I am a social worker. Social work is somewhat of a calling. My main professional paid work as a social worker was in Child Protection. I have run the gamut in this field but also others. Ask away - there are no stupid questions. Social Workers don’t judge 😉
AMA I Was a DOCS/Child Safety Officer
briony on 17/04/2023 - 18:23
Comments
Darlinghurst NSW
I feel for you. Plenty of Abuse I bet, over worked, not enough resources etc.
Thanks for your insight. Yes to all of the above.
There are only so many places you can be at once.
My partner is a school teacher, so she tells me a lot, how some SC's are not available etc Docs was called on a friend of mine (they became druggos).
The skills required, only get better with experience.
Given that all the Plasma babies have kids, it must be an experience.
All the best.Than you. My ex-husband (nothing to do with me being a social worker!) is a school teacher. The work school teachers have to do and the exceptions placed upon to solve all the social problems is extraordinary. All credit to your partner.
@briony: Children have been commodified. Social media ornaments.
Parents don't parent they outsource.It's easy (normal practise) to stereotype (as per this forum) than it is to learn, understand and drive positive change. One side of politics has perfected it.
It's easy (normal practise) to stereotype […] One side of politics has perfected it.
I think, if you cared to look, you'll also find your side of politics is pretty good at it too. Note that this statement makes no assumption of which side of politics you align with.
@moar bargains: Just how many sides does your sideless model have?
Choose mine. Not LNP, not (this version of Labor-which is LNP lite) , never the Greens, I wouldn't wipe excrement off my body onto the excrement of Hanson et al, so feel free to pigeon hole me.
What is the pay and hours like?
What years?
What is your favourite way to de-stress?
Pay goes up but you can't keep onto your accured hours. They reset after a month. I was earning less than 17 dollars an hour in 2017.
De-stressing wasn't really an option unless you count very black humour as an avenue for not going nuts.
Exactly what was the ALS position you 'applied' for, that only 7 years ago was $17/hour, which involved 'helping people'? What qualifications did you have that suited the position?
@Protractor: I don't recall, but I think it was higher than $17 an hour I think. I don't have acces to that email now thanks to my ex-wife.
"black humour, probably not the best term to use (I'm part Koori, but I know your intent)."
Uhhhh. Black humour as a term has nothing to do with race or skin colour.
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20humor:
What does black humor mean?Black humor is a kind of comedy that jokes about serious or depressing topics, such as hopelessness, suffering, or death.
The black in black humor refers to the dark or depressing subject matter that is central to such comedy. Similar terms are black comedy, dark humor, and gallows humor.
Sometimes black comedy is used as a way to point out or reflect on the absurdity of life—or, more specifically, of the dark aspects of life, like death and war. But like other comedy, sometimes it’s just used to get a laugh. Either way, it’s very popular in modern media.
Or, for the etymology, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy
The term black humour (from the French humour noir) was coined by the Surrealist theorist André Breton in 1935 while interpreting the writings of Jonathan Swift.[9][10] Breton's preference was to identify some of Swift's writings as a subgenre of comedy and satire[11][12] in which laughter arises from cynicism and skepticism,[9][13] often relying on topics such as death.[14][15]
Breton coined the term for his 1940 book Anthology of Black Humor (Anthologie de l'humour noir), in which he credited Jonathan Swift as the originator of black humor and gallows humor (particularly in his pieces Directions to Servants (1731), A Modest Proposal (1729), Meditation Upon a Broomstick (1710), and in a few aphorisms).[10][13] In his book, Breton also included excerpts from 45 other writers, including both examples in which the wit arises from a victim with which the audience empathizes, as is more typical in the tradition of gallows humor, and examples in which the comedy is used to mock the victim. In the last cases, the victim's suffering is trivialized, which leads to sympathizing with the victimizer, as analogously found in the social commentary and social criticism of the writings of (for instance) Sade.
$17 an hour in 2017 is pretty bad even for a generalist community worker, let alone soc worker. Why would anyone want to do such a stressful job longer than they have to?
I think I was doing that HN. It sucked, AND STILL DOES!
$66661 is the starting salary. Seems pretty good unless you pro-rata it.
Now? Where do I sign up. It's more than HN. $25 an hour. Shovelling manure for Gerrys horses pays more, and better apreciated.
Based on a 38hr week that’s $33.70/hr, so a lot more than $17/hr. Are you counting unpaid overtime in your pro rata?
When I started as a health worker, (same award as the social workers I worked with) it was less than $20/hr entry level, I think about $18-$19/hr, but that was back in 2003.
The minimum wage in 2017 was $18.29/hr and is now $23.38/hr
Child protection would be the worst. Having to see kids go back to abusive or neglectful parents because of garbage policy would be extremely depressing.
