter of employment need to state.  I have the offer letter that they just sent me saying that I have been offered the job with the condition of being given the work permit and a form with the salary being offered.  Is that sufficient or do I need more of a formal letter stating something different.  Also, you mention that we both need to send in an FBI clearance?  I didn't see that anywhere on the VISA websites, so where is that listed to be a necessary document so I can view that more clearly.  I have an FBI check from when I got my SSSC registration in Scotland but my husband hasn't done that and it takes at least 2 months to come back.  I don't want to go through that if it's not necessary I guess. 

Just curious.  Thank you again!

The letter you have is sufficient. That's the letter that I sent in. As for the FBI check, the one you had for your SSSC Registration is good enough. It may not even be necessary but since I had it I sent it. I decided I'd rather send too much than not enough. I don't know that it's necessary to send one on your spouse but this page will give you instructions on what is needed.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1018721068127

hiya...i read thru this thread today....took quite some time! i thought i might be of some help to social workers either already here or on their way. i came over in 2001....in the states i was a director in mental health...children and families...but applied for social work team manager posts in the UK. i have had my MSW for about 15 years.

i applied directly to local authorities....found the available jobs mainly on the guardians website. i did a video conference interview for one post and then flew over to interview for another post. this was a bit before local authorities were a bit more savvy about recruiting overseas.

i took a post managing a children with disabilities team in hammersmith and fulham. my manager had the foresight to arrange for a one month training...i'm very grateful for that! still it was very difficult learning a new system and then being responsible for social workers from all over the world.

the thing i found most difficult was having a very stressful job and being in a new country where you suddenly had to think about everything.....how to open your front door....turn on a light switch...all those things that we don't think about suddenly took a bit too much brain power. being a manager i was quite isolated...and i came over on my own.

the social work here does feel like you have stepped back about 20 years. i had a social worker from Tobago...(Caribbean) say she thought coming from a third world country things would be a bit more advanced in london...but she was wrong.

i found the work extremely stressful.....i was responsible for much more in the states but had a difficult time in the UK. i don't want to be completely negative....i did find that managers were quite interested in the types of programmes i had been involved in while in the states.

i went on to mangage a children's and family team in walthamstow (wouldn't recommend working there) and then the most recent ealing...i would recommend.

what i would say to you that are just starting out....get as much training as possible. don't say i'm too busy to take time away....it is so valuable. also....try to introduce some of the thinking from the states. look for team building things. at my last post i had an american social worker (the first time). we did loads of social activities...it really made the work more bearable.

i now spend about half my time in a lovely place in france...a garden...chickens...and no stress. i return to london at the end of august. i've been chatting with my agency about available posts....but really dreading the thought of doing the type of work i've done before.

if i can be of help let me know......

the social work here does feel like you have stepped back about 20 years. i had a social worker from Tobago...(Caribbean) say she thought coming from a third world country things would be a bit more advanced in london...but she was wrong.

what i would say to you that are just starting out....get as much training as possible. don't say i'm too busy to take time away....it is so valuable. also....try to introduce some of the thinking from the states.

ha ha, I am always saying this about how backwards things are and definitely 20 years behind!! My SW friends back home don't believe me! It's not a negative thing... just the way they are. 

I did loads of training when i started out. It does help a lot and now that I am over my head in work I try to prioritize some of the trainings I really want to do.

Welcome Kerry_H!

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by "stepped back 20 years"?  Well, on the surface, I know what you mean, but being a newbie to the whole SW process, can you give me some examples of how a situation is handled in the states, and how the same situation is handled differently in the UK? 

Gracias.   

hi gyladene...are you a social worker in the states?

in the US i worked in mental health but had many contracts with the state to provide services for children and families. and in the UK i've worked solely in children's services for local authorities.

i have found the UK very punitive towards families....especially when dealing with child protection issues. although i have seen that change a bit since i've been here (to the positive). there is lots of money and time towards assessment but little invested in interventions with families. the states has more of an emphasis on family preservation...(i was trained and implemented a programme in the Homebuilders model).

i see very little evidence based interventions in the UK. it seems the system is a bit depressed overall.....and not much room for creativity. there are of course exceptions to that. i was working towards an integration model for children with disabilities (local authorities, health, and education). but this is something very new in the UK! i had always worked in an integrated model since i began my career in the early 90's.

mental health in the UK is almost non existent for people, especially kids...mainly they provide people with meds without therapy. they have just started talking about the benefits of this new thing called "cognitive behavioural therapy"!

the interesting thing about working in the UK is that social workers come from all over the world. the aussie social workers tend to be very energetic and creative. the local authorities where i have worked were very open to hearing other ways of doing things.

anyone else have any thoughts about the comparisons?

