Calling all Social Workers

There are clinical social workers working in mental health teams. They are classified as Approved Social Workers. It is not the same ASW that social workers in the states get when working towards licensure.  Have a look at the GSCC website and I bet you can find more info on ASW.

I was a School Social Worker focus and lucky me, I am working with schools!! 

I'm dipping my toes in...

I have no idea, really what is involved in social work, but everything I am finding myself attracted to in my life these days seem to lean in this direction. 

I need to explore it more before I dive in. 

Basically, I want to work with families, particularly parental support and counseling.

Can any of you give me some insight as to what is involved in the education and certification end of becoming a social worker?


The other question is I'm not exactly young anymore.  Is that a concern?

To all of you who take the time to answer, I thank you!

Mrs Pink, you'd be fantastic!!

Check out your local council and see what types of jobs there around family support. There are LOADS of unqualified positions such as Assistant Social Workers or positions that coordinate services for families. There is A LOT of unqualified work out there to do.

Now if you are interested in becoming a Qualified Social Worker check out the GSCC website.

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/

and http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/socialwork/

Your age is fine but you would have to complete a social work diploma. My colleague did it as a "mature student" and that worked really well for him because his education qualifications wouldn't have been enough these days.

Start with your council's website. 

Mrs Pink, you'd be fantastic!!

Check out your local council and see what types of jobs there around family support. There are LOADS of unqualified positions such as Assistant Social Workers or positions that coordinate services for families. There is A LOT of unqualified work out there to do.

Now if you are interested in becoming a Qualified Social Worker check out the GSCC website.

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/

and http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/socialwork/

Your age is fine but you would have to complete a social work diploma. My colleague did it as a "mature student" and that worked really well for him because his education qualifications wouldn't have been enough these days.

Start with your council's website. 

THANKS J!!!!!!!

Sorry I've been so absent lately. Work is very, very stressful right now so I just have a minute. Karen, go for it! I was forty when I went back to school....just got my sw degree in 2000. Feel free to call me if you want to chat about it. I think you'd be awesome! Good luck!

I just moved to the UK with my huz (the one with the job).  I'm waiting for my registration with the GSCC to come through, and I've been researching the various recruitment agencies and websites--I really like http://www.greatsocialcare.co.uk/, by the way. 

I'm also thinking of applying directly to some of London Boroughs for social work jobs.  Is anyone currently working for one of the boroughs?  Just curious...If someone loved Islington, for example, I'd make it a point to apply when something became available.  Thanks!    

I work for Merton in south London. Several of us that are on the board work for Local Authorities. Do you live in Islington? If so, be careful about applying there. Of course, it depends on what team you end up on but more often than not, it's better to live and work in different boroughs. Feel free to pm me if you want a chat about working for LAs.

Hey, Cadenza's back on the Social Work board--and she's increasingly frustrated with finding jobs in this country.  I'm starting to think that the woman who advised me to look for jobs as a therapist may have not had much experience looking for jobs here as one.  She was hired immediately by the same agency I worked for before (a US based one).  I'm finding it much more difficult to locate clinical work here.  I know there are psychologists out there, so there must be some clinical-based jobs, but I can't find openings anywhere that look like they will work.  I've also been told that the NHS isn't opening any jobs even though everyone tells me how desperately they need therapists.  This is a shame as I'd rather work in a community setting like a hospital or mental health clinic than do private practice.

I've had a little work doing some private referrals from some local church leaders, but I'm coming back to the decision that maybe I should just take some temporary jobs to get some money and build up my CV.  Unfortunately I didn't get my qualification set up since I wasn't planning on doing grass roots social work.  So now I have to figure out how to pay for both my BACP membership and my CCW (like GSCC in Wales).  I thought temporary work might fit the bill as it can give me experience, but not leave me tied to one place.

So now I'm looking for ideas.  I'm looking at jobs with the council, but I'm also looking into agency work.  Has anyone had any experience with Sanctuary Social Care?  They are one of the ones someone referred me to.  I'm worried because so many of the agencies seem to want to limit me only to child and family teams since I have some adoption/foster care experience.  If I take a job in one field, am I going to be as tied down to that kind of work as they make it sound?  Surely there has to be some wiggle room or how does everyone keep from burning out?  I'm afraid of the feeling that I get that I won't be able to change the kind of social work I do once I've started, but I do need to work and can't just wait around for other jobs.

Do any of you mind telling me about your experiences with different agencies?  I'm fine with people PMing me if you don't feel comfortable sharing things in a public way.  I just want to make sure that I don't get burned as I'm figuring out how things work here.

hi cadenza...sorry you're having difficulty finding a suitable post. i was in mental health in the states, but then moved to children and families over here. have you considered a hospital team thru the local authority? it's hospital based but part of social services...it might work as an in between step... that you could later move towards something more clinical.

i've not been impressed with most agencies...so no recommendations...but definitely the way to go to try out posts.

have you tried approaching private agencies? it doesn't pay as well...but much less bureaucracy than local authorities.

do you have your LCSW? one of the things that i'm pursuing is providing supervision for american social workers that are working in the UK. i'm not sure how many american social workers are placed in wales...but just a thought.

good luck!

aw, sorry Cadenza! I think finding the perfect job is either dumb luck or through lots of networking. I know one social worker who is doing some work under the Every Child Matters umbrella. Her funding runs out next year now that Children's Centres are emerging. Anyhow, she has really developed her scope and does some very front line work with families with one team and via CAMHS... way different that how most social workers operate.

