Give feedback on this pageJanet, Social Worker with Denbighshire’s Family Placement Team
I am what is informally known as a “home-grown” Social Worker, because I have worked my way through various posts and training with Denbighshire to become a fully qualified Social Worker. I started out with Denbighshire as a Homecare Assistant, and have since progressed through secondments as a Homecare Organiser and then as a Social Work Assistant, through varied posts (including hospital and residential home posts), and finally gained a Trainee Social Worker post and attended a local college to complete my Social Work Degree.
Coming to work for Denbighshire was really opportunistic on my part. I had been working in the independent sector, and only learned of the benefits of working for a Local Authority from speaking to a Denbighshire employee.
I am currently working with the Family Placement Team, having moved over into Children’s Services from Denbighshire’s Team for Older People (North). My role involves assessing prospective adopters, meeting with new parents and providing ongoing support, and I also attend panel meetings and court sessions. I have previously always worked with adults, so the move over into Children’s Services has been a huge new learning curve! I’m finding that there are lots of new challenges and opportunities working with children, and the work is varied and interesting.
Denbighshire has been very supportive with regard to my personal development, and I have successfully completed NVQ level 2 & 4, Diploma in Social Work and D32 training so that I can train others.
I certainly feel my role has developed since coming to work for Denbighshire Social Services, not only due to the natural progression of demands from society, but also because of changes and advances in legislation and policies & procedures. On a local level, I feel my role has changed significantly, especially in terms of my client group.
At present there seems to be a continuous climate of change, which can provide a very stimulating work environment, but it is not always a positive; I hope that Denbighshire’s recruitment and retention initiative will provide our Social Services with a welcome period of balance and growth.