What is Social Work? Meet some real Social Workers

Eleanor. Senior Care Manager and Approved Social Worker (ASW)

"I started out as a nursery care assistant in Glasgow but when the nursery closed I became what would now be called a residential support worker in a children’s home. I was promoted to Deputy Manager there while still very young.

"When we moved to London I took a non-residential job in a children’s home, working flexible hours which suited me while I was bringing up my own children. As they grew up I decided to take the social work qualification (Dip SW)* on a 2 year full time course. To help make ends meet, I carried on working part-time at evenings and weekends. It was demanding, but worth it. Placements on the course took me into to Older People’s and Mental Health services and once I had qualified I became a Care Manager working with older people.

"I took a top-up degree with the Open University, and then took the Mental Health course to become an ASW. I’m now working as part of a combined health and social services team to develop co-ordinated Community Mental Health Services for older people.

"As an ASW I play the lead role in making decisions about how service users can best be supported and cared for. Input from psychiatrists and mental health nurses is important, but I hold the statutory responsibility for how each case should be handled."

*The Dip SW has now been replaced by the Degree in Social Work