It is tough - but the reality is that children (regardless of what kind of abuse they have suffered) usually need connection. They will return to their parents in most instances. And while the policies are questionable this is not where the problems are. Under resourced since the dawn of the middle class.
Respect.
I could not do what you do.
Thanks! I don't do it anymore!
Where do you do social work now?
I do it for free. I work in a different field now - but once a social worker always.
Obvious where this a is going and why it was posted. (yet again)
?
🍿
Did you get a degree/qualification in social work or make your way up through the ranks?
You generally need a degree but in the mid 1990s in QLD anyone with a degree was hired. For example….if you went to uni and got an engineering degree because you did well in maths…join the Department.
Aldi usually pefer someone with a degree vs someone with 35 years experience in retail (including management), as I found out.
What was your degree if not social work?
Are you still in the field and on the coal face or in admin?
I am not in the field anymore.
Jumped or pushed?
Both. I was too troublesome. I let too many kids stay at home,
@briony: So many parents I dare say were able to cover up, but do let them stay, or potentially go to another envrironment that is more dangerous. I am sure your judgement was the best but others disagreed,.
@Protractor: I side on OP. They seem genuine, and I have known a few social workers, and I have heard of their experiences, and I sympathise with them.
@briony: So you were on more than $17 an hour?
I get paid an extra $1.50 as supervisor in another job for being abused.
Is the extra pay worth it?
No.
But I enjoy the responsibility, and the company backs me, as I comply with their gudelines (though there are some I don't agree with and say, I did not tell you this, but this item (usually soft drink for their kids) is cheaper to buy out there. I'm happy to charge you extra, but I will deny all responsibility of telling you it's cheaper, and management will back me that I would not do such a thing. I'm happy to charge you extra, but feel free to take a detour to the restroom (with a wink) before coming back in. That's just say the corporate regulars respect me for doing the right thing, though some don't care, as they get a receipt.
How often do parents who lose their children due to mistreating them actually rehabilitate and then get their child back?
- follow up, do they often live happily after or is it very common to then go back to their old ways?What are your thoughts and what is the approach to physical discipline of kids?
- how would you suggest eshays be disciplined?I don't know how to quote but essentially:
Very few parents every get their children back.
Very few parents alter their lives in a way which will allow them to have care of their children.Physical discipline is rarely a cause for the services being involved
With regards to Eshays I would recommend the parent encourage a broader friendship group.
So why do child protection do nothing when people ask them for help?
Not enough resources, priorities get re-assigned etc
It is a sad reality but there are very options for children who cannot be safe with their parent(s)/caregiver(s). Foster or care options are so limited we have to leave children where they are except in the most extreme circumstances.
I went to school with a number of Foster kids etc. My local school was the the destination area, and the local foster home is now a prison.
I recall one of the kids that was bullied 'for sleeping with another boy', told me, that he was protecting him from being abused by one of the carers. :(
I went for a Job at Aboriginal Legal Services, seven years ago.
I thought this would be a great way to help misguided people.
Some of it would be remote.
When I turned up for the open-Interview, the banter went well, despite how 'light' my skin was.
Then, came the Payrate, that was not advertised. I can't recall what it was, but in hindsight, it was probably better than what I get working for Gerry these days. I probably dodged a bullet not getting the job, but I look at it from their perspective, If a white fella (who is 6th gen aboriginal) walks into your cell, would you trust him?So you weren't up for helping people for the sake of it? Just the ones you deem misguided?
Not sure who dodged the bullet ,there.I was up to it. I wanted to do it. I also had huge debts at the time. It was a time of my life, I want to forget.
I'd have to drive from Newcastle to Sydney as well.
Anyone ever threatened your job or implied they knew someone in the department? I see this with police all the time, someone gets caught doing something and they will casually mention that their dad works in the department or uncle is a lawyer. Kinda sets the officer up to think maybe they really would regret it if they busted someone over some infraction.
If a cop "should" charge someone and does not because of a name drop, it's corrupt,period.
Cops also have long memories, and access to every little detail of the very person they either charged or just let off. PBAABI have a long memory of a detective ….. I could bring him down, but choose not to as I am sure he is good at his job as a Police Officer
A few Bikies have made threats. Also a one highly regarded solicitor. Most parents who have the their children removed will do anything or say anything they can to avoid removal.
Highly regarded solicitor making threats?
Makes sense.
(BTW, Nobody highly regards a solicitor more than they do of themselves)If I was I trouble I would hire him. Didn't like him telling off for doing my job for his clients' kids who were terribly neglected.
What state were you in? Just QLD? But based on your other comments I’m guessing NSW?
Also how do you feel about the family preservation and restoration principles knowing that you may be putting a child at additional risk by placing them with their parents/family but their circumstances don’t meet the threshold to make them in a high risk category?
PS done work with child protection officers, not an enviable job or an enviable system that you have to work in
What would it take to change the system, if money wasnt an issue?
