How Do You Define Your Professional Identity as a New Social Worker?

Welcome back to the Social Work Café blog!

Season 3 of our podcast has officially begun, and I am thrilled to share highlights from our first episode.

To kick off this new season, I had the pleasure of welcoming back Kasey Henshaw, who first joined us at the end of Season 1.

This time, our conversation centred on her first year as a newly qualified social worker and the professional and personal growth she has experienced.

Transitioning from student to practitioner is a journey filled with learning, self-discovery, and adaptation. Kasey’s reflections on her first year in practice reminded me of my own transition, as well as the experiences of those I interviewed during my PhD research.

She described her first year as both "wonderful" and "chaotic," which is a sentiment I deeply relate to.

Completing a social work degree brings a mix of emotions: the excitement of stepping into practice and the bittersweet realisation that university has come to an end (unless, like Kasey, you immediately do further study, lol).

One of the key themes of our conversation was professional identity—an aspect of practice that many new social workers grapple with.

Kasey’s job title does not explicitly include the term "social worker," a situation many practitioners find themselves in.

For some, this can be unsettling, as they fear losing their professional identity. However, Kasey embraced this as an opportunity, using her role to integrate social work principles while avoiding some of the stigma that can accompany the title.

As a youth connector, she found herself engaging in case coordination and advocacy, functions that align closely with social work practice.

Working as the sole social worker in her team of four to six people, Kasey has been intentional about applying her education and skills to her role.

Her commitment to ongoing reflection and professional growth was evident throughout our discussion. I was particularly impressed by her dedication to journaling as a reflective practice—a habit that takes discipline but offers immense benefits.

During my own first year of practice, I kept a record of the theories I was encountering and testing in the field, which helped me clarify my social work practice framework.

Whether you’re a newly qualified social worker or a seasoned professional, reflective writing can be a valuable tool for continuous learning.

Kasey spoke candidly about the emotional highs and lows of her first year. She acknowledged feelings of fear and uncertainty that came with no longer having the safety net of the "student" label, yet she also expressed excitement about solidifying her professional identity.

She shared how she learned to appreciate the small moments of joy in her work, intentionally pausing to recognise them as sources of meaning and motivation.

One of the most insightful takeaways from our conversation was Kasey’s perspective on boundaries. She identified the importance of being firm with her limits to prevent burnout, a lesson many social workers learn the hard way.

I truly admire how early in her career she has cultivated the ability to advocate for herself by saying "no" when necessary and taking intentional breaks to reset. Even just five minutes to pause and breathe can make a difference.

We also discussed the role of workplace conditions in social worker well-being. While self-care is essential, it cannot compensate for a toxic work environment.

If an organisation’s conditions are detrimental, finding a healthier workplace is often the better option.

No amount of self-care can override systemic dysfunction, and as social workers, we need to advocate for environments that support both our clients and ourselves.

To close out our conversation, I asked Kasey our standard question for Season 3: What is one thing you would change about social work to make it better?

Her answer was powerful. She emphasised the need for the profession to embed self-care into organisations.

Universities teach students to prioritise self-care, but workplaces must take on the responsibility of ensuring that staff well-being is a priority.

Given the alarming global statistics on poor working conditions in social work, this shift is imperative.

As a profession, we tirelessly advocate for our clients; it is time we advocate for ourselves as well.

What an insightful conversation with Kasey! I am eager to see how her career unfolds and look forward to reconnecting with her in the future.

Stay engaged, stay reflective, and take care of yourselves, social workers.

Until next time,

Dr. B