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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Rachel Williams

From mental health to child safeguarding: why we need to be reminded of the importance of social work

Over the shoulder view of a small group of children sitting around a table with two unrecognisable adult therapists in a community centre
A focus for many councils is ensuring that children are able to live in a safe, stable family environment. Photograph: SolStock/Getty Images

Five years after the start of a pandemic that turned lives upside down, the crippling cost of living crisis and the increasing challenges of an ageing population mean that the need for social workers has never been greater.

Yet the life-changing impact of their work is often overshadowed by negative media coverage and stereotyped portrayals on TV and film. And the longstanding shortage of child and family social workers is predicted to worsen over the next decade.

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