Social work is “all about people” according to Kate Walker, Bedford Borough Council’s Director of Adult Social Care. And she should know, having had a career which has covered many different parts of social care.
The sky is the limit and social workers can take many valuable paths, Kate is part of the Council’s corporate leadership team. Kate explained how her experience and chosen career path, with her professional qualification has shaped her ability to lead the Adult Social Care Directorate and its work with wider partners and in communities.
She said; “It’s all about people. It’s about the people we serve, and the people in our team. We have so many great people, many service areas and specialisms at all levels, and I’m really proud of that.
“That’s illustrated by two of our most recent recruits - Suzanne Forest as principal social worker, and Tanya Hillier as the principal occupational therapist. They’re part of the wider agenda of driving social work and other key social care areas forward in Bedford Borough.
“Our portfolio holder for adults services, Councillor Robert Rigby, always says that he wants us to be a beacon of best practice and a good place to work. That’s exactly what these two roles will do. Having Suzanne and Tanya will enhance adult social care in the Borough and allow us to develop practice to provide even better and better outcomes.”
Kate began her own career in psychiatric nursing services, before going on to work with older people with mental health illness. Her subsequent career has taken in a wide gamut of the sector, from working children in the care system, working in frontline long and short-term residential care homes, to children with multiple disabilities, to managing a large range of services, working for the NHS, the council, and also some time in the voluntary sector.
She said; “As Director of Adult Social Care I have a wider strategic position, however I’ve retained my professional qualification and registration in Social Work. I’m proud to be part of the corporate leadership team at Bedford Borough Council.
“Every day I thank and recognise our social workers who make such a difference in getting the best outcomes for the people we serve.
“Social work has gone from strength to strength in Bedford Borough. Our social workers never stop working to learn more, never stop trying to develop.”
But what makes a good social worker? Kate believes her staff all have certain attributes in common.
“Social workers all want to help people,” she said. “They all want to protect people’s rights, to empower. enable, support, and safeguard, which is at the heart of everything we do.
“They’re good listeners, who want to empower and support people, whatever stage of their life they are in. They work across many disciplines, with and alongside our fantastic social care multi- disciplinary teams and our wider workforce.”