Our journey into Children’s Social Work: Beth & Steve

As a children’s social worker, you’ll be giving our young people the support, guidance and care they need to make their own journeys in life.

At Suffolk County Council, we want to give back to the people who make change possible. When they grow, we grow. When they thrive, our communities thrive. That’s why we’re committed to supporting our children’s social workers on their own professional journeys.

“I knew that I wanted to start a career in a helping profession, one where I could try and support people to make positive changes. A degree in Social Work opens a lot of different opportunities, as it is very broad and helps you to develop knowledge on different topics, such as theories, models, and methods, as well as practical skills such as communication and report writing, all of which are transferable. This really appealed to me, as it gave me time throughout my degree to determine which sector I would like to pursue a career in.

I chose to be a Social Worker for Suffolk County Council for many reasons. I have lived in Suffolk my whole life, so I feel as though I have a good knowledge of the local area, which can be very helpful when tapping into services and agencies. I have also heard from others that Suffolk County Council has very good career progression opportunities, which has always been important to me when considering career paths. The main reason I chose my authority is that, when I was researching and comparing against other authorities, Suffolk County Council prioritises professional development, which I feel is very important, especially having entered as a Newly Qualified Social Worker.”

Beth, Social Worker

“Back in 2010, I had just left university and had done an English literature degree, which I loved, but back then I had no idea where I wanted to go. I had a vague sense of wanting to do something in the public sector and a sense of wanting to do something that gave something back to the community. I also knew that by working with children, I might be able to make a difference.

At that time, Suffolk County Council was running a Graduate Trainee scheme. They still run the same scheme now, and it has been incredibly successful at recruiting a huge number of social workers who have stayed with us and gone on to different roles with Suffolk. The scheme supported me through a year-long placement with the council and then on through my university placements. The commitment they showed to supporting me from day one has meant that I have stayed with them ever since.”

Steve, Service Manager