Secondary but related, how much does geberational poverty influence what you saw?
I don't thing there is enough money in the world to solve the problem.
Intergenerational trauma is a huge thing. Depends on your genetics though.
My wife is a social worker in the DV space. She has a lot of dealings with DOCS and always says she couldn't do what child protection officers do. Tough gig you had there and she sees plenty of shit in her roll to compare.
F*** illicit drugs
F*** alcohol
F*** gambling
F*** partner bashers
F*** pedo step dads
Etc etc unfortunatelyThanks - look after your partner!! Vicarious trauma is a real thing.
F*** illicit drugs
F*** alcohol
F*** gambling
F*** partner bashers
F*** pedo step dads
Etc etc unfortunatelyYou forgot to add Protractor to your list.
Servile
Member Since 06/02/2023
0 posts / 516 comments
Is there a place for specialist psychology in healing generational dispossession impacts?
Yes - Lateral violence or abuse is a real thing
Ripple effect. ( example>The similarities between these traumas and PTSD from war)
So would you say the focus could/should change to make ground on the impacts of that dispossession, by putting more resources into 'prevention'?
If so what does that look like, on a societal level.What are those lucky enough NOT to be impacted directly, NOT doing
or not doing right.?PTSD from war is spending 3 1/2 years in Changi (eating 1/2 a bowl of boiled Rice a day) like a Grandparent of mine did, or having Italian tanks drive over your trnch in North Africa had, or guarding the rotting bodies of Italian soldiers awaiting burial did like an Uncle did. Or maybe having a piece of your skul kept on the fireplace from a WW1 wound. Not like some of the people I know that worked in Saudi Arabia, and left due to 'stress', and have milked our government for 100,000s of dollars.
@BewareOfThe Dog: I totally agree, and that's what I was referring to. And the families impacted since those men returned from Changi,Burma,Thailand,Sandakan etc, still ripples outwardly. And to my knowledge even though still clearly issues there, none either stick their hands out, or get offered anything. Wives of some of the returned WW2 (survivors) went through hell as did their kids. IMHO, outside a declared war those who enlist should insure themselves against PTSD, and the weapons industry should be the underwriters.Not the govt(taxpayer)
@BewareOfThe Dog: On a side note, that vet that worked in SA, was a heavy gambler, lost his house, Superanuation, and marriage. Now he managed to get a compo package, as he had a heart attack (and STILL SMOKES!), is on '10 hours a week', doing 'semi-physical' work…Tax Free. Earns more than me, whilst he sits watching Foxsports. All to stop them from being a suicide case. Milking the system. My Ex BIL despisises ex-vets stuffing the sytem up.
@BewareOfThe Dog: I hear you. I didn't know about the forced displacement of Catholics from Poland till I met a man who was terribly troubled. He wanted for nothing but nevertheless his parents' experience of the Gulags as impacted him.
@briony: I once met a German POW who was sent to Siberia. He was one of a few that survived alongside the 'minorities'.
I also knew a Canadian who as a young kid, was in the Philipines when the Japanese captured. He said he had no memories of the time there, whilst in a Jap camp due to his age, and the only thing re recalls was showing me an image of him sitting on a US tank when they were liberated.
@BewareOfThe Dog: I have so much respect for the optimism of peoples….Imagine that being that person.
@briony: How would you stay alive. One thing the Canadian did (he knew I was down at the time) was loan me a book written by Laura Hillenbrand. I was in tears by the end of it, realising what that GP did, who never spoke of it, and working on the Burma-Thai railway. I'm sure 'Bridge on the River Kwai' was never that pleasant for him. He never went to Anzac day, as it was too painful.
I once met a German POW who was sent to Siberia. He was one of a few that survived alongside the 'minorities'.
My grandfathers brother (Polish) was also sent to Siberia.
I don't thing you can fix intergenerational trauma by awareness. I do think you can raise awareness but the actual fix for families and individuals is personal. In all things there is a balance. Sometimes it requires conflict to make progress and sometimes it requires acceptance and good will.
What do you recommend for the adult kiddos that seem very angry & appear to be carers for multiple older generations within their family? What services do you recommend that they access to assist with respite or managing their caring responsibilities better rather than their anger consistently playing out on a bargain website?
Wecome to Ozbargain?
Or Ozi-opinion it seems today."Truth Burns.com" is a good start.
I'll check it out. ;)
Well played today @Protractor
How often do you come across accusations or finger-pointing between the parents and felt that you've had to act against your own judgement (knowing that one parent or both parents are making false accusations)?
Good question. Usually these kind of issues don't even screen through - this is to say….we don't investigate. I had a call from a nurse who worked at a school. The child had been burnt under his thighs with a candle by the Mum. I screened it in. By the time it was investigated (months later) the investigation was closed. I pushed this through for investigation.
What should govt do more of to protect kids?
where were you born?