The role of the social worker

Sarah Lancashire is right up there as one of my all time favourite actresses. Her portrayal of exasperated, downtrodden police officer Sergeant Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley set high expectations of how she would play social worker Miriam in the Channel 4 drama Kiri. It's safe to say she has split opinions. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. On the one hand, there was considerable outrage from some social workers who didn't recognise the vodka swigging, dog toting Miriam as one of their own and were dismayed by the portrayal of managers who appeared to care more about covering their backs than dealing with the aftermath of the murder of a vulnerable child. Others urged people to remember that this was a work of fiction and that very few dramas provide an entirely accurate reflection of a whole range of professions/professionals. Whatever your view, over three million viewers tuned in to the first episode which shows the sheer level of interest in the important work that we do.

As the drama progressed it became more of an expose of the challenges of race, identity and adoption and the juxtaposition of the rights and concerns for the foster carers and the birth family. For those of us at the heart of children's social care, these dilemmas are all too familiar and, sadly, so too is dealing with the death of a vulnerable child and the complex repercussions.

So, am I disappointed with Kiri and what it is doing to inform public opinion about the social work profession? Well, sort of, but I'm left reflecting on how difficult it is to accurately portray a profession that works in an intensely private arena - right at the heart of complex family lives. We all shy away from the opportunity to have the camera crew follow our social workers no matter how reputable the production company - somehow it's just not feasible nor ‘right'. It's not surprising then that we end up with the dreadful, sensational hidden camera from an ‘undercover' social worker who has infiltrated a trusting social work team - it is unlikely that these sorts of ‘exposes' will want to show social care workers as the hard working, dedicated professionals that we know they are. Other portrayals come from our favourite soaps and dramas. The Archers did an ok job with the social workers supporting Peggy cope with Jack's dementia and the social worker supporting foster children when Caroline and Oliver opened their home and hearts to some ‘disadvantaged children from Birmingham'. Apparently Birmingham is quite near to Ambridge… Whilst the social workers were seen in a positive light, I could see the Indian skirt and open toed sandals despite it being on the radio!