Brilliant response!

Wow. Mr Wong, I’m not sure what university you went to, to develop such a dismissive view of the qualification but I’m glad it was easy for you. Most of us worked and studied hard, with a challenging syllabus, harsh marking criteria, insightful, intelligent and challenging lectures.

Add to that the self directed learning which required hours outside of the lectures in our own time, the study groups, practical assignments, practice based learning, psychology, legal and social policy modules etc, and I certainly had a very thorough and academic experience over 5 years as an undergraduate and postgraduate student.

I went to a Red Brick University in the top ten universities in the UK. Did you do an online Diy course??

Agreed. When you take into account pension contributions, sick pay, holiday pay, flexible leave, professional indemnity, “umbrella” costs and everything else it works out about the same.

Agreed Abdul. We work overtime for free do our hourly rate easily drops to that. We’re all best out of this dreadful “profession”.

I’m a permanent worker but I disagree. Hourly agency workers get paid more but once you factor in employer pension contributions, sick pay, holiday pay and the general security of permanent work.. financially I don’t think it’s makes a huge difference.

The sad fact of the matter is children’s services would fall down without agency workers stepping in.

Children’s services are broken and not fit for purpose. All these changes ignore the actual problems. Unless you are somebody who values the security of being permanent (like myslef) I see no real incentive to go permanent.

This is exactly my thoughts.

If I understand you correctly,I would agree social workers regardless of whether you are permanent staff or agency, as the right to leave an enviromrnt which does not meet their requirements.

There are committed social workers and managers out there. There are those who are not.What I find unacceptable are those who do not care and have their own agendas.

Referring to a worker has an individual and not by name demonstrates to me a lack of respect and dignity for the employee.I can explain in more detail but will not other than to say if an employee is referred to in this manner what is the mind-set of the organisation.

We are all human beings. Children the most vulnerable, if some one is desensitise to the requirements of the role of Safeguarding they should reconsider thier position.

Safe pratice guidance and the ability to ask questions to help a worker understand why we has a collective group of PROFESSIONALS are making decisions in the interest of a child in my opinion is not a bad thing.

The role we play is an important and necessary role in Safeguarding Children one which should be taken seriously.

These are my views,experience and observations has someone who has praticed in Safeguarding for 43 year’s plus.I am with you Joe proud to refer to myself as a social worker.

Therefore before blaming all social workers look at the wider issues.

I want to burst open some myths and just invite us to think about some potentially uncomfortable beliefs.

1. Qualified Agency workers don’t go in for the Money… anyone who does should not be in Social Work… period

2. It’s hypocrisy to pretend that if you are employed by a local authority you’re not in it for the money… why do you seek and go on strike for higher pay

3. And why should an agency Social Worker( in fact every social worker not expect to be paid for what they are TRULY worth?..

4. I’d like to ask everyone here who seems to have an issue about being ALLEGEDLY HIGHER than a local authority employed colleague.

WHAT ARE YOU WORTH? — hourly, daily etc.. put a £ sign to it: .. £20, £30.25 £ 40, £60 £ 70…etc “stone cold honesty” ….

5.. Why as social workers are we so uneasy and so ashamed about being paid well for what we do… employed or

6. are you telling me that an agency worker values the life of a child/adult more than an LA-contracted colleague?

7. What is wrong with a qualified licensed colleague exercising some degree of choice ( because that’s what it is) about how and who they choose to work for…

8. these are the important questions and NOT the Emotional Professional Programming that somehow there’s something untoward about a social worker expecting to exercise some degree of financial freedom is intrinsically wrong or contrary to Our social work value and the value of the client we serve

I could go on…

The critical issue here is asking yourself/thinking into where is all this unease about the role of Agency SWs and more importantly; WHAT IS THIS TELLING YOU ABOUT YOU ABOUT YOU

P.S. I’m quite clear in my mind Any colleague, agency or otherwise who comes into social work
just for the money.. should be practicing as one.

I unashamedly and unapologetically defend the right of EVERY social worker to EXPECT to be paid what they are TRULY worth.. and I mean what they’re REALLY worth…

…and I can safely say our worth in monetary terms, is currently decided by someone else NOT by us

hence my question above… WHAT VALUE DO YOU PUT ON YOUR EXPERTISE AND THE VALUE YOU BRING TO THE PEOPLE WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE

Food for thought from a fellow PROUD Social Worker with 30+ years of social work practice, 15 of these as an Independent Social worker

I remember many years ago social workers fighting for the right to have fair financial and professional recognition for the complex role we play in Safeguarding Children.

It appears to me the profession is slowly but surely being dismantled in front of our very eyes. Whiles social workers sit by,say nothing and do nothing nothing will change.

I am NOT ASHAMED to say I remained in the job because I recognise the principals and the safeguards the role should offer vulnerable children,adults and families.It is attitudes that have changed.

Yes there are times you tell yourself the job is not good for your health time to find a less emotionally demanding job or it is time to leave,however you return.(I have done the same thing)

Yes there are social workers who are committed there are also those who are not!!

How committed to the role you are is the individual’s choice.If you want to be more informed in your role do further reading,research and asking questions to inform your pratice.

Agency workers do need a level of experience and ability to pratice in different district.Agency work is difficuilt for various reason’s.

Is it not managers and senior management who should also be open and honest about what workers face on the frontline? or is it okay to sit by and watch a failing profession which is there to protect and safeguard.

Should we resign ourselfs to being comfortable with the uncomfortable,however this does not solve anything for the profession and certainly not for the vulnerable child living in fear or the abused parent or the elderly person.

Thank you Andrew for taking the time to write an accurate and insightful response to this issue. After 23 years in this profession I have to agree with every word.