Social Work News - Summer 2021

The magazine for social workers, by social workers

SOCIAL WORK NEWS SUMMER 21 14

THE REPORT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT

18 5 UNEXPECTED

THINGS YOU LEARNED IN 2020

£3.95

08 THE CHANCE

MEETING THAT SAVED A LIFE

32

WHY DID YOU BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER?

“I DIDN’T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME”

DAVID LEAN IS DETERMINED TO FIND PEACE, FOR HIMSELF AND OTHER SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHILDHOOD

06 THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WATCHING SOCIAL WORKERS SWN columnist, Social Work Tutor, explores the rarely discussed impact of constant scrutiny on social workers.

08

14

THE CHANCE MEETING ON A BRIDGE THAT SAVED A LIFE

THE REPORT THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT...

13 years after a stranger saved his life, Jonny Benjamin explains his charity’s mission to change the UK’s approach to mental health education.

Dr Jessica Taylor explores some startling figures, and explains what they mean for existing vulnerability and re-victimisation theories.

18

26

FIVE UNEXPECTED THINGS YOU LEARNED IN 2020

“I DIDN’T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME”

From lockdown toilet trips, to finally getting to grips with Zoom, we look back at what we truly learned about ourselves in 2020...

How child sexual abuse survivor David Lean managed to channel 40 years of pain into a positive force, campaigning for awareness & justice.

34

38

MEET THE ONE-AND-ONLY ‘SOCIABLE SOCIAL WORKER’

“WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE FROM YOUNG CARE LEAVERS”

He’s seen and experienced a lot, and much has changed since he was a rookie. Luckily, Alasdair Kennedy is willing to share all he’s learned...

Mary-anne Hodd reveals how a setback at 21 became the inspiration for a local authority scheme she hopes will help care leavers across the country.

care leaver Mary-anne Hodd about the guarantor scheme she hopes will help thousands of care leavers across the UK (page 38), and hear from student social workers from The Student Social Work Hub about how the past year has impacted their mental health (page 13).

On page 18 we look at the five unexpected things all social workers learned in 2020, while on page 48, columnist Matt Bee asks - could you be a social worker addicted to adrenaline?

On page 06, our regular columnist, Social Work Tutor, asks why there are so many people watching social workers, and so few helping, while on page 36, journalist Sophie Mei reminds crisis care teams about the importance of looking beyond a tidy house and a well made-up face.

03 EDITORIAL

FOREWORD

With our Summer 2021 magazine, we never set out to write a mental health issue, and yet there’s an undeniable theme running through these pages that’s indicative of everything the social work community has been through in the past 15 months.

We’re privileged to be able to share so many of your stories and experiences.

On page 26, campaigner David Lean reveals the truth behind the childhood sexual abuse experience that set him on the path to campaigning for all other survivors; while on page 08, mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin talks to us about the conversation on Waterloo Bridge that saved his life, the Channel 4 documentary it inspired, and the work his charity Beyond is doing to overhaul the UK’s approach to mental health education once and for all.

We explore ‘the report that everybody is talking about’ (page 14), chat with

@MYSWNEWS

We meet the man behind The Sociable Social Worker on page 34, and join author Patrice Karst to explore how ‘The Invisible String’ has become go-to reading for children & adults across the world during the pandemic, page 16.

Also this issue, we’re sharing articles from mysocialworknews.com written by our winning #AuthorsOfTheMonth, so look out for brilliant reads from Helena Maher (page 04), and Christine Ferguson (page 22). Visit our online platform to start writing and publishing - and be in with the chance to see your words published in our autumn issue.

If you find yourself affected by any of the issues in our summer magazine, please visit mind.org.uk for a list of helpline numbers. If you have a story or experience you’d like to share, please email press@mysocialworknews.com Mysocialworknews.com is your resource - for social workers, by social workers - and it’s constantly evolving.

Come pay us a visit soon.

We’ll see you there, - Social Work News team

PRESS@MYSOCIALWORKNEWS.COM

04 THERE WERE TIMES DURING COVID I DIDN’T THINK I COULD COPE” April #AuthorOfTheMonth, Care Home Manager Helena Maher, shares her heartbreakingly personal reflection on her toughest year.

I

n March 2020, as the case numbers were going up in this country, we didn’t really know what to do.

We were trying to secure PPE, and information for care homes from the Department of Health was sketchy.

Testing wasn’t available in March and April. If staff at The Royal Star & Garter Surbiton Home - where I work as Care Home Manager - had symptoms, they self-isolated. The first confirmed case was a resident who had recent hospital treatment. I was frustrated. We’d kept the virus away from residents. Now I was anxious about how we would prevent it spreading. Staff were scared, and I understood why - I was too.

They didn’t want to come into work, potentially contract the virus and take it home with them.

By April and May the virus was moving through the home. Once it got into

a hallway, it started to spread. I’m an experienced nurse, and I really struggled to work out what I could do to prevent it. We ramped up training on PPE and handwashing and instigated regular deep cleans.

We moved residents who weren’t showing symptoms to other rooms, and managed to contain the virus.

IT FELT LIKE MONTHS WHEN WE JUST COULDN’T GET ON TOP OF IT. EVERYBODY WAS COMING TO ME FOR ADVICE, BUT I’M NOT A COVID SPECIALIST! I had a lot of sleepless nights. There were times when I felt I couldn’t cope. I remember saying to my husband: “This is too big for me, I can’t do it, I don’t know what I’m dealing with.”

I was working on the floor because we had 20-30 staff off during this period, as well as trying to run a home, and be positive. With every death, I thought: “What have I missed? What have I done wrong? What could I have done differently?” I felt really responsible and was exhausted.

It was awful when the residents were confined to their rooms for nearly 10 weeks. The atmosphere was flat and we were trying everything to raise their spirits. What I need to remember is nine of the residents who tested positive made a full recovery. It’s phenomenal when you think of their ages. It must’ve been so frightening.

ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR ME WAS WATCHING RESIDENTS DIE WITHOUT THEIR LOVED ONES. WE HAD STAFF BY THEIR SIDE, THEY

DIDN’T DIE ALONE, BUT I FELT FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I’d hate not to be with my mum. Then when we were able to let people come in at the end-of-life, in full PPE, it’s possible the residents didn’t even know who was sitting with them. That was horrible. We weren’t able to give them their ‘leaving ceremony’ - where staff and residents clap as the resident leaves the home for the final time in a coffin - and it felt like they’d been robbed of that final respect.

We haven’t had a resident test positive since last May, but every time a staff member tested positive I’d worry: “Is it back?” I didn’t feel like we’d turned a corner until the residents had their first vaccine this January. That’s when I started to think there was light at the end of the tunnel.

We’re in a better place now, with the vaccine and regular testing. I’m immensely proud of my staff. The whole home pulled together during this time: physios were working as care staff, receptionists were working as housekeepers, we all mucked in, doing whatever was needed.

In my career, I’ve worked in ITU, A&E and paediatrics. When I was a student nurse, I remember supporting as the Hillsborough disaster unfolded.

I’VE HAD STRESSFUL TIMES, BUT I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER BEEN AS STRESSED AS I WAS LAST SPRING. In a hospital, you walk away and go back to a new day, but with Covid it was the same day over and over.

Professionally, it’s absolutely the toughest thing I’ve had to deal with.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WATCHING SOCIAL WORKERS AND TOO FEW HELPING S ocial workers are under a lot of pressure, and the negative effects are there for all to see issues with staff turnover, high caseloads, vicarious trauma, a culture of unpaid overtime, and a negative public image - and that is before we talk about the pressure of working with people in times of crisis.

One stressor that is rarely discussed is the impact on social workers of being constantly scrutinised. From the press and government, through to Social Work England, Ofsted, auditors, Independent Reviewing Officers, the courts, and guardians, there is immense pressure to be perfect.

In a typical set of court proceedings, where parents are being assessed whilst their child is in foster care, a group of anywhere between 1220 people might be involved in overseeing, shaping, and critiquing a social worker’s practice. Now imagine that multiplied by the 20-40 children a social worker might be allocated to support at any one time. Many of those people will never meet the child in person, while others will shape their entire views of what is in the child’s best wishes based on one or two visits.

Social workers also face the scrutiny of institutional oversight of their

practice. Subject to the stress of potential fitness to practice complaints submitted to Social Work England, Ofsted inspections, internal and external auditors, and a wider sense of government and press negativity, social workers can often be left feeling like we are practising in a panopticon - everyone is potentially looking at our practice and waiting for us to fail, yet we do not always know if we are being watched or not until the dreaded ‘your case has been chosen for audit’ e-mail is received.

I GENUINELY CANNOT THINK OF ANY OTHER SET OF PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WATCHING THEM.

I am not arguing against social workers being accountable or suggesting that challenging our interventions and assessments is unnecessary - both propositions are preposterous and would surely leave children at risk.

However, I would suggest that there are far too many people watching social workers and far too few helping us. I would also suggest that those who are scrutinising the practice of social workers should always do so from the position of what is best for the child themselves and, in doing so, ensure that children are seen regularly.

It should not be accepted that lifechanging opinions about a child’s

07

future are being proffered by people who perhaps have only seen them once or twice.

In all my years in this profession I have never once had a child or family ask for more oversight of my practice as a social worker, or for another person they have never met to offer an opinion on what is in their best interests.

Instead, they ask me for things such as earlier access to CAMHS, parenting support, help finding employment, assistance with moving home, funds to buy groceries, access to youth clubs and counselling.

No matter how much I am audited, how many addendum reports I am asked to file, how many duplicated assessments I must produce, how many panels I am called to, or how many aspects of my care plans are amended, I am unable to provide any of these things that children and families themselves are asking for. Although, if I had more people helping me do my job and less people watching me do it, I just might be able to give children and families what they want.

That, for me, is what collaborative working means - everyone pulling together for the same goal of keeping children safe, happy, and in their own family homes wherever possible.

Let us all try and work together to achieve those goals, instead of so many people telling social workers how to do it.

08 THE CHANCE MEETING THAT SAVED A LIFE AND SPURRED ACTION How one life-changing conversation, between two men on a bridge, united people across the UK to try to change the approach to mental health education.

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t’s been 13 years since Jonny Benjamin MBE made a decision to end his life.

Standing on London’s Waterloo Bridge, on a cold January morning in 2008, the 20-year-old could see no other way out, as he struggled with delusions and hallucinations - the results of a schizoaffective disorder.

As he looked down at the icy water of the Thames, personal trainer Neil Laybourn just happened to be passing by on his way to work. Spotting Jonny’s anguish, Neil made a split-second decision to stop and talk to Jonny.

Their conversation saved Jonny’s life.

“I WAS REALLY UNWELL BY THE TIME I FOUND MYSELF ON THE BRIDGE THAT DAY,” SAYS JONNY WITH A SLOW NOD. “I felt worse than I’d ever felt in my life and couldn’t imagine getting better, but then this total stranger approached me, and talked to me, and offered to buy me a coffee.

