Social Work Week

This week is Social Work Week, we asked our Student Social Worker, Ruby why she is interested in Social Work and her experience of her placement at the Hospice so far.

Q: What inspired you to get into Social work?

A: "I went into social work because I love how broad the field is and the values that underpin the practice. I am able to support service users from different walks of life whilst also liaising with service providers to bring about preferred outcomes. Social work is a very emotive job, you hear some very moving stories. It's great to advocate for people and promote their independence."

Q: What duties have you got involve with in your placement so far?

A: "Within placement, I have had the opportunity to be involved in the Family Support Team, In-Patient Unit and Dementia Team. My activities have included providing emotional support to service users within the hospice hub and bereavement drop-ins, supporting the carers group, speaking to patients on the In-Patient Unit, and calling family members and carers to complete IPOS Dementia forms. I also regularly join MDT meetings and share information with relevant professionals and agencies."

Q: What has been the highlight of your placement so far?

A: "I have had multiple highlights during my placement, but my favourite would be experiencing a virtual reality Dementia simulation. For about 10 minutes, I experienced what it was like to have Dementia and it was definitely an eye-opener."

Q: What would you say to any young people who are thinking of getting into Social work?

A: "What I would say to a young person who is interested in pursuing social work is that they should just go for it! There's so many skills you can learn and I feel that it has really developed me overall as a person. For anyone who is currently on their own social work placement, please remember that your supervisors are there to encourage you. Make sure to put yourself out there for other learning opportunities because being a student is temporary. Lastly, self-care is so important, don't neglect it!" 

We would like to thank our Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Student Social Workers for all the compassionate care they offer to our patients and their families from point of diagnosis through to bereavement. Their unwavering support and compassion helps us deliver holistic and personalised care to families, when they need us the most.