We sat down with the lovely Jan who is a social worker in our adoption support team, finding out about her journey of working with children and families that has now spanned 40 years, learning what has changed in that time, what aspects have been the most rewarding, and what things she is most looking to as she starts to count down the time to her retirement this summer!
Tell us how your story with children and families started Jan?
“I always wanted to work with children, begins Jan, “I started as a Nanny in Canada when I was 18, I’ve always been pretty adventurous and enjoyed travelling. A year later I started in a residential home with Action for Children, really enjoying the work and this naturally led to social work, gaining my Diploma in 1984.”
“My first local authority social worker position was with Merthyr Tydfil Council, I was in my 20’s excited and enthusiastic about the challenges that came with the post. The job was tough on the front line but we had a good manager with a good sense of humour which really helped.
“I used to do a lot of Court work and then I was asked to help with the adoption and fostering team. This was very different to what I was used to, I helped out with recruitment and assessment, engagement and outreach work, sometimes dressing up as characters!
“Something was missing though, I missed the contact with families, I’ve got a real passion for direct work.
What were some of the early challenges that you faced?
“I was invited to do Guardian ad Litem (someone who is appointed by the Court to look after a child’s rights and interests) work on top of my main role. I soon had promotion to a senior practitioner position and I started to take on more complex family cases. I was still doing the GaL work on top of this, plus registrations of child minders – it was lot of juggling!”
“Safeguarding work was a big part of all this, I could be in a hospital in the middle of the night doing non accidental injury investigations or knocking on doors in estates where police would only visit in twos!
“I used to tell myself it’s time to take my brave pills and thinking this is just what social workers have to do.”
How long did you work on the front line in social services?
“I was on the front line for 6 years before a career gap to raise my children. I returned to work with Action for Children in North Gwent and in the interim gained a Diploma in Counselling. Throughout my work I’ve always followed the therapeutic approach, viewing myself as a therapist and social worker.
“I then ended up in a NSPCC Advocacy role where I worked for LAC children, advocating their needs and rights.”
Children’s rights are the basic freedoms and protections that ensure every child can grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. These rights are set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), an international agreement adopted in 1989 that outlines what all children need to live with dignity and fairness.
“I loved that role because of the work with young people but it was at times challenging due to the system. Sometimes children’s rights were not always listened or paid attention to in every environment, on the back of this I could sometimes be a right pain for social workers!
“My role developed to some work in the therapeutic service on top of the advocacy work. I also did some hours in the Hillside Secure Children’s Home in Neath, again promoting children’s rights, in some pretty intimidating situations.
“There were some terrible stories there and I worked with them all. Trying to see the young person first and not the crimes.”
Fast forward 18 years the repercussions of a post covid society meant that the NSPCC decided to review and then close many service centres across the country resulting in redundancy for Jan and many others. Fortunately for Jan (and us) an NSPCC colleague who was working now WBAS put her name forward as being perfect for a newly created vacancy in the support team.
“I was really saddened by the demise of NSPCC service centres, but I’ve loved working in adoption for the last 4 years. It’s been challenging but seeing the journey of families has been amazing. I love working closely with families and children, being alongside them, I’ve loved working in the team, there’s so much experience and different skill sets; Julia has been the best manager I’ve ever had. The 4 days off is also lovely!”
Your enjoyment of your role in WBAS is very evident Jan, are there any struggles you’ve had to overcome too?
“In social care the pressure of the work can sometimes have an impact as you are constantly dealing with children who are troubled and struggling. That’s why it is so important to self-care and look after yourself. I’ve worked with children all my life but the trauma and issues specific to adoption can be a challenge. In some of my previous jobs, positive outcomes can sometimes occur quicker, in adoption work it can sometimes take longer. The attachment and identity issues contribute to this complexity. There was I guess more closure for families in my previous work in the NSPCC, whereas with adoption our work is longer term and ongoing.”
What about a moment when you feel you’ve really made a difference Jan?
“Most recently in WBAS it would be my work with a young person. He was presenting with a lot of anger, suicide ideation and trauma. It wasn’t until we did Life Journey Work together did we start to see some big changes. The self-harm stopped, the anger reduced drastically and he actually turned around to me one day and said, ‘I’m feeling ok now’.
“He had a lot of negative fantasies such as his adopters kidnapping him and idealisation of his birth parents. Exploring his birth family story and history and some of the dangers there has made such a difference to his sense of self.”
His mother had this to say about Jan’s work with the family, “Janet may hold the title of Adoption Social Worker – but to my family, she has been nothing less than a lifeline. A quiet, gentle presence with a fierce resolve, she is the kind of person who never gives up on a child, no matter how complex their story or how turbulent their world.”
“Also I worked with a young man who was searching for his birth mother and I found her, and we are in the process of them meeting for the very first time. This is such an exciting part of my work, and a humbling experience.”
How has adoption support changed over the years in your eyes Jan?
“There’s been massive changes, when I first started there wasn’t any support really, you were pretty much left do it on your own, thankfully parents can reach out now and feel listened to. Support is for life in WBAS with no waiting lists for access and that can be such an important lifeline for families.”
Anything in particular you are most proud of over the years Jan and any advice for new social workers ?
“I’m just really proud of the children, their determination and their resilience and they overcome so much. I am going to miss them so much and of course my team.”
“My advice for those who are starting in this sector is just to take an interest in the children, listen properly with intent, children know when you are not really there for them. Also don’t try and fix families or children, it’s all about the therapeutic relationship. When working with families the tools are useful but the relationship is the most important thing and comes first. Children are the experts of their own healing.
Finally, what things are you looking forward to in the next chapter of your life Jan?
“I’m looking forward to being a Grandmother, I’m also looking forward to travelling, I recently went to Thailand and felt really proud of myself going on my own!”