“He was the first person to give me hope, and his reassuring words prompted the start of my recovery.”

Six years later, Jonny and Neil’s chance meeting on the bridge became the

focus of a global campaign, #FindMike, as Jonny searched for his saviour, eventually reuniting with Neil, and forging a firm friendship. Together the pair began campaigning to improve mental health support for young people in the UK, becoming ambassadors for national charity, Rethink Mental Illness.

In 2018 they launched Beyond, a grantgiving charitable organisation that aims to provide mental health support to young people, families, and teachers.

“Growing up in a Jewish community, mental health was a taboo,” says Jonny.

“I was also struggling with my sexuality, so there was a lot I had to overcome.

Neil and Jonny

Beyond CEO Louisa Rose

“I THINK THERE’S TOO MUCH

LOUISA SAYS: “LOOKING BACK,

FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH AT

I CAN IDENTIFY MOMENTS OF

THE CRISIS END, RATHER THAN

ANXIETY THAT I DIDN’T HAVE THE

ON EARLY INTERVENTION.

VOCABULARY TO EXPRESS FROM BEING ABOUT FOUR.

75% of all mental health issues begin in adolescence, and around three quarters of young people don’t get the mental health support they need.”

Sitting beside him, nodding earnestly, is Jonny’s right-hand woman, and CEO of Beyond, Louisa Rose. Like Jonny, Louisa has lived mental health experience, after struggling with depression and anxiety from childhood.

“I was 16 before I was officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and I spent the next few years in-and-out of therapy, on-and-off of antidepressants, and up-and-down with my moods and mental health.”

Things came to a head for Louisa when, in her late 20s, she and her then-husband divorced.

Lizzie Connick and dad Jeremy

“I’d had a few severe depressive episodes over the years, but that’s when things got really bad,” says Louisa, who has been diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder.

“I tried to take my own life, and was very close to succeeding, but a friend, who’s a nurse, managed to save me.

“I spent the next month in a psychiatric hospital and, in the months that followed, began the process of getting to a point of acceptance and recovery.”

It was a year before Louisa was ready to talk about her experience, and then she decided to take the opportunity to help as many people as she could.

“I’d spent years hiding the reality of my mental health struggles,” says the mum-of-two.

“I FELT A RESPONSIBILITY - TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE STILL SUFFERING TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND LET THEM KNOW IT’S OKAY FOR THEM TO DO THE SAME.” In February 2021, under the guidance of Jonny and Louisa, Beyond - which is led by a Youth Board of people with lived mental health experience - hosted the UK’s first mental health festival for schools and colleges.

LOUISA SAYS: “MORE THAN 1,200 SCHOOLS SIGNED UP FOR THE VIRTUAL FESTIVAL, WHICH COINCIDED WITH CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK. “We also recruited and vetted 350 mental health professionals from all over the UK, and put together a day of live programming with speakers like Katie Piper and Dame Kelly Holmes.”

Spurred on by this successful first event, the group is now focused on building up its Youth Board - whose youngest member is currently ten - as it moves forward in its mission to change the way the UK approaches mental health education once and for all.

Louisa says: “Our incredible Youth Board members are leading the charge - telling us what their frustrations are, and where they want to see change.”

One of these Youth Board members, Lizzie Connick, is a student at Exeter University. She joined the group, along with dad Jeremy who is also a trustee, following the death of her mum in 2014, as the result of suicide.

“The Youth Board is so inspiring,” says the 21-year-old.

“IT’S MOTIVATING TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO SHARE A FOCUS AND PASSION FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

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“It’s an amazing community, where every idea is validated, and is so different from my other circles. When I talk about mental health elsewhere, I feel like I’m pushing for people to engage, whereas at Beyond, everyone feels as strongly as I do.”

When it comes to mental health in 2021, Lizzie says it’s essential we all take an active role in checking in with family and friends we think may be struggling.

“In my experience, one of the most dangerous things is asking someone a question like ‘how are you?’ and not giving them the space to answer truthfully,” she says.

“It’s so easy to do tokenistic wellbeing and question-asking, but this year it’s more important than ever to give people the space to open up.”

Jonny, who experienced a relapse himself during the pandemic, and credits therapy, medication, and mindfulness in helping him to maintain his mental health, says: “Connection is everything when I’m struggling, and every text and phone call means so much, even if I’m not up to responding to them at that moment.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the end result of the pandemic yet, as we know things like trauma tend to come out later down the line, and there’s already talk of it having a huge impact on our young people, in terms of anxiety, OCD, depression, and eating disorders.

Louisa nods in agreement: “I think the Children’s Commissioner, Rachel de Souza, nailed it recently when she said that, after the world wars, there was a whole system overhaul carried out - that’s when the NHS launched, and other public sector systems were put in place. They knew they had to do something massive to tackle emerging societal issues.

“The same thing is happening again, and it’s not enough to just plaster over the cracks - we have to reform the entire system.

“Maybe it will take a pandemic to actually make it happen.”

We’re recruiting Social Workers in Assessment, Safeguarding and Care Planning, Children in Care, Pathways Leaving Care & Children with Disabilities Are you committed to putting children at the centre of practice and showing them they matter?

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Some of the benefits of working for Middlesbrough Council include: • An excellent remuneration package with most roles on NJC terms & conditions

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middlesbroughchildrenmatter.co.uk

HOW HAS 2020 IMPACTED YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? Students from The Student Social Work Hub share their thoughts on working, living, and studying from home.

Emma Brookes

Duane Phillips

Kristine Bloomfield

Becky Salter

Emma Brookes

Kristine Bloomfield

At first, trying to balance all of those things was a real test. Some days were really wobbly. Working in a role that required me to be face-to-face in emergency situations where we had a lot of staff shielding was additional pressure on top of study. However, for me it has also shown strength that I was not aware of before, and my passion for social work and desire to make a difference has really shone through. Virtual placement and study has challenged me, with children at home, and tested my motivation like a lot of students, but I have felt able to reach out for support from my tutors.

I just hope we can have some sort of normal soon.

Lockdown certainly put a strain on my ability to cope with balancing my commitments. My usual childcare support network wasn’t available due to the restrictions, which meant that I have had even less study time than I would have had before the pandemic. This caused some stress, and potentially a slight dip in my grades. Juggling my family of five, two volunteer jobs, my society role, establishing and maintaining The Student Social Work Hub, as well as completing my degree, has caused a wobble or two with my mental health. Having gone through some big breakdowns in the past, I just remind myself to keep getting up and try again – that’s all we can do.

Duane Phillips It’s been a mixed bag of emotions.

Personally, I’ve loved working from home, which has given me a healthier work-life balance. The truly sad part of this lockdown has been the difficulty to adapt my learning style to completely online, and remain motivated. The expectation to perform academically to the same standard during this past 12-15 months has been especially problematic, both mentally and emotionally. I completed a whole placement virtually, and the disconnect from the people I worked with certainly took the ‘social’ out of social work.

Furthermore, building professional relationships with people whom I would never see was difficult. I think my main reflection is how resilient we are to be able to work at this level in such challenging circumstances!

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Becky Salter I was expecting a final year placement within a child protection team to be challenging, but the impact of almost 100 days being completed virtually from my own home led to a few ‘placement wobbles,’ and impacted my ability to focus.

During the pandemic, my different identities became blurred as my ultimate identity within my home was that of a wife, a mum, and a friend; but they now co-existed in the same space as being a student on placement and completing academic work. Ultimately, there were days I felt overwhelmed.

Like anything, this eased with time and now my placement has ended, I am able to start looking at my home as a safe space again.

14 THE REPORT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT…

‘I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A PART OF LIFE’ REVEALS 97% OF WOMEN HAVE SUFFERED REPEATED VIOLENCE

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new revelatory report has revealed that 97% of women have been repeatedly subjected to violence - including assaults, harassment, and rape.

‘I thought it was just a part of life’ is considered to be one of the largest ever studies on violence committed against women and girls, questioning more than 22,000 women in the UK. Created by VictimFocus, the 30page report found that women were, on average, subjected to at least 26 sexual crimes in their lifespan, including physical or sexual assault, rape, forced pregnancy or termination, sexual exploitation, rape threats, death threats, and digital sexual crimes.

ONLY 0.3% OF THE WOMEN QUESTIONED HAD ONLY BEEN SUBJECTED TO ONE VIOLENT INCIDENT OR LESS. “The data we have seen so far has been devastating,” said Dr Jessica Taylor, who co-authored the report along with Jaimi Shrive.

“We used a new methodology I adapted from an old study in Sweden, which encourages people to explore instances of abuse and violence that they may not have considered before.

“This study will certainly change the way we look at Violence Against Women and Girls forever, considering that it shows that our ‘one in five’ and

‘one in 10’ stats, often used in VAWG, weren’t accurate.

“87% OF 22,419 WOMEN SAID THEY WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED IN CHILDHOOD. THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ANY OF OUR ESTIMATES HAVE EVER BEEN.” The report revealed that of the 22,419 women questioned, 70% had been slapped, punched or hit, 30% had been kicked, 18% had been strangled or choked, and 32% threatened with death or serious harm.

IT ALSO FOUND THAT 51% HAD BEEN KISSED WITHOUT CONSENT, 80% WERE SEXUALLY TOUCHED WITHOUT CONSENT, 30% WERE FORCED TO ENGAGE IN SEX ACTS

BY SOMEONE BEFORE THE AGE OF 13, 33% WERE FORCED OR COERCED INTO PENETRATIVE SEX THEY DID NOT CONSENT TO, AND 20% WERE GIVEN ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BEFORE BEING FORCED INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITY. 36% were sent an unsolicited nude picture of a male, 50% were sent sexually offensive or violent messages online, 11% were sent a rape threat from a man online, and 10% had their private images - including nudes and videos shared online.

The report has generated a lot of attention since being shared last month, becoming the focus of discussion on TV and radio, as well as being shared thousands of times online. A copy of the report has also been sent to every MP in the UK. Dr Taylor, author of ‘Why women are blamed for everything - exposing the culture of victim-blaming’ said: “One of the key issues this study raises for social workers is the challenge to dominant assumptions and theories in our work. The ones that most urgently need reflection are vulnerability theories and re-victimisation theories.

“This report suggests that sexual violence is so common in our society, that it is not just a handful of vulnerable girls being targeted and abused, or revictimised, due to some sort of inherent vulnerability in them, their personality, their environment, upbringing, or background.

“In the short term, the most important implication of this report is to change the way we report and talk about violence committed against women and girls, and challenge victim blaming, and stereotyping of victims.

“It suggests the current statistics of the prevalence of violence against women have been underestimated for decades, and we hope this data will be considered by academics, government, authorities, police, social care, psychology, national health, and mental health services.”

16 “I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER FOR THE INVISIBLE STRING TO BE MY LEGACY” How a children’s book, dreamed up by a concerned mum, has spread its message of love and connection around the world.

