‘It’s challenging but hugely rewarding’: Hull social worker backs regional recruitment drive

By Simon Bristow

A children’s social worker from Hull is backing a region-wide campaign during Social Work Week (March 20 to 24) and World Social Work Day (March 21) aimed at encouraging others to take up the vital role.

As part of the campaign, Anna O’Brien, along with children’s social workers from across the region, has appeared in an online video in which she has described how she has been able to make a positive difference to the lives of local vulnerable children and families.

Anna, who works as a children’s social worker at Hull City Council, has also opened up about some of the challenges, misconceptions and immense rewards that come with the job. As well as hoping to inspire people to consider children’s social work as a career, Anna aims to raise awareness about the profession, including some of the more diverse, less well known aspects of the role.

Anna said: “I wanted to become a social worker because I’ve always had a strong desire to help others, but also because I saw how my own family was affected when a relative had struggles with substance misuse. We needed what a lot of families need – some support from the right services – and having experienced this first-hand, it encouraged me to pursue a career in social work.

“After completing sixth-form I embarked on a social work degree. But it wasn’t until half way through my studies that I got to learn specifically about children’s social work and knew that this was what I wanted to do. So for my final year placement I worked within Hull City Council’s child protection team, where I’ve remained since qualifying with a First-Class Honours degree in 2020.”

Anna said: “In essence, my job is to protect vulnerable children, making sure their voices are heard and that they are safe, well and seen. This can include children who are experiencing or who are at risk of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation or substance abuse.

‘YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE’: Anna O’Brien

“This almost always involves working closely with families who are in desperate need of support. Every family is different, each with their own set of issues requiring varying levels of help, so there’s usually a lot of joint working involved with other agencies. One example is where I worked with an at-risk, expectant mother and even before the child was born, I was in touch with mental health services, housing support, health visitors and midwives. Although the mother still needed ongoing support after the baby was born, we were able to keep the family together as a result of our involvement.

“The role is both varied and complex, which can be challenging at times, but it’s also hugely rewarding and I get a lot of support. What I enjoy most about my job is the relationships I get to build with the families I work with. Even if I work with them for only a short period of time, I’m always able to make a connection, providing advice, support and reassurance where needed. Making those connections and being there, even if just to lend a listening ear, can often make a huge difference in giving someone the courage and the confidence they need to make positive, long-lasting changes to their life.

“Working in the midst of a global pandemic was all I ever knew during my first year. As the country went into its first lockdown, we had to find ways of making sure we could keep vulnerable children safe and provide practical and emotional support to those in need. We also worked with charities, sourcing food parcels, toys and activity packs for the children and even arranged for cuddly toys to be knitted via a local knitting group. As restrictions eased, there were many families out there who, more than ever, needed our support in dealing with the additional challenges brought about by the lockdowns.

“In November 2021, I was lucky enough to win Newly-Qualified Social Worker of the Year at the national Social Work Awards. To be personally recognised for my work was something I never expected and I got to attend a celebration event at the Houses of Parliament, which was an amazing and memorable experience.”

She added: “If you want to make a difference to vulnerable children and young people, you really should consider becoming a children’s social worker. I get a lot of support from my team and my manager, both on a professional and personal level. Children’s social work is often a misunderstood profession, with a general lack of understanding around what we do. This can have a knock-on effect on staff morale and on recruitment, so raising awareness about the role and highlighting the many positive outcomes, can only be a good thing, for both the sector and the vulnerable children and families we work with.”

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, children’s social workers are helping to shape and change the lives of vulnerable children, young people and their families for the better, often under the most desperate of circumstances.

‘IT’S ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PROFESSIONS’: Pauline Turner

Since 2011, all 15 of the region’s local authority children’s services departments have been working collaboratively as part of the Children’s Social Work Matters (CSWM) programme, which aims to champion the vital role of children’s social workers, raise industry standards and attract, support and retain staff. As part of its latest campaign they are hoping that together they can encourage more people across the region to take up this vital, yet hugely rewarding role.

As a region, Yorkshire and the Humber has consistently achieved lower-than-national-average vacancy, agency worker and turnover rates. Latest Department for Education figures show that in 2022, vacancy rates regionally were at 16.8 per cent against a national average of 20 per cent. The regional agency rate was 15.7 per cent compared with 17.6 per cent nationally, and turnover rates in the region were at 15.4 per cent, whilst nationally they were at 17.1 per cent.

Pauline Turner, Director of Children, Young People and Family Services at Hull City Council, said: “Few would argue the importance of protecting society’s most vulnerable at a time when they need it most. But attracting, recruiting and retaining children’s social workers remains one of the biggest challenges; something that is not unique to our region.

“Anna provides an honest, yet valuable insight into what is arguably one of the most rewarding of professions, which we hope will help raise awareness about the role and break down some of the barriers that exist.

“Social Work Week and World Social Work Day provide an opportunity for us to do this. I would encourage anyone with an interest in helping to make a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable children and families to consider becoming a social worker in Hull. Aside from being a great place to live, practitioners in our region also have access to a unique support system through the CSWM programme, which is helping to improve both their working lives and ultimately the lives of those they serve to protect.”

To find out about becoming a children’s social worker visit: https://www.childrenssocialworkmatters.org/ , which contains a wealth of information about the role of children’s social workers, including case studies, qualifications needed and routes into the profession.