Keep On Keeping On

I graduated with my Master of Social Work degree in 1985. The first job I landed was with a Children’s Aid Society (child protection services).

When I was hired I was told by my supervisor that workers were paired off to cover each other’s caseload in the event of illness or absence.

Then I was told the worker I was paired with was on long term disability and I would be responsible for her caseload on top of mine.

Needless to say, I walked into the job totally green and set up to burn out. I had signed a two year contract.

The turnover in the agency was so high that within two months I was considered senior staff.

With that I had the added responsibility for introducing new workers to the family court system. I had been to court maybe once or twice.

I was still wet behind the ears and ill-equipped for the added responsibility.

In looking back, I was so naive.

In supervision my supervisor would file her nails as we spoke. I don’t recall receiving any reasonable guidance apart from just appraising her on the status of my cases.

Eventually I requested permission to start a group supervision opportunity for those like myself who needed more support and direction. I requested that it occur on paid staff time.

My request was denied but I started it anyways on our lunch time. No one could tell us what to do on our free time.

Things went from bad to worse.

Several of the cases for which I was responsible were mentioned in the newspapers of the day. This was not a good place to be.

Happily within five months I got a job in a clinical role at a major children’s mental health centre. I handed in my resignation.

My supervisor advised I had signed a two year contract and was breaking it.

I replied that she and the agency had long since broken the contract when on the first day I was saddled with a double caseload under the guise of covering a supposed partner. There were no repercussions for my resignation.

The group supervision meeting I had started was co-opted by the agency and allowed to continue on paid time when I was leaving.

I don’t know how long it lasted.

The next place I worked at, the children’s mental health agency, was amazing. There were plenty of supports, good supervision and ample training.

There I became the social worker I wanted to be.

I remember a dear friend once telling me, “Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince.”

So too with jobs.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.