Challenging stereotypes and misinformation about social workers

As a foster carer, you will find yourself working with social workers to maintain the wellbeing of the children you are looking after.

You are also probably aware that stigmas and misconceptions about social workers are prominent among those who are not part of the child social care community, and may also be wondering how to challenge them.

Here are some tips from Beacon Fostering about the stereotypes and truths about social workers and their role in keeping children safe.

Myth 1: Social workers take away children from their families

A common misbelief about social workers is that they split up families, whereas their main role is actually to help and work with families, providing resources to help them and ensuring they overcome their challenges and, ultimately, stay together. Removing children is only done as a last resort.

Myth 2: They interfere in people’s lives

This is another false view of social workers and their profession. Like any occupation, there are rules and guidelines they must follow when carrying out their jobs. They respect the autonomy of families and their fundamental human right to privacy.

Myth 3: They decide when and if certain children go into care or alternative arrangements

Social workers do not decide when and if a child or children should be place in foster care. This role lies with the courts – the social worker merely informs them of what is going on with the family they are working with. Their information about the welfare of the child or children in question, as well as their reasons why they would be safer in foster care, informs the court’s decisions, and they collect the child from their home and take them to their foster carers.

For more information about how you can provide foster care in Liverpool or other areas of the north west, reach out to our team today to see how we can help.