Calling all Social Workers

hi larissa

have you had a look at the General Social Care Council website? gscc.org.uk as i understand it the "certificate of registration" is only for social workers or social work students. there was talk of opening it up to other degrees if you meet the qualifications...but i don't think that is in place yet.

i've been away for a year...but only social workers were required to register...not social work assistance. there was some discussion that social work assistance would need to be called by a different title since social worker is now a protected title. i noticed the website said that care workers will be registered in the future...i think that may be the new title for assistant.

it may be difficult to get a post as an assistant...those are the posts that usually lots of people apply. i've worked at 3 different local authorities...and i can recall only 2 people that were not british. although the CP area is pretty desparate for workers in general...so if you have enough experience you may be able to find a post.

as for places to look for posts...you are looking in the right places. you might look to a few more agencies..you can be with more than one...and that way more people are looking for posts for you.

oh...and the agency usually pays for the CRB...at least that has been the case for 2 agencies i've been with.

Once again, I will totally agree with Kerry_H.

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/ has all the info you will need.

Since you are now settled here Larissa, is it possible for you to go back to school to train as a social worker? There are lots of opportunities if you go this route.

I'd say College... afterall if they ask to see proof, the names will match up and some people do know that the American higher education system includes colleges.

Definitely sign up with all the recruiting agencies you can find and be very specific about the kinds of jobs you want.

How about looking at voluntary agencies? There are some really good ones out there and they won't pigeon hole you to CPS. I think I linked a googled website for voluntary agencies a few pages back.

good luck!

I have looked at the GSCC website.  From what I've read it seems that I could maybe qualify.  They aren't specific about what degree you need to have, just that if you don't have an actual "social work" degree that you have enough experience in social work.  I'm trying to figure out what enough counts as.

I can't go back to school right now, he's in school full-time.  Also, his salary doesn't fully support us.  I need a job.  I feel as though I f-ed up by moving over here since I can't get a job and can't get qualified to get a job.  I'm not at all specific about the types of jobs I want.  I can't afford to be at this point.

This agency doesn't pay for the CRB...so is it still worth it to register with them?

I just want to go back.  A degree in psy and 5 years doing social work count for nothing over here.  If I don't have a job by Christmas the plan is for me to go back to the States, work, support myself, send him money so he can support himself, and then figure out what to do.  The debt of doing it any other way simply isn't worth it.  We screw our visas up but it's either that or debt.

I can't even afford to volunteer right now.  The cost of transport to get to a place that doesn't pay is simply isn't worth it.

Larissa
i wouldn't be hopeless...i'm sure you will be able to find something. have you thought about residential treatment centers...or perhaps working as a carer? you wouldn't need to be registered for these posts and you could apply in the meantime.

so you are already here...and you can work without a work permit? if so that is a great advantage...the employer doesn't have to prove that there isn't anyone in the UK to fill the post.

i would just start ringing agencies and see what they have to say. i'm about to be with bluecare and they seem quite good. you can ask for paul maxwell. i would avoid quality locums...had a bad experience with them.

you might just ring some of the local authorities and speak to the administrator for various teams. they are usually in the know if there are posts available. if there is a post available see if they will let you speak with the team manager. it's expensive to advertise so some local authorities don't.

i'm sure others have ideas as well!

I don't need a work permit, I'm over here on a FLR spousal visa until 2008.

Larissa,

Not sure why my post did not make it...but basically here in Kent we have positions called Social Work Asisstants.  They do a lot of the same jobs as a social worker but none of the court work and cannot case hold.  You would get paid about £4k- £6k less than a social worker a year but you do not have to be registered.  Something for you to think about.  I know in Kent and Derbyshire if you look at the County Council websites you will find posts like I am talking about.  Not sure about other counties though.  Something to look into. 

BTW I have a spousal visa too and there was no issues around it.  I just had to show them my visa. 

I can't even afford to volunteer right now.  The cost of transport to get to a place that doesn't pay is simply isn't worth it.

Any organization worth volunteering for will cover your cost of transport. The mental health trust I work for pays volunteers up to 5.40 per session with a receipt. We ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 and most placements are for one half day per week.

Good luck!

By the sea - I'm checking into cousil website and can't seem to find much like that right now.  I've applied for a couple of those positions though.

My comment about what visa I was on was because someone asked or made comment about the visa (needing a work visa, I think).  I don't mind showing the visa to people, just trying to point out that I didn't need a work visa.

I'm checking into cousil website and can't seem to find much like that right now.  I've applied for a couple of those positions though.

Call the HR departments directly. They may know of positions that are not listed.

http://www.jobsgopublic.com/

http://www.lgjobs.co.uk/index.cfm

These are also helpful sites.

By the sea - I'm checking into cousil website and can't seem to find much like that right now.  I've applied for a couple of those positions though.

My comment about what visa I was on was because someone asked or made comment about the visa (needing a work visa, I think).  I don't mind showing the visa to people, just trying to point out that I didn't need a work visa.

