QSWs and the Blogs They Write

Last time on my blog I wrote about ex-pat blogs that help me escape from the mundane everyday existence that I sometimes find myself dwelling upon. This next round of links is another form of escapism, but they focus more on the experience of QSWs (Qualified Social Workers) residing in the UK. Some are ex-pats, some are British Natives. Each of them describe work and life experiences that help to inform my own soon-to-be adventures overseas.

• Fighting Monsters is a British Social Worker who works on an over 65s community mental health team. She holds the designation of an AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) and a BIA (Best Interests Assessor). She writes often about social policy in the UK, as well as her experience in this particular field.
• Life Across the Pond aka Wanderlust, is a blog by Melissa. She is a Canadian (from the GTA) studying Law in London, and as a part-time job works in social care. She's not a QSW, but her experience is helpful in preparation for the professional adventure. She is a Key Worker (Case Manager) for adults in recovery from addictions.
• Livin The Dream: An American Expat in London. Julie is, as you can tell, an American QSW in London. She has her Masters in Social Work and, when not being affronted by tumbling rats, works as a Social Worker for a school board in London.
• Social Worker-to-be - as the by-line says, "The musings of a British social work student."
• The Masked AMHP is a Social Worker and AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) working in a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in England. (In English (and Welsh) law (Scotland is different again), if it is considered that someone needs to receive assessment or treatment in hospital for serious mental disorder and they are not willing or able to make that decision for themselves, two doctors need to make recommendations for a person to be detained, but the final decision rests with the AMHP, who is explicitly not a doctor, but can be a social worker, mental health nurse, clinical psychologist or occupational therapist. - from her About section.)
• Yohabloespanglish's Blog is written by an American Social Worker who is awaiting her Visa, and in the meantime working in CP as a volunteer Social Worker.

C'est tous pour ce moment. I like signing up to have new posts emailed to my inbox, but that's your call, folks.

Jen On Learning About QSW Culture Across the Pond Part I

I'm the first to admit that I'm no expert on Social Work in the UK. With a trip overseas - to work in the field - just around the corner, I've made it my mission to learn more about what to expect when I start working over yonder.

My research started last fall, when I first made contact with HCL. I was referred through the Australian division (don't ask how my email ended up there; I'm not really sure how that happened) to Dave in the HCL Canada office, and I was soon surrounded by application forms. Many, many application forms. It was somewhat overwhelming and I had a lot of questions. Although Dave had answers to everything, I wanted more. More I say! I asked to speak with other HCL candidates, and was put in touch with B, who had recently returned to Canada after four years spent working as a QSW in London.
B was great - still is great, in fact. Every time I write her an email, she replies quickly with a no-nonsense answer. She told me that she travelled to the UK on her own immediately after completing her BSW, and on arrival she worked for Hackney in CP, but very quickly chose an alternate demographic. B ended up working three other jobs before she returned to Canada, and she said she chose HCL because they had the most variety and best social work jobs.

Then I found Julie - an American MSW now working in London. Julie had a rough go at first; not eligible for the Youth Mobility Scheme, she had to find an employer who would agree to sponsor her for a VISA. After a few trying months, it seems that everything has worked out. Julie didn't want to work in CP, so she set out to find a different type of social work role. She's now working for Tower Hamlets as a School Social Worker. You can read about her experiences on her blog. Julie has also been a huge source of information for me during this process - filling me in on social work roles and interview tips.
I've found some other social workers through my online trolling, and in my next entry to Traveling Social Workers, I'll briefly share what I learned from them.
Until then, I bid you farewell!

Jen

A Wandering Social Worker

I was first introduced to the idea of overseas social work while studying for my BSW a few years ago. The thought of living and working in an entirely different city, country - even continent - was very exciting, but also incredibly frightening for this small-town girl. I had decided to stick with my small-town existence with the goal of working in Children's Mental Health for our community branch of Children's Services. Then, life happened the way it is inclined to do, and I was faced with the opportunity to run away. In 2008 I spent a few months in Ireland - at the time a difficult period of my life - which prepared me for my new life... wanderer!

International social work practice gives me the opportunity to earn money, see the world, and have new experiences, and the idea has crossed my mind several times since, but only recently have I overcome the fear of the somewhat-intimidating paperwork. GSCC applications, reference forms, employment histories, extensive Curriculum Vitaes (gosh their resumes are different in the UK); all previously acted as a great excuse to not proceed with these plans. But not any more.

My name is Jenni-Raie Merritt, and I am a Canadian-trained Social Worker.  I have completed my Competency Interview, submitted my GSCC application, and am counting down the months until I leave for London-Town. Dave has been a big help in this process, and I am excited to be a contributor to this Traveling Social Worker blog. I have been following blogs of a variety of ex-pats in London, but there aren't a lot of social workers documenting their time; hopefully this blog will serve to fill in that gap.

You can follow me on my own blog, She Went Away where I chronicle my travels to places like Ireland and France and through life... and the QSW application process!

See you around,

JR