So my qualifications lend themselves to child protection. I'm finding that my passion lies in supporting families and working with children, but I've always been uncertain about whether I could work in child protection. I'd have to put in place some more stringent mental health strategies, I guess I'm worried about whether I'm strong enough to do it.
Could you do it? Has anyone worked in child protection? How did you cope with the bad cases?
This is just me: I couldnt do it. I can't keep the pain out. Also, years ago I attended the funeral of a friend of a friend who was a policeman investigating child abuse. Sadly, he killed himself. I think that experience got to me.
Which is sad, because there is so much need and it keeps growing.
I started my psychology degree with the goal of being a child safety officer - over my degree I've changed my mind though and don't think that's where I'll end up.
I guess I've been kind of shocked out of the idea just based on case studies and stories from lecturers of their personal experience.
From what I can tell its an incredibly rewarding job if you have a thick enough skin to distance yourself from it - I'm just not sure I could do it.
Also, as a case worker you need to be on call 24/7 and now that I'm a parent myself I don't want that strain on me.
I think it would be an incredibly difficult job & I applaude anyone who does take it on. I have a friend who used to work in child protection. She left to go on maternity leave & never returned. She just couldn't face the stresses. Good luck with your decision.
It is an extremely difficult job and there are days where i just want to cry. But at the same time i've development the mentality of "if i have done everything I can then I have done my job - I can't do anymore than what i am capable of" So may think i'm a cold hearted b**ch but that is how i get through it. (and a couple of glasses of wine some nights LOL)
Absolutely not. As a nurse I worked 6 months in paediatrics and it was the child protection cases that made me decide not to continue in paeds. I found it too hard seeing children returned to unsafe situations again and again. The worst was a mother who was drugging one child, that child was removed from her care but the sister was left with the not her. It still makes me sick to think about it.
I admire people who do work in child protection but I don't think I would be able to work within the system.
I would. I went into teaching with the aim of working on the pastoral side - which includes dealing with abuse cases.
TBH, growing up in an abusive household, the stories that I hear make me want to escalate things and ensure that children are looked after. I know it doesn't always happen - but I want to be able to do as much as I can, rather than just thinking "oh, I hope that little girl is OK" and leaving it. Or even reporting it then not knowing what's going on afterwards. I'm not saying I'm a hard person, I just want to do what I can to protect people.
Although in teaching, this is not always an everyday occurance. So it is a bit different to other child protection roles.
As a family law barrister - no way. I did CP stuff when I started at the Bar but after XH assaulted DS2 when he was 2, I decided I couldn't do it any more.
My mum was a CP worker for a year in the mid 90s. The average life of a CP worker is 11 months in Victoria. She burned out in a big way.
Most CP workers, IMHO, are young, have no life experience, and aren't parents. So most of them have no idea.
You could pay me a million dollars a year and I still wouldn't do it. Ok maybe I'd do three months at that pay rate, but absolutely no more than that.
WARNING DO NOT READ unless you want to know what it's really like. It's in white - highlight it at your peril.
It's heartbreaking, horrifying, disgusting and unbelievable.
Once you've seen pictures of a six month old baby who's been raped by a broom handle...
Or a two year old who's got a fractured skull from being dropped head first down the stairs...
Or a 13yo who's on crack and pregnant...
Or heard the screams of a newborn withdrawing from methadone...
I used to work as a cpo. I still think of cases almost daily and have anxieties about my girls safety in the big wide world because of the things i have seen.
On the otherside- someone needs to do it. I have enormous respect for those that do.
Divvy- those of us on phones can't highlight what you have written so i can't comment.
My phone didn't give me the option of highlighting it appears straight up in bold....
My mum worked as a youth worker and had many young people who had lived those experiences as her cases. She used to be just heartbroken listening to their stories so I just can't imagine how someone who is in the intervention team could keep at it for a long period
Divvy: I expect things like that. I'm not at all surprised, the thing would be could I live day-to-day with those things in my head. I know it would change me, I just don't know by how much. I've volunteered in homeless shelters, I've worked as a counsellor but I've never seen or dealt with the ''in action'' stuff. There is a big difference between supsecting horrific things and knowing about them.
I used to say that I would never do it, but then I really started thinking about it. I am still thinking about it, lol.
I don't want to save anyone, I don't want that responsibility and if I felt like I had to save everyone then I'd most likely end up wearing a cape and gibbering next to the couch, but I do want to do something.
to all those in the loop of child protection and care industries. You're all amazing. I'm a librarian because books stay on shelves and don't induce nightmares.
I've done if for a short period of time. It's a tough gig with really long hours and you don't always feel like you make a difference. The system is really hard to work with, court makes decision that you don't always like, you can spend a lot of time doing administration and directing families as opposed to helping them work through problems, other professionals can treat you like crap. You have to put up with a lot of abuse from families.
On the upside it is really invaluable experience if you want to work in that kind of sector. You get to see how the system works, learn to deal with difficult clients, really hone assessment and crisis skills and learn a lot about case planning. These skills are very desirable in related fields.
If you want to work with families and children who have experienced abuse but don't want to do Child Protection there are a lot of related field where you can do some good work like foster care, kinship care, family support, intensive family preservation programs. You learn about the child protection system from the outside and you get to have more of a supportive role but it does also involve being directive or assertive at times. You also have to deal with some unhappy clients as well but it's a bit different than working in child protection.
Nope. As I childcare worker, I have had to study child protection, as well as being involved in the reporting of families for suspicion of abuse and neglect. Dh is also a police officer and hasn't seen the truely horrific things many of them have seen (thankfully!), but he's also seen enough and had the bureaucratic nightmares others have mentioned of not legally being able to do something for some kids/families, to be able to tell me I wouldn't be able to do it. I have heard and seen enough just doing that without actually being a CPO. I thought about it briefly but I know I couldn't cope with it.
But none of these responses will be able to tell you if YOU can do it hun. If you think you could manage the psycological/emotional side of it all, I know you would be awesome!
I thought I always could until I got a job working in a large children's hospital with children with cancer and infectious like tb and things. I was so emotional and often took that home with me. I also agree I have friends who have worked in the field but since having their own children could not do it anymore. Too painful
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Child Protection. Could you do it?
to all those in the loop of child protection and care industries. You're all amazing. I'm a librarian because books stay on shelves and don't induce nightmares.
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