Reflecting on Five Years in Statutory Child Protection
Taking the time to reflect on this year, I realised a few things. The main one being, how grateful I am that took the opportunity to work in a completely new role. I have always enjoyed learning, teaching, creating communities and seeing people grow and develop. Becoming a Practice Lead in Child Protection in the Outback of Australia has definitely been bringing all these parts and more to the day to day work life. I’m still learning here, a lot of learning!
Instead, I’ll reflect on five (of many) lessons I’ve learned working in statutory child protection in Scotland.
1. Crying After Work Isn't Normal—It’s Burnout
It’s not normal to cry so much after work. That is called burnout and if the feeling that you have towards work is disconnection and you are ‘going through the motions’ then something needs to be readjusted. For me, it wasn’t work. It was being far away from home and family. It was the knowledge that if an emergency happened I couldn’t be there quickly, that it would be an expensive 30 hour travel time, multiple time zone changes and weeks off work.
I learned to prioritize me, and the things that are important to me like family and connection to home. Not everyone has the privilege to make this kind of shift, so I know I’m very lucky.
2. Change Takes Time—But It’s Happening
Change can take time. But change is happening. Organisations, especially local government are working within the contexts of wider political environments. As workers on the frontline, we only see a small snippet of what standards and regulations local government need to follow, or what they are being told needs to happen from higher political sources who fund them. Tricky situations.
I am all for change from within and from the ground up and how can I do this within the role I have, within the legal frameworks.
More radical social workers should work within governments to advocate and encourage change.
3. You Don’t Have to Know Everything—Collaborate and Listen
I always thought I had to fix everything. I’ve learned that’s neither possible nor my job. I’m not an expert in health, education, policing, or the lived experiences of the children and families we work with—I know social work.
Collaboration is everything. Ask questions, listen, and know your role. Humility in practice is crucial. You don’t need to have all the answers; you just need to know how to find the right people and work together.
4. Your Colleagues Are Goldmines—Talk to Them
Your colleagues are fantastic, talk to them more. Learn from their experiences, and their style of work. My favourite line I have picked up from a colleague is when she is dealing with a parent yelling over the phone, she says:
“I want to hear what you’re saying, but I can’t listen when you’re yelling.”
She repeats it in a calm, steady tone. If the yelling continues, she follows up with, “I’m going to end this call because you’re yelling.”
Nobody comes to work to be abused, and as a social worker, no thank you, being a verbal (or physical) punching bag is not part of your job description.
5. I Love My Job
We’ve all done it, fantasized about other roles, and career changes, and signed up for job websites. I have done this a lot after a tough week.
But working with people and serving communities is what I enjoy. Would I change my career? No. But I will continue to embrace opportunities, take risks, and start fresh when needed.
As I reflect on the year, I’m proud of how far I’ve come—and excited to see where I end up next. If you told me this time last year, I’d be in the Outback of Australia, I would have laughed, not in my plans!
Whatever role you’re in, what lessons have you learned this past year?
