Starting Social Work

A Newly Qualified Social Worker's experience, reflections and gentle advice on the training process and early years of a Social Work career.

Rebecca Joy Novell is a Newly Qualified Social Worker working for a charity in Sheffield which works with homeless young people. She graduated from The University of Sheffield in 2012 with a Masters in Social Work. Rebecca has been involved with Youth Justice for five years in a variety of voluntary and paid roles and is currently undertaking a PHD in Youth Justice. She was recently elected to the Professional Assembly for The College of Social Work and regularly blogs for The Guardian's Social Care Network.

1. Introduction. 2. Discovering you can get paid to help people. 3. Starting the course and meeting Spider Man. 4. Single-handedly saving the world. 5. The Riots. 6. The key to being a good Social Worker is good rum and a great friend. 7. Red-tape. 8. The Fear. 9. So are you a Social Worker or not? 10. The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment. 11. Conclusion: Idealism Lost?