Social Workers are like Goalkeepers

This is an extract taken from a BBC article on social workers in the UK.

Sue Littlemore, social affairs correspondent, BBC News

"Social workers are like goalkeepers", one Local Government Association representative noted. "They make hundreds of saves and no one notices. Let one goal through and everyone remembers."

The analogy is clear - Baby Peter's death affected the standing of the profession but no-one sees the thousands of children rescued from abuse. Perhaps understandably, social workers retreat from publicity; but they must promote their good work to foster better public understanding.

It will take time and numerous strategies but one idea is letting experienced social workers earn more without leaving the front line. A similar idea in schools created "advanced skilled teachers".

Calls to rebrand social work mirror efforts in the late nineties to raise teachers' status. Honours for head teachers and televised national teaching awards helped remove the "those who can, do; those who can't, teach" image. Social work needs the same makeover.

Thumbs up to teachers and social workers!

matthew.

Everything can be a learning process.