Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Young people have social workers for lots of reasons. It’s a social worker’s job to make sure that the young person is safe, that their needs are being met, and to listen to and support them.

Feeling ignored and not listened to by somebody can be frustrating and upsetting, especially when they're supposed to be helping you. It sounds like you’ve had a few different social workers. It can be really tough having to get to know and trust somebody new again and again. It’s understandable that you want to scream and shout. It might be a good idea to find other ways to deal with feeling angry and to express your feelings and emotions.

You could try writing down what you want to say to your social worker before you say it. You could also ask if you can talk to her at a particular time or place with no interruptions or distractions.

If you’re still unhappy with the situation then you can tell your social worker’s manager how you’re feeling. You have a right to complain and be listened to so that you get the right support.

If you still feel you’re not being listened to, you could get in touch with the National Youth Advocacy Service. They can sometimes help young people have their voice heard if they don’t feel that social services are helping.

If you want to practice what to say when you make a complaint or just to talk things through, you can always talk to a ChildLine counsellor.

Take care,
Sam