From the Front Line invites social workers to share their experiences on various topics and running issues within the sector to help others in their professional journey. To express an interest, email us at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
The social work profession is relatively mature by national standards.
Of social workers in local authority adults' services in England in 2024, 22% were aged under 35, according to Skills for Care data, compared with 33% of all workers in England and Wales as of the 2021 Census. Among local authority children's services practitioners, the Department for Education reported that 15.9% were aged under 30 as of 2024.
That often ensures that those working with vulnerable adults, children and families come with a wealth of life experience. But it can also create challenges for younger practitioners trying to find their footing, who sometimes report feeling questioned or underestimated, or even experiencing imposter syndrome.So how do you address and move beyond age-related assumptions to build trust with the people you support?
Speaking to Community Care, two senior social workers — one working with children and one with adults — shared their experiences of facing ageism from families and colleagues and discuss how it affected their confidence and the strategies they’ve developed to overcome it.Elizabeth, 25, senior social worker, qualified in 2021
I was really excited when I became a social worker. It's all I ever wanted to do, to help families and children.But I did experience a lot of ageism. I’d often hear comments like, “You look really young”, “Are you even qualified?” or “You shouldn't be a social worker if you don't have kids, you don't understand."
I’d feel awkward, like I was put on the spot. You don’t get any training on how to respond to that, and ageism was never really discussed at university. It created a barrier with some families.
I’ve always believed that all of us, including those who receive social work support, need to be mindful about what we say because some people can’t have children, and those comments can be especially hurtful. I still find it difficult sometimes. I might have a response ready in my head, but when a comment comes unexpectedly, it can still throw me.
Having open conversations about age
That said, it’s never put me off working with families. In fact, the more I engage with them, the more they see that I’m knowledgeable and genuinely want to support them.Now I’m more open about having those conversations. I’ll say, “How does it make you feel that I am younger than other social workers you’ve had? How can we get across that so that we can work together?” I also remind them that we need to be mindful of what we're saying to professionals and others in their life.
By having those discussions and showing families my knowledge and commitment, I’ve managed to overcome that initial barrier. I get quite heavily involved so that they know that, just because I may look younger, it doesn't mean I don't have the knowledge and expertise to support them.
I do sometimes feel the need to overcompensate because of those comments. But, in a way, that pushes me to go out of my way to research things and find more support services, which then enhances my learning.
Avoiding defensive responses
When I raised the issue with a previous manager, they suggested I say, “We're not here to speak about me, we're here to speak about your family”. But I don't like that comment.I think being open is better. Because if [age] is a barrier with me, it could be a barrier with any other professional that they work with. So I would rather have that in-depth conversation than be defensive.
Experiencing ageism from professionals
I’ve also faced ageism from professionals, especially when I was freshly qualified.In meetings, I might get comments like, “Oh, you look so young” or “I’ve been around longer." I ignore it because I'm a professional and we're here to talk about the family. But I always ask the person to stay on the call afterwards.
I would then just remind them that we need to be mindful of saying things in meetings that we may not mean. I’d also ask them what made them say that comment. I do that not just for myself, but to make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
When I was newly qualified, those comments really affected my confidence. I would overthink every time I had a meeting or went to a new visit. Are they going to look at me funny because I look younger?
Supportive management is key
But in my current local authority, things are very different. Ageism is openly discussed, and there’s much more support and space for reflection.Having supportive colleagues, managers, and personal supervision makes a huge difference. If something happens, I know I can raise it, reflect on it and get constructive feedback.
Recently, after a challenging visit, I asked my manager for feedback on how I handled a situation where a parent only challenged me and not my older colleague, who was with me. So I asked, “Why just me?”. I wanted to understand what made them say that, and it led to a very constructive conversation.
I also got a very positive response from my manager, which made me feel valued and heard.
Not shying away from addressing ageism
My advice to younger social workers is to speak with their management, make a note of what happened, and mention it during supervision. Be vocal about your experience.I'm so passionate about younger social workers coming into the field and I don't want [age] to be a barrier for anyone.
I would also suggest not thinking about it too much. Don't let such comments impact on your confidence. I know that's easier said than done, but talk to your colleagues, get advice from them and have a rant about it so that it doesn't get you down.
Most importantly, don’t shy away from addressing it with families and professionals. Avoiding the issue can make you seem less confident or even defensive.
Lisa Dolan, 37, adults' senior practitioner and interim manager, qualified in 2014
As a young practitioner, you definitely feel extra pressure to prove your professionalism and knowledge.Sometimes, family members would try to dominate or take control of the situation – even though the focus should always be on the service user and their needs. Being assertive is a skill you have to develop early on in your social work journey.
I would get comments like, “Oh, are you my social worker?”, or someone would say I sounded different on the phone. I still don't know what that means.
When visiting care homes to review packages of care, staff would sometimes assume I didn’t know much because I looked young. They might try to steer me away from certain details or dismiss updates by saying, “Oh, that’s nothing”.
That’s where assertiveness and accountability come in. "No, these care plans need to be updated," I would say.
Supervising older social workers
I haven’t experienced many overt comments, but you can often feel it in people’s behaviour towards you.As a senior practitioner, all the social workers I supervise are older than me. I remember once joining a visit with a colleague I was supporting. When she introduced me as her senior, a family member said she thought I was the student shadowing her.
I felt embarrassed, but I had to own it and move on. What can you even say in that moment?
I’ve had two social workers say: “Considering your age, as a manager, you are amazing.” It’s nice that they feel supported, but is this really a compliment?
'You have to stand your ground'
Being a supervisor was challenging at first, because, not only are many of them older than me, but some were previously managers who’d chosen to return to frontline work.Sometimes the roles blurred, and my guidance would be challenged. When you’ve been a manager, you’re used to autonomy and making decisions. So being managed again - especially by someone younger - can create friction.
I had to stand my ground. You can't be argumentative; you have to stay calm and be professional. If you back down, they will think that they can walk all over you. I’d always reiterate my point and note it in a case note so it’s recorded. It’s about holding your position firmly but respectfully.
After two years in this role, things have settled. I feel I have proven my worth as a manager. I always tell colleagues, you might have qualified earlier, but we all learned the Care Act at the same time [in 2014]. Social care [legislation and guidance] is constantly changing. What matters isn’t how long you’ve been qualified, but how well you understand the current legislation and case law.
'It's not a reflection of your abilities '
I’ve learned to deal with ageism by not taking it personally. These comments say more about other people than they do about you. They are not a reflection of you or your abilities as a practitioner.I also own it because I'm happy if people say I look younger than what I am. Hopefully, that means that I will age gracefully!
The key is to remember your position – whether you’re a frontline worker, senior, or manager. You’ve trained and worked hard to get where you are. It doesn’t matter what others think – you’re there for a reason.
You can’t fight people or respond aggressively to these comments. You have to counter them with professionalism. When you stand firm in your role and maintain that professionalism, people eventually fall in line.
