There are work sheets to support the older child with direct work,however this may not be a preferred option for the young person therefore speaking with and planning with the young person what would help them can support the young person in expressing their feelings giving better insight into the young person’s lived experiences and may be Informative for the court process.

My point is the work is necessary,should take time,should involve planning to understand the child’s cultural needs,what may be viewed as normal behaviour/expectation for the child may not infact be they may have learnt to accept their circumstances.

The childs age,the childs learning capacity for example (the child with autism who may be high functioning or the child who may not be)what works for one child may not work for all.Speaking with the child about what would be helpful for them takes time and is not a tick box exercise.

Children are human beings who may be traumatised, who may want to talk about their lives or who may not be ready to do so.They may have suppressed their feelings and or view their lives as normal when it is not.

My point is the work is an important process.Is it not?

In some case’s allows the child,more so young person to express their feelings from their point of view and in their own words.Direct work can also bring with it many forms of emotions after all we are touching on emotions which the child may have hidden or does not understand.My point is this work is IMPORTANT needs focus from the social worker.Rushing out of the office stressed with paper and crayons does not support good pratice, visiting the child one /two times does not support good pratice.A child/ young person has to build trust.

Commication-How we communicate has a lasting impact on children what we say and how we interact is important.Finding the right environment may take several sessions.The work takes planning listening carefully and focus.

If social workers are not given time and resources or you are being called back to the office to deal with issue’s on your case load does not demonstrate the importance of the work.The work is fundamental to connecting with the child

What I find difficult and is in plain sight!!

Social workers train to safeguard vulnerable children which involves building connections in order to make safe meaningful recommendations,safe tried and tested plan’s to support the child’s indiviaul needs.

Social workers do not hold financial responsibility/budgets yet are held responsible/accountable when procedures resources are not implemented (for example appropriate placements /safe environments) yet it is the social worker who faces cross- examination in court.

I have yet too witness any senior managers attend court to explain why social workers do not have realistic support ,guidance or why appropriate resources have not been implemented.Managers are aware they cannot use funding as a reason because this has wider implications for those in senior position’s and political implications.

Therefore it is the norm to blame social workers to mask wider issues which impacts the quality of service,staff retention ,safeguarding of vulnerable children and eroson of the profession from all levels.Social workers are not all to blame unless proven other wise.Most Social workers want to deliver a professional service.It is worrying to observe the profession being slowly eroded.