The Social Work Cafe

Debbie Innes, DipSW - you can e-mail me at debbie.innes@rbk.kingston.gov.uk . I am a team leader of the Assessment and Care Planning Team working with Disabled Children and Young People within an integrated service.

Miss Trish Maz - you can e-mail me at Tamia231@gmail.com I am a newly qualified social worker.

England

Vicki Fairhead, Student social worker - you can e-mail me at vicki0182@yahoo.co.uk . I'm a first year social work student in England, very excited to embark on this journey! I know it's not going to be a smooth experience, but I'm looking forward to expanding my knowledge.....

Faith -  you can e-mail me at hamerfaith@yahoo.co.uk . I am an Aspiring Social Work student 2012, in London. I plan to start a social work degree in 2012. Although I have the 'hard information' I need pertaining to the course, I thought it might be a good idea to hear from an actual Social Worker what to expect and possibly if this career has lived up to your expectations. I would be very grateful if any of you could please answer any or all of the following questions. 1. What made you decide to study for a social work degree? 2. How did you enter into your chosen profession? 3. How has the profession changed from the time you joined till now in your own experience? 4. Have you found it easy to advance up the career ladder? 5. What would you change most based on your experience so far? Thank you very much!

G D Gardner, CQSW DipSW Cert Management- you can e-mail me at  info@socialWorkProcesses.co.uk and visit my website at  http://www.SocialWorkProcesses.co.uk . I live in London England UK. I work for Elevate and we are a cpd social work training organisation in the UK.

Scotland

Marina Amaral, Social Worker/Master's Degree/PhD - you can e-mail me at 
marinaamaral81@hotmail.com I am a qualified social worker since 2004 with four years of experience in mental health. During these four years I worked with Young people and Adults suffering from different mental health issues. Due to this, I decided to invest in my professional knowledge in order to improve the quality of the service and the support provided by myself. I attended a Master’s course related to project management where I developed a research project focused on the strategies carried out by social workers. Currently, I am on my third year of my PhD. My project explores the experience of young people aged 16-23 suffering from depression and in transition from care to independence. In my thesis I explore the concept of child in need or at risk and related problems to understand the current circumstances of the young people I interviewed in my research. I also explored the housing and employment pathways of the participants, including foster and residential placements, the meaning of work, the meaning of home, employment pathways among other subjects. I have also started a diploma in Cognitive Behavioral therapy. 

Cheryl Gordon, BSc Social Work (Hons) Student Scotland - you can e-mail me at bailey231@hotmail.co.uk or visit my web page at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Social-Work-Students/222767614426455 . Social Work student looking to promote my new page on facebook for prospective, on course and newly qualified students. All interest welcome. Aim: networking social work students :)

Bill Wardley-Smith - you can e-mail me at bill@muncus.co.uk . I am Manager of Social Work for Carolina House Trust the oldest Children's Charity in Scotland. I have been a social worker since 1996 and have experience of working with young people in a secure setting, through care and residential.