Calling all Social Workers

hiya...i attended the community care conference today and came across something that might interest social workers that are looking to work in an innovative environment. hackney...yes hackney is putting in place a model of working with families that looks really interesting. they are forming small teams (family therapist, unit coordinator-admin, group manager, and consultant social worker) and each team is to be allocated 20 families. it's based on an oregon model.

they are advertising for posts:

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/reclaimingsocialwork.htm

i've worked with one of the leaders that is implementing this programme...and she's a pretty amazing person. she's really excited about the model.

Regarding rankings, good information can be found here:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008 [nofollow]

Thank you so much. Apparently Goldsmiths, which was where I'd wanted to go, is ranked REALLY poorly for Social Work. I had no idea! :X

In my experience on hiring panels, a master's is insignificant. Social work experience is most desirable and marketable. I have a MSW and BSW.

Most councils want you up and running.

Thanks!

(By the way, someone at the start of this thread was asking why there's such a shortage, I know the answer to this for the UK - did that ever get answered/do people want to know?)

I would definitely be interested in hearing why, copleykennedy.

And I just wanted to let you guys know that I arrived here in London on Tuesday, had my first interview yesterday, and was offered the position today! 

That's wonderful. So fast! 

hiya...i attended the community care conference today and came across something that might interest social workers that are looking to work in an innovative environment. hackney...yes hackney is putting in place a model of working with families that looks really interesting.

That's great. I've lived in Hackney & Tower Hamlets since I moved to London, and it was living there that made me become interested in becoming a social worker, so I really hope to someday work with people in east London.

it's based on an oregon model.

they are advertising for posts:

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/reclaimingsocialwork.htm [nofollow]

Whoa! WHAT??!?? I need to check this out, I'm in Oregon, I'm a social worker in Oregon, I worked child welfare and coordinator positions, wait, I can't even type, must check the site...

I sent a general inquiry email to Nicole Miller at UK-Pro and she mentioned, regarding BSWs vs MSWs, that MSWs can come over, no work experience necessary.  But BSWs need at least four months work experience with case management and/or assessment in order to get a job.  Does this sound like the general rule across the board?  Or is this just UK-Pro?  From what I learned here, it didn't seem to matter as long as you had the proper credentials (and as always, experience is a plus, but I didn't know it was mandatory).  I know several MSWs here went to the UK fresh out of school, but I don't think I've seen any BSWs here that went abroad to work right after uni. 

I sent a general inquiry email to Nicole Miller at UK-Pro and she mentioned, regarding BSWs vs MSWs, that MSWs can come over, no work experience necessary.  But BSWs need at least four months work experience with case management and/or assessment in order to get a job.  Does this sound like the general rule across the board?  Or is this just UK-Pro?  From what I learned here, it didn't seem to matter as long as you had the proper credentials (and as always, experience is a plus, but I didn't know it was mandatory).  I know several MSWs here went to the UK fresh out of school, but I don't think I've seen any BSWs here that went abroad to work right after uni. 

I think it may depend where you studied your BSW / MSW.

There seems to be more restrictions on equivalencies for American social work degrees (i.e. MSWs are easier for obtaining GSCC registration), versus Canadian, Australian or New Zealand, for example. Registration is what's essential to obtain work, IMHO. UK experience and any experience will always be preferred, I think. Isn't that standard?   
 
Compare here: 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#1 

I sent a general inquiry email to Nicole Miller at UK-Pro and she mentioned, regarding BSWs vs MSWs, that MSWs can come over, no work experience necessary.  But BSWs need at least four months work experience with case management and/or assessment in order to get a job.  Does this sound like the general rule across the board?  Or is this just UK-Pro?  From what I learned here, it didn't seem to matter as long as you had the proper credentials (and as always, experience is a plus, but I didn't know it was mandatory).  I know several MSWs here went to the UK fresh out of school, but I don't think I've seen any BSWs here that went abroad to work right after uni. 

hey funny...nicole is a friend of mine! i hired her as a case worker in the northwest about 10 years ago. she's great! we're still in contact.

i don't think it is across the board for all agencies. i think the amount of experience depends on if you are applying for a post as an agency worker or permanent/contract for a local authority. when i was hiring (as a team manager) agency workers were expected to "hit the ground running"....therefore i preferred UK experience. if you are working directly for a local authority they will be more willing to put in the investment in training you for UK practice.

good luck!

