Transcript: A Day In The Life: Maureen

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Maureen - My name is Maureen Ogbolu and my job role is Social Worker.

I started off as a volunteer worker and then I was doing some administration. But having obtained my degree I then went on to applying for jobs and ended up a Social Worker, currently in a hospital.

(talks to patient)
- So how are you today?

I go out to the ward and assess patients who are fit for discharge and who require a service to support them at home, for instance, or who need services in the community, like residential care or nursing care placements. I come to see patients on the ward, for instance, like Elsie now, assess them, see how much they've been able to do for themselves, and also take into consideration any risks which may come up for when they go home, and look at arranging services appropriate to meeting their needs, so that their independence is promoted. As well as making sure that they're living in safe conditions.

It's very important to speak to them, have that one-to-one contact with them. It doesn't matter what they say or how they say it. I think that's the vital thing about assessments like this. Once you're able to identify a plan for her, it's always best to speak to the relatives as well.

You've got to be a good listener, you've got to be analytic with your thinking, and you've got to be able to make safe and sound judgments. The decision-making aspect, as it relates to any one individual, is really very important because you've got to be specific with the particular individual you're dealing with. Because no two individuals are the same and no two people have the same needs, so that's where the challenges are.

(speaks with patient)
- Do you want to go home?
- Yes.
- OK. Do you think you can manage with carers coming in to support you at home?
- I could manage if I could see. It's this seeing business, I can't see. See, I drop things, and I can't find them. I'd like to go back to my own home.

You've got to be a good listener, you've got to consider the feelings of the patient, who is a service user, you've got to be passionate as well. It's quite a motivating role. You will have training, you will be supervised, you will be supported.

What I enjoy most about this job is coming into work in the morning and seeing that I am going to be able to achieve a lot in the day, and the fulfilment of meeting somebody's needs for when they leave hospital.

It's a brilliant profession. Go out there and be a Social Carer.