Calling all Social Workers

Hmm...I can't say I know of anyone who has done it with a family, but I know they're out there somewhere. I know one of the American social workers currently at Essex made the move with her husband (also American), but I don't think they had any children at the time of the move. Perhaps you can contact one of the ladies at Reed or one of the people from Essex and see if they can link you with someone who has done the move with a spouse and children in tow? Sorry I'm not of more help!

G- Where are you interviewing?  Will it be just you moving to the UK? What's your SW background?  I've been doing CPS in CA for 3 yrs. I'm interviewing in LA.

I highly recommend Reed.. traveling with your famiy wont be a problem as one of the american hires is bringing her children over. [She came first, then her kids once they finished the school year]. I dont know about that process but if you send me a private msg with your email, I can give it to her and Im sure she wont have  a prolem guiding you through what she experienced with the visas.

Elenas310- I will PM you. I'm not super concerned about the visa situation.  Fiona with Reed has assured me that the visas will be taken care of. I'm more overwhelmed by the whole thing.  You know...being away from family. Our son being in a different country away from family. General ability to survive. Is it the right thing to do, etc?  I will send you my email.

G- Where are you interviewing?  Will it be just you moving to the UK? What's your SW background?  I've been doing CPS in CA for 3 yrs. I'm interviewing in LA.

I'll be interviewing in Chicago. Re. my SW background, I have both my BSW and MSW. I have worked with adults and teens in an outpatient substance abuse/mental health clinic and with elementary school aged children in the special education/developmental disabilities sector.

I'll be making the big move all by my lonesome. I spent a summer working in the UK two years ago via a student work visa and have been working on getting back over there to do "real work" (i.e., non-internship roles) ever since. I'm hoping it works out.

I'm glad Elena's able to connect you with someone. It's a huge move to consider even for solo expats, so I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for you. But at least you know that others have done it before and have made it through pretty unscathed.

G- It's nice to find someone else who is going through the process at the same time.  Would you be starting in Oct or Jan?

I'd like to start in October - the sooner, the better! But it's nice to know that they're being flexible with the start date.

My interviewed is officially July 3 in Santa Monica. I spoke to Fiona this morning.

Neat! Hopefully she was able to quell some of your worries regarding the family.

Good luck!

Good luck on the interviews. Not to be pessimistic, but moving to another country and doing child welfare is no piece of cake and not for everyone. I've found that those that have experience in child welfare and are very resilient and very open minded adjust far quicker than those that don't. Child welfare is a difficult job to do anywhere, much less the UK where its about 10 years behind the US [contrary to what i thought]. I've also found that if you are used to a very suburban, cozy, "prissy" lifestyle it will be far more difficult to adjust. Its not impossible at all, but you have to be very open minded to a different lifestyle, culture, way of living and thinking, different ideals, open to public transportation and small living quarters.. Its an amazing adventure and such a humbling experience...However, some people [yes, even social workers] have become so accustomed to working behind the desk that doing front line field work is a shock and one that they dont wish to be a part of.

I've done child welfare in LA (deep LA!), the desert, and suburbs for over 3 years. The issues are all the same.  I'm sure that they are the same in England.  I'm not concerned about the job as I am moving my family over there. We'll see.

In that case can't wait to meet you !! We have a good group of American social workers here waiting to meet you and your family! Let me know if you have any questions about anything else. I passed your email address to my coworker. Did she contact you yet?

She did contact me but she hasn't responded to my email.  Thanks for trying to help out.  Your blog about your experience there has been interesting.  I appreciate your honesty.

HA! Its so emotionally driven.

That's cool. We all need to vent right? The job is what it is. It's still nice to hear about it.  How have you liked living there?  Is the salary reasonable to live on?