To help us celebrate Social Work Week, we’re sharing videos from frontline social workers, leaders, social work students, people receiving care and support, and politicians, all giving their perspective on social work.
Learn about the importance of social workers
A message from Sue Evans, our Chief Executive
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Today, I'm celebrating social workers
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doing incredible work all across Wales.
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21 March is World
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Social Work Day, but at Social Care Wales,
we're using in the whole week
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to celebrate the great work being done.
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Each day this week we'll have videos
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from a number of people,
including politicians, practitioners
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and partners,
really talking about their own
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thoughts and perspectives
on the value of social work today.
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My first experience of social work
was when my sister
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in law qualified in the 1970s.
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She was helping young children
who were finding it difficult
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to stay in school. And using a range
of community therapeutic methods
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she enabled those children
to restart their education
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and get back onto the right track.
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And then in the 1980s,
my youngest sister qualified in Scotland,
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and she was helping families stay together
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despite the challenges of substance
misuse and mental health.
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Then I
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started working in the public sector
in Wales in the 1990s,
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so I became very familiar
with the work of social workers in Wales
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and what I can see from my experience is our
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social workers do an amazing job
in connecting up
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with housing colleagues,
with schools, with NHS
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and third sector organisations
to really wrap around care and support
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to people who may be vulnerable
at certain points in their lives.
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So I'd like to celebrate the great work
social workers are doing right
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across Wales and ask you to
look at those videos, share those videos
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so that we can spread the message
and give our thanks to
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those people who are
doing great work every day.
Thomas tells us how social workers have helped him
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Hi. My name's Thomas.
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I've had social workers all my life
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supporting me, filling in forms,
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helping me to find a better place
where I'm living.
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Where I was in before
it wasn't suitable for me.
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A social worker helped me
to where I'm living now.
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A social worker helped me
to find a room on the ground floor.
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My social worker helps me
to fill in forms and handling my money.
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My social worker has helped me to go on a cruise.
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It's good for me to have a social worker
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and it's good to do the things that I like.
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They've helped me to get a job and
socialising with my friends.
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Thank you for everything all the
social workers, all they do.
A message of thanks from the Deputy Minister
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Hello everyone.
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I'm very happy to celebrate
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World Social Work Day 2023
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with you all.
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Social Work Day provides a welcome opportunity
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to celebrate the incredible work you do.
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It's a celebration of your achievements
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and an opportunity
to reflect on the amazing work done
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each and every day by dedicated,
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hardworking social workers.
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Social work can be an immensely rewarding
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and fulfilling role at the front line
in delivering
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crucial help to vulnerable people,
families and communities.
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You support others through crises
and enable positive change
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in their lives. You play a vital role
in supporting our communities in Wales.
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Now, being a social worker can be tough.
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Every day, you face difficult situations
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and make difficult decisions
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which don't always lead to
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what you want for the people you support.
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Your work requires
professionalism, strength and resilience
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that few others outside health and social care are asked to show.
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As we continue our recovery
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from the crushing impacts of the pandemic,
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we face the terrible consequences
that the war in Ukraine
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and the cost of living crisis
are having on communities and
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individuals across Wales.
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These are global challenges
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affecting local communities
and individuals,
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and it is you who deliver the help
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and support they need.
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You support the vulnerable.
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You strengthen communities.
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You improve people's lives.
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You make a difference.
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Thank you
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on behalf of everyone who
benefits
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from your empathy and your kind and professional work.
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Best wishes to you
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on World Social Work Day.
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Thank you very much.
Members of the Senedd say thank you
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Today
is the National Day for Social Workers.
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I know having been a social worker
for 27 years, how hard you all work.
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And we do thank you.
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We thank you for your dedication
and commitment to social work
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wherever you are and whatever you do.
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Thank you.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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Thank you very much
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to social workers
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across Wales.
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We know that you often work
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in exceptionally challenging circumstances.
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Although today is International Social Workers' Day,
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let's try to remember
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about the value of your work
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every day of the year.
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And we'll do what we can
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here in the Senedd to make sure
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you're given the support
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you need to do your work.
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Thank you very much
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to each and every one of you.
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Today is International
Social Workers' Day.
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And so I want to say a huge thank you
to all the social workers out there
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who are doing their very best
to give people the support to guide them
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through the systems that we have in place
so that people can get the help that
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they need when they need it.
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I was raised by a social worker,
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so I know the tremendous toll
it can sometimes take.
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But I want to say a huge
thank you for keeping going,
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doing your very best
and being there for the people in our community.
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Diolch.
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I'd love to take this
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opportunity today
to thank social workers across Wales
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who work hard to promote the rights
of our most vulnerable people,
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who we look after day in, day out.
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And as an ex-NHS worker
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who worked very closely
with social services over the years,
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I fully understand the dedication
and passion it takes to do this job.
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So I'd just like to take this opportunity
to recognise
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and fully support you in your role.
