As four new social workers start their careers in adult services, Simon Cox gets a unique opportunity to follow them and see how well their training has prepared them.

These are the people we rarely hear from. When something goes wrong in social work, it's the directors who appear in the news; the anonymous workers who get lambasted in the press. But we don't hear the social worker's side of the story. Now they get a chance to tell us.

All four graduates have just finished their training at Birmingham University. Jobs are scarce and what they do find is temporary or unqualified. But all are excited about their new careers.

Ali has been invited back to the hospice where she did her training. She gives us a touching insight into the practicalities of dying as she tries to help patients fend off the bailiffs. Others are keen to ensure their treasured possessions go to the right people.

Lucy is working as a mental health recovery worker in a day centre in Norwich. Its users are up in arms about changes to the service, which they say will leave them isolated and suicidal. Just two weeks into the job, Lucy finds herself the focus of blame.

Agency worker, Lara, is 22. Every day she goes out to assess the needs of the elderly to see what help they can get with limited funding available. She meets a woman in her eighties living alone with advanced Alzheimer's. Her son is her only carer and his boundless patience and good humour touch Lara who tries to get them more help.

Tabitha loves her job helping adults with learning disabilities. But so soon after starting there's a round of redundancies and she's on the list. There's nothing going locally. Will she have to leave her young children for a job elsewhere in the country?

Presenter: Simon Cox presents The Report and Click On on Radio 4, and previously fronted The Investigation.
Producer: Deborah Dudgeon
Executive Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown Production for BBC Radio 4. Show less