Whoa! WHAT??!?? I need to check this out, I'm in Oregon, I'm a social worker in Oregon, I worked child welfare and coordinator positions, wait, I can't even type, must check the site...

the posts close for new applications quite soon...most in the next week or so. if you want to find out more about the posts i would suggest you ring Clare Chamberlain to discuss. she's pretty busy...but i think she would be the a good resource for information. they're putting the teams into place over the next few months. good luck!

this is a great opportunity for family therapists to work within social services in hopefully a very innovative way.

Hi SW's. Be careful with UK Pro. A few members and past members of this forum have had very, very bad experiences with them. If you choose to work with them, make sure that they do what they say they'll do and get everything in writing before you "cross the pond".

Apparently Goldsmiths, which was where I'd wanted to go, is ranked REALLY poorly for Social Work. I had no idea! :X

  I hope not.  I have a student starting from there!!

I have been quite impressed with the practice assessor training though.

The way the trainer described it, it sounds very competitive to get a social work spot in most of the unversities. Many students are those who have already had a career in a SW field and are going back for qualifications now.

Thanks, Maple and Kerry!   Yeah, Nicole seems really, really sweet judging by her emails.  I love how she's willing to take the time to give you as much info as necessary.

Hi SW's. Be careful with UK Pro. A few members and past members of this forum have had very, very bad experiences with them. If you choose to work with them, make sure that they do what they say they'll do and get everything in writing before you "cross the pond".

Yeah, I tried to do a search for the UK-Pro gripes that were said to be in the Grievances section, but I guess they've been purged.     I'm going on a second round of BUNAC once I get my MSW, then looking for a job on my own through Reed or going through a recruitment agency aside from UK-Pro (UK-Pro requires far too much paperwork and hoop-jumping...and this is aside from the madness you have to go through for the GSCC)!  And even that doesn't guarantee you a job.  But if push comes to shove, I'll go to them as a last resort.

Thanks, Maple and Kerry!   Yeah, Nicole seems really, really sweet judging by her emails.  I love how she's willing to take the time to give you as much info as necessary.

Yeah, I tried to do a search for the UK-Pro gripes that were said to be in the Grievances section, but I guess they've been purged.     I'm going on a second round of BUNAC once I get my MSW, then looking for a job on my own through Reed or going through a recruitment agency aside from UK-Pro (UK-Pro requires far too much paperwork and hoop-jumping...and this is aside from the madness you have to go through for the GSCC)!  And even that doesn't guarantee you a job.  But if push comes to shove, I'll go to them as a last resort.

What paperwork are they requiring that is too much? 

Though I hadn't planned on using them, the job I'm starting tomorrow is actually through UKPro.  I think as with any recruitment agency, you just have to be careful what you're getting yourself into.  I wasn't planning on going with them, but was contacting several, and UKPro was the only one to respond to me in a timely manner (or at all, actually) before I came over here.  Now I'm not recommending or not recommending them, I'm just sharing my short experience thus far. 

Hays seems quite good as well; I'm going to keep in contact with them in case I don't keep on with this position.

I've had odd experiences with UK pro so far. They called and we talked about my situation, then they emailed me as if they had never talked with me at all. When I reminded them that we had talked and they agreed to look into a couple of things for me, they stated that I would have to look into myself. I wondered if it wasn't easier to just skip it? What is the US equivalent of registering with these agencies? Are these like temp agencies that go across borders? And what do you mean the job is through UK Pro? I thought that there were jobs and they get listed with several agencies- did you have to sign on with UK Pro before taking the post?

I mean that I found the job through UK-Pro--their managers had sent out my CV and got me the interview.

It's all a bit up and down though; another girl on my team also got her position through UK-Pro, and we've definitely received different info in the lead up to the job (she started a few months before me though).  She said UKPro sent her all kinds of info regarding laws affecting social work here in the UK whereas I received none of that.  Eh, my opinion won't be solidifed until I get paid though

Beatlescowgirl - how is your job going? Have you found a place to live and friends to spend time with? Did I already ask if anyone here moved over with a kid? I am interviewing for a hospital social worker position here in the States tomorrow- anyone done hospital social work in the UK?

Copleykennedy-

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, the flat I'm living in is still internetless, so my online time has been hit and miss.  The job is going pretty well...I'm not convinced it's quite what I want to do in social work (community visits; I'm feeling I preferred the setting of working in a residential place like the nursing home I was at in the states), but still, it's a good job.  A bit stressful at the moment because of projects that are under a timecrunch though!