How does a normal day start? After I’ve woken up early for a cup of tea, and a cuddle with my dog Norman, we have a nice walk around a local nature reserve before I head into the office round the corner from where I live. 

I’m usually early, and the first one in the office, so its nice to open up the windows and get the lights on and lovely to say hello to everyone walking in to start their day. I love to do this because it allows me to continue positive relationships with my colleagues who have welcomed me into my team.

Why did you join Staffordshire as a social worker? My role as a Social Worker involves a lot of self-care to manage the stress that can come with the nature of the job. Staffordshire puts a lot into supporting its people and you really feel that support from managers, your colleagues and the People Services team.

What is your role? As a Duty Social Worker I’m on the frontline, safeguarding children. 

What do you enjoy about your role? I love the fact that I can play a huge role in how the public perceives the role of a social worker. Our involvement can be seen often as a negative experiences that families are going through. But I try to make them feel supported, that I’m working with them for a better outcome. Plus, here at Staffordshire we see the value in early help for children and families so that we can reduce the risk of children needing to come into our care.

What’s the worst part of your role? I know this may sound cheesy but the worst part of my job is if I have a week where I don’t spend as much time with my colleagues. They make the difference between ‘a social work team’, and an ‘amazing social work team’. We share knowledge, support each other and keep things light hearted for our well being.

What’s the best part of your role? The best part of my job is when I have completed an assessment for a family, and there is no further action to be taken! That’s usually because we’ve been able to put a high level of support into the family to improve their outcomes at the earliest time, and they can now carry on their lives without a social worker’s intervention. This benefits not only that family, but other families receiving support, as we can focus our efforts on them.

What would you say to someone thinking about a career in social work? I would recommend applying for Staffordshire, for the support, for the benefits, the local offices in each area and overall, the sense of togetherness. We really are a great team!