Children and families

Children and families services have wide-ranging responsibilities to promote the welfare of children in need and their families and ensure that they are properly safeguarded from harm. Social workers employed within this area of work support service users by assessing needs and risks and arranging appropriate services.

The work involves direct contact with children, young people and families, and liaison with other agencies such as the police and education and health professionals. Services provided include family support, positive parenting, respite foster care, outreach support, child protection, packages of multi-disciplinary support and referring children and families to appropriate services and agencies.

Problems that service users face can include one or more of the following: social isolation, low income, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and domestic violence. Many service users have had poor experiences of being parented, which in turn impacts on their ability to adequately parent their own children.

Some flexibility is important as the job is not always nine to five, for example if you have to deal with court deadlines, emergency situations or after hours meetings.

Shoptalk

The Children Act 2004 was drawn up to improve outcomes for all children and young people, for example through integrated multi-agency working. Other government initiatives to improve the welfare of vulnerable children include the development of the common assessment framework (CAF), local safeguarding children boards and integrated children’s systems.

Commonly used acronyms include:

• LAC – looked after child
• CIN – child in need
• FGC – family group conferring
• CPR – child protection register
• DV – domestic violence.

Skills required

• A caring, empathic attitude and child-centred values.
• Flexibility, creativity and skills in advocacy, negotiation and diplomacy.
• The ability to stay calm in the face of confrontation and to defuse tense situations.
• Excellent organisational skills, initiative and self-motivation.
• Common sense and an ability to engage with service users, colleagues and other professionals.

Starting out 

A new social worker would undertake a range of tasks such as duty and assessment work, direct work with children and families, and looked after children cases. After a period of induction more complex cases could be taken on depending upon individual progression, ability and experience. Progression is supported through regular supervision, review and monitoring. A good way for a new social worker to build up their experience and confidence is to co-work more complex cases with an experienced social worker.

In brief

• Best bits
  The job is hugely satisfying and very varied. There is a great deal of autonomy as well as opportunities for learning and further training.
• Worst bits
  The work can be stressful and emotionally draining. It can be difficult to switch off at the end of the working day.
• Don’t bother if...
  ...you don’t work well under pressure, can’t think on your feet and can only work on one thing at a time.