"Be the Human Who Helps Another Human"
In our profession, we are often under immense pressure—juggling service demands, backlogs, legislation, policies, processes, and procedures. These demands can cloud our focus and pull us away from the most important part of our work: the people.
I’ll admit, I’ve experienced burnout and empathy fatigue. It’s a dangerous place to be—especially when I believe that social workers are the protective barrier between people and the machinery of systems. When we begin to see individuals as just a ‘number’ or ‘another assessment,’ how can we truly say we’re offering the best support and advocacy to the people and families we walk alongside?
This concern is echoed in critical social work literature, which warns against the erosion of both emotional and material support under managerialist pressures. When social workers are forced to operate in environments that prioritise efficiency over empathy, we risk falling into what Timor-Shlevin (2023) calls “managerialist withdrawal”—a practice that denies both recognition and redistribution, leaving service users feeling unseen and unsupported.
This week, I received a card from a family member. It meant more than I expected—not because it validated me as a ‘good social worker,’ but because it reminded me that I am, first and foremost, a human being.
The words in that card reached a part of me I hadn’t realised had gone quiet. It stirred something deeply emotional—an affirmation that despite the pressures, the long hours, and the emotional toll, the connection we build with people matters. It reminded me that I am not just a professional navigating systems—I am a person, walking alongside other people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
This moment of connection speaks to what critical practice strives for: the integration of recognition (validating emotional needs and narratives) and redistribution (addressing material needs). As Timor-Shlevin (2023) argues, critical practice is about “standing by” people in both their struggles and their humanity, offering support that is both relational and practical.
Let this be a reminder: we are all human. We come from different walks of life, and there may come a time when any one of us needs a social worker. So if nothing else—be the human who helps another human.
References
Timor-Shlevin, S. (2023) ‘Conceptualizing critical practice in social work: an integration of recognition and redistribution’, European Journal of Social Work, 26(1), pp. 28–40. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2021.1977250.
