While studying for my social work degree at University Campus Suffolk, I had the privilege to spend my final study year working with Suffolk’s Leaving Care team. The experience led me to learn and develop my awareness of the young people’s journeys and experiences and to gain an understanding of CIC processes and support.

Having previously worked with younger children in the education system, I always knew that I would continue to pursue a career working with children and their families, but I did not imagine that working with older children would be my chosen pathway. The experiences I had while studying opened my eyes to the wide range of services and potential career pathways open to me.

I chose Suffolk County Council for an array of reasons.  My own children were very young, still at school.  I needed to an authority that enabled me to be able to juggle my busy home-life.  I also wanted to work with young people and families within my own community.

Since qualifying in 2010, I decided to remain in the expanding Leaving Care team and continued to learn and work for a further 3 years, followed by two years in the 12+ CIN team still in Ipswich. Having experienced more frontline work, I felt that another change and challenge were on the horizon, so I took up a position in the FAST team (now known as Family Solutions) for another year. Following a short break, I returned to the frontline, working for another 18 months within another CIN team.

I soon realised that I had the right skillset and mindset to work predominantly with teenagers, having gained much experience from the time I spent with the Leaving Care team. I was thrilled that a position became available just at the right time within Suffolk’s Child Exploitation team (MAC). Working within this team has enabled me to develop the skills and communication needed to support some of our most vulnerable young people.

I have never stopped developing skills and learning. Over the past 13 years, I have undertaken many different courses, programmes, and workshops. My experience has enabled me to develop good communication skills and, most importantly, how to spot the signs of potential risks. Although I would not be able to list all the courses that I have attended, here are just a handful: solution-focused, domestic abuse, mental health awareness, child exploitation, signs of safety, life story work, health and safety, data protection, liquid logic, and much, much more.

Every day is different. My day to day involves a morning call with my team, weekly visits to meet with young people in school, home or out in their community. It can also involve consultations with other professionals. Working with teens requires flexibility and creativity.   Any spare moment is spent coming up with another magical idea to make learning about healthy relationships, sexual health, keeping safe on and offline a bit more interesting.

Working in a small team that covers the whole of Suffolk also requires a lot of time spent in my car and visiting new places.   Although the car journeys involve a lot of coffee drinking and driving around Suffolk, I really appreciate the time to reflect on the visit I’ve just had and the one I’m about to have.

The most challenging part of my role is trying to engage some of our most vulnerable young people. Enabling young people to see the benefits of making more positive choices, identifying risks, and knowing that their aspirations and goals are achievable can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Knowing that a young person can identify their strengths and aspirations and make positive choices is rewarding. As we offer three monthly follow-up sessions for 12 months, catching up with the young people and seeing them continue to achieve their aspirations and goals is so rewarding and makes what I do so worthwhile.

I feel that Suffolk County Council is a local authority that is proud of their workers; they encourage professional development and listen to their workforce. Any person considering a career in social work with Suffolk County Council will be given the opportunity to grow, develop new skills, and work within social care teams that are managed well, have dedicated workers, are enthusiastic, and all strive to make a difference to the young people and families they work with. I wish any new worker all the very best in their new journey and hope to see you here at Suffolk County Council very soon.

Vicki, Senior Social Worker