Social workers support some of the most vulnerable in our society, helping millions of people to improve their chances in life. Many professionals describe it as rewarding, and also varied – with jobs in settings as wide-ranging as local councils, charities, prisons, schools, the London Ambulance Service and even Heathrow airport.
But it isn’t without its challenges. Research by Social Work England found that 79% of those surveyed cited high workloads and burnout as the most pressing issues. However, Colum Conway, chief executive of the organisation, says awareness of the importance of sustaining good mental health and wellbeing is growing in the profession.
At local authorities, initiatives such as employee assistance programmes, mental health first aiders, and flexible working are becoming more common. “We know there is a lot of demand on social work and a lot of complexity,” says Conway. “Opportunities for reflective practice, good supervision, and being able to engage in training and development all help.”
Here, two social workers explain what attracted them to the job, what a typical day looks like, and how they look after their own mental health and wellbeing.
‘Every day I have the mindset that I’m going to bring a change in somebody’s life’
After a career in corporate finance, a series of family tragedies led Yvette Carrous-Gibbs to rethink her professional path. Trying to navigate the health and care system had left her feeling frustrated, and she decided to do something about it. “I swapped figures for people,” she says. “I’m not saying I can change the bureaucracy but I’m very dedicated to advocating for my clients.”
It took her six years to qualify, and she joined Oxfordshire county council in 2022. She now works as a social worker in adult services, supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health challenges, as well as older adults with dementia and terminally ill people. A typical working day might involve assessing someone’s needs at home with an occupational therapist, checking in on a client with mental health needs, or supporting a family that has questions about the next steps in their loved one’s care. “Every day I go in with the mindset that I’m going to bring a change in somebody’s life. That’s why I’m here,” says Carrous-Gibbs. “Social work is very rewarding, especially if it’s going right.”
Of course, there are challenges, and as a relatively new social worker, Carrous-Gibbs still comes across questions she doesn’t know the answers to. But her practice supervisor is incredibly supportive, and she says there’s a lot of camaraderie and team spirit within the office. “There’s always someone you can talk to,” she adds. When her elderly mother was ill recently, she was able to take carer’s leave without difficulty. “I didn’t even know there was carer’s leave so that support was amazing.”
Carrous-Gibbs has found her own ways to cope with work pressures, such as making sure she walks 10,000 steps a day and dancing around the living room. “I used to be so stressed out after work,” she says. “Now, no matter how difficult the day was, I leave my problems outside and just dance. It’s helped me a lot.”
‘You have to try to hold on to the golden moments’
Allie Hammond spent eight years as a primary teacher before she retrained as a social worker. Her lightbulb moment came after she was asked to give evidence in court in a child protection case.
“I wanted to do more to help these children to live happier, safer and more fulfilled lives, with equal opportunities to their peers,” she says. Despite having a young family – her children were only one and three at the time – she went back to university via the Step Up to Social Work programme, and has been working at West Sussex since April 2023.
“No two days are the same, and that’s partly why I love it,” she says of her role in the family safeguarding service. A typical day might see her visiting schools, doing home visits, seeing children in foster care or in residential placements, or providing a bit of respite for parents with young children. She works with children and young people up to 18 years old, and admits that the job can be challenging emotionally. “Some of the big decisions we have to make can feel overwhelming. [But] you have to try to hold on to the golden moments. If you’ve got a child who doesn’t want to go to school, and you manage to help – those are the moments you do it for.”
In terms of dealing with stress, she has found that good supervision has helped, as has taking advantage of the nine-day fortnight offered by West Sussex. “I call it my ‘mental health Monday’. I’ll go for treatments or see friends. I will try to rest, or catch up with bits at home. I try to do something that makes me feel better and I don’t look at my work phone or turn my laptop on. I’m a mum too and I have to prioritise my own children at home.”
West Sussex also has mental health first aiders in the office, as well as service days four times a year where specific teams get together to reflect on their practice. When asked what advice she’d give to other social workers, Hammond says: “You’re only human and you can’t do everything for everyone, even if you try. Look after yourself first, and prioritise your family, friends and hobbies. And finally, if you’re struggling – talk to someone. Don’t be embarrassed or see it as a weakness.”
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