Sarbjeet Bhambra – Principal Social Worker
Name: Sarb Bhambra
Job Role: Principal Social Worker
Year qualified: 2008
Why I became a social worker:
My degree was in Business Information Systems and my first job was in an Accounting and Finance team, where I was considering qualifying as an Accountant. At the same time, I realised I hated being confined to a desk and found myself watching the clock! I was doing some volunteering for a rape crisis helpline, and really enjoyed supporting people to make positive changes in their situations; so I moved to qualify in social work - a job where I have never “watched the clock”! My work always draws my interest and I enjoy knowing what I do contributes to positive things in children and young people’s lives.
Three tips for achieving good social work practice:
- Remain open-minded and continue to learn-there is no place for complacency in social work when it comes to continuous professional development.
- Contribute to a supportive and positive team culture that allows you to be responsive to children when they need you. Keep the children we work for at the heart of everything you think and do in your practice, hearing and understanding their perspectives, views and lives
- Keep solution-focused and your energies up, but most of all enjoy and grow your role-this job is within your gift!
Liz Burns - Team Manager
Name: Liz Burns
Job role: Team Manager
Year qualified (as SW): 2010
Why did you become a social worker?
I became a social worker as I wanted a career that was challenging but rewarding as well. I had worked in a school office for a number of years and saw working with children and families as something I was naturally drawn to and I felt I could make a difference being a social worker. Initially I wanted to work in adult mental health, however my final placement was in the Referral and Assessment team (RAS) in Coventry which is where I developed my passion for working with children and their families.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Allow yourself time to reflect on the work you are doing to ensure the best decisions are made.
- It is okay to not know something…ask for support and be curious in sourcing the answer.
- Make sure you take time for yourself.
Richard Hamblett - Team Manager
Name: Richard Hamblett
Job role: Team Manager
Year qualified (as SW): 2008
Why did you become a social worker?
After school I first went into catering and warehouse jobs until I completed 12 months of volunteering with a young person whose behaviour was causing education colleagues concerns. Whilst meeting the young person I began to realise what they had faced, lived through and why these experiences were being displayed as they were. This experience led me to want to help and support young people to channel their experiences in a more positive manner and to support children and families to improve their wellbeing. I then completed the social work degree and have focussed on children and families wellbeing since.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Treat all children and families as you would want to be treated yourself. Actively listen to children and families about their life journeys, positives, challenges and do what you say you will do.
- Social work is a very rewarding profession and it is a privilege to be able to help children and families in their times of need. However it can be tough on a personal level at times and it is important to ensure you have self-care strategies and maintain a good work life balance.
- Keep reflecting on what you have done and why you have done it in the way you did it. It is important to keep learning and reflecting on our practices and thoughts. Use your support network (colleagues, managers) to reflect with you.
Jo Reed - Senior Practitioner
Name: Jo Reed
Job role: Senior Practitioner
Year qualified (as SW): 2011
Why did you become a social worker?
Previously I worked in the health and social care setting where I found myself interested in making a positive impact upon individuals life’s therefore decided to pursue a career as a social worker. Initially, I did not consider working within the children’s sector as my previous experience was mental health, adult services, and management, but after my first placement working with vulnerable children and their families, I found this to be rewarding and gave me the opportunity to be mentally stimulated. In addition, promoting positive change to families and ensuring the best outcomes for children.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Self-care – as social work can be demanding and stressful it is important to find time for yourself and reflect in all aspects being negative and positive. This gives you the ability to have a quality home life and work-life balance, as well as to improve within your role.
- Case Recording - Always make sure to keep up to date with written work and note-taking. This helps to ensure that any information isn’t missed that could cause drift of the child’s life.
- Best Working Practice - To ensure that no one is discriminated against, everyone is to be treated fairly and equally at all times no matter what their circumstances. Whether you are engaging with a child, their family or any professionals it is important to have a good working relationship with them.
Jennifer Galloway - Senior Practitioner
Name: Jennifer Galloway
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Year Qualified (as SW): 2012
Why did you become a social worker?
I decided I wanted to be a social worker when I was quite young, about 15 years old. A lot of my family members worked in health and care professions, mainly the NHS and I always knew I wanted to work with people. I took up a few volunteering positions such as being a patient friend in a hospital, and quickly found myself keen to work with children and families. I found it incredibly rewarding helping families to support each other through challenging times. From there I completed my A-levels in law, sociology and politics and then my social work degree.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Be kind to yourselves, nobody knows it all and keep asking questions, it's how we learn.
- Be empathic towards families and never lose your compassion. Any of us could need social care intervention at some point in our lives and think about how you would like that intervention to be.
- Never underestimate the importance of teamwork. Your colleagues can be your biggest support and champions, look after each other.
Gemma Chatima - Senior Practitioner
Name: Gemma Chatima
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Year Qualified (as SW): 2015
Why did you become a social worker?
I come from a family with strong links in the health and social care field, profession. As such, my choice to become a social worker was heavily influenced by my family background and what I was exposed to from a young age and an understanding around an opportunity to make a positive difference for others. During my time in College, I held a part time job in a Domiciliary care home, supporting the elderly who were considered to be semi-independent and I did this, until I went to university. At the beginning of my studies I was interested in working with adults experiencing poor mental health and perhaps progress to an AMHP (Approved Mental Health Practitioner) and so I completed my first placement with MIND in Hull. However, following my second placement in a children’s sector, I really enjoyed working with children, particularly direct work activities. I believe this experience, shaped my journey into becoming a children’s social worker.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- There is no shortcut to becoming the worker you want to be; it takes time, experience and patience. Don’t stop learning and developing yourself, build positive relationships as you go along they become handy in the future.
