# Transcript

SPEAKER 1
What inspired you to train to be a social worker?
SPEAKER 2
I think for me my inspiration to become a social worker started when I was doing my undergraduate degree in psychology with criminology. That allowed me to then move on to working as an independent mental health advocate. And in that role, I was able to work alongside social workers, mental health officers, and really understand and appreciate their perspective in terms of antidepressant practice, in terms of helping someone to reach their potential and their outcomes, and I felt that this was something that I really wanted to pursue as a career. It tied in with my interest in mental health practice and, obviously, social work, as well, and being in a way forward to actually try and make a difference in someone's life.
SPEAKER 3
I think it were experience. I used to work in a children and family team in care and protection as a social worker assistant. And meeting the team and see what social work can make a difference, I decided to give it a go. I wanted to be like them. I suppose that one is why I decided to start a social work training, just to be like many friends that inspired me.
SPEAKER 4
I suppose it was something that I'd wanted to do for many years and hadn't been able to because I was working. I suppose, really, that was, the OU then gave me that route in.
SPEAKER 5
I was in support work roles and continued being support work roles. But I came into the job I'm in now and saw social workers around me, and I actually think that my perception of social work changed a bit. I realised that what I had thought a social worker was, or what I thought their work was limited to, wasn't entirely reflective of reality. And actually, their role was a lot wider, a lot more holistic, and a lot more caring and nurturing, because I think there is a perception that social workers are so authoritative and come in with their own agenda. And then the role that I'm in now is like, that's not the case at all. And they make a real and tangible difference, but in a very practical way.