Ben Watson

NAME Ben Watson
JOB Specialist HIV social worker
AREA OF WORK HIV/Aids
EMPLOYER Terence Higgins Trust
QUALIFICATIONS BA English and American studies, Manchester Metropolitan University (1997)

After working with adults with learning disabilities for several years I decided to train as a social worker. Whilst studying I chose a placement with the Terence Higgins Trust (THT), as we hadn’t really covered the topic of sexual health on the course and I wanted to find out more about it. When the placement finished I was asked to stay on to do sessional work and eventually I got a full-time position. The THT supports people living with or affected by HIV.

My job

My role is to advise and assist service users regarding practical issues such as housing, social security, employment and debt, where having HIV is a factor. Service users often face several problems – for example, a single mother who is also an asylum seeker and living in unsuitable housing. I spend much of my time liaising with other agencies, including solicitors, social services and other government bodies, in order to find the best possible solutions. If I can’t help directly, my job is to find someone who can.

There’s plenty of support available and regular staff meetings are a real forum for exchanging ideas and experiences. Working for a voluntary organisation is flexible – we are able to tackle all sorts of issues that might not be possible in a statutory context. Conversely, the most frustrating aspect is the bureaucracy often encountered when trying to sort out problems such as asylum, housing and benefits. 

My most unforgettable moment...

...was my first experience of supervising a social work student on placement. It was very rewarding and made me realise not only the kinds of skills required to teach but also how useful teaching is as a way of finding out more about your own practice as a social worker.