And breathe... (a poetic reflection for World Social Work Day)

Maggie Allen on the power of social work - and the need for those practising it to look after themselves
Maggie Allen
Maggie Allen

BREATHE

Social workers, BREATHE 

Make cups of teas 

Everyday, seize 

But if you please  

Just BREATHE 

 

Let me tell you, why 

Social Workers should not shy 

Away from shining in brilliance 

In emotional resilience 

You must embrace self-care 

Find a hobby if you dare 

Read a book, feed a duck 

Ride a bike, take a hike 

Eat well, collect a shell 

When you take care of you 

Your service users benefit too 

Feel the breeze 

And yes, BREATHE 

 

You could have other roles 

You could have other goals 

But without blinking 

You chose critical thinking 

Without you, cute dearies 

Dressed with your models and theories 

Person centred 

For the frail and dementia’d 

Your Strengthbased approaches 

Donned in coats and elegant broaches 

You practice with ease 

But don’t forget to BREATHE 

 

Social Workers and Assistants too 

Be positive in all you do 

‘The struggle is real’ 

But here’s the deal 

Trust the process 

Embrace the success 

For when the light arrives 

And darkness subsides 

Independence comes 

And the sweet sound of empowerment hums … 

Listen to the new hopeful 

It is so beautiful 

Chaos is stabilised 

People no longer labelised 

Strong and active, they emerge 

Causing a wealth of knowledge to surge  

 

Social Workers, live your lives 

But let not the years deprive 

You of your presence 

Your essence 

Your confidence 

Your fluorescence  

And your effervescence. 

 

So, stay true 

In what you do 

When the tasks are vast 

Remember, this too will pass 

You will recover 

You will not just hover 

You will abound 

And your feet will touch the ground! 

 

With the issues you face 

In a work of fast pace 

You will not just survive 

You will thrive 

You will drive  

Through the maze of hard days 

You will feel the breeze 

And you will BREATHE 

 

If things get so tough 

And you’ve had more than enough 

Reach out 

Shout 

Inhale, exhale, freeze 

And just BREATHE 

 

Social Workers look straight ahead 

For on the horizon you’ll see,  

Shimmeringly 

The abused, accused 

Waiting for your gentle hand 

To lift them from sinking sand 

Empower and shower them 

Upskill and re-wire them 

But most of all, take care of you 

In so doing, you’ll help them too  

Whatever your heart sees 

Will remind you to BREATHE  

 

Now there are cases 

That phases 

Snatches breath 

But nevertheless 

Help is always on the way 

In your supervision, come what may 

Those huddle group sessions 

That uplift and refreshions 

 

Finally, social work is not for the uncharted 

The weak or the fainthearted 

And if you wondered why you are still here  

If it has not become yet clear 

It is because you care  

Because you are willing to share 

So, be at ease  

Excel and achieve  

But never, ever forget to BREATHE  

Maggie Allen is a social work apprentice for Slough Borough Council's North Locality Team