Sian’s invaluable first social work placement

This diary was originally written by Sian Kelly, one of our Social Work (MA) students, who recorded and reflected on her first placement experience.

This text has been edited for confidentiality reasons.

Diary

Day 1

Today was my first day with the Foster Care Placement Team. I felt a mix of excitement and nerves as I met everyone, but they were so welcoming.

My supervisor and I planned out what I’d be observing over these 20 days, and she’s encouraging me to see as much as possible across different teams.

I’m already looking forward to coming back for my 80-day placement when I’ll get to support some foster carers directly.

Day 3

It’s only been three days, but I’ve already been on some eye-opening home visits. I saw both positive and challenging placements, which were tough emotionally, especially seeing foster carers struggling.

Thankfully, my supervisor does a debrief after each visit to help me process what I’m seeing and feeling. I can already tell that social work is exactly what I want to do. It’s rewarding, varied, and there’s no chance of getting bored.

Day 5

Today, I attended a Viability Meeting for a family member who wanted to become a foster carer.

It was hard to watch as she shared painful experiences, but I also felt the challenge of balancing empathy with my professional role. I talked with my supervisor about it afterward, and she reassured me that these feelings are natural.

I feel I’ll need to keep talking things through for my own mental well-being.

Day 7

I had the chance to shadow several teams across the Local Authority, which was fantastic. It helped me see how each part of the service connects.

I also completed my first direct observation, and the feedback was encouraging. I was advised to balance my focus on both challenges and positives during meetings and to work on timing my contributions better.

Now I just need to write it up – almost as daunting as the observation itself!

Day 9

Supervision today was really helpful.

My supervisor introduced me to “blocked care” (or compassion fatigue), which I hadn’t heard of before. She explained how some foster carers can become emotionally exhausted over time, and how this can impact their ability to connect with the child.

It’s such a delicate balance, supporting the foster carers while keeping the child’s needs front and centre.

Day 11

Today, I spent time with the Children with Disabilities team. They were so welcoming and explained the team’s long-term role with families, especially with transition planning as children move towards adult services.

It was insightful to see this area of social work in action.

Day 13

The transition from university to working full-time hours has been challenging, especially with a family. I missed a training session today, and even though my supervisor was understanding, I felt disappointed in myself.

I’m reminding myself to stay kind to myself – showing up with enthusiasm every day counts for something.

Day 15

I attended a training day on gender and sexual diversity, which was fascinating. The trainer shared a lot from personal and professional experience, making it very relatable.

I also ran into a friend from my cohort, which was a nice bonus. We both agreed our placements are amazing but that we’re feeling the pressure of upcoming deadlines.

Day 20

My cohort and I presented our community profile today, which went well. The feedback was positive, and I’m proud of the creative ways we presented information.

After that, I focused on completing my placement portfolio. I’m glad I updated it regularly, but the final edits still took time.

This first placement has been valuable, but I can’t wait to get even more hands-on experience in my next 80-day placement.