We asked two students to talk about their experiences of being on placement at MCFB during a global pandemic.

Kamal

I’m studying for my Social Work qualification through the PGDip programme with the Open University. Prior to being a social work student, I was a tutor within the Department of Social Work, at the University of Edinburgh, training social work students. I have also been a youth worker and worked across various sectors of social care mainly as an agency worker. Most recently, I have worked with the Glasgow City and Midlothian Councils’ Community Care Teams.

I had my pre-placement meeting at MCFB in early March, 2020. Two weeks later, the country was in lockdown and placements suspended indefinitely. It felt like the world was coming to an end, quite literally. Looking back now, the fact that the majority of humanity is still here, it tells a story of how resilient a species we are. Understandably, everyone including students has had to make adjustments to ensure that life goes on as best as possible on a systemic, organisational and personal level. Being on placement at MCFB at this point in time is a dream come true. 

My reality is that starting my placement during a pandemic is offering up a mix bag of emotions and experiences. On the one hand, I am missing the human touch aspect of working within an organisation like the MCFB. On the other hand, I have embraced new ways of doing things – the ‘new norm’. In practice, staff of MCFB have been so welcoming and the system put in place by management to ensure the safety of staff and students has been reassuring. There have been many opportunities for learning via allocated casework, during my supervision sessions, through taking advantage of training opportunities and from interaction with staff, colleagues and service users. I am enjoying the innovative ways of doing social work during these unprecedented times.

My inspiration as a social work student is The Starfish Thrower Story originally by Loren Eiseley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aVMdJ3Aok

Jacqueline, studying social work at Open University

“Busy, lively, friendly and dynamic are just some words that can describe the atmosphere at MCFB before lockdown. This was a place full of staff, students, family groups and children's groups meeting for a wide variety of reasons.  At times it was difficult to find somewhere to place a lap-top and write up notes!

Then …………… Covid 19 hit our world and the country was on lockdown. The MCFB building was closed and students were all sent home with universities closed down. Everyone was affected, each with their own story to tell and battle to fight.

I am happy to report that I was able to return to MCFB in late August when some restrictions were lifted, but I have to admit that the alterations to the building took some getting used to. The rooms are now empty, visitors are not allowed in the building and sadly, connecting with other students all happens on Zoom or on Whatsapp. It felt very lonely at first - social work is about interaction, and this is now all happening in a virtual world.

As with most things in life when change happens, we start to adjust. I began to accept a new normal, I now appreciate what I CAN do. I do still have the support of my practice educator, I can still communicate with other students and I am now able to have socially distanced walks with service users, I value these interactions more than I ever would have done before lockdown.

I would sum up this time as being one of adjustment; a new normal that needs to be revised regularly, but by offering and accepting support from others I have just about survived.

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Jacqueline Lynch and Kamal Dokurugu Ibrahim, October 2020.