A day in the life of a Social Worker

If you’re thinking about joining the profession and want to know that job is really like from a current Social worker – read this minute-by-minute account… Working in an adults community social work team always results in no two days being the same. Although processes completed are similar, the interactions with people needing care and support, and those in their support networks are always different. Some days I remain mainly office based, and other days I find myself driving from visit to visit. To understand and get a flavour of what a day is like for an adults community team social worker I thought I would share one of my most recent days…….

08.15am

I arrive in the office, set up my laptop and get a coffee…now I’m ready to start the day!!! Fist things first – check my calendar – 3 visits booked today, but first is not until 11am so plenty of time to get some work completed.

08.25am

I start going through and responding to a number of emails and checking by task tray on the ICT system in order to ensure that I am up to date with anything that may have been happening with the adults I am currently working with. This also gives me an opportunity to check if there are any new allocations that have come in to me…none today!!

09.40am

I analyse information from a safeguarding enquiry that I have been leading on, and type the enquiry report – sending this to the Safeguarding Adults Manager for authorisation.

10.45am

I get everything together that I need for my first visit this morning and head off to a care home where the home manager has requested an urgent review. As I read the information and did some research on the individual’s needs a few days previously, I am already aware that I am going to need to complete a Decision Support Tool (DST) Checklist. I get to home and meet with the gentleman. I ascertain that he lacks mental capacity to consent to the assessment. I meet with the relative and the care home manager and after completing the checklist there is a possibility that the gentleman may have eligibility for being Fast tracked for NHS funding. Of course this is a very emotive topic for the relative and we talk about this for a while before I leave to return to the office.

12.00pm

I make some calls in regards to the person just visited to the district nursing team and also the GP surgery. Neither party is available. I leave my contact details but decide to also email both to query fast track eligibility. I also scan the checklist and consent documents and send these off to the Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that the ball is rolling in case fast tracking is not appropriate.

12.30pm

Quick bite to eat at my desk (my own fault as my visits for the afternoon start in an hour!)

13.00pm

Take a phone call from a family member of another person I am working with. This raises safeguarding concerns. I immediately call the care provider and arrange to visit the vulnerable adult the following morning. I complete a few more emails and calls and then check my task list again – some assessments and reviews have been authorised and I know this can wait until tomorrow for me to print and post out.

13.15pm

I collect everything I will need for the afternoons visit – I’ve been super organised and booked both one after the other as the individuals both reside in the same care home. I complete both reviews and as everything is working well for both it is agreed that I will end my involvement with each once the review notes are typed.

16.30pm

I leave the care home and return home where I log in quickly to record the afternoons visits. I cant help but sneak a peak at my emails and see a few calls to be returned and emails. After scanning them I am confident none need to be dealt with today. Another look at my task list and no changes. I log off just after 5pm and can now get started on my second job taking care of my family!!!!