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t’s been 25 years since Patrice Karst first dreamed up the concept for her bestselling book, The Invisible String.

“It began when my son was five, and developed really bad separation anxiety,” she recalls.

couldn’t see me, by an invisible string.

WITH ME OF HOW THEY’VE BEEN

“Something about hearing that tangible idea, of a very abstract concept of love and connection, cured his separation anxiety overnight.”

HELPED BY THE BOOK,” SHE SAYS.

The idea fresh in her mind, single mum Patrice approached a small publisher she knew, and told him the idea. He agreed to print it.

Over the next two decades, The Invisible String became a worldwide “I’D TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL, AND AS phenomenon, read in homes, schools, I WENT TO LEAVE, HE’D CRY; IT WAS libraries, learning centres, hospices, and grief organisations all over the REALLY HEARTBREAKING. world - and completely changing Patrice’s life.

“One day, I just told him what was “I RECEIVED SO MANY LETTERS, obvious to me, which was that we were connected all day long, even though he FROM FAMILIES SHARING STORIES

“It became the number one children’s book for death and dying, because of one page where the children ask if the invisible string can reach all the way to Uncle Brian in heaven, and mom says ‘of course’.”

And 25-years on from its release, its simple tale - a reminder of the love and connection we share with those who can’t be with us - has never been more relevant.

“Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve been getting more letters than ever,” says Patrice, speaking from her home in Southern California where she, like

the rest of us, has spent most of the past year in isolation.

“The Invisible String seems to have become the go-to book for children during this time, because it addresses our current situation, and the need to realise we still have an invisible string connecting us to friends, teachers, and grandparents, even when we can’t physically see them. It’s taken it to a whole other level.

“My son is 29 now, and lives about a mile away. There was a sweet moment a while ago, when I was having a difficult time, and he came to see me.

“He handed me a copy of The Invisible String, and inside, he’d written: ‘Mom, you wrote this book for me so many years ago, but a string has two ends, and I want you to know that I love you so much, and we will always be connected.’

children who have lost a pet - The Invisible Web, and You Are Never Alone, which Patrice describes as ‘an Invisible String lullaby’ for very young children. There’s even talk of a film.

“THE BOOK HAS GONE WAY BEYOND ME AND MY SON NOW,” SHE SAYS, SHAKING HER HEAD IN AMAZEMENT.

“Adults also began sending the book to one another during lockdown, as a reminder that the love and connection of the invisible string binds us all.

“IT WAS SUCH A PRECIOUS, FULLCIRCLE MOMENT.”

“It carries with it an energy, a message, that I think has always been needed, and always and forever will be needed.

“In times of difficulty and anxiety, this simple and comforting message is one that we all really need to hear sometimes - myself included.

Today the book is published in 12 languages, and has spawned an entire brand: The Invisible String Workbook, The Invisible Leash - specifically for

“My goal is that every child will one day know about their invisible strings.

I couldn’t be happier than for that to be my mission in life - to spread that message.”

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5 UNEXPECTED THINGS YOU LEARNED IN 2020 1: WHERE THE BEST (OPEN) PUBLIC

3: THAT WE KIND OF MISS THE

TOILETS ARE

DAILY COMMUTE

Okay, it’s a bit of a gross one to start with, but who knew that we’d all have to run the gauntlet of being desperate for the toilet whilst undertaking ten back-to-back home visits to clients?

The car is a sacred place for social workers. It is our office, cafeteria, therapy space, break room, rubbish dump, storage cupboard, removals van, and means of transportation all in one. Who hasn’t had a breakthrough conversation with a client while they were sitting in the passenger seat? And we’ve all experienced the excitement of a first joint visit with our work buddy.

With offices out of bounds, cafes, pubs, and restaurants shut, and using a client’s bathroom reserved for all but the most urgent of situations, we all had to develop an encyclopaedic knowledge of the supermarkets, service stations, and essential shops that offered public toilets.

2: HOW TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE Well over a year on from the start of the first national lockdown, there is still barely a day that goes by without us having to say “your microphone is on mute (insert name here).”

If there is one thing most of us will not miss about home working, it is spending half of our meetings telling people that we can’t hear them, can’t see them, or to mute their microphone because we can hear them on the phone to somebody else.

What we didn’t realise is that the commute to and from the office, that we always thought was a bit of a drag, was actually kind of nice. It was our time to reflect on the tasks to come, listen to audiobooks, make phone calls, and decompress after a difficult day.

4: THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WERE WASTING ON BUYING LUNCH Food peer pressure in social work is a serious matter and we need to raise awareness of it! You all know for a fact that as soon as one person in the office suggests going out for lunch, we are all going to follow (or face having to sit there with our salad whilst everyone else is tucking into their Big Mac).

When that option was taken away, and we all had to eat at home, we realised just how much we were spending on all the takeout lunches, cakes, chocolate bars, and coffees that kept us fuelled.

Not so great for the town centre coffee shops and bakeries that relied on our custom though!

5: WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HOUSES LOOK LIKE Let’s be honest, who hasn’t loved getting to see what their manager’s house looks like, how their service manager decorates their living room, and which of their colleagues has their own office space? Who hasn’t rejoiced in seeing someone’s partner or child going about their lives in the background of a team meeting?

Who hasn’t marvelled at how a fellow social worker has found the energy to do their hair and put on a full face of makeup just to sit at home all day?

It will be a real shame when we no longer get to look through the keyhole, and peer into the homes of our coworkers and multi-agency colleagues, and have to go back to sitting in stale corporate council offices instead.

20 ‘THOSE THEY CALLED IDIOTS’ How historian Simon Jarrett’s new book warns against complacency, and reminds us to ‘learn from the past’

I

have not always been a historian.

For many years I worked with people with learning disabilities, including a spell as a nursing assistant in an old-style ‘mental handicap hospital’ in the 1980s. Later I worked with people who were moving out of these hospitals, to live new lives back in the community. I therefore played a very small part in both the great incarceration and the great return that I write about in my new book, Those they called Idiots.

IT WAS THESE EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRED MY INTEREST IN THIS LARGELY UNTOLD HISTORY.

WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE, AND WHY HAD THEY BEEN SENT TO SPEND THEIR LIVES IN THESE INSTITUTIONS? Was there a time, before the institutions, that they were not ‘these people’ at all?

Those they called Idiots explores the history of people with learning disabilities over the last 300 years, beginning in the communities, workplaces, and families of 18thcentury Britain. It then moves into what I call the ‘great incarceration’ in the asylums of the 19th century, and ends with the ‘great return’ from institutions to communities towards the end of the 20th century, which we know today as ‘Care in the Community.’

I argue in the book that there is a historical myth that people with learning disabilities (known as ‘idiots’ at the time) were persecuted, abused, neglected, and ostracised in society before being ‘rescued’ by the asylums.

In fact, in the 18th century, so-called idiots lived lives where they were largely included and accepted.

IT WASN’T UNTIL THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY, AFTER THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. People who were different came to be seen as threatening and dangerous.

People with learning disabilities were moved into institutions, seen as unfit for mainstream society. I argue that the example of the 18th century can

teach us much about truly inclusive communities, capable of adapting to all their human members.

The closure of these institutions, and community return of the late 20th century, was a remarkable episode, which we should celebrate. But I warn in the book that we cannot be complacent.

WHAT WE OFFER TODAY IS A FORM OF CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. IF PEOPLE CAN ABIDE BY THE RULES AND LIVE AS OTHERS WISH THEM TO, THEY ARE ACCEPTED. If not, they can be brutally excluded just as in the past, as the current scandal of over 2,000 people with learning disabilities detained in

Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs) demonstrates.

well as a feature about Edel Harris, the new Chief Executive of Mencap.

I have been overwhelmed by the response to the book. People with learning disabled family members, and those who work with people with learning disabilities, have contacted me. A teacher has used it to write a history of learning disability, which is being used to teach 11-14 year olds as part of the National Curriculum. There’s a real eagerness to understand this.

My book and the work of Community Living Magazine are linked. The past casts a long shadow over the present, and to understand the position today, we need to be well-informed about what happened before.

I am also the editor of Community Living Magazine. Now in its 34th year, Community Living campaigns for equal citizenship for people with learning disabilities. We encourage debate about the big issues that concern people with learning disabilities today.

Our next issue contains an interview with Katie Price and her son Harvey, as

Some of the very grim things happening today – unlawful DNAR notices on patients with learning disabilities in NHS hospitals, high death rates in the pandemic, institutional abuses in A&T units, preventable deaths under medical care – did not emerge from nowhere. They are rooted in history. We must have the humility to learn from both the mistakes and successes of the past.”

Those they called Idiots is available from www.reaktionbooks.co.uk

22

I FINALLY MADE IT AS A SOCIAL WORKER AT 48” March #AuthorOfTheMonth Christine Ferguson reveals the doubts, worries, and first-hand experience that made her the practice educator she is.

S

o where does the social work journey start, and where does the journey end?

went on to the social work Masters and Postgraduate degree course.

I remember the days on placement, and in uni, thinking: “I CAN’T DO IT, I WON’T MAKE IT.”

Certainly not when you enter the I remember the overwhelming feeling university to commence the social work of being watched and judged. My degree, and definitely not when you practice educator is now my manager are heading for retirement. all these years later. He helped me to It all starts much sooner than that understand my skills and abilities and childhood experiences, good and bad. how one of my greatest assets is that Educational experiences, good and of reflection. bad. How you were shaped, and how you shaped yourself. That is my starting WHEN I READ THE STUDENT PROFILES NOW, I ASK: ‘WHO IS point when I take on students as a practice educator.

AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE ON, I HAVE REFLECTED ON MY OWN

THIS PERSON?’ ‘WHAT IS THEIR JOURNEY?’ ‘WHAT HAS BROUGHT THEM TO SOCIAL WORK?’

JOURNEY AS A NOW SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER, PRACTICE EDUCATOR AND BIA. By the time I was eleven, and following a school visit to the local weaving factory, I firmly believed I was being educated for factory fodder.

After a failed 11+ my secondary education saw me leaving school with no exams, and no ambition.

There was one teacher who took me to one side and told me I had potential, and even contacted my parents to see if they would allow me to stay on at school, but it was not to be.

I STARTED TRYING TO BE A SOCIAL WORKER AT 29. I MADE IT AT 48.

I educated myself through night school with GCSEs, and then the Open University to Diploma and degree level.

I was working as a support worker for the local council and was given the opportunity to apply for a work-based student social work degree. I then

I enjoy every student I am a practice educator to. I share their journey. The difference and development from day one to day 80/100 is just remarkable.

I do question, though, why they come to placement with so much angst, and then I remember my own worries and lack of confidence in placement.

It is a common thread with students that, midway through placement, they ‘hit the wall’ - questioning their capabilities and if this job is for them.

