‘It’s all about social justice’: three social workers give their tips for success

Overcoming complex challenges is at the heart of social work, whether it’s winning the trust of families, understanding the nuances of individual cases or completing assessments and training as a means to progress in your career. But with the right soft skills, social work is a world filled with opportunities to make a real difference.

So what does it take to be a brilliant social worker? Three social workers give their take …

A commitment to diversity and inclusion
“I became a social worker because it’s all about social justice,” says Dawn, originally from Jamaica, who has more than two decades of experience and now works in the safeguarding children’s team at Sutton council. “Sometimes you just need to listen, it’s definitely a skill. We’re advocates for families with a range of diverse needs, we are their voice.”

For Dawn’s colleague, Victoria, diversity and inclusion are important aspects of the role. “Often, families I work with have suffered discrimination or might not fully understand what’s available to them,” she says. “Our role is crucial in ensuring children and families have equal access to services and know their rights.”

Respect for people
Colleague and team member Andrew says: “Being approachable is vital to building the sorts of relationships that yield results for vulnerable people.

Clear communication and a multi-partner approach are also key, because, he adds, a child protection plan “is only of any value if it’s understood by everyone”. “You forge a partnership with the parents, with the focus being on the child,” he says. Endorsing that partnership view, Victoria adds: “The way we work, speak and write needs to reflect the doing with – not for.”

Passion and creativity
“I think that one of the most creative aspects of the job is working with parents,” says Andrew. For him, being a social worker allows you to lean into a sense of purpose. “Where there is pushback, that’s where it’s really rewarding.”

As a team manager, Victoria’s creativity is more focused on the overview of operations. However, it’s during duty week, when it’s her pod’s turn to respond to new cases and emergencies, that she gets the most job satisfaction. “I like doing it! It’s the challenge, I guess. The immediacy as well.”

Communication and organisation
An organised approach helps Victoria manage her full-on and varied role, which might see her presenting to her team one day and conducting a home visit with a social worker the next.

Dependability in all situations
Reliability builds trust with families over time, which is necessary as they can often be apprehensive to work with social workers. “When people hear of social work, most families get nervous,” says Dawn.

A curious mind
“You have to be curious about the family dynamics you’re entering into,” says Andrew. “If a family is putting up barriers and preventing you from seeing a child on their own, you have to be curious about why that is.

“We have to challenge them in a respectful way, but we also have to really share what’s on our mind,” he says. “It’s like a dance you’re doing with families. Sometimes things just need reframing for them before they can work with us.”

Rooted in restorative practices
For Andrew, this dance is best done when it is restorative. “Coming into someone’s life, there’s a power dynamic at play, and you have to be aware and reflect on that.” He describes how, at Sutton, there is a strong practical side to the job, and “the therapeutic aspect of social work is really embraced”.

Andrew says he really values the training opportunities that he’s been given, which help to explore new dynamics with families. “It gets them focusing on positive family experiences and creates a different type of energy than they are used to.”

A collaborative approach
Collaboration is at the heart of social work in Sutton, whether it’s working with families, other social workers, or other agencies in the borough. Dawn says: “Depending on the issue, you link up with your partners in these community services, so you always know where to go for a case.”

Open to learning
Being part of a supportive team is something that stands out at Sutton. “Some days, we just have to laugh, even when we have challenges,” says Dawn. Likewise, for Andrew, who says: “It’s important to acknowledge there’s stress within the job, but I think there’s also a lot of support here. There are a lot of people willing to give support in difficult situations when needed.”

For Victoria, Sutton is a very supportive place to work. “They really nurture their staff, which is one of the reasons I like being here.” She started her career with an assessed and supported year in employment after qualifying as a social worker, and appreciates the additional training, guidance and increased supervision that year provided. “It’s just a really good way of supporting people into the profession.”

Children must be at the heart of everything you do
“Sutton has a very child-focused approach, and I like the way they work here,” Victoria says. “The child is always central and, alongside that, they really invest in staff. That’s what attracted me to Sutton in the first place, and what encouraged me to stay.”

As to the most important trait of a social worker for her? “Persistence. You’ve got to keep going.” Initially, she says, families can be reluctant to engage. “Then at the end, I tell them: ‘Now you just need the confidence to keep doing it on your own.’ I think being able to walk away having seen the change is amazing.”

Making a difference starts here