- Whilst being the best social worker you can be, caring and supporting others, don’t forget to look after yourself too.
- Social work involves tough decisions that may seem daunting at this stage. However, social workers do not work in isolation, make the most of the support around you, peers and senior colleagues alike. This career takes time to be confident in and even the most experienced workers are still learning every day.
Narelle Gordon - Experienced Social Worker
Name: Narelle Gordon
Job Role: Experienced Social Worker
Year Qualified (as SW): 2017
Why did you become a social worker?
From an early age I have always enjoyed working with and supporting people. My end goal has always been to support people to make positive changes in their lives.
At the age of 16 I worked in a residential home for adults with learning disabilities and continued this with children for a few years. Since qualifying I have worked in front line Child Protection Teams and the Youth Justice Service which has given me great knowledge within these areas.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
Always be reflective for future learning and development and never be afraid to ask for help.
Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.
Do not forget why you chose to do Social Work
Leanne Allcock - Experienced Social Worker
Name: Leanne Allcock
Job Role: Experienced Social Worker
Year qualified: 2010
Why I became a social worker:
I became a social worker as I wanted a job that supports members of the public and professionals
Three tips for achieving good social work practice:
- Relationships
- Up-to-date knowledge
- Understanding the history of families.
Jan Goode – Professional Practice Educator
Name: Jan Goode
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year qualified (as SW): 1989
Why did you become a social worker?
I was working as a Nursery Nurse at Hillfields Nursery, Coventry and my manager suggested that I should go into teaching or social work. Whilst I liked the idea of the long school holidays, I wasn’t keen on standing in front of a class of 30 pupils! I also felt that my political and ethical views lent me towards social work more. I had led a project for parents at the nursery and loved it, seeing them grow in confidence around managing as a parent and the benefits this had for their children was a huge incentive for me to move into children and families social work.–
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Look after yourself in practice… you have to put your own oxygen mask on first if you want to be of help to others.
- Remember, you can’t make someone else change, they have to want to do it for themselves… you can help them think about what benefits changing could bring them, build their capacity to change, give them some ideas/resources and sometimes a supporting hand, but in the end, it’s in their gift.
- Keep your sense of humour, remain respectful but you have to be able to release the pressure by not taking everything too seriously – the ability to laugh at yourself is key in this job!
Louise Shorthouse - Professional Practice Educator
Name: Louise Shorthouse
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year qualified (as SW): 2013
Why I became a social worker:
To support and empower others to make positive changes to their lives.
3 tips for our ASYEs:
- Read – there is so much knowledge out there…soak it up! Embrace learning and development as it is the key to excellent social work practice.
- Plan – whilst plans can often get side-lined in social work, it's good practice to consider the outcomes you are working towards and plan how you might achieve them. Bringing in a contingency plan can also help to minimise disruption.
- Enjoy – This is your first year in practice. Use it as an opportunity to shadow, ask questions and get to know yourself as a practitioner.
Anne Winn - Professional Practice Educator
Name: Anne Winn
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year Qualified: 1980
Why I became a social worker:
I remember in secondary school, being the only one to say I wanted to become a social worker. I find it hard to believe that I am still here doing a job which I love – never a dull moment, every day is completely different. I had ideas about helping others and making life better for children and their families. It turned out to be far more complex and interesting than I could ever have dreamed and continues to be an ongoing journey. I had a placement working with young people to set up a National Association for Young People in Care and supported them to challenge issues around their care and run a national conference, it was an inspiring time when there was lots of opportunity to work creatively and critically question practice. I have worked in a variety of social work roles within Coventry since qualifying.
I am now in the role of supporting and encouraging those starting on their social work journey and inspiring experienced practitioners to provide social work placements for students. It is a privilege to be involved in developing dedicated and enthusiastic practitioners in this challenging work. I continue to strive towards those early values in my day to day work in the Social Work Academy
Three tips for achieving good social work practice:
- Listen carefully to what children and their families are saying is happening, don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions, they are the experts of their own experience.
- Seek support to talk through what you are doing in supervision, take time to critically reflect on your own practice to inform your decision making.
- Explore different theories and methods, keep your social work values in mind and continue to be open to new ideas.
Kate Taroni - .Professional Practice Educator
Name: Kate Taroni
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year qualified (as SW): 1980
Why did you become a social worker?
I wanted to work with children and their families to make a difference to their lives and help all children to feel listened to and valued. After 40 years in Social Work I still hold the values and Ethics of Social Work dear. Valuing all people and respecting them is the key to forming relationships that impact positively on people.
Three tips for our ASYEs:
- Be kind to yourself. We all make mistakes and we are all learning.
- Build a relationship of trust with some of your colleagues. Support one another and always look out for each other.
- It’s ok to laugh and enjoy some light relief with your colleagues when things are getting tough. It’s a great release for tension!
Anthony Ryan - Professional Support Service
Name: Anthony Ryan
Job role: Operational Support Officer
My role:
To provide a range of administrative support to the Social Work Academy Team Managers, Senior Practitioners, Experienced Social Workers, Practice Educators and Newly Qualified Social Workers.
A tip for NQSWs:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help, if we can’t assist you, we will find you someone who can