Calling all Social Workers

Then these people should not be called 'social workers' and are usually named social work assistants or the like.

As I said on your last post shudarsana, I haven't heard of any loan repayment schemes in the UK. The only schemes I have heard are local councils who sponsor unqualified employees to go through the programme and these are highly competitive.

Lots of councils offer relocation packages which you could always put towards your loans or  do like many of us and use the exchange rate in your favour!

In our area they are called managers of departments or above, We have met 2 people neither have a degree in social worker and both are managers 1 a senior manager and the other a manager of a team department.

Hi my name is Kelly Smith. I am moving to the UK as well, most likely going to
be March.  I have a job, but waiting on my GSCC registration/work permit.  The
waiting has been very difficult.  I would love to exchange info w/ other social
workers. I live in Alabama now. I have an undergraduate degree in Sociology and
I have a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) I was recruited through UK Pro for my job and will be working in Birmingham.  Anyone living in Birmingham??

I'm trying to figure out if going to the UK is economically feasible.  I would ideally like to live in Edinburgh or Cardiff.  I found a great cost of living website, but I want to double check the expenses with real people.  I'm basically trying to figure out how much it would cost to live every month compared to how much I would be earning.

First of all, what is a resonable income for a social worker in these parts of the UK, probably in mental health or palliative care, the latter of which I understand pays less?

What would be my monthy take home pay after taxes?

What is a reasonable range for a 1 bdrm or studio flat?  It doesn't need to be fancy, but I don't want it in the ghetto.  I'm willing to room with someone as well.

My understanding is that everything else (gas, food, utilities) would be about the same in pounds as it is in dollars.  What other expenses am I missing, ie vat taxes?

Also, I have to pay about $300 a month for my student loans.

Would I have anything left over at the end of the month for savings or travel?  I'm pretty frugal.

Also, where in the UK would I get the most bang for my buck?  I would like to be within 30 minutes, either by train or car to a city big enough to have an orchestra and airport
I know I'm asking very specific questions with very general criteria, but any info or websites would be GREATLY appreciated.  I can't exactly expect an honest answer from recruitment agencies.

Thanks in advance.

I live and work in a London Borough. I live on my own and have more than enough money to travel, save and do what I want.

If you are willing to live with other people then you will have more disposable income as expenses will be shared.

Of course the tightest times are when you first move over because you have moving expenses and set up costs (at USD exchange rate value) plus maintaining your US debts without the benefit of getting a paycheck for a month.

I was able to pay off my student loan after a couple of months so that was a relief. Living debt free is great. 

I'd say roughly half of my salary is earmarked to be spent each month including rent, council tax, water, gas, electricity, phone/broadband and food.

I considered Cardiff and Edinburgh back when I was getting started in London but I am really happy here. A lot of that relates to job satisfaction so make sure what ever you do is something you want to do.

Good luck to all of you social workers considering a move over.

You should look at the local social work jobs via there site ie birmingham local authority ect, they have pay scales on these as to what to expect subject to what you are applying for, and again for renting something like your move that do rentals will give  you an idea of how much rent you are looking at in the area you are going to live.

I know in the Worcestershire are the pay avarages about £20,000 - £28000 depending on what area you are looking at.

The further north you live the cheaper ie Birmingham upwards.

Good luck

Before I get on my soapbox, I need to say that what place works for you is a very individual decision.  Different things might appeal to different people and it can be good to get a feel for different cities before making a choice.

Having said that . . .

I love living in Cardiff!!  I make enough to cover all of our expenses right now (DH has gone back to get his masters degree and is studying hard, so we are supporting both of us on my income and doing just fine--we have a mortgage, not just rent, grad school tuition, utilities, council tax, etc and are able to cover it--by the way, since you asked, VAT is added before pricetags go up, so what you see is what you get on the costs). 