It is at this crucial point that I am able to share my own experience of being a student, and remind them how far they have come. Some students come with a difficult past and history, and others with very little problems, but there is always something in their past that has brought them to social work.

From day one to day 80/100, I am there for the students, just like that teacher was there for me. All these years later, I have not forgotten her belief in me.

That is what I give to my students.

I let them know, we will get you through this together.

I THOUGHT I WAS LOSING MY MIND SWN’s own Editor, Nik Farah, shares her five-month fall down a rabbit hole of anxiety, for Maternal Mental Health Week.

A

ll was still in my daughter’s bedroom that December evening in 2015, as I pushed the rocking chair gently with my bare foot on the soft carpet, humming a gentle lullaby.

The twilight was spilling across the floor as my baby girl, sleeping soundly on my chest, snored ever-so-softly. The evening was quiet, and peaceful.

But inside, my heart was racing. I was trying to decide if an intruder were to climb the darkened stairs in front of us, whether I’d have time to scramble into the bathroom and lock the door.

Would they try to get in? And if they did, should I keep my daughter close, or would it be better to wrap her in towels and drop her from the window to safety? How big was the drop?

Would the neighbours hear her cries?

Would they hear my screams?

MY WORLD HAD BEEN GETTING GRADUALLY ‘DARKER’ FOR WEEKS. These panicked thoughts now invaded every waking minute and I did my best to drown them out, filling any silence with music or television.

My joints were inflamed by the stress flooding my body, and my muscles ached. I had daily tension headaches, and aching cheekbones.

And I was so tired. My life had become overwhelming to me, and

yet - outwardly - nothing much had changed. I’d stopped breastfeeding my daughter in October and, looking back, I’m inclined to think the change in hormones is what kicked me into that dark and anxious state.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS,

I can understand why people turn to alcohol or drugs to dull the senses when their mental health is unravelling, because during those months it felt as though the protective casing around my emotions had been peeled away, leaving them exposed, like wires dangling helplessly in a hot-wired car.

Five years on, I still have anxiety flareups, but these days I have coping mechanisms in place and, unlike that first time, I know they will pass.

I BEGAN ISOLATING MYSELF IN ORDER TO TUNE DOWN MY SENSITIVITY TO THE WORLD AROUND ME. When my husband and daughter played, I’d busy myself cleaning. When they laughed, I’d put the kettle on. I became merely functional, paying the price of joy to keep the fear at bay.

And I kept it all locked away. It wasn’t until the following March that I broke down to my husband, and it all came spilling out. I shared my greatest fear: that I was losing my mind.

And then the strangest thing happened; it was as if a lamp flicked on in the corner of my dark world. He held me, listened to me, and it was as if saying the words out loud gave the darkness in my head a little less power.

Of course it wasn’t an overnight shift, but in the weeks ahead, the wave that had been pushing me down finally broke over my head.

25

LIFE BEGAN TO BRIGHTEN, AND THEN COLOUR BEGAN TO SEEP BACK IN.

I’ve learned that exercise helps, as does going for a walk, or a drive with the window down, especially if the sun is shining. I know that a plate of vegetables will make me feel better than a bag of Maltesers, and take time away from news and social media when I really need to. With time, the anxious periods have gotten fewer and further between, and no bout has ever felt as hopeless and dark as that first one.

SO NO, ANXIETY ISN’T FEELING ‘A BIT WORRIED,’ AND IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT THIS WAY TOO, PLEASE KNOW YOU’RE NOT ALONE. Globally an estimated 284 million people experienced an anxiety disorder in 2017 - and only time will tell how the events of the past year have impacted these figures.

These days my daughter, now seven, still often asks for a lullaby at bedtime, and I’m always happy to oblige. I never take for granted the freedom my peace-of-mind grants me to focus on her lovely sleepy face, rather than the dark shadows, breathing in the preciousness of the fleeting moment.

26 “I DIDN’T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME” How two nights alone with paedophile coach Barry Bennell would impact 12-yearold David Lean’s life forever, leading him to battle for conviction of his abuser.

I

t’s been more than 40 years since David Lean’s childhood was violated by convicted paedophile Barry Bennell.

And while time has gone some way towards healing the wounds inflicted, it’s done nothing to dull David’s memory of that weekend in 1980, when he was just 12-years-old.

holiday park - where he was working as a football coach - Bennell began an 11-month programme of grooming, laying the groundwork for a terrifying two-night ordeal that would change David’s life forever.

“My earliest memories are of playing football,” says David, who is now 53.

“I used to dream about singing the After first crossing paths with the young National Anthem on the pitch at Wembley, so you can imagine my boy at a coaching camp at Butlins

dad and myself had finally paid off.

He had a physically fit, young, and promising footballer, all alone for two nights at his property.

HE HAD MY PARENTS FULL TRUST AND RESPECT - AND HE KNEW IT.” David recalls how things seemed strange as soon as he arrived at Barry’s home. “He was always touching me in some way,” he says.

“Whipping me on the bum with tea towels, tickling and wrestling, and cuddling me as we watched TV. “Later that night, he bounded into the room and literally jumped into my bed.”

Over the next two evenings, far away from home, and with no way to contact his family, David was subjected to sickening sexual abuse.

He remembers: “When I got back home, I ripped up all his letters; he was no longer my hero. I was lost, alone, and very confused.

“I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A SEX OFFENDER OR PAEDOPHILE WAS, excitement when I met this enthusiastic and energetic coach who took a shine to me. He told my dad about a junior team that he ran, with links to a top professional club. He said I was a future star.”

David says the sessions were fantastic, with Barry heaping praise on him, and giving him gifts. When he returned home, he and Barry kept in touch, each writing a couple of letters a month.

Then, sometime early in 1980, Barry wrote suggesting David come and visit him for a couple of days so he could attend a full-day soccer skills course in Macclesfield.

“My dad knew him pretty well by then too, and agreed to drop me off Thursday teatime, and collect me Saturday morning.

“Barry’s 11 months of handwritten letters, building a relationship with my

AND DIDN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME.” A few weeks later, Barry showed up at David’s house, and his mum told him to take Barry up to his bedroom to show him his trophies and medals.

“He stood in the doorway of my room and said: “Don’t worry I won’t tell your mum what you did to me.” I ran back downstairs to my mum.”

Too scared to come forward, and convinced nobody would believe him, David relived the experience over and over in his head, trying to figure out if it had been his fault.

As time went by, he did his best to store it away in the back of his head, though he was plagued by nightmares and flashbacks. He got married and had kids, and then one day in 1997, while visiting his mum, a familiar face caught David’s eye on TV. It was a programme about a football coach who had been convicted of sexual abuse offences. Bennell had abused others.

prosecution guidance in England changed to allow cases such as mine to be seen as more in favor of the public interest code,” he explains.

This allowed charges to be brought against Bennell, who has since received multiple convictions for sexual abuse against 22 boys, though David says many more victims have come forward over the years. Bennell will not leave prison until he is in his 80s.

And after years of suffering, David is now determined to find peace - for himself, and for other survivors of sexual abuse in childhood.

Deciding he could never disclose what happened to him while his mum was alive, David made a secret promise to himself to come forward - but not yet.

“I was sexually abused over two evenings, yet this has had a massive impact on my whole life,” he says.

In the meantime, his marriage broke down. When his children were 12 and 10, his wife’s new partner moved in.

“I CAN ONLY TRY AND IMAGINE

He says: “It was at this stage I almost lost the plot, knowing my children were sleeping in the same house as a man I didn’t know, and that my son was the same age as me when I was abused.

MENTAL HEALTH.”

“ALTHOUGH NEVER OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED, I BELIEVE I HAD A BREAKDOWN.” Several years later, in 2013, David’s mum passed away from cancer. Just five days after the funeral, David walked into Macclesfield police station, and stated that he would like to report a case of non-recent Childhood Sex Abuse. He also revealed the truth to his fiancee Teresa, and to his dad, who was devastated and blamed himself.

When the police interviewed Bennell, he denied everything, and it took two years, including countless appeals by David when CPS dropped the case, to get Bennell into court.

“Ultimately, I had to appeal to the new National Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel and, through this appeal, the 29

WHAT THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SEXUAL ABUSE ARE ON A CHILD’S

David is halfway through his Level 4 Counselling Diploma, and is an ambassador for Voicing CSA. In 2017 he launched #PurpleSummer to raise awareness of all forms of child abuse, which has since been taken up by groups all over the world.

“This June 18th, we’re holding the 9th #PurpleSummer, ‘wearing, sharing, and shining’ purple,” says David.

“We want to ensure people are talking openly about child abuse, and educating their children. It’s no longer 1980, and we have fantastic information freely available on the internet to educate both adults and children.

“Childhood abuse is happening all around the world, on a huge scale. It is often hidden, as it’s a subject people don’t wish to even think about, let alone discuss it - but we must.

“My life was very difficult for a long time, but I am proud that I somehow managed to make it through.”

Financial rewards of up to £750 per child per week

Flow of placements and an eight-week pay retainer

A fantastic, individual personal development and training plan

Access 24/7 support, every day of the year

One-to-one sessions with a social worker

Local support groups and so much more…

To discover more, call 01253 420222 or visit blackpoolfostering.com

#bettertogether

“I WISH I HAD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY SIBLINGS” For 24-year-old care experienced Isabelle Kirkham, a lack of opportunity to spend time with her siblings in care has forever changed their relationships.

I

’m the second oldest of six siblings, nine if I include my stepsiblings. When I was nine, all six of us were taken into care out-of-area, and into different foster placements.

One of my younger brothers was placed near me, and I saw him once a week thankfully. His foster parent was my foster mum’s sister, so we’d see each other over holidays and go to outings/events together. This is something I’m very grateful for. It felt like I had a slightly tilted but almost normal upbringing with this sibling.

My three youngest siblings were placed together in foster care. Social services had planned to have them closed adopted due to them being so young - this is something I didn’t know until I read my care files two years ago.

My oldest brother was moved about so much, I wouldn’t see him for months at a time, we never had a way of keeping in touch - not even a phone number.

Me, my older brother, and younger brother were placed out-of-area, and away from our younger siblings. My step-siblings were living with their biological mother when we were taken away from my mum and stepdad, so they thankfully didn’t end up in care.

After three months in foster care, my three youngest siblings were taken into kinship care. The older three of us were left in care until we all hit 16/18.

Social services made no effort for me to see my step siblings - I didn’t see any of them until I left my foster home at 16 and moved closer to my family by my own choice.

The memories I have of/with my siblings are either trauma-related, from before I went into care, in a community hall, or from the last six years of my life when I made my own decisions and actions to see them.

Once he turned 16, social services made no effort for me to see my oldest brother. I didn’t see him for three years.

I only saw him because I turned 16 and asked/arranged to see him myself.

My sister Kaitlin passed away in 2017.

The memories I have of her are even less. It’s difficult to grieve someone who’s passed away, who you were already grieving over when they were alive. Especially when that person was your 12-year-old sister.