Practitioners tell us how social work can make a difference
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I think when people
ask me why did I go into social work,
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I think for me it was that
I grew up in a single parent household
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in an area of deprivation
and I actually saw the value of support
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and particularly into the home
that I grew up in.
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I think that really imprinted on me
as a child.
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When I look at my role
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and I think about the difference
that social work can make,
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I think apart from
the protection of society's most vulnerable,
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I think also that we can work with families
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so that they can identify
their own strengths.
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Often in times of crisis, families
can struggle to see what they can do well.
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And I think that's the difference social
workers do make for families.
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Why do I feel social work is important?
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I feel it's important
to fight social injustice,
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to challenge discrimination
and oppression,
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but mainly to be working alongside
citizens to find out
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what matters to them and what outcomes
that they want to achieve.
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I think we help families.
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I think we capture what matters
to families and young people and children.
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I think we try
to be a force for good in their lives.
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And when they're struggling,
we try and give them the tools to make
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their lives better
and to help them
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manage without social work.
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Throughout my working life, I've worked
with social workers in a variety
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of different contexts, and I've received
an enormous amount of support,
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guidance and help over the years.
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More than anything
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I just want to say
social workers have my respect
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I just want to say
social workers have my respect
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I just want to say
social workers have my respect
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and admiration and enormous thanks.
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Working alongside
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social workers, it's a very important
relationship between us and them.
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There is an awful lot to do
in a social work environment,
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but the importance is huge.
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Without those individuals
that work in social work,
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it would be near on impossible
for us to do our role delivering care.
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The main challenges for professionals
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has been
how social workers have been viewed,
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and that's a really
difficult thing to change.
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However, I think
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more recent changes
in offering
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a supportive view of social workers
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has to be pushed forward
so that families know
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they can reach out
and ask for help and support.
Social worker learned BSL to communicate with the Deaf community
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Hello my name is Bethan.
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I have been a social worker
for two and a half years.
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I think that social workers are important
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because they can help people to remain
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independent and live
the way that they choose.
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I am learning BSL to help me to
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communicate with Deaf people.
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I think
there's a great sense of appreciation
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being able to work with a person
to achieve their goals, whether their goal
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is to simply be listened
to, to have help to access the community
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or to have care implemented
to support their physical needs.
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There can be challenges within social work,
especially when there's
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a lack of resources,
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but we discuss these challenges
during a morning meeting to creatively
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explore ways we can support a person
to achieve their desired outcomes.
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Overall, I love being a social worker.
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I love working in a passionate
and creative environment,
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promoting independence,
protecting dignity
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and advocating for the wants and the wishes
of the people that we work with.
Leaders explain the value of social work
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I'm very proud
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to have the honour of
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working in the
social care sector
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and being able to
influence
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the lives of children,
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individuals and families.
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Social work is
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extremely important
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within communities
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as it is an essential
role
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to ensure people's safety,
success
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and development.
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Everyone has a right
to thrive
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and social workers
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support making that happen.
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Social work
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succeeds in strengthening
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families and children.
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It makes sure that individuals
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with a disability can contribute
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in every aspect of life.
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And it can help to ensure
care is available
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where it's needed
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so people can live
the life
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they want.
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The reward from this
work
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is making a positive
difference
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to people's lives.
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And allowing us
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to achieve the results
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that we want.
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No two days
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in a social worker's life
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are the same,
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with new challenges arising
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continually.
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Despite that
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this is an extremely
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worthwhile career
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within our communities.
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I think social work is really special.
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It's a very important part
of the public sector work that we offer.
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It's intended
to really support individuals
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and assess people who need care
and support.
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It's also about making sure
people are safe and ensuring
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that we have a really good
and robust response to those in need.
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I think social work also is
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about embracing inclusivity
and making sure that everybody in
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our community is helped
whenever they need it.
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Social work is also a statutory role
and not a lot of people
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understand that we have powers
to intervene and powers to protect,
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which are really important
alongside our emergency services.
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I love and embrace being
a social worker.
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I'm very proud of that
and I think it's something that
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lots of people should think about
in terms of a career choice.
Hear from social work students
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I've always wanted to become
a social worker for as long as I remember.
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I've been lucky enough to gain
a multitude of roles supporting people
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within the community.
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This has allowed me
to see the incredible work
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that social workers
do within our community,
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and just how much the local community
heavily relies on the support
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and services provided by social services
and social workers.
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Being 30 and going back to university
came with its own anxieties. Very worried
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00:00:27,633 --> 00:00:31,433
as I hadn't set foot in a classroom
for the best part of 10 years.
10
00:00:32,266 --> 00:00:36,733
However, that was quickly put to rest
when I realised what a great
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00:00:37,966 --> 00:00:39,700
course this is.
12
00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:42,333
We've had so many guest speakers
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00:00:42,333 --> 00:00:45,433
come and talk to us
with their own experiences,
14
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,166
and knowledge, as well as the experience and
knowledge from our own lecturers and tutors.
