Rod - Social Worker, Youth Offending Team, North Devon.
Rod - Social Worker, Youth Offending Team, North Devon.

Rod

Social Worker, Youth Offending Team, North Devon

What does your role involve?

My job is very challenging, I get to do a bit of everything and every case is different. The team deal with young people aged between 10 and 17 who are mainly referred to us through the police and the courts. If I am the supervising officer then I am responsible for that case, and if a young person has a supervision order that means seeing them every two weeks over three months. As a supervising officer I will do an assessment to see what work I will need to do with the young person. This could be something like anger management sessions, or a referral to the drug and alcohol service, or maybe some victim awareness work.

I work directly with the young people and I have a clear responsibility to act immediately in every case. The job does come with its frustrations, some young people are easy to work with and some are more challenging, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

What are the Learning & Development opportunities?

There is always a range of courses going on and there is a lot of encouragement to take advantage of training opportunities. I have had the chance to pilot a final warning scheme and there are opportunities to do lots more parenting work if I want to. We take responsibility for looking for training gaps which need to be filled and if we say that we need something management usually listen.

You have a visual impairment, how has this affected your work?

There has never been a problem, I like to be open and honest and put people at their ease. If the young people ask, I tell them about it. It’s best not to be offended, but just be straightforward. From the moment I started work with Devon County Council I have had so much positive support. My first line manager went out of his way to make sure I had the right equipment. I work with a Guide Dog and I have readers and personal assistants which are jointly provided with the Employment Service. I can’t fault the support I have had and am sure any other person with a disability would be given the same opportunities.