Definitely explore agencies and councils directly. Obviously with agencies you are more likely to be offered a temp contract so if it really doesn't suit you it is okay that you leave when it is time (or before as our temp just did!!)

Just be confident about what you DON'T want to do and start from there. If you didn't like it in the states it is unlikely you'd like it here. 

So I'm finally getting my act together re: my GSCC application.  I graduate with my MSW in 9 weeks (but who is counting? ) and am spending the summer assistant directing a summer camp I've worked at the past several years. 

Anyone have any tips for the GSCC app?  I'm feeling a bit unclear on mine because I've been at a field placement since last spring for my MSW, but have been hired on by them as on-call, so that falls under the employment category.  Just trying to get all my things together and photocopies verified by the correct person (before I graduate and don't live in the same city as them!) and all that fun stuff.  And does listing all jobs since leaving school mean since I left high school?

At least getting my things together for my orals/portfolio required at my school to graduate has helped me get the the documentary evidence together for my personal statements

Interesting article on the GSCC:

http://society.guardian.co.uk/socialcare/comment/0,,2043940,00.html

So I'm finally getting my act together re: my GSCC application.  I graduate with my MSW in 9 weeks (but who is counting? ) and am spending the summer assistant directing a summer camp I've worked at the past several years. 

Anyone have any tips for the GSCC app?  I'm feeling a bit unclear on mine because I've been at a field placement since last spring for my MSW, but have been hired on by them as on-call, so that falls under the employment category.  Just trying to get all my things together and photocopies verified by the correct person (before I graduate and don't live in the same city as them!) and all that fun stuff.  And does listing all jobs since leaving school mean since I left high school?

At least getting my things together for my orals/portfolio required at my school to graduate has helped me get the the documentary evidence together for my personal statements

It is good that you are still studying and therefore, have easier access to the relevant assitance from your social work colleagues. I would say that regarding listing the jobs, only list those that are relevant to the social work field generally. Since leaving school tends to mean age 16 and after, but unless you were doing relevant voluntary work at that age, I don't see why it would matter to your application. My advice from experience is make sure that you have official descriptions of every course you took for your MSW. You sshould be able to mold the descriptions to fit the requirements without too much hassle.

I see now since I did it, that there are country specific giudelines for some countries:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/gscc/Templates/Anchor.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fThe%2bSocial%2bCare%2bRegister%2fApply%2bfor%2bregistration%2fWorkers%2bfrom%2babroad%2fCountry%2bassessment%2bguidelines%2f&NRNODEGUID=%7b104FC2EB-E246-4E82-92FC-43623BE7B2F3%7d&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#11

"The USA 
Last reviewed: June 2006

If you qualified in the USA and hold a Master's degree in social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, you would normally be expected to meet the DipSW requirements.

You can demonstrate this through providing a short personal statement detailing the course (a paragraph on its length, content, and your supervised and assessed practice placements) together with brief details of any relevant social work employment (a paragraph on your roles and responsibilities).

An A4 page headed 'personal statement' covering these aspects, together with a suitably certified copy of your degree, should normally be sufficient for the purposes of demonstrating that you meet the requirements of the DipSW. You should also provide a suitably certified copy of your current or previous social worker state licence.

If you hold a Bachelor degree in social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, these are assessed on an individual basis because of the generalist nature of some courses. You should provide a personal statement and supporting documentation about the content of the course, your supervised and assessed practice placements and any social work experience. You should also provide a suitably certified copy of your current or previous social worker state licence and your qualification certificate.

As the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the recognised accrediting body for social work degrees in America, the GSCC will not process applications from holders of degrees in social work which are not accredited by the CSWE.

Other qualifications, or combination of qualifications, would not normally be expected to meet the DipSW requirements. Please note that if you are refused registration, the GSCC cannot refund the application fee."

So I'm finally getting my act together re: my GSCC application.  I graduate with my MSW in 9 weeks (but who is counting? ) and am spending the summer assistant directing a summer camp I've worked at the past several years. 

Anyone have any tips for the GSCC app?  I'm feeling a bit unclear on mine because I've been at a field placement since last spring for my MSW, but have been hired on by them as on-call, so that falls under the employment category.  Just trying to get all my things together and photocopies verified by the correct person (before I graduate and don't live in the same city as them!) and all that fun stuff.  And does listing all jobs since leaving school mean since I left high school?

At least getting my things together for my orals/portfolio required at my school to graduate has helped me get the the documentary evidence together for my personal statements

Congrats!! Definitely try to get all your evidence signed off by the right person and be sure to have all of the relevant documents. The GSCC is not shy about sending applications back if they are incomplete. It is a pain but once you are done with it it becomes a distant memory.

good luck!

applied for another job Friday.  I almost missed it because I had been out of town for a couple weeks and wasn't checking the council site.  I have to say, I'm really getting excited about this one.  It's the first time I've felt excitement from other social workers around here about the work they are doing.  I love that it lets me work with whole families, not just focusing on children or adults--and it will let me use my clinical skills along with casework skills!!  I'm so getting my hopes up and afraid to mention things out loud for fear of cursing it or being let down if I don't get considered.  I've posted here about some of my struggle to feel excited about the jobs that are available.  I can't believe I'm finding myself really wanting a specific job here.  Everyone cross your fingers for me, please!

http://www.another-way.co.uk/Another%20Way,%20a%20guide%20to%20the%20Option%202%20intervention.htm

http://www.another-way.co.uk/about%20option%202.htm