Is Social Media a Hostile Work…

How can I be a social worker in the UK if everyone is so hostile towards them?
I am a Canadian Social work student soon to be moving to work in the UK. I have just read the horrific story about Baby’s P death, and how social services let this poor child down. No words can discribe my digust how this case was handled. It’s not the first time I have read about social services letting children down in the UK. I know from my placements, and my degree, that social work has a horrible stigma towards the profession, and it does not help with horribly sad stories like this, for us to be able to show all the good we want to do.
I feel very passionate about my profession and about helping and empowering people. But I am scared about the welcome I will get in the UK. Does everyone feel this way about Social work?.
Should I still try and be a social worker in the UK when its social services is clearly a mess? Or are these unfortunate stories isolated, and the media does not report the good that many councils and social services are doing?

What is everyone take on this?.
well I am sorry to hear some of you are so hostile,. But I feel called to make a difference and I am going to do all I can do just that. There are good people out there and I believe in them, and in myself to help and to change a failing system. There are good social workers out there, and before you call them all evil, remember. they may be victims of agencies and governments who allow red tape to get involved and they are the ones who allow these deaths.

we need social workers more than ever, but be prepared for some who don’t seem to be either good at their jobs, or indeed care enough about their duties. I have come across some good ones, but an awful lot of very bad ones.
References :

English Social Services are a complete mess. They seem to exist for the criminals rather than for the innocent children.

You sound like a nice, genuine person. I wouldn’t do social work in the UK if I were you. You’ll be there with all the good intentions and just get told that the abuser is always right. It will kill your soul. Come to the UK by all means and be a waitress - or stay in Canada (beautiful country!) and do social work.
References :
Years and years of hearing about abused children dying while social services do nothing to stop the abusers.

Lead by example. With such passion about your work .. you could rapidly climb the ladder and be in a position to enforce stringent duties for your fellow colleagues and encourage others to join the taskforce… I’d say you’d be fighting a tight budget.. and that’s primarily why from time to time tragic stories surface.

I myself am a 24/7 carer for my mum, the loss of her body clock (as well as 40 years of memories) has meant that she could be up and about at two in the morning, ready to go to town… the NHS couldn’t accommodate such sporadic "waking hours" and so the initial early morning call was all we ever had.. by then (10.30) mum was already up and washed, dressed, hair done, breakfast etc etc , there was nothing left for them to do… if they had arrived at the time they were suppose to have (8.30) then they might have succeeded in alleviating a little pressure here and there. On the whole, the workers were lovely people, concerned, chirpy etc …but as we got to know them, it became apparent that there schedule was such that it was impossible for them to actually attend any one person for the length of their time allocation .. in that, they wouldn’t have sufficient time to get to their next call and carry out any meaningful duties. If all care workers, social workers etc are run in this manner, its little wonder why horrific circumstances don’t hit the headlines more frequently. Such cases are not totally down to negligence on behalf of an individual but by the agency or company they serve and the government that funds them so inadequately.
References :

After the bent, corrupt, lying, conniving and sometimes murderous plod (police), social workers are the lowest of the low.

Most of the people with whom I socialise will tell you this. Few people trust or like social workers; they are widely viewed as an overpaid waste of space who are responsible for causing far more problems than they solve - They have a reputation for being small-minded busy bodies who like to make life a misery for decent people while totally ignoring the real problems.

I dare say there are those who feel differently about all this.

I have never met any of them, though.
References :

Ask baby ‘P’, oh wait a moment, you cant he’s dead partly thanks to social services. Of cause that sort of thing, amongst other violent deaths, are common under our labour government. You need to read today’s news in our country.

PS. Again today thursday we have terrible deaths. Do yourselve a favour and stay where you are and be safe. The UK is full of illegal immigrants and one half of the country has to work to keep the other half and there lies your social problem that you can’t help. Sorry
References :

Dear everyone,
I read your question, and the following answers, and I want to tell you that not everyone in Britain thinks the same thing (thank goodness!), and not everyone in Britain hates and despises social workers. I think a huge number of people (including a couple who answered your question I think…) have not met and chatted to a social worker, particularly at length and about their work. As for the bizarre comment about illegal immigrants, please politely ignore, I honestly don’t see the point in making that sort of comment.

Social workers save peoples lives, help people live more fulfilling lives, take people out of danger, and improve the prospects of having a good life for many thousands of people every year. And yes, some of them (and it is a minority) fuck everything up and as a result someone dies. And that is awful and horrible and should never, ever be ignored and forgotten. But, to think of all social workers as murderers or the equivalent is silly. And also very demoralizing and offensive to the thousands of hardworking and significantly underpaid social workers who are a force for good and positivity.

Yes, I know someone here doesn’t know anyone who has a good word to say about them. Yes, so many people think they’re a waste of space. So, do these critics actually know what social workers do? I really wonder. Not everyone hates social workers, and people who claim to are often ill-informed. I have worked with social workers for many years and the idea that they are useless or unhelpful would be laughable if it weren’t so offensive.

Yes, I know some social workers are bad. And I am NOT NOT NOT condoning that. But some, I hope most, are good. And some are exceptional. I have seen social workers transform the lives of children, and help to heal children who have been let down all their lives by adults. No, not all social workers do this- some help people who are disabled, sick, have mental health problems, are homeless, are dying ( a friend now works with children whose parents have a terminal illness, and her work is not, ever useless), have a learning disability, in schools and with all sorts of people, from all walks of life, who probably never wanted a social worker.

Please, be a social worker in the UK, you may find there is a stigma attached, but that won’t be all the time. You can help people, and you’re sensitive attitude is an excellent quality. There are some amazing social workers in Britain today, but you just won’t hear about them!
References :