Larissa,

Just keep checking.  I know for a fact that we are going to have two social work assistant post come up very soon.  Not sure about the rest of East Kent because I do not deal with recruitment for the entire area anymore.  But maybe just start calling around to areas you want to work in and ask.  Once you find the person who leads on recruitment you will be amazed at what will be coming up from time to time. 

Okay, so I have a question that I want to run by other social workers.  I am going to be working part-time as a therapist for the company that I currently work for.  I have been in email contact with the agency director in the England Ageny.  She has been very nice and encouraging.  She is English, but was trained as an MSW in the US.  After I mentioned that I was going to probably do full-time social work and use the part-time job to keep up my clinical skills, she was advising me that I would likely be happier if I were to not go into the social work bureaucracy but instead register with BACP as a psychotherapist, showing them my training and clinical experience.  She indicated that I would also make more money as a therapist than I would as a social worker.

I was a bit surprised at this counsel since one of this woman's therapists at a recent training we both attended was telling me I'd have a harder time making a living as a therapist than as a social worker.  The director of my agency seemed to hint to me that there is a strong prejudice by many against social workers and that she hinted that the woman who had told me it would be hard to make money as a therapist might just be speaking from prejudice against social workers.  The director was MSW trained and has done well herself with BACP accreditation.

I know that social workers aren't considered therapists, but have any of you done clinical work?  I'm beginning to think about not just doing social work.  I have loved the balance in my current job of clinical and generalist skills.  I have to admit that I'm struggling to want to go back to grass-roots social work.  Has anyone tried a different route?  I don't want to just have a private practice.  One of the things I love about social work is its emphasis on serving disadvantaged populations, but I have to believe that I could still find work in a setting that helps difficult populations too.  For instance, I love working with women who have struggled to overcome abuse, but I have not seen any jobs in social work that focus on adults that way.  All the posts I've seen in the area I'm moving to are focused on child protective services or senior care.

Hi all,

Thanks for turning me on to this thread Paula!

I read through the entire thread this evening and still have some questions I am hoping you can help me answer.

I am pursuing a BSW in the US and am considering pursuing a MSW in the UK.

Has anyone here done this?

I read a MSW really isn't neccesary.  Do you think I would be able to obtain a permanate job with no experience fresh out of uni and how many of you have done this soley with a BSW vs. an MSW.  Unfortunately, I am guessing the majority of you who did do this on a BSW had experience.  Can any of you suggest jobs I might hold to beef up my CV while working towards my BSW?  As of December of this year I will have an AA in Sociology and would like to get started on this while knocking out my BSW.  Is there something like an Assistant SW here in the US?  Have any of you gone over on the BSW with no post BSW experience?

Do you think I would still need to go through an agency if I did obtain an MSW in UK?

If I came over with only a BSW do employers typically assist their employees in pursuing MSWs part-time?

Finally, can you please tell me a rough number or average wage of social workers in UK?  I've found varying info. online.

Quite the list, I know..just trying to get sorted so anything you can offer would be great!

Hi Cadenza,

How about just coming over and figuring out what you want to do once you see the systems and how they operate before you make a decision? Likewise, you will certainly find more jobs advertised that are NOT CPS stuff once you come over. There are LOTS of jobs here if you know where to look.

I had generalist experience and clinical experience in the states. I know I definitely use both in my work... more so because I do a lot of grief counseling in my role.

If the BACP can open doors for you, go for it.

I'm planning on doing that to some extent, but wedding receptions and the month that DF and I will both be missing of work due to wedding and visa arrangements is going to leave things tight.  He has also gone back to get advanced certification in his field, so he doesn't make much.  This means I will be wanting to hit the ground running as much as possible since things will be tight in the beginning.  I'm just seeking counsel from others who have been there to see what their experience has been.  I'm sure mine may turn out to be different, but it's good to have a better idea of what I'm in for since I felt I was getting contradictory advise from several people.  

Nothing like starting over with every single aspect of your life completely changing in one fell swoop!!  I'm trying to enjoy the process still though, even if it's stressful.

I'm just seeking counsel from others who have been there to see what their experience has been.  I'm sure mine may turn out to be different, but it's good to have a better idea of what I'm in for since I felt I was getting contradictory advise from several people.  

Nothing like starting over with every single aspect of your life completely changing in one fell swoop!!  I'm trying to enjoy the process still though, even if it's stressful.

sorry if you misinterpreted what I was saying. I wasn't trying to be curt. I just think that if you came with an open mind either way you will figure out what direction you want to take once you get here. It really is hard to explain because every job and region in the UK is so different.  I don't doubt that you are hearing contradictory messages. That's like the whole MSW v MFT debate we used to have back in the States. (MSWs being more superior of course  )

If you come with the education and experience and start applying around directly, I will guarantee you your response rate will be much different than those of us who had to rely on recruiters and councils who would entertain the idea of recruiting international workers on their own.

Now, if I were you (with your visa status)... I'd hook up with recruiters once you get here and take some locum work to get a feel for it... the money is fab, you don't have to be tied to a job you hate and you can get to know the system.

Definitely look at Community Care  http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Home/Default.aspx and my favorite site http://www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk/london.php

You are in for a total roller coaster ride, but once you look back you will think it wasn't half bad! Happy wedding and moving wishes to you!!