Really, when you describe the things you are looking for, I couldn't help but think that Cardiff was ideal for you.  I love going to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (the biggest of several symphony orchestras).  The Welsh National Opera is first class.  There are tons of arts venues around here.  It is a country that isn't afraid of supporting the arts and has a long history of musical strength.  Here's some links to arts venues in Cardiff, but there are many more orchestras, choruses, etc:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/now/
http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/english/index.asp
http://www.wmc.org.uk/
http://www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/english/index.asp

It's a nice blend for me to live here.  It's small enough to still have community feel, but large enough to have a good cultural life.  Really, I've been very happy and had no problems supporting myself here.  I live right in central Cardiff, but find it very easy to get out into the country or mountains if I need to get away.  The people are friendly and kind.  There is an international airport.  It's not bad, but I don't really use it for flights from the States as it's usually cheaper to go through Gatwick or Heathrow and just catch a coach back into town.  For UK or European flights I will either fly from Cardiff or from Bristol.  I've seen really cheap flights all around Europe, so you can travel easily.

Best of luck making choices.  Feel free to PM if you have questions.

I would like to post these 2 topics that my wife found on Adults and childrens disability
and the Human Rights Act for disability that should be set this year 2008.

There is also a site of archived work that maybe interesting to anyone in the social work field or other area's such as law, or just have a personal interest in these things.


http://www.un.org/disabilities/countries.asp?id=166
http://www.disability-archive.leeds.ac.uk/browse.asp?type=titles&letter=D

Indy and wife

I just got off the phone with a BBT recruiter who said it would be very difficult to get a 2 year contracted position and my best bet would be via locum work.  I absolutely refuse to go over on my own dime with the hopes of finding a job that may only employ me for 3 months if I find one at all.

Is there any truth to what she is saying?  I got a totally different impression from this forum.

Thanks in advance,
Tara

I just got off the phone with a BBT recruiter who said it would be very difficult to get a 2 year contracted position and my best bet would be via locum work.  I absolutely refuse to go over on my own dime with the hopes of finding a job that may only employ me for 3 months if I find one at all.

Is there any truth to what she is saying?  I got a totally different impression from this forum.

Thanks in advance,
Tara

Interesting.  Can anyone follow up on this?   

Shudarsana-

I'm not sure what your background is...what visa are you planning to enter with?  Do you need a sponsored work permit?  I'm currently over on BUNAC, but it's expiring in a few weeks and I'm in the process of getting hired by the council I was working for as an agency worker.

You may have more luck in getting a contract by applying directly to the borough or authority rather than through an agency.  Communitycare.org.uk has an extensive job database, and you can narrow the search options so that it only brings back results that are directly from the authority, rather than through an agency.

Thanks for the input, beatlescowgirl.   

And I just realized I never answered your question a while back about what paperwork UK-Pro told me I needed.  On top of everything you have to get for the GSCC application, UK-Pro told me I needed six separate letters of reference.   And a lot of other things that I can't recall at the moment, but I remember thinking it seemed like complete overkill.  Maybe the woman thought I was inquiring about coming over as a BSW.  But I don't plan to go over until I have my MSW next year.  Anyway, was that your experience with UK-Pro?  As I won't have any UK social work experience, I'm almost positive now that I'll have to go with a recruiter, so I'm trying to garner as much info as I can about what's out there.

Maybe the woman thought I was inquiring about coming over as a BSW.  But I don't plan to go over until I have my MSW next year. 

Just FYI, BSW versus MSW really doesn't make any difference here.  They don't look at that and you get the same status with GSCC.  I highly doubt it will change the number of references they ask for--although that was quite a lot.

Yeah, I remember reading up-thread that there was really no difference between the two, so I wasn't really sure what to make of the amount of letters they were requesting. I guess I was thinking maybe it had something to do with them preferring BSWs to have actual work experience, while MSWs could come over fresh out of school.  But even then it doesn't make sense.  So I guess I'll just contact them again when I get closer to graduating.

Those of you who went to the UK right after college...

Did you get your license before or after you applied to GSCC?

Those of you who went to the UK right after college...

Did you get your license before or after you applied to GSCC?

License? LCSW? You need to earn supervised hours for that and then test.

If you are going straight from college you wouldn't have time for that.

Or am I misunderstanding?