Hannah is 22 years old and currently in the first year of her master’s degree in social work. She has always been passionate about helping others and wanted a career where she could make a real difference. As we’ve seen during her time with us, Hannah is enthusiastic when it comes to helping people overcome challenges and achieve the most they can out of life!
What made you choose Savera UK for your placement?
“I wasn’t aware of what ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices were before my placement, so I wanted to gain more experience working in this area and deepen my understanding. As a future social worker, it’s important to be informed about the different forms of abuse people might face, so I can respond appropriately and provide the right kind of support.”
What was the focus of your work during your time with Savera UK?
“The main focus of my work was to gain experience working with adults, alongside acquiring more knowledge of HBA and harmful practices. I wanted to learn from other professionals to help build my confidence when communicating and engaging with clients.”
What’s something you learned at Savera UK that you don’t think you could’ve picked up in a classroom?
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is a much deeper understanding of HBA and harmful practices, which is something that I don’t think I would’ve gained from University alone. At Savera UK, I was able to see how these issues affect people’s lives in real and complex ways, which goes beyond what you can learn from a textbook. I also had the opportunity to interact directly with clients, which taught me how to communicate sensitively, adapt my approach, and reflect on my practice in a way that classroom learning can’t replicate. It’s helped me grow and develop practical skills that I’ll carry with me into my future career.”
What did you find most unexpected about working in this area of social work?
“How often HBA and harmful practices happen in the community. I was aware that it happens, but not to this extent, and how it goes unnoticed. It also came as a shock how many professionals lacked the knowledge and understanding to recognise HBA and harmful practices, and how to respond appropriately.”
What challenged you personally or professionally during your time here, and how did you grow from it?
“Not being able to plan or anticipate what service users were going to say during our phone calls. I found this quite challenging, in case I didn’t know how to respond or if I unintentionally said something that would negatively impact the client’s experience. However, I quickly overcame this during my time here, having worked closely with the HBA specialist workers. I now feel comfortable having conversations with survivors of HBA, showing empathy, compassion, and a good level of understanding. These are invaluable skills that I will take with me in my social work practice. “
How do you think future social workers can be better prepared to engage with survivors of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices?
“To help you gain a basic understanding of HBA and harmful practices, Savera UK has a lot of free resources in the learning hub on its website. On top of this, HBA and harmful practices cases in reality are nuanced, so it is important to be trained by experts in the field and if you do get this opportunity to upskill, to ask as many questions.
“As a social worker, having a fundamental understanding of this is vital to your role. In this career, your chances of encountering someone experiencing or at risk of HBA and harmful practices are high, and you have a duty of care to respond appropriately. In many cases, you only have one chance to provide the most appropriate interventions. Without it, it could potentially cost a person their life. “
What’s next for you, and how do you think this experience will shape your path?
“I have to decide which organisation I want to work with on my next placement, and I have a lot of university work. The skills I’ve gained from my work experience with Savera UK will help me in my future case load and placement. Now that I have developed my knowledge around HBA and harmful practices, I feel confident that I can implement this into my practice as a Social Worker. “
What advice would you give to another student thinking about doing their social work placement?
“Make sure to take everything in. Soak up as much knowledge as you can. Say yes to as many opportunities and get involved. It’s important that you get outside of your comfort zone. Being in your placement enables you to experience what working in the industry is like, so make sure to make the most of it and develop relationships with professionals in the industry. You’ll find that you’ve made new friends along the way, and they become people you can go to for advice when you enter the working world.”
Thank you Hannah for all your hard work, and good luck with your studies and future placements!
