“A true inspiration” – Jessica’s time as a student social worker with FSW

Some of you may know that we welcome student social workers each year, who spend approximately 5 months with us seeing what our practitioners do on a daily basis and getting involved themselves in the practical work. This year Jessica joined us in January. She was initially due to stay until May, but sadly because of the coronavirus pandemic her placement was cut short.

Jessica wrote about her time with us and we’d like to share this with you below. Thank you Jessica, you were a real asset to the team (even for a short time) and we wish you all the best with your studies and future career as a social worker.

Hello…. My name is Jessica, I am a social work student and was given the opportunity to fulfil my second-year placement with FSW.

Throughout my time with FSW they have made me feel part of the team and supported me in all areas of my practice and learning. I have been able to gain so much experience and invaluable knowledge with FSW with regards to the relationship between practitioner and families receiving support.

Something that has stood out for me, and that I will definitely take with me wherever I work once I qualify, are the FSW values around the importance of the relationship and getting to know the families. This doesn’t just mean what their highest needs are at that first point of referral, but using this relationship and maintaining it, experiencing the highs and being there for the lows in any person’s life.

I was lucky and welcomed into several support groups for families, all run by FSW. Seeing the impact that coffee morning drop-in sessions; homework club; parenting courses and Lego therapy has on the families has really highlighted the essential need for these groups to be available, the positives and support is completely unmeasurable.

I was also welcomed at a fun day out for families at Chichester Cathedral in February. Families got to complete a hunt around the cathedral with their families and join in an arts and craft session. The engagement from the children was enthusiastic and I helped the parents with much needed support in entertaining the children. and offered a community for people to socialise as well.

The response from the practitioners and all other staff at FSW through the COVID19 crisis is a true inspiration to me. They have carried on fully supporting all their families by any means possible. They have been ensuring food deliveries are made (sorting the donations the organisation receives from generous supporters and dropping them onto individual family’s doorsteps) ensuring that families receive the supplies that have become even more difficult to obtain through this time. The practitioners have also made it a priority to keep in contact with everyone to provide emotional support as this is a testing time on everyone’s mental health.

The team at FSW are all so selfless, caring, and supportive in all the ways that a family need.

Thank you for supporting me in my journey and teaching me vital lessons and values in what you do every day for families to keep them safe and supported.