15
00:00:51,166 --> 00:00:55,533
This is probably one of the best decisions
I've done, is take up this course.
16
00:00:56,066 --> 00:00:58,700
And this is the beginning of my journey
as a social worker
17
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,800
and I'm really,
really looking forward to it.
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00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:06,100
So if anyone is thinking of becoming
a qualified social worker,
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00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:08,266
the smile on my face should
20
00:01:08,266 --> 00:01:12,000
be enough to tell you that this has been
one of the best decisions that I've done.
21
00:01:12,566 --> 00:01:17,100
I've really enjoyed the course.
I've had lots of good experiences
22
00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:20,466
on my placements
and I felt really supported
23
00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:26,566
and I am really looking forward
to starting my career as a social worker.
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00:01:27,266 --> 00:01:29,900
I'm passionate about person-centred practice
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00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,900
and keeping the individual
in the centre of their care and support.
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00:01:34,933 --> 00:01:39,166
I feel social work is important
to empower people
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00:01:39,566 --> 00:01:42,300
and standing up against social injustice.
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00:01:43,466 --> 00:01:44,766
I love the variety
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00:01:44,766 --> 00:01:47,600
social work has to offer,
and I'm always learning.
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00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,166
There are some challenges, such
as the cost of living crisis
31
00:01:52,733 --> 00:01:55,433
at the moment,
along with the lack of services available,
32
00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:59,433
especially with care agencies
and finding care.
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00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:02,666
And another challenge at the moment,
I would say,
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00:02:02,666 --> 00:02:05,666
is increased pressure
on limited resources.
35
00:02:05,966 --> 00:02:09,166
But as a social worker,
I'm able to work creatively
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00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:13,300
to reduce some of the challenges,
which will help
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00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:16,133
people to achieve what matters to them.
A message from Albert Heaney CBE, Chief Social Care Officer for Wales
-
1
00:00:00,062 --> 00:00:02,312
Hello everyone.
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00:00:02,687 --> 00:00:06,375
As Chief Social Care
Officer for Wales
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00:00:06,437 --> 00:00:11,687
I'm glad that we're celebrating the
incredible dedication
4
00:00:11,687 --> 00:00:17,437
of social workers across Wales and all over the world.
5
00:00:17,437 --> 00:00:21,375
As Chief Social Care Officer
for Wales, I'm delighted
6
00:00:21,375 --> 00:00:24,875
we're all taking time
to recognise the vital role
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00:00:24,875 --> 00:00:28,164
social work has in the world today,
and to celebrate
8
00:00:28,164 --> 00:00:29,596
the incredible dedication
9
00:00:29,596 --> 00:00:29,625
social work has in the world today,
and to celebrate the incredible dedication
10
00:00:29,750 --> 00:00:35,250
and achievements of social workers
across Wales and around the world.
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00:00:35,562 --> 00:00:40,375
All of us who work in social
care will reflect on the past few years
12
00:00:40,875 --> 00:00:45,125
as perhaps the most difficult
we have seen in our lifetime.
13
00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:48,589
The pandemic has been a once in a lifetime
14
00:00:48,589 --> 00:00:50,917
challenge, and that for many
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00:00:51,250 --> 00:00:53,625
has shattered their lives and communities
16
00:00:53,937 --> 00:00:56,937
and made the vulnerable more vulnerable.
17
00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:00,000
It then falls to those
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00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,687
who represent the isolated,
19
00:01:02,687 --> 00:01:06,687
the at risk,
those least able to help themselves
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00:01:07,125 --> 00:01:10,687
to deliver so much more
during these most difficult times.
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00:01:11,125 --> 00:01:13,437
And you, as social workers have.
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00:01:15,062 --> 00:01:17,312
And, as we hope to continue
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00:01:17,312 --> 00:01:23,125
our recovery from the impacts
of the pandemic, we face new challenges
24
00:01:23,375 --> 00:01:28,125
from the war in Ukraine
and from the cost of living crisis.
25
00:01:29,250 --> 00:01:34,125
Once again, it is your professionalism
and dedication that continue
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00:01:34,125 --> 00:01:38,750
to provide support and protection
for individuals and communities in Wales.
27
00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:43,812
As a former social worker myself,
I know how difficult and frustrating
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00:01:43,812 --> 00:01:47,250
it can be sometimes, but that it is
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00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:52,000
you who makes the difference
in helping people to live more fulfilling,
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00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,312
independent lives
and protecting those most at risk.
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00:01:57,125 --> 00:02:01,937
Thank you for all that you do
for your resilience, your commitment,
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00:02:01,937 --> 00:02:04,937
your strength, and for delivering positive
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00:02:04,937 --> 00:02:07,293
change for the people you support.
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00:02:07,293 --> 00:02:07,312
your strength, and for delivering positive
change for the people you support.
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00:02:07,875 --> 00:02:11,500
Thank you for everything you do.
First published: 20 March 2023
Last updated: 24 March 2023
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