(October 1999)
The experiences of new MSWs is of tremendous importance and significance. New MSWs are often front line workers and are on the cutting edge of social service delivery. They may be among the first social workers to experience changes going on the field and can provide the profession with valuable insights about workplace issues. Equally important, new MSWs are in a key position to evaluate the fit between their graduate education and the tools necessary to practice good social work.
For many of us, deciding to become a social worker is a life defining moment. This choice reflects our values and our social concerns. Social work students often enter the profession enthusiastically and energized. When their expectations are not met, social workers may become disillusioned and apathetic. One social worker said that she experienced a lack of professional respect at her new job because she punched a time clock, responded to strict productivity requirements, had little supervision, and found limited opportunity for professional growth. She also had a huge caseload of difficult, high-risk clients. The work setting was frightening because of poor security. Drug activity and other crimes like theft took place on the premises and occasionally weapons had to be removed from clients. She knew that social work wouldn't be easy but she wondered does it have to be this hard?
In some ways, the experiences of new MSWs have much in common with the experiences of more seasoned social workers. It appears that some of the problems that recent graduates face are endemic to the profession and will not be remedied by length of time in the field.
New professionals are relating a variety of experiences as they enter the workforce. Some of them find that having an MSW brings tangible rewards, such as better salaries, as well as intangible benefits, such as increased respect and the satisfaction that comes with the attainment of a very important goal. However, recent graduates often relate frustration, disillusionment, and a lack of support in the workplace.
In order to respond best to the challenges facing social workers new to the field, the Chapter formed a Committee to address their concerns. In addition, this issue of Currents is a theme issue dedicated to new professionals. The Chapter plans to offer some educational programming designed to address their interests and concerns. A survey of our new MSW members to develop clarity about what their needs are will be going out in the near future.
A major priority of the Chapter is to increase awareness in the social work community of the factors affecting social work practice and to address problem areas. Within that framework, the experiences of new MSWs are being examined as well as the concerns of all of our members. Many of our members, including our most experienced members, report serious workplace problems such as diminished autonomy around practice issues such as treatment planning and diagnosis - professional functions which are increasingly under the purview of managed care companies. Recent graduates also report excessive workloads, limited supervision, and low salaries. These problems are not only reported by new social workers. Social workers with many years in the field frequently raise similar workplace problems.
The Chapter believes that the quality of the work environment is intrinsically related to the quality of client services. When social workers work under poor conditions, it becomes more difficult to maintain standards and clients will suffer as well.
In February of 1999, The Chapter held a focus group comprised of new social workers. The group discussed what their expectations of the profession were, what aspects of their work created unanticipated pressures, what supports existed in their workplaces, what ethical questions came up at work, and what new MSWs considered might be useful to them in managing some of the challenges encountered at work.
Recent graduates expressed feelings of isolation. Feeling alone and unsupported is being spurred by a general lack of supervision on the job or by having supervisors that lack adequate skills. A general lack of time to fulfill the demands of the job, including chart work and attending to clients was reported by many new professionals. The intensity of the workload also contributes of feelings of isolation because new MSWs have limited time to spend with colleagues or in professional activities such as conferences and workshops.
Some recent graduates experience difficulty navigating the maze of social service systems and find limited guidance in how to effectively access services and advocate for clients. For example, advocating for clients within the social service system is becoming increasingly complex, time consuming, and reduces the time that social workers can devote to direct services.
The ethical pressures and questions that new professionals face present difficult and complex dilemmas for them, a situation often exacerbated by a lack of support from proper supervision. For example, there seems to be an unclear understanding about mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, particularly when there are other disciplines involved that claim attorney-client privilege or over action with other rationales.
Many of the group participants related experiencing problems with the image of the profession. They reported decreased respect and income as compared to their peers in other professions. Again, these concerns are echoed by social workers with many years on the job.
Although many of the new professionals in the focus group expressed serious concerns about their profession, there was also the sense a pride about being a social worker and their commitment to social concerns.
The Chapter is taking the concerns of new MSWs very seriously. Our programming is being designed to provide maximum support to new professionals as well as to our other members. We welcome your feedback and involvement in our activities. Please call, write or fax us with any questions or responses. We can be reached by telephone at (212) 668-0050; by fax at (212) 668-0305; or by mail at 50 Broadway, 10th Floor, NYC, NY 10004.