At Southend on Sea City Council, we know that learning doesn’t stop when you complete formal education. Children’s Social Work is a dynamic career with unlimited rich opportunities for both continuous personal and professional growth.

Lara and Sylwia are two of our outstanding team members at Southend. Here’s what they have to say about the things that they have learned over the course of their careers for far.

“What is exciting about the social work profession is that our learning never ends. I’ve learned to embrace the process, feedback, and other people’s perspectives and views. I have learned to listen and understand, which helps me connect with people on a deeper level. I believe that without forming meaningful relationships based on understanding and care, positive changes are less likely.”

Sylwia, Team Manager

“Take time to reflect and remind yourself, when times get difficult, why you wanted to do this job in the first place. Always make time for your development; although this can be difficult due to how busy you will be, this really will support you in your practise, which in turn will help achieve positive outcomes for children. Set yourself daily tasks to achieve; this will make you feel more satisfied when you achieve them rather than referring to your never-ending to-do list!

Make time for yourself; self-care is really important in this job. It is important you take care of yourself, if you want to help children achieve the best outcomes, they need the best of you!”

Lara, Advanced Practitioner

You never know what the future holds, but at Southend on Sea City Council, we can guarantee that you’ll be changing it for the better.