Social worker's case study

The life of an agency social worker is fast-moving and the work you each day helps improve the lives of real people and their families.  Many postings are for several weeks, giving the opportunity of making a difference while avoiding many of the pitfall of being a long-term employee.

For most social workers each day starts with a check of the email inbox to see if there are any urgent or important messages or requests that  need to be dealth with right away. Once email has been organised and prioritised the social worker can get on with the day.

The rest of the day is often filled with client appointments. This could mean visiting a client at home or another place of residence or having them call into the office. Social workers are in the front lines in helping families in need and assisting people who are struggling in life. They provide counseling, advice, and direction to help people better their situations.  Often clients are confused, scared and beset by problems that are beyond their control.  This could all be disheartening to some people, but  social workers know the work they do has great value, both to the individuals they serve and to society as a whole.

Some social workers are called upon to give evidence in court so time in their work day would be devoted to preparing for such duties. Other days they might need to interview the young victim in a child-protection case, to assist a young mother in securing an inportant diability benefit for her child or visit an elderly lady in a extra care housing to ensure her day-to-day needs are being met.

Then there are the many internal and team meetings to attend.  Here cases are discussed and decisions that impact directly on clients' lives are taken.  It can be stressful work, but social workers find it rewarding.

A normal day, if ever there is one, usually ends with one last email check and often notes and data comes home from office for an evening review in preparation for a busy next day.

Agency social workers tend to get paid an hourly rate as opposed to their salaried full-time counterparts, and often they are paid more. Also, they have a lot of flexibility. As an agency worker, the social worker can change jobs more easily and has the back up of the agency team looking out for the most suitable position.

One of the biggest benefits cited by agency social workers is that they are left out of 'office politics'. Not being employed directly mean an agency social worker can 'stay out of it' and focus on the job in hand.  And if they feel they are starting to get pulled into internal issues, it's easy to upstakes and move to another situation.

Being an agency social worker is, in effect, being self employed and that comes with some risks.  These professionals have no works pensions, sick pay or holiday pay.  That's part of why the money is so much better.

The most efficient way of maximising take-home pay is by partnering with the FPS umbrella company. And working with us eliminates the administrative headaches of being self-employed, such as invoicing and making tax payments.

Social workers can claim work expenses such high mileage, GSCC Professional Subscriptions as well as other fees and disbursements.  However knowing what's allowed and what is not can be confusing.

FPS group ensures that the correct tax and national insurance contributions are all made on time. We pay you through PAYE and make all the necessary deductions in full compliance with the HMRC.

We let you focus on what you do best: helping people make their own lives better.