The Hardest Test of my Social Work Career

Social work has never been just a job for me — it has been my calling for as long as I can remember. From my first day in practice, I understood the weight of the responsibility, the privilege of being trusted in people’s lives and the need to hold onto my values even when the work is complex and challenging.

I never imagined that my career would be tested in the way it has been. I became the focus of an allegation made by a young person I had worked to support. I can’t share the details — not because I don’t want to, but because confidentiality is part of who I am as a professional. What I can share is the impact.

This experience shook me. It wasn’t just a professional challenge; it felt like the ground had been pulled from under me. For the first time, I questioned not only my future in social work, but my identity as a social worker. This is the only career I have ever wanted — the only one I have ever seen myself doing. To feel it under threat was deeply unsettling.

The process left me with more questions than answers. But slowly, I began to recognise that I could not let this moment define the entirety of my work or my worth. I leaned on the same principles that brought me into the profession in the first place: integrity, compassion and the belief that people can find a way through difficult times — myself included.

I am still working out what my legacy will be. I haven’t built it yet, but I know now that it must include ensuring that no social worker who finds themselves in this position feels alone. The impact of an allegation, regardless of the outcome, is profound — it affects your confidence, your wellbeing, and your connection to the work you love. We need spaces in our profession where people can seek support without fear of judgement, where they can be reminded of the skills, values and humanity they still hold.

This has been the hardest test of my career, but I want it to mean something. If I can use what I’ve learned to support even one other person through the same storm, then I will have started to build the legacy I want to leave behind.

For now, I keep showing up, holding onto my values, and believing that even in the most difficult moments, there is still a way forward. Part 2 to follow….