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Social Work (UK)

Tranced

Tranced

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
10,918
Location
Newcastle, UK
I'm 23 and in 2007 completed an apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering. I'm fully qualified and worked as an Engineer for a year before being made redundant.

The money was good and it wasn't too hard but I need to get out of it. I was made redundant last year and have been without work ever since and now that I've broken the complacency of doing Engineering I know it's not something I want to do. In particular I don't like the type of people that I was working with and working on a production line producing products for perfect examples of "the man" isn't for me.

I've decided that I want to go back to college in September and work towards a career that I like. I need to be around more like minded people and away from errr... builder types.

I'm thinking that social work/counselling would be a good avenue to go down. Has anybody done it? What do you think? Any small anecdotes?

Please talk about social work here:

thanks x
 
Sociology? I did that as my third choice in 6th Form and only lasted about a month. I didn't have a clue what she was on about, but then again, I'd be right to blame a crap teacher.

Does this feature heavily when learning social work?
 
Usually with social work, many of your classes are sociology based as you are dealing with societies, cultures, people, demographics, etc. as well as psychology.

I edited your title to include your location as E&C is pretty US based, and education between the continents is very different. I've also bounced this through another forum and back for you.
 
^ Thanks

I've been reading into this and it seems that you're subjected to a lot of criminal record checks.

What does this mean for drug use? If you get caught in possession does this mean it's going to pretty much fuck your career? I want to make a shot of this but can't say I'll never get caught.
 
Tranced said:
I've been reading into this and it seems that you're subjected to a lot of criminal record checks.

What does this mean for drug use? If you get caught in possession does this mean it's going to pretty much fuck your career? I want to make a shot of this but can't say I'll never get caught.
Click to expand...

Ya. If you've got anything on your record, I hope it's not a felony, or you'll be screwed. Not just for social work, but even for some blue collar stuff. If it's a misdemeanor that can be expunged in time, then you're (typically) not required to discuss it on job applications once it's gone. Though background checks these days are able to able to dig up that stuff, if they're extensive enough :\ So ya, it's a trade-off with how respected/high-level the job you're going for is.

Also, sometimes, local legislation allows you not to declare certain active misdemeanors as well. Reseach your location and such to be sure!
 
You will have criminal record checks if you want to get in to social work.

But lots of social workers use drugs. In fact, drug and alcohol counselors are well known in the sector for their drug use.
 
This will come across as wrong but if you didn't like the "engineering type" of people are you sure you want to become a social worker?
It takes a lot to deal with the people you will have to work with day in day out and you will hear a lot of shitty stories.
The social workers I know have got some of the sickest humour, it helps them deal with it.
 
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