My three youngest siblings I saw four times a year for six hours as they were 300 miles away. No effort was made to increase this by social services, or my social worker. This was only made six times a year after I begged to see them more. When I turned 16, they made little effort to keep me seeing them.

If social services had made even a slight effort to place us all near each other, had us all placed into kinship care, or made an effort to keep us seeing each other regularly, I honestly believe I would find grieving Kaitlin’s death easier, and I’d have stronger relationships with all my siblings.

31

32 ‘WHY DID YOU BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER?’ Social Work leaders Sherry Malik and Rachel Farnham look at where it all began.

A

s a teacher working with young children, I was always interested in what was going on in the family and how it impacted on the children, so when I had the opportunity of being seconded to a social work course, it seemed like a natural step.

IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF A PROFESSION WHICH CAN HELP CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES FOR THE BETTER. AFTER MORE THAN

Social Workers have continued to work. to build, strengthen, and value our relationships. We have found such Whether dropping in essential food parcels, supporting carers looking after creative ways to keep delivering online, doing one-to-one sessions vulnerable adults, teaching strategies with children, keeping-in-touch calls to help parents cope with lockdowns, with vulnerable adults, meetings with or making safe home visits to monitor colleagues, training sessions, and vulnerable children, Social Workers have continued to reach out - in person workshops. and online - to be there for those who need their support.

Technology has been a blessing, allowing us to stay connected.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE,

AS WE EMERGE INTO THE NEW

SOCIAL WORK GOT CAUGHT

NORMAL, WE MUST REFLECT ON

UP IN MORE PAPERWORK, AND

HOW WE CAN USE WHAT WE HAVE

LESS CONTACT WITH THOSE WE

EXPERIENCED TO BUILD A NEW

ACTUALLY SUPPORT.

WAY OF LIVING AND WORKING.

30 YEARS OF WORKING IN SOCIAL CARE, I HAVE MET HUNDREDS OF SOCIAL WORKERS, WORKING WITH THOUGHTFULNESS, CARE, AND CREATIVITY. The pandemic did not deter them. I am in awe of the creativity with which

The pandemic has brought into sharp focus that relationships matter, and that if we want to effect change, having a good relationship with those we support, as well as our colleagues, is essential for good outcomes.

Working remotely has forced us to think more consciously about how

WE LONG FOR HUMAN CONTACT AND, WHEN WE DO RETURN, LET US NOT ABANDON ALL WE HAVE LEARNT DURING THIS TIME. Sherry Malik, NED @DimensionsUK, Former DCS @NSPCC, Trustee @IWFhotline @socialworkaward.

I

t all started with a Degree in Politics at Manchester University - back in the days of the Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays, and Hacienda, so a few years ago now!

right support at the right time and at the earliest point. I learned this from my first days in the Children’s Centre.

After I graduated, I got a job as a Support Worker in a Children’s Centre in Rusholme, on the edge of Moss Side.

I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do next, but I was inspired by the passion and commitment of staff working with children and families in a very deprived area of the city.

WE’VE LEARNED THAT WE CAN BE

I was totally hooked in a very short space of time with this work, the humour, and resilience in the team, as well as the fun and laughter of the centre. I asked the staff about their qualifications and training, and social work was what I decided to do next.

Whilst I love being a Social Worker, my passion is that children should get the

In Middlesbrough we have learned that we can all pull together - as a workforce, as a council and as a town - to make sure we show Middlesbrough children that they matter to us all.

RESILIENT AND BRAVE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. We can don our PPE, and we can go out and visit our families, and make sure they are safe and supported. We can also learn, and grow, and achieve, and improve our services in tough and unprecedented times. I am incredibly proud of all of my staff who have been imaginative and inventive, to make sure our children are seen and their voices heard. I am proud to be a Social Worker.

Rachel Farnham, Director of Children’s Care at Middlesbrough Council

34 MEET ‘THE SOCIABLE SOCIAL WORKER’ Alasdair Kennedy talks rookie mistakes, riding corporate change, and reaching thousands with his YouTube channel.

In 23 years as a Social Worker, there isn’t much I haven’t seen,” says Alasdair, with a shake of his head.

“I’ve worked in child protection, family support, youth justice, fostering and adoption, and probation. I’ve had my job title changed, my team swapped, my office relocated, and have been made redundant twice. I’ve ridden the wave of corporate change, but through it all, I’ve just kept doing my job.

“As a young social worker, I made mistakes, as we all do. I once visited a house to find the woman who lived there dealing drugs at the front door.

The house was filled with drug users, and she didn’t know where her children were. I found the baby wedged between the mattress and headboard in the bedroom, and the toddler hiding

under a cot. The house was filled with faeces and bodies, and I just picked these two children up and walked out.

“THIS WAS BEFORE MOBILE

own experience on being a social worker. His channel has nearly 2,000 subscribers, and his videos have had over 75,000 views.

“I do everything on my phone - filming, editing, and uploading the videos,” NEARBY PHONE-BOX AND CALLED says Alasdair, who was inspired to MY BOSS, WHO SAID ‘YOU’VE DONE start the channel at the beginning of WHAT?! TAKE THEM BACK!’ lockdown.

PHONES, SO I WALKED TO A

“I refused, and called the police instead. The mother was arrested, and the children were put into emergency foster care.

“Some of the recollections from over the years are just surreal.”

The story is one that Alasdair, aka the Sociable Social Worker, tells in one of his most popular videos: ‘What I wish I’d known at the start of my Social Work career.’ Since launching his YouTube channel 11 months ago, Alasdair has made more than 50 videos - sharing tips, advice, and guidance from his

“I thought maybe I had some experience worth sharing, and my videos seem to have struck a chord with students and newly-qualified social workers. I have people getting in touch daily, asking for tips or advice.”

AND ALASDAIR ADMITS THAT, WHILE HE CONSIDERS SOCIAL WORK HIS CALLING, IT WASN’T HIS FIRST CHOICE OF PROFESSION. “I started out at drama school, determined to be an actor,” he laughs, as he recalls the best role he ever

landed was as a dead body in Taggart.

I also promote foster carers having a big welcome for kids, as I remember “I did one radio advert which became quite famous in Scotland; that made me certain aspects of that myself - being welcomed into people’s homes, the more money than anything else I ever did. My mates still like to sing the jingle details of the house, and the smiley faces that greeted me. They were at me when I walk into the pub.” important things to me, so I try to get In the end, it was whilst teaching across to those I work with that this is children at an exclusion unit that worthwhile during an initial visit.”

Alasdair found himself being drawn As for his side-job, he says he’ll keep to social work. He soon found himself making videos as long as people are working at Barnardo’s, running the still interested, or until he runs out of service that sorted his own adoption things to talk about. years earlier.

Today, Alasdair is Director of Fostering “Dark humour has saved me many times in this job,” says Alasdair, as he for Therapeutic Fostering Agency. He recalls the time someone sent a bullet has spent the last 12 years working in fostering and adoption, and says that’s with his name written on it to the office where he was working at the time. definitely where his passion lies. (“I enjoy playing Call of Duty and so “I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN GETTING recognised it instantly as a 50 caliber bullet. It made me feel better to know THE MATCH RIGHT, BETWEEN whoever had sent it wasn’t likely to CHILDREN AND THOSE FOSTERING own a gun big enough to fire it!)

OR ADOPTING THEM. “A lot of the stories in my videos aren’t

funny, but I have to inject a bit of humour, and I try to be really positive about social work, as I am really positive about the difference the job can make.

“I can’t imagine coming into the profession now, and I take my hat off to anyone working out there on the frontline this past year. With my videos, I want to pass on what I’ve learned to those who are new to the sector, and let them know about the realities of the job.

“I think people forget that social workers are some of the most qualified people - qualified in life as well as their studies. The reality of what they do is so different to the idea that people carry around. More recognition is needed, and I think it’s important we get a more positive understanding of social workers out there.”

Visit The Sociable Social Worker on YouTube.

36 SOPHIE’S CHOICE - PUSHING BACK AGAINST STIGMA Labelled ‘too pretty’ to be mentally ill, journalist Sophie begs those working in crisis teams to look beyond a tidy house, and a made-up face.

W

hen the darkness of the night My fight or flight response rocketed.

Someone was in the house. I began crept up on me, so did the to blockade the door with whatever wicked grip of psychosis. furniture and toys I could find.

But then it wasn’t just my body In reality, I was having a psychotic trembling, the house was starting to episode. I was currently on maternity shake; there must be an earthquake. leave from the BBC, and under the Ever the diligent journalist, I checked care of the home-based treatment my news app and social media feeds. ‘crisis’ team, whose role was to keep Nothing. I must be on to a scoop. me supported with regular checks But suddenly the house shaking was within my home setting. The reality was the least of my worries. I could see there were very few mother and baby a dark figure dressed in a balaclava beds available, so I could have been standing outside my window, and he transferred to another city with my had a gun in his hand. bump, but not my three-year-old.

I NEVER KNEW WHO WOULD BE SHOWING UP FROM THE CRISIS TEAM, AND I WAS EXHAUSTED FROM THE CONSTANT FEAR THAT, IF I DIDN’T PUT ON A SHOW, I WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNFIT TO CARE FOR MY CHILD AT HOME. The day following the ‘earthquake’ and ‘sniper threat,’ I made sure I applied more makeup to try and cover some of the destruction my mind was having on my face and body. I have always done this - the times I am happiest in life, I am barefaced. At bad times, makeup is my clown mask.

Whilst we’ve made strides towards recognising ‘invisible’ illnesses, we still opt for what is visible to be our main focus of judgement.

“BUT YOU’RE SO PRETTY,” SAID THE CRISIS TEAM MEMBER WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO REASSURE ME THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO DIE.

“You’ve got a lovely home, a beautiful daughter, and a good career.”

I smiled sweetly at her from behind my cup of coffee, clutching the fragile bone china hard in an effort to stay grounded.

Her positive perception of me - my makeup, my tidy lounge, my ability to smile - served as a stark and painful juxtaposition to the carnage I was covering up, upstairs in my head and my home.

I felt excruciating guilt that I now had ‘on paper’ what so many aspire to have, and yet I was in the depths of the darkest despair I have ever experienced. I didn’t just feel guilt at not coping, I didn’t feel that I deserved to live.

Even nowadays, whilst people tend to be more refrained in their open judgement of how someone presents physically, the pandemic has inspired transparent racism against those of us from a Chinese heritage. As a woman I am still scrutinised on physical appearance whether it be size, disability, or the fact I am a single mother.

Nowadays, I don’t aspire to fit in. and I probably look more dishevelled fatigued, but this last year has been a the isolation defining time for me, forcing me to test out my own It’s true that, resilience. in what feels times, can like life’s lowest we truly find ourselves.

