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I Am a Social Worker

The hardest part of the job is definitely dealing with cases of abuse or severe neglect, particularly if children are involved.

As a mother, it’s infuriating and heartbreaking at the same time.
You’d think that after years of working as a social worker, you get used to it.

You don’t, you never do. I have co-workers who have been in the job for decades, and there have been cases that have broken them.

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Nomoretomorrow · 46-50, M

I truly sympathise. I worked in a school for a number of years in an area of high poverty and social problems, not as a teacher but as a teaching support staff member. The number of kids I saw abused or neglected etc was shocking. For some reason kids are more likely to reveal their problems to support staff more than teachers and despite being a 6ft plus bloke I had a number of kids confide in me which I then had to pass on to safeguarding staff and gained a reputation among the students as a sympathetic adult and so had a lot come to me. Can't discuss exactly what due to data protection and respect for these kids' privacy but some of the things they lived through were truly heartbreaking, on top of the usual bullying and exam/life stress kids at that age (11-18) go through. I can only imagine from this how dealing with this all day, every day must affect you and I respect what you and others like you do immensely. And you're right you never get used to it and each time hits you the same as the first, even more so because each new occurrence hammers home how much this goes on. You just have to remind yourself to keep strong so you can be there for the next one.

SethGreene531 · M

I think that would be one of the most challenging aspects. Whether it be social work or counselling, few people could avoid taking it home with them. I imagine compartmentalizing is easier said than done.
Heartbreaking when you're unable to make a lasting change in their circumstance.
I'd burn out.

luckranger71 · 51-55, M

Thank you for all you do. It’s one of the toughest jobs there is.

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