Some social workers do their best. Some give up because doing your best is hard. Some keep their head down and avoid making waves, and go along with fashions where the bottom line is saving money - referred to as "modernisation" and "reform". In social work terms this means pulling out from involvement with families prematurely, or avoiding getting involved in the first place.

"Burn out" does exist - where people have used up so much of themselves in the work that they can't carry on. But very often its used as a self-flattering term for apathy and surrender, by people who were too wet to ever catch fire in the first place.

Here's a song I wrote about this kind of thing a few years back:

Don't make waves, don't make waves,
Don't forget that you are slaves,
Keep your nose clean, go on tiptoes,
In the silence of the grave.
Don't you think of blowing the whistle,
Keep your eye upon the ball,
Keep your head down, mind your back,
And just remember one and all
It's a shame, it's a shame,
But it's down to what's his name,
You're a lonely soul surviving
In a dodgy kind of game,
And just think about the scandal
If it gets too hot to handle –
No the game's not worth the candle,
And you're really not to blame.

Modernise, privatise,
Keep your eyes upon the prize.
Hear them talk of consultation,
Hear them talk a load of lies.
You see people deep in need,
You see ignorance and greed,
You see all those wmooth officials,
With an ego they must feed –
But don't you think of blowing the whistle...

Is it true or is it true?
Have I told you nothing new?
Do you ever stop to wonder
What they've got in store for you?
You might be working in the system.
Or surviving on the dole –
Either way you know, you're nothing
To the people in control.
When the bottom line is money
And the middle name is greed,
Why they'd thrown their mothers overboard
To give the sharks a feed.
So don't you think of blowing the whistle,
Keep your eye upon the ball,
Keep your head down, mind your back,
And just remember one and all
It's a shame, it's a shame,
But it's down to what's his name,
You're a lonely soul surviving
In a dodgy kind of game,
And just think about the scandal
If it gets too hot to handle –
No the game's not worth the candle,
And you're really not to blame.

I was feeling angry at the time. Sometimes that's the right way to feel.