I would never shy away from and am grateful professional support, to every person who has entered my home in From being “too fat” to dance an effort to help me and my family. professionally, or “too common” to I would only ask that you remember have my voice heard in the media, to that an immaculate home does not more sinister assaults for being a dual necessarily reveal the struggle within. heritage “poor” young woman, my Please continue to try to connect with invisible disabilities, having gay dads, our hearts, and not just our tidy homes, and the tragic stigma of being an abuse or neat eyeliner. survivor.

38 “EXPECT MORE FROM YOUNG CARE LEAVERS” Mary-anne Hodd reveals how a set-back when she was 21 became the inspiration for a scheme she hopes will help thousands of care leavers across the country.

“Despite growing up in care, I never believed my future should be different to anybody else’s,” says Mary-anne Hodd.

“I worked hard at school, and got good grades. I was the first in my family to go to university, graduating from Bristol with a 2:1 in psychology.

“By the time I moved back home to Devon from uni, I was 21 and excited for the next independent phase of my life. I made a plan to move into a house with four friends while I was studying for my PGCE qualification to become a teacher.”

But Mary-anne’s plans were derailed when the application process flagged

up a problem she hadn’t anticipated.

She had no one to act at a guarantor for her rent.

“I honestly hadn’t considered it; so many of my peers from uni were doing the same thing and, in my naivety, I just assumed I could too.

“When this hurdle reared its head, I started contacting long-lost family members and family friends to try to find someone who could act as my guarantor.

“AT FIRST I WAS EMBARRASSED, AND THEN I STARTED TO GET FRUSTRATED WITH THE SYSTEM.

“I was told my only options were supported housing with other young care leavers, or to go on the list for a council house.

“Worst of all, while I was waiting for one of those options to become available, I’d have to go to a hostel - it just didn’t make sense.

“BY THEN, I WAS ANGRY. I’D WORKED HARD, AND DONE EVERYTHING THAT WAS EVER ASKED OF ME. “I was determined to break my family cycle - going to uni, getting a good job, and buying my own home. The next logical step on my path was private renting. I had a support network, independent living skills, and a good plan, but it felt like no matter what I did to move away from it, the system was determined to pull me back in.

“I don’t want to diminish those options, as I know they’re necessary for some, but I don’t think local offers should be one-size-fits-all. The care-experienced community is so varied, and we need different options that represent that.”

In the end, it was a passing comment from a local MP that set Mary-anne on the road to changing the system which was holding her back.

“I was volunteering on the corporate parenting board at the time, and one of the MPs explained to me that, as my corporate parents, the council had a responsibility to do anything for me that my parents should be doing, but weren’t in a position to.

“It was a lightbulb moment.”

Mary-anne began to outline her proposal for a Guarantor’s Scheme.

She created a risk assessment form, designed to help the council verify that the applicant was prepared for independent living - that they had the necessary skills, support network, and income - and presented her case to a Full Council meeting.

“DEVON AGREED THE SCHEME WAS LOGICAL, AND SIGNED IT OFF,” GRINS MARY-ANNE. “I got my guarantor, and was able to move in with my friends.”

Five years later, Mary-anne came across another care leaver on Facebook having the same problem.

“You could read the despair in his message, and I was instantly thrown back into my own feelings from five years earlier,” Mary-anne says, shaking her head.

“That’s when I began to think, if Devon can do this, so can other local authorities. In terms of finances, the Guarantor Scheme actually saves local authorities money, because a lot of the young people they’re helping have the same options I did, and hostels and supported accommodation cost much more.”

In lockdown, Mary-anne put her free time to good use, emailing every Director of Children’s Services across the country, explaining to them how her scheme works and how it could benefit young people in their areas.

So far, six have signed off on the Guarantor Scheme, and Mary-anne is determined not to stop until every care leaver in the country has the same opportunity.

“This isn’t a revolutionary idea, it’s logical,” says Mary-anne.

“SOMETIMES IT TAKES SOMEBODY IN THE MIDDLE OF A SITUATION TO SEE THE PROBLEMS WITH IT. “The risk assessment form has done its job too, and there have been only one or two defaulted payments, during the pandemic.

“I believe that if local authorities want to improve outcomes for young people, they have to offer more and expect more.”

40

A GLOBAL CELEBRATION You are invited to...the biggest virtual student social worker graduation of all time!

A

n evening of awards, entertainment, global celebration - and a few famous faces - are on the agenda, at a massive virtual social work graduation event being hosted this month.

Social Work students across the globe are being invited to join together for one night only, to mark their exceptional achievement at completing their degrees against all odds in 2020 or 2021.

And with social restrictions lifting this month, it’s hoped graduating students

will be able to gather together with friends and classmates for the epic event, on June 23rd, hosted by social work trainer Siobhan Maclean, and the Social Work Student Connect team.

“THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD FOR SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS,” said Siobhan, a social worker of 31 years, practice educator, and author.

“My heart goes out to everyone who has had to adapt to online learning;

social work students from every corner of the globe to come together for one massive celebration, marking an incredible achievement after a difficult year.”

Siobhan added: “I think people sometimes forget that social work is a global profession, and so it only feels right that there should be a global celebration.

“We also hope that the social work community will join us to congratulate and celebrate with the new graduates, welcoming them to the profession.”

The ‘Be The Difference’ awards, which will be presented on the night, will honour the inspirational P Yusuf McCormack, who died of Covid-19 in January.

SIOBHAN, A GOOD FRIEND OF YUSUF’S, SAID: “HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, DON’T STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE - BE THE DIFFERENCE.

who has had placements cancelled, or suspended, or who has had to complete them virtually in their bedrooms.

“We know that lots of people have missed out on the big graduation celebrations they should be having, so together with the fabulous students and newly-qualified workers of Social Work Student Connect, I’ve decided to organise a huge virtual graduation.”

The virtual event will feature entertainment - including music and stand-up comedy - video tributes

and stories, a digital yearbook, onthe-night prize giveaways, and an awards ceremony. There will be two Valedictorians chosen - one to represent the graduates of 2020, and another from 2021 - and the completely free event is open to everyone, including family members and friends of those graduating.

David Grimm, a graduating social work student, and one of the Social Work Student Connect organisers, said: “We know that many of the universities are hosting their own virtual graduations, but this is an opportunity for graduating

“We’re hosting our awards in his honour, and have asked people to nominate a colleague, a friend, or even themselves, for somehow ‘being that difference.’

And for students who have lost classmates, practice educators, teachers, or colleagues from within the social work community in the past year, there will be an In Memorandum section in the yearbook, which can be downloaded digitally, or ordered as a hard copy.

Siobhan added: “We hope to see you there for a night of fun, laughter, and special moments that you will not want to miss.”

Register at siobhanmaclean.co.uk

42

“HOW NARCISSISTIC ABUSE DROVE ME TO THE POINT OF SUICIDE” Emma Davey breaks down NPD, and explains why social workers should look at abuse cases through a Narcissistic Personality lens.

I was once a victim of narcissistic abuse,” explains Emma Davey, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Coach.

It’s hard to get a diagnosis, narcissists never believe anything is wrong.

If you do suspect that someone isn’t behaving rationally, you should view their behaviour through an NPD lens to see if the traits match.

Narcissistic abuse can be one of the most dangerous forms of emotional “I thought I was going crazy. I got to the abuse as the victim will feel that they point twice where I was self-harming are imagining it. and was on the brink of suicide.

My advice is for social workers and “One day I woke up and decided that victims to learn as much as possible something needed to change. I moved about NPD. Once you recognise to Australia and trained as a counsellor, specific behaviours, you can anticipate launching my own counselling service, what reaction that person is looking for My Trauma Therapy, to help people and put your boundaries into place for rebuild their lives following NPD abuse. protection.

“I also created a private group to share HOW CAN YOU HELP VICTIMS TO my story. Today, that group has over BEGIN THEIR RECOVERY? 3,300 members across the world.”

WHAT IS NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER? A person displaying narcissistic traits may have a ‘god-like’ complex and crave attention and validation. They constantly look to gain attention.

NPD is caused during childhood development stages. It may be that the child has experienced extreme trauma, or it could be that they’ve received too much love and attention and they’ve come to expect it. There is no cure.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF NPD? NPD often shows itself through control issues. Narcissists tend to have addictive personalities because they need constant ‘hits’ of excitement. It’s why they may cheat or have issues with sex addiction, drugs, or alcohol. They tend to be pathological liars, because they don’t know how to tell the truth.

Narcissists often groom their victims through ‘love bombing,’ showering them with love and attention to get them to open up and let their barriers down. They will then use any information against them, working to isolate victims from other people.

IF YOU DO SUSPECT NPD, HOW CAN YOU SECURE A DIAGNOSIS?

The victim needs to accept what has happened. Often, the hardest part is helping them realise the love bombing stage was fake, and that they were likely in love with a ghost. It’s hard to understand the relationship they thought they had was fake.

There’s also the added complications of trauma bonds. The victim may still be emotionally attached to their abuser.

The most important thing is for the victim to be able to talk to someone without any judgement. Often the narcissist has an outward persona of someone really lovely and genuine. It can lead to the victim feeling like no one will ever believe them.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO FOR HELP? Each week I run a free counselling session via Zoom for members of my Facebook group. There aren’t many counsellors who specialise in NPD and people recognise that I’m talking to them as a victim myself. The sessions work because they see me as someone who completely gets what they are talking about, as I’ve always documented my journey through my personal recovery.

Search “Victims of Narcissistic Abuse Support Group” on Facebook or visit mytraumatherapy.co.uk for more.

44

EVER GRATEFUL A poem to my social worker, by David Grimm. Student Social Worker, Poet & Artist.

Let me say that I finally understand.

When you ruled my life, I used to cry.

Years went by and I would tell myself lies.

They never came because they just didn’t care, the social worker dodged me just for games, they called and told me to stay, do not leave, so, in the hallway I’d sit and wait…and wait...and wait.

During school hours so restricted from play, not allowed outside, or to talk to my friends, because…you said to stay home.

You said you’d come. I begged you not to let me down.

Yet, once again… You. Didn’t. Show.

I’m an adult now and it’s taken several moons, many childish flights of rage.

A deluge of tears almost drowned me as the nights took hold of my brain.

Sprouting from my parents failure came an anger-soaked sapling, deep in my heart.

You gave it food, and it burst through the walls.

Seeped into my blood, my muscles, and my mind.

In my tiny world, you were omnipotent, and you treated me like a pawn.

I would like you to know that I have moved on, I’m happy now, I accept that you meant me no harm, not even a bit. In fact, I know you were off helping my friends.

A hero that had to leave me in pain because you just could not say.

The champion of the real, restrained from shining. I am sorry I judged you.

Thank you. From the bottom of my now happy heart. Thank you.

Without your influence in my fragile little world, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.

It may have been a generation since I’ve locked eyes with you.

Until the day I die, I will never forget the way you spoke, the way you walked, the way you looked, and the way you made me feel.

You will live forever in the back of my mind, as a golden little light that takes the edge from my darker times.

