My Social Worker & Me Developed in West Sussex by Miriam Williams, Sarah Hatton, Chantal Treanor, Lauren Thompson and Anna Chime

This is me A Picture of Me My name is: …………………………………………………………………. I like to be called: My date of birth is: My social worker is: Today’s date:

This Is My Social Worker A picture of my social worker My social worker is called: …………………………………………………… Their address is: Their telephone number is:

What do social workers do? A social worker is someone who works with children and families when there are worries or problems. Their job is to help children be safe. Social workers work in teams with other people. Your social worker works in a team called Family Support and Protection. There are other teams of social workers who work with children when things are a bit different; like if a child has a disability, or if the child’s parents were really poorly and couldn’t look after the child. Your social worker would talk to you if you needed these people to help you.

Seeing Your Social Worker Your social worker will come and see you to find out how you are feeling and to talk about what is happening in your life. You can see your social worker in different places, for example, at home, at school, or other places that you like to visit. You can also do some fun activities with your social worker that you enjoy, for example, playing games, drawing or going to the park.

…Seeing Your Social Worker Use this place to write down or draw things that you would like other workers to know about you   Sometimes if your social worker is poorly, or on a holiday, another social worker may come and visit you until your own social worker is back. These are the names of the other social workers in the team: .........................................................

…Seeing Your Social Worker You might visit your social worker sometime in the place where they work. Here are pictures of some of the office buildings.

…Seeing Your Social Worker I would like to meet with my social worker in these places:   I would like to do this kind of things with my social worker:  

What is ‘confidentiality’? ‘Confidentiality’ is a word that means that your social worker is not going to be telling just anybody about what you talk to your social worker about, or what is happening in your life. If your social worker is worried that you or someone else is being hurt, it is their job to help you and the other people be safe. This means that your social worker may have to talk to other people about what they can do to try and keep you safe. There are people who are part of your life and sometimes your social worker would like to talk to them about what they have spoken with you about. This can help them understand better what is happening in your life and can help them keep you safe. These people are: ……………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………

Your Parents and other Professionals Your parents will have meetings with your social worker and the other people who are involved with your family. In these meetings, people talk about how best to keep you safe and happy. If you want to, you can go to these meetings as well, or you can write a letter or draw a picture that your social worker can take to the meeting. The people who usually go to these meetings are: ………………………………………………….... ………………………………………………….... ………………………………………………….... ………………………………………………….... …………………………………………………....

“Why do I have a social worker?” Children can have a social worker for lots of different reasons. Usually the reason is that there are problems or worries in the family which mean that the children in the family are not feeling safe and happy. The whole family needs help and it is the job of your social worker and other grownups in your life to give that help. The reason why you have a social worker is because: ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ ................................................................

What is a Safety Network? A Safety Network is a group of people who are part of your life, who know about the worries, and who are doing their best to keep you safe and happy. The people in your Safety Network meet on a regular basis to talk about what is happening and to make sure that everyone is doing what they have promised to do. This is what your Safety Network looks like

What is a Safety Plan? This is what your Safety Plan looks like All children who have a social worker have a Safety Plan. A Safety Plan explains what everyone in your Safety Network will be doing to make sure that you can be safe and happy.

Questions that children often ask: Your social worker will work with you until they can see that you are safe and that there are no more worries. Your social worker will say goodbye so that they can go and make sure other children can be safe and happy just like you are.   Am I always going to have a social worker?

Are my Mum and Dad in trouble? Do I have a social worker because I have been naughty? No you don’t have a social worker because you have been naughty. Children have a social worker because they need help to be safe and happy, and not because of anything they have done. Children sometimes worry that having a social worker means that their Mum and Dad are in trouble. This is not true – social workers are there to help Mums and Dads to keep their children safe, and not because anyone is in trouble.   Are my Mum and Dad in trouble?

Am I going to be taken away? Lots of children have this worry when they first get a social worker. However, social workers believe that the best place for children to be in is with their families, as long as this is safe. Sometimes it happens that children are being hurt, or they are not kept safe, and then it can be better for the children to live with other carers. This can be people who are part of their family, or with foster carers. If you are worried that this might happen to you, please talk to your social worker who can explain to you what is happening.

Here is a space for you to write down or ask some questions that you might have      

Where can I go to for support? I can talk to: ………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Websites: ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Telephone numbers: …………………………………………………………………………..