Transcript

PASH SELOPAL

It's important to note that no one's the finished product. As part of the two-year programme, whilst it's still important for that individual to have their own coping mechanisms and personal support network in place that will help them, as social work's a challenging, emotionally and mentally tough job, so you'll need that personal network, yourself, it's important to note that you'll be working in a local authority with other frontline participants. So you will have that professional support network around you of like-minded individuals that would have started the same time as you.

These individuals, along with your consultant social worker, you will be working quite closely with, in regards to talking about your cases on a weekly or fortnightly basis and discussing hypotheses, discussing proposed solutions, and identifying risks and strengths. And, with that, you are able to also reflect on their observations. And they may help you uncover any of your unconscious biases you may have or perhaps act as a devil's advocate, in terms of challenging some of the hypotheses you've completed. So, having that support network, professional support network, to bounce ideas off is something that's crucial.