Fish Bowl working

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a hamster stuck in a cage in a pet shop.  That is what the new ways of working feels like in the office.  With seven Social Work teams all sitting on one floor, hot desking.  With an average of three workers fighting for one desk.  The result is Social Workers climbing walls, hiding under paperwork and nesting in the kitchen area. occasionally a visitor will walk onto the floor and be circled by Social Workers checking with the visitor to ensure they are not stopping.


The idea is to save the Local Authority money, in reality it did not.


Don’t get me wrong I want to see Social Work develop and become in line with the rest of the world, no longer a tick box and clip board profession.  But the true knowledge is held within the team and the experience of the workers within it.  More importantly the need to find privacy in order to discuss, reflect upon day to day practise and case decisions.  Also to have a laugh and vent the frustrations in a safe and supportive environment.


Now I could be taking a complaint about a member of staff I am sitting next to, whether it be a Social Worker I supervise or a Fostering Social Worker or previous Social Worker involved in a case. 


Now when trying to write up an assessment, I have to analyse conversations, observations and interactions with the noise and discussions around me.  Something that I have yet to be able to achieve in work.  Instead I am having to distance myself from the team and working from home.  Making my experience less available for the team and for the people I supervise.


In order to support this way of working, I have been provided with a 3G laptop.  Which, is a start in the right direction for faster mobile working.  A visit out of County now means that e-mails can be sent, and the case recording completed straight away.   Thankfully we have so much security on the laptop that often it can take 20 minutes to load up.  Meaning that there is time to drink Costa Coffee without disruption.


This does mean that when I am back in the office I am up to date and not having to read through hundreds of e-mails to read through.  But that is it.  You still have to stop somewhere safe and secure to access this information.  


There are some very good positives about open plan working with other teams.  This can mean good information sharing, working together with the fostering team and smoother transfers from team to team.  Or gaining information and insight into a case that may not have been recorded.


However, I look forward to a time when ICS is completely fit for purpose, that mobile working truly means mobile working and I can leave my heavy bag at home and just carry around one item that allows me to communicate quickly and freely, and be up to date with all case information.  


Until then I look forward to the restructuring next year and what this may bring! and continue to enjoy spending time with the Young People doing the work that is important.

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