A lighthouse, keeping my light and warm memories from crashing in the rocks of my mental health.

So, let me just say, I am thankful, I am grateful, and I finally understand.

- The boy that you saved.

46 “WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE WORK IN” Dylan Sloan, a School Social Worker in Belfast, talks about the importance of Social Workers in an educational setting.

I

t’s no secret that Northern Ireland has a complex past.

I was lucky enough to be born into peace. My parents, however, recall chilling stories of what it was like growing up during the ‘troubles.’

Unfortunately, tensions are on the rise again, only this time it’s children as young as 13 being encouraged at times to partake in criminal behaviour.

In my role as a School Social Worker, I have been working alongside young people who have been involved in these antisocial criminal acts. Are they criminals? That’s a label I wouldn’t want to place on any young person. When I speak to young people who have

been involved, it’s a combination of factors that have led to them making the decision to stand in the street and throw a brick.

THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT WE, AS SOCIAL WORKERS, FACE ON A DAILY BASIS WITHIN OUR PROFESSION.

IT’S NOT AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS BADLY BEHAVED YOUTHS. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE MOST TURBULENT IN MANY INDIVIDUALS’ LIVES, and young people are no exception.

COVID lockdowns caused schools to shut their doors, ultimately widening the academic attainment gap, particularly for students living in socioeconomic deprived areas. Young people also lost access to their youth clubs, parents struggled financially on furlough, and mental ill health was a concern for all.

As a profession, we can only begin to build rapport with the community that we serve if we engage creatively, honestly, and with a willingness to become the guest not the facilitator.

Then, we can begin to build a foundation, to understand at a deeper level the issues at the heart of the community that impact the children and young people we serve.

Social work needs to have a political voice to advocate for the communities that we work in. In Northern Ireland, between 2011 and 2019, schools had their spending cut by 11%. Years of

austerity has meant that vital services, that are preventive and supportive to young people, have been reduced, cut, or made redundant due to lack of funding. As social workers, we need to lobby for investment into working class areas, to develop youth programmes, and support on-the-ground community services.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKING IS OFTEN DISCUSSED WITHIN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND PRACTICE. However, the professional hierarchy is still very active and we can prioritise certain professionals at the cost of developing professional relationships with those at the heart of the community, such as youth workers and community workers. Investment

Association recommends 1 per 250 pupils. In Sweden, School Social Work is mandated into the Swedish Teachers and educational professionals Education Act with a ratio of 1 School Social Worker per 800 pupils. This take on so many roles within the concept is recognised as far afield school environment, and having as India with the Integrated Child Social Workers implemented into the Protection Scheme, which contracted foundation of an education placement Social Workers for over 800 schools. allows the teacher to focus on their I believe, wholeheartedly, that blending primary duty - to teach and inspire Social Work and Education secures a the future generation, whilst Social brighter future for our young people.

Workers focus on mental health, School Social Workers are equipped social wellbeing, and family issues. with the knowledge and skillset to This addresses every element of the provide tailored holistic, child-centred ecological model, allowing the child’s interventions to provide a wraparound needs to be met in every layer, from support package for our youth. The micro to macro. next logical step is to establish School Now, this is not a new idea. In fact, Social Workers and ensure places of there are many countries that utilise education have the budget available to School Social Workers. The United implement this service.

States of America School Social Work is much more than purely financial, it’s time, and I believe we need to be given time to work alongside communities.

48

ARE YOU A SOCIAL WORKER ADDICTED TO ADRENALINE?’

W

hen it comes to feelings, the human body is best thought of as a chemistry set, stocked with potions to evoke all sorts of emotions.

There’s Dopamine for intense pleasure, Oxytocin for love and trust, and then there are hormones you have probably never even heard of, such as Somatostatin, which quietly regulates the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Never leave home without it.

BUT THE HORMONE MOST SOCIAL WORKERS EXPERIENCE ON A DAYTO-DAY BASIS IS THAT WONDER DRUG: ADRENALINE. A few drops in the bloodstream is like rocket fuel. Blood pressure ramps up, the lungs expand, muscles constrict, and suddenly you find you have the strength of a thousand lions.

Social workers rely on it mostly to write reports to tight deadlines, rush to meetings, and whack the photocopier when it misbehaves.

So while a flood of adrenaline would be fabulous if we were completing

social work out on the Serengeti while fending off lion attacks, in a normal office environment, this wonder drug is rather superfluous. What good are trembling biceps for filling out stationery requisition forms? Yet our frail human bodies don’t realise this, and continue to spurt out adrenaline like a fire hose in response to deadlines, torrents of emails, and a caseload bursting at the seams.

To be fair, sometimes this helps. During an intense crisis, your endocrine system can power you through and achieve almost superhuman feats. But these are only supposed to last for brief periods, after which the fight or flight response is supposed to recede, and then we ‘rest and digest.’

For our ancestors, this meant time spent lying under a tree, reflecting on how nice it was not to be a lion’s breakfast.

For us, no sooner is one pressing demand met, than another comes sliding down the chute. We believe this all must be for the best, our mindset one of: ‘the harder I work; the more I achieve.’ Certainly, this is the mindset of our employers who gear everything to encouraging this manic level of production.

But, actually, it isn’t. Not only does it inevitably lead to stress and burnout,

you’ll end up achieving less, not more.

Adrenaline may be a wonder drug but it chews up resources fast, like slamming your foot on the gas pedal. Sure, you take off in a hurry but you’ll need to pull over to re-fuel sooner. And if you don’t, everything starts to tire, splutter and conk out.

OVERWORKED PEOPLE AREN’T AMAZING. THEY’RE HOPELESS. Juggling a thousand things at once, putting the coffee back in the fridge, the teaspoon in the bin, and pouring cold water into their cup because they forgot to switch the kettle on.

And if that’s how they make coffee, you should see them try to write a report.

You will be far happier if you slow down the pace, ignore all the flashing red lights, and give your adrenal glands a rest. You will also - and here’s the important thing - almost certainly get more done.

Leave your desk for a break, go home on time whenever you can, look after yourself, and learn to say no. Yes, this concept will be completely alien to us - like trying to lie down for a nap while being chased by a lion.

But you aren’t being chased by a lion.

Sometimes I think we forget that.

50

“WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM 40 YEARS OF SOCIAL WORK” Retired Social Worker, Mary Clifton, shares her tips for success, honed over four decades of frontline work.

I

qualified as a Social Worker in 1982, falling into the career by chance when I chose my degree at 18.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work in every area of social work - taking on DASS roles, AD roles, and NHS integrated care Director roles - and consider myself privileged to have found a career I’ve loved, and turned out to be not too shabby at.

It’s been challenging, pressured, and a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Now, aged 61, I ‘ve been forced to step back due to ill health. I do a some work as a strategic consultant for a smallfamily owned home care agency, and still absolutely love doing what I do.

I would encourage anyone to consider a career in social work, and to always remember what brought them to it, which for me was, and still is, making a positive difference to people.

1.

Make the most of your education, it’s the best foundation you can have.

2.

It’s hard to know what you want to do at 16, or 18, but you know if you are more interested in how people work than how things work, so start there.

Choosing social work was the best and most fortunate choice I made in my life.

But if it doesn’t feel right, then change.

3.

The energy and enthusiasm of youth may lead you to think you know more than you do, but take the time to listen and learn from colleagues. My first boss set the foundations of best practice for me, and 40 years on, they remain with me to share with others.

4. Don’t be in a hurry to progress

up the ladder. Ground yourself in experience, and always strive to do the best you can. If you fail, learn from it, apply the learning, and improve.

5.

Rejoice in progress; the smallest step is still progress.

6.

Be kind to yourself, and mindful of your wellbeing. It is the hardest thing to give if you are running on empty. Don’t be afraid to ask for support.

7.

Be courteous to everyone. The grace of good manners is free, but the goodwill it creates spreads far.

Acknowledge the contributions of others, and always take the time for a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ - ideally in person. Humour is a good thing, but not at the expense of hurting others, so be mindful. If you agree to do something, then do it within the timescale agreed. Don’t brush off compliments, and learn from criticism.

Participate in meetings, don’t lose your temper with colleagues. Maintain your personal and professional integrity at all times, and lead by example.

8.

Finally, when the time comes to step back from your career, if you love it as I do, it will be difficult. Find ways to utilise what you have learned - your skills and experience - in other ways.

Look back with pride in all that you did.

52 #SWNMAG We love our online community; it’s a great way for us to keep up with everything that’s going on with you all - upcoming events, issues and concerns, celebrations and milestones, and the issues that are important to you. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to share your comments.

@MYSWNEWS

#SocialWorkEducation If you could add a module to the social work course, what would it be? @DrARoeschMarsh: ‘Drug and alcohol use/misuse - we really don’t do enough around this and it is a cross-cutting issue - also would love to see social work become radically committed to major reform of our system for dealing with drugs in particular. System is broken + drug deaths are so appalling.’ @yyhas: ‘A module run by current practicing social workers sharing true experience and realities. Many students/ASYEs say that is a major gap. Sharing tips and tricks for being out in practice such as keeping safe, knocking on a door for the first time and what to say!’ @DanielleGrandi5: ‘County lines and gang affiliation.

I qualified in 2012 and this was never mentioned throughout my 3 year bachelor’s degree. Living in Birmingham this is a real big challenge for my city and something that I feel should be taught to social work students at a university level.’

#MustHaveResources @alambilstar: ‘Also paper, pens, colouring stuff, pictures for collage art, puppets, soft toys, shape outlines (boy and girl shapes), feelings games, emoji stamps, emotion wheels - expanding language and understanding around feeling “happy/sad,” roll of wallpaper for big art. Anything by @dr_treisman (especially the card packs - parenting

patchwork and therapeutic feelings and sentence starters) or anything by @BeaconHouseTeam (about developmental trauma.survival at home and school).

Rebecca took to Linkedin to say: ‘I have had the pleasure of working with excellent people across children’s services, everyone has inspired me in some way, and I am so proud of what has been achieved by everyone in Help and Protection... you are ALL truly amazing people.

‘I’ve become a huge fan of Dr Treisman’s stuff. I love Presley Pug, the book is fab and there’s lots of sheets in it to help children regulate their emotions.’ @DeeFletcher:

Congratulations to Rebecca Wilshire who has just joined Doncaster Children’s Services Trust as their Director of Children’s Social Care/ Deputy Chief Executive, after three years working in Coventry.

@KellyKellymcox: ‘Really thought provoking article (‘Why is nobody talking about the impact of Covis-19 on parents of children who are in care’ on mysocialworknews.com). I read this today after supporting a mum by phone (who I’ve never met) who has just been told over a TEAMS court hearing that her child is being removed today. I cannot wait to get back a better balance of face to face work for these situations.’

@SaraLouise:

Fond farewells

@Becshallack:

‘Direct obs in an hour, I’m actually going with my PE to visit one of my families! More nervous about this one as my last one was virtual, I’ve not seen my PE face to face yet. One more thing ticked for my portfolio.

