Struggling with Social worker employment and being immunocompromised

Daisychain79
Daisychain79 Member Posts: 4
edited 15. Jul 2025, 10:18 in Work and financial support

Hi all

I am seeking advise as I am in a difficult position with my job. I am a social worker for 16-18 year olds in care and love my job. However my health isn’t so keen, I have had a lot of absences due to illness and being so susceptible to picking up infections, and this is impacting my mental wellbeing, confidence and anxiety knowing that I am causing major disruption to the children I work with and my team. Then I also have the guilt and worry of being unwell, and seeing my family and friends worry about my regular declines. I have had RA and other problems and this has been for over 25 years, but this time things are bad.

Those who care about me want me to change my job and work from home so I don’t get ill. But I have no idea what else to do that will have a similar income, as I have bills and dependents. I am at such a loss, but I know something needs to give.

Anyone who has been in this position or has any advice I would be grateful if you can reach out.

Many thanks

Kerri

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Comments

  • noddingtonpete
    noddingtonpete Moderator Posts: 1,474

    Hi @Daisychain79 it is always difficult when you get a situation like this. Have you spoken to your employers about this? Can they make adjustments?

    Have a look through the following

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/work-and-arthritis/

    Hope there is something useful in it for you and I am sure others on here have been in similar situations and will share their experiences with you.

    Best wishes

    Peter

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on0800 5200 520Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,538

    I was a Social worker in a former life so hello @Daisychain79 .

    Having RA and presumably taking a DMARD (or two) can definitely make you more susceptible to infections and children are notoriously germy. Can you not change to working as a field Social worker if you are a qualified social worker? It may be possible to do some work from home then less 'in the office'.

    If not I can see your problem. You feel as though you are becoming an unreliable colleague and not there for the young people. If you work for the local authority or a large enough organisation you could discuss this with HR to see whether there are other options for you within the organisation.

    Best of luck I hope you'll let us know how you get on

    Toni x

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