Wow, thank you so much for the insight, Kerry!  I'm not a social worker just yet, but I am a social work student.  I currently have a BA in Communication, but I still have a couple of years before I get my BSW.  Someday I hope I can make it to the UK.  I'm hoping to qualify before it's removed from the shortage list.   

they have just started talking about the benefits of this new thing called "cognitive behavioural therapy"!

And that explains it all! 

Thanks Kerry, I've appreciated your insight.  It sounds like burnout is hitting a bit.  That is such a hard feeling.  I hope things will come together well for you.  I know what a challenge that can be.  Hopefully your post will be a rewarding one.  It seems like the collegial relationship makes such a huge difference for me.

I've wondered about comments from some of the recruitment agencies that there is a lot more paperwork in the UK so they keep your caseload smaller to compensate a bit.  I'm wondering how that may be since I already feel like I have to document every single thing I do.  What has your experience (or others' experiences) been in regards to the organizational/paperwork side of things.  I'm a bit nervous about this as that is an area that I really have to push myself.  I do good very good notes, but I tend to get a bit overwhelmed by the amount at times and fall behind.  I'm worried that I'm going to be in over my head if documentation is tons busier.

hi cadenza...yes you are right about burnout...the only way i've coped in a managers post in london is to spend 6-12 months working and then 6-12 months in france! we have a beautiful garden....chickens...and no pressure! i had a much higher stress post in the states and coped quite well.

yes you are right...there is more paperwork in the UK...and you don't always have a smaller caseload unfortunately. if you are very organised you can stay on top of it. i focused quite a bit with social workers on strategies to use time efficiently.

i agree that support from your colleagues is really important. that's something i always encouraged and help develop. unfortunately as a manager you tend to be a bit isolated...so thus adding to the burnout.

i'm heading back to london in 2 weeks....looking to other types of posts.

do you already have a post in london? i'm sure you'll do fine with the paperwork. i've found the type of person that is organised enough to move across the world....is organised enough to stay on top of everything else!

Well said Kerry.

I'll second the comment about more paperwork does not equal smaller caseload.

A piece of advice to remember is that most recruiting agencies really don't know what social workers do... they talk like they do and make a good sell but many recruiters really don't know the day to day stuff. Feel free to ask what the recruiter's experience is with linking social workers with social care jobs. This will ensure that s/he really has your interests in mind and not just filling slots.

Does the FBI check really take 2 months?

hi smootie...do you mean the CRB? as far as i know... it does usually take about 6-8 weeks. it means that in the meantime you can't be alone with a child...at least that's how the local authorities where i've worked handle it.

i noticed from another post you said you are a mental health therapist from seattle. i lived near green lake before i moved here and worked in mental health in everett. i wonder if our paths ever crossed?

Hi Kerry,
I worked in downtown Seattle for a therapeutic childcare for young children. I'm guessing the place you worked for.... does it start with a 'C'?  We lived in Kenmore until this past June when I jumped across the pond.

I am referring to the CRB, I sent my prints and a request off to the FBI because I had not thought to do this before I moved. I'm applying for jobs in my field which involves working with children and doing therapy alone with them. I hope I did the right thing, as I heard the the UK authorities cannot do CRB's on people from the US so we're supposed to provide our own.

hey smootie...yes i did work for the ever growing "C"! i think they are probably in 5 counties by now...although i did help with that growth. i also had a contract for therapeutic childcare programme in skagit county. on a earlier post i said something about the differences between the UK and the US....and that programme did come to mind. ...very research based...if i recall there is a longitudinal study that must be 10+ years by now.

as far as the CRB...i'm not sure how it works when you first come over. i was here before it was in place...so just brought my checks from the states with me. maybe someone else has a better idea on timeframe.

good luck in with staying in mental health...i ended up in the child protection....not my favourite!