‘As I hand over the role to Lisa Harris as #3rdYearStudent #NearlyDone the new Strategic Lead, I’m confident @LouiseWatson27: the great work will continue and the next part of the journey is embedding ‘Rather than a generic home visit family values programme and relational today I went with a family to their local practice begins... good luck Coventry. park. They were there for the day with a picnic packed, I spent 1.5 hours ‘I am passionate about children and families, building learning opportunities chatting, playing, den building, tree and supporting people and services, so climbing. The kids said it was the best visit ever. SGO support: days out rather I am really excited by the next part of than days in.’ my journey, my new role, and looking forward to meeting everyone in DCST.’

‘Bert the Worry Monster comes everywhere with me! So far I’ve had children from 4-12 respond to him.’

What you’ve been saying:

@RobMitch92: Julie Jenkins also took to Twitter recently to say: ‘Bernadette Johnson our incredible principal social worker retires today.

40 years social work practice, two decades #Calderdale. National Social Worker of the Year silver award 2015.

Expertise, a trusted public servant commended by Elected Members.

Thank you.

‘Good morning final year Social Work Students. Huge respect to you all for getting this far in such an awful year.

Thank you so much for choosing social work. We really need you with us and cannot wait for you to qualify! Keep going. We’re with you and shout if you need help!!’

Outlanders - Hidden Narratives from Social Workers of Colour In this landmark publication, Social Workers from Black and other Global Majority Communities showcase a rich and diverse collection of their essays, poems, stories, and reflections, providing unique and spellbinding insights.

Visit kirwinmaclean.co.uk/publications to order your copy, £13, plus P&P.

55 “I RETIRED...BUT THEN REALISED I WASN’T DONE!” When I was at my last job interview, I was asked what part of the job I thought might be challenging for me,” Bill Niven smiles. “I said the toughest part, after carrying out an assessment in a nursing home, would probably be convincing them to let me leave and go home!”

And Bill can certainly believe it. In fact, after retiring from social work six years ago, Bill reveals he actually chose to come back to the sector in 2018.

“For me, it was a combination of factors that brought me back,” he explains.

“I went into retirement with a list of things I wanted to do, and three years in, realised I’d done it all!

“I found myself at home, watching Netflix, reading books, and trying to decide what to have for dinner nightafter-night. I realised I wasn’t done yet.

but is concerned that - while for him, it is a choice - for his own children, it will be a necessity.

“BY THE TIME MY KIDS ARE MY AGE, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO GET A STATE PENSION UNTIL YOU’RE 70.

That’s all well and good if you’re fit and healthy, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who will find that difficult, and I do think it’s a concern.”

He continues: “It’s been interesting going back into the sector as an “The bottom line is that I enjoy working, older social worker, and I’ve found and I like a challenge. I was still “I’M DEFINITELY A BETTER SOCIAL on the whole that people have been registered, so I thought ‘why not?’ I still really welcoming. I told them from the WORKER NOW THAN I WAS 20 felt I had a lot to give. beginning, ‘there are some things I YEARS AGO,” CONFIRMS BILL, “I got a job working for CLIC Sargent, need to brush up on, after a few years WHOSE DAUGHTER IS ALSO A and worked there until last year. away, but I’m a safe and experienced SOCIAL WORKER. pair of hands,’ and I’ve been able to “It felt good to feel useful again; keep busy ever since.” that desire to work, and to make a difference in people’s lives never went “I remember reading a study last year Bill is currently working with a mental that said social workers who are still in away. There’s also something about health team on a three-month contract, the profession after the age of 60 have working as part of a team, especially if and doesn’t know what he’ll do next. it’s a good team, that’s just awesome, higher levels of compassion, and a “I think this industry needs good more positive attitude to having chosen and the collective work you can do is people working right now, with social work as a profession, and to their just amazing.” experience under their belts, and now current work environment, and younger Bill says he’s pleased to still be that I’ve had my vaccines, I’m happy to counterparts.” working, and enjoys what he’s doing, be here and doing my part.”

At 70-years-old, Bill has been a social worker for the past three decades.

56 THE WEBSITE PRIORITISING CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH A legacy of the Heads Together campaign, ‘Mentally Healthy Schools’ offers free guidance and resources for parents, teachers, and professionals.

People can have a strong reaction to the term, ‘mental health’,” explains counselling psychologist Rina Bajaj.

“Often people think about extremes, but just like our physical health, we all have mental health - and of course it’s on a spectrum.

“With the Mentally Healthy Schools website, the focus is on early intervention, and thinking about health holistically, in order to help people better understand and promote children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Mentally Healthy Schools launched in 2018. It was developed in partnership between the Anna Freud Centre, Young Minds, Place2Be, and The Royal Foundation as a legacy project of the Heads Together campaign.

The free website offers a reliable source of quality-assured information, advice, and practical resources for parents, carers, teachers, and professionals - all created by clinicians and education professionals.

The Anna Freud Centre - a mental health charity for children, young people, and their families - run the site.

“Early intervention is key to giving young people the best start in life,” explains Rina, head of training for the Mental Health & Wellbeing Schools team.

“With primary-aged children, it can be difficult to identify anxiety, as children of this age are more likely to show us how they’re feeling before they’re able to tell us.

“ONE IN 10 PRIMARY SCHOOL

“As adults, we need to be on the lookout for changes in young people’s usual functioning that could signal an issue - being clingier, or more withdrawn, or a change in the way they interact with their friends. Also, very young children might notice physical symptoms before they can identify the emotions, so be on the lookout for things like unexplained stomach aches, or headaches.

CHILDREN, AGED 5-10, HAS AN IDENTIFIABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION - THAT’S AROUND THREE CHILDREN IN EVERY CLASS. While more than half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14, the factors that can put a child more at risk of developing a mental health problem can often be identified much earlier.

“Of course, we’ve all just been through an incredibly unique year, and so we’ve developed all kinds of Covid-specific material on the site for use in schools and at home.”

THE SITE’S RESOURCES ARE AIMED AT PRIMARY AND SECONDARYAGED CHILDREN, WITH TIPS AND GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS, AND DOWNLOADABLE

“The site has all kinds of guidance for parents, carers or professionals dealing with anxious children - from not minimising the child’s feelings, and being clear about the facts of a situation, to teaching them coping strategies, and helping them to understand their emotions.

“It’s important that they understand who their trusted adults are, as well as the different things that can help them relax, such as mindfulness, focused breathing, or creative activities.

“The site also explains that parents and carers need to think about the way they model their own emotions and “It will be a while before we understand feelings, as children are more likely to notice what we do than we realise, and the full impact of the pandemic on often see us, more than they hear us. children’s mental health, but we already know there are indications of “Children don’t exist in a vacuum, an increase in generalised anxiety, so it’s important to ensure we have fluctuations in mood, body image, and guidance and tips for parents, carers eating disorders,” explains Rina. and staff on the site too, so that we’re “While some pupils will bounce straight all working together as a community for back into school life, others will find the improved wellbeing across the board.”

LESSON PLANS FOR TEACHERS.

transition difficult, so it’s about being mindful of that.

Visit mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk to find out more.

NSPCC Learning is here for anyone who works with children. You can access research and resources, learn about key topics and find training to help you protect children.

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Our free resources for social workers include: CASPAR newsletter Our weekly current awareness newsletter for practice, policy and research. nspcc.org.uk/CASPAR

83% OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN CARE REQUIRE SEN SUPPORT Thematic briefings from case reviews

Our thematic briefings highlight the learning from case reviews, pulling together key risk factors and practice recommendations. nspcc.org.uk/casereviews

Coronavirus briefing for social workers

This briefing is constantly updated and guidance from across theabout UK, the importance Philip summarises Stock, Director of Invision360, talks for social workers and local authorities. of contribution, collaboration, and good quality EHCPs. nspcc.org.uk/socialworkers

B

etween 2005 and 2020, 6,240 school-aged children entered the care system.

the additional support needed to meet those needs.

Following the SEND reforms in 2014, there were some initial transition challenges, with some local authorities finding on occasion that a request for information to social services Of these, a study was simply met with a response that published last January revealed that a staggering 83% communicated ‘the C/YP is not known to social services’. ‘Not known’ does were found to require additional SEN not necessarily indicate no care needs. support throughout the course of their school years.

Education and social care services THIS SIGNIFICANT FIGURE IS SURPRISING, NOT LEAST BECAUSE IT DOESN’T ALIGN WITH ANY OF THE NATIONAL FIGURES PUBLISHED PREVIOUSLY DURING THAT SAME TIME.

worked closely to ensure the relevant section of an EHCP clearly and comprehensively states when there are no social care needs. It also recognised that a lack of social care advice could be misleading, and that if a child or young person is not known to social care; it does not necessarily mean there are no social care needs. This has resulted in greater collaboration between education and social care in the arena of SEND.

IS THE SHEER VOLUME OF ADVICE BEING REQUESTED, AND THE DEMAND FOR GREATER ‘TIMELINESS,’ IMPACTING QUALITY? The quality of professional advice that informs an EHCP, and the quality of EHCPs as a whole, is an area that is gaining more focus. Local authorities are engaging in more comprehensive quality assurance measures, including evaluating the contributions of health and social care. The QA approach should ensure the C/YP voice is evident throughout the plan.

There are a number of approaches LAs are now implementing to address the issue of quality assurance of EHCPs. One approach is the new Invision EHCP audit tool - the first online approach that aims to standardise this quality assurance approach of EHCPs across local authorities (10% of LAs nationally are now using this QA system).

“I feel I have more knowledge now and will be better able to advise parents with their concerns around online safety. Previously it was mostly just parental controls WE KNOW THE CONTINUING RISE There has been a considerable amount but I have IN THE NUMBER OF EHCPS IS a greater breadth and of positive progress with regards PLACING GREATER DEMAND ON education social care working depth of strategies toand suggest.

The study also highlighted that of those children and young people in care requiring SEN provision, almost 25% received an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) - a legal document requiring a local authority to provide agreed additional support, generally for the most high-need pupils.

LOCAL AUTHORITY SERVICES. collaboratively and effectively to So, what is the importance of EHCPs? meet the needs of C/YP with SEND, Head of Family Support, In short, they are key for children and and there are so many examples of must seek social NSPCC elearning user young people aged up to 25 who need The local authority excellent working practices in this area. care advice as part of the EHCP additional support beyond what is However, there is still a long way to go available through the schools allocated assessment and this increase in and future focus is required to improve requests is placing further demand on resources. EHCP’s identify education, practice and ensure the best outcomes our social care professionals. health, and social needs, and set-out for children and young people. ©NSPCC 2020. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Registered charity England and Wales 216401.

Scotland SC037717. Photography by Tom Hull and Ross Bolger. The adult 59pictured is a volunteer. The child pictured is a model.

The NSPCC practitioner is Dannie Adcock-Habib. J20201254

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