Once again I’m in the position of impatiently waiting to hear about my next placement. I know which authority took my application papers and when. Now I just have to wait for them to contact me when they have found me a suitable practice teacher.
This has led to me reflecting on my last placement and [...]
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Once again, I have had to rethink and challenge my attitudes and beliefs. This time about mental health, provoked by the literature review I was required to write. I eventually chose the concept of ‘recovery’, which proved fascinating- and challenging.
To give a quick synopsis, the recovery movement argues that everyone who experiences any form of [...]
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A few weeks ago I went down to my mother’s for 10 days. She had recently had a mastectomy, and was having some problems with her recovery, and as my father was going abroad for business, I slipped back into my role of ‘young carer’. Except that the role didn’t seem to fit as well [...]
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I’m almost a third of the way through my placement. Thinking of it like that seems very scary! It’s flying by.
Tonight I have finished my first portfolio assignment, an assessment/ intervention report which I’m not happy with but it is only a draft at present, so the uni tutor can check I’m on track to [...]
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I was out visiting a young person at home this evening, when my ankle gave way under me while crossing the road. Luckily the cars stopped for me, as I picked myself up off the floor trying to maintain a resemblance of dignity (although no-one was actually concerned enough to ask if I was okay).
I [...]
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The last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about what area I might like to practice in eventually.
I have chosen the mental health pathway for my course, although technically we graduate with a generic degree preparing us for any area of social work. For me, adults services have always been my preference.
This placement [...]
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I’ve been head-hunted by a former manager, who is recruiting for an Independent Mental Health Advocate (a role now formally required by the Mental Health Act 2007 changes). Good salary- more than I’d make as a newly qualified social worker (or for several years actually!) I’m experienced, having done almost the same role before, and [...]
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Started placement last week, and hated it. Not due to any reason specifically related to the placement (I think) but more a symptom of how I feel about everything lately. I am struggling. Have been for a while, if I’m honest.
Immediately before this course, I went through a messy divorce. I didn’t know that he’d [...]
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As I’m starting my placement tomorrow, this is a question that has been in my mind recently. What is the difference between a good (social) worker and a bad one? I, and many service users, often joke that we can spot a good social worker from half a mile away. I was interested to read a [...]
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I’ve been noticing recently how people’s attitudes have changed towards me since I began social work training. I have always been someone in whom people have confided: often all I do is listen, but that seems to be enough for most people.
Now however, the nature of the problems my friends bring has changed. Deepest fears, [...]
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