My homestudy caseworker is a ditz!

rachelmichellek · 04-20-2004, 03:01 PM

Random vent about the homestudy caseworker I have been assigned to. I mean, I have met her, and I like her, but she just seems so scattered and disorganized when she plans things or talks to me about paperwork.

After not talking to me for like 3.5 weeks (though I am not in a hurry), *suddenly* she wanted to meet with me ASAP and get all my homestudy paperwork (HUGE PACKET OF QUESTIONNAIRES) back by the end of the week so she could work on them at home for a three day weekend and get my homestudy finished before she goes on vacation in two weeks. I don't know if someone at the agency set this deadline for her, or she set it for herself, but I certainly didn't set it. I just started a new job so I couldn't take off work to meet with her so I had to fax the questionnaires to her that I had done (I'm about 75% finished with all the questions).

And I don't know how we are going to arrange to meet up again if she won't agree to an evening or weekend day. I have this temp job for 2.5 weeks and then I'm flying to my friend's wedding in Boston, then I don't know if I will have another job or not, yet...

I really am not going to be financially prepared for a placement until the end of the summer at the *absolute earliest* so I am not in a rush, but suddenly she seems to be.

I'm not fuming mad or anything, just... it's all very strange. Hm. I will see what happens.

DolciLady · 04-21-2004, 06:01 PM

Sorry to hear about your social worker. She should be more flexible, especially since you're a single mom-to-be. I wonder if this might be some sort of test, tho, to see how you can respond to a parental crisis (stuff suddenly happening out of the blue that requires you to drop what you're doing). I've not heard of things like that, but it popped into my head the way you described this 'emergency' type feeling. It would not surprise me if this was some kind of test.

If you don't have a good rapport with your SW, ask for someone else or talk to your case manager (assuming you're going through an agency of some sort). Or be right up front with your SW about how you feel pushed and suddenly rushed to fit her personal agenda.

The meeting with the SW tends to take several hours. Ours lasted over 4 (went way over)...so it does need careful planning. She really should meet you on a weekend or evening.

Robin

kimberly SS · 04-29-2004, 05:20 AM

Sorry to hear about your experience. Our SW ("Licensing Specialist") was a bit ditzie too. She has worked there for 3+ years and I seemed to know more about the paperwork then she did. She was able to meet our scheduling, however, every time she had to meet with my husband, she would reschedule it which was hard for him because he had to juggle his whole schedule around. I would say ask for someone else.