“I try to help people find their sense of self again”
To mark Social Work Week this week, Sue Manby-Clarke, our Senior Social Worker, shares more about her role and its impact.
“This week (17 – 25 March) is Social Work Week. Social Work Week was set up by Social Work England in 2021 to encourage a national conversation and highlight how social work positively impacts society.
As a specialist palliative care social worker, it’s important to me to educate people about my role and to temper some of the myths and stories that can haunt my profession whenever there is a scandal which reaches the national media.
I’m privileged to work with an extraordinary team and know that the work I do with patients, carers and families is only a small part of the whole provided by the hospice.
Some of my patients have commented that they are surprised to find a social worker within the team, others are cautious about engaging with me due to prior experience or the perceived roles of social workers. Generally speaking, however, once they have had a chance to get to know me and discover the support I am able to provide, they become much less guarded and feel much more positive.
I’m often asked what social workers do and this is a difficult question to answer as our remit can be very broad.
On the whole the role involves meeting with patients to support them with a specific area of need such as issues with housing, finances, end of life planning, and/or family issues. Part of my job is to signpost to other agencies and organisations who have the specialist knowledge required to help, for example, Jigsaw children’s counselling, as well as liaising with partner agencies, such as GPs, local authorities, and housing associations.
For many patients receiving a terminal diagnosis can mean their life becomes subsumed in medical appointments with a steady stream of visitors relating to their disease and I try to help them find their sense of self again by giving them the support they need to advocate for themselves or just participate in activities which are not medically focused.
Social work is underpinned by a strong theoretical background and the desire to bring about social change.
I aim to provide support in a sensitive and compassionate way, respecting the individual’s right to self-determination, advocating for their needs and decisions and recognising that every person is the expert in their own life. This sometimes means that I have to support the wishes and decisions of the individual against those of their families, carers and friends and it’s not always easy or straightforward, but ultimately it’s incredibly rewarding and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the person’s journey, even for just a short period of time.
I really enjoy my work within the hospice setting and, as a practice educator, I am (hopefully) passing on my passion for the work to the next generation of social workers.
A common comment is that students are nervous about doing a work placement within a hospice because they feel it will be too challenging or depressing. This cannot be farther from the truth of the day-to-day experience however, and I’m happy to be able to disabuse them from this notion!
I’ve had an extensive career in several different professions including teaching and training and came into social work comparatively late in life.
Nevertheless, I can honestly say that it is the best job I have ever had and I feel extremely privileged to be able to work within such a fantastic organisation. I look forward to continuing to support patients and families on their journeys.
