Join Michael as he delves into the challenges and risks faced by social workers working with children and vulnerable individuals. Through personal experiences, Michael highlights the potential consequences of complaints lodged against social workers, shedding light on the impact such accusations can have on one's career and well-being. Michael emphasises the importance of self-care and resilience in the face of adversity. He urges social workers to prioritise their own mental and emotional health amidst the demanding nature of their profession.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Self-Care: The episode highlights the crucial role of self-care for social workers, emphasising that taking care of oneself is essential to effectively caring for others.

• Risks and Challenges: Michael discusses the various risks and challenges associated with working in social care, including the potential for complaints and the impact they can have on a social worker's career.

• Impact of Complaints: The episode shares Michael's personal experiences, illustrating how complaints from clients or families can lead to significant consequences, such as contract termination or investigations.

• Mental Health Awareness: Michael raises awareness about mental health issues, showcasing how parents' mental health can influence their interactions with social workers and the care they provide to their children.

• Need for Boundaries: The episode underscores the importance of setting boundaries and maintaining professionalism, especially when faced with challenging situations or hostile attitudes from clients.

BEST MOMENTS

"Your involvement saves lives, but also offers a child a better standard of care."

"Undertaking this work is associated with risks, including complaints that could jeopardise your livelihood."

"I was frankly astonished that I could lose a contract under such spurious allegations."

"The complaints were not substantiated, but the threat of potential loss of livelihood lingered for a year."

"In looking back on that case, it was one of the most unpleasant cases I've experienced."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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HOST BIO

Michael Watson is a qualified social worker and author with over thirty years of experience working with children and families. As an expert in family court, Michael is in a key position to assist, advise, and coach parents through their private law family proceedings and provide them with the information and skills to represent themselves successfully in court. His two books, ‘How to Represent Yourself in Family Court’, and ‘FAMILY COURT: Giving Evidence In Family Court’, provide parents with a clearer understanding of family court proceedings, legislation, and parenting skills.