Imposter Syndrome And Vulnerability As An Independent Social Worker

As an independent social worker, I often find myself grappling with imposter syndrome – a feeling of self-doubt despite my experience and accomplishments. It’s something many of us, especially women, struggle with, but rarely talk about openly.  

We are all imposters  

I recently had a conversation with a colleague who, despite her impressive LinkedIn posts I’d admired around Court of Protection issues, she admitted she felt self-conscious about publishing her views.  

From where I was standing, all I saw was a powerful, professional, well-put-together social media presence, but her honesty made me realise that even those who seem confident often share the same insecurities – because we’re human. 

I remember an amazing manager I looked up to getting promoted, and confessing to me that she had imposter syndrome. Regardless, she did a great job and her team went on to win a social work award. This just proves that even when we doubt ourselves, we can do it. We ARE doing it! We just need to work on that self-belief! 

The courage to be vulnerable 

As Independent social workers, we raise our heads above the parapet every day, sharing our insights and advocating for our clients – and this makes us vulnerable. Our internal monologues often go into overdrive and tell us that others are judging our abilities, our decisions, our experience, and our opinions… But the reality is, these are the stories we tell ourselves. 

What if we started looking at these vulnerabilities as strengths and not weaknesses? That’s exactly what I’ve started doing. This shift in mindset allows us to connect more authentically with our colleagues and reminds us that in fact, everyone experiences these wobbly moments of insecurity. 

Celebrating our supportive community 

Inspired by this shared feeling, I wrote a LinkedIn post expressing my gratitude for the independent social work community. The response was overwhelming, and it highlighted just how supportive our field is, connecting me with other independent social workers, and helping the community see that it’s possible work with, rather than against each other. 

We recommend each other, we share cases, and we collaborate.  

When we support each other, we can provide the best service to the people we work with.  

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we can better support vulnerable people. It’s our vulnerability that has the power to make us the best social workers we can be. 

The human side of social work 

In a reciprocal supervision session with another independent social worker, we weren’t looking at case studies. We dove into our values – who we are, and what matters to us. 

Through our conversations, it became clear that it’s those little moments of self-doubt that keep us grounded and open to learning.  

Being a social worker isn’t about being a know-it-all, pen-pushing ‘expert’ who can quote the law inside out (although knowing the law really does help!). It’s about our willingness to listen, understanding different perspectives, and adapting our approach to meet each person’s unique needs.  

We realised that actually, our imposter syndrome gives us humility – and that’s what makes an expert. 

We ARE good enough 

Imposter syndrome may make us question our abilities at times, but it also motivates us to strive for better outcomes. By embracing our vulnerabilities and being cheerleaders for each other, we strengthen both our practice and our community.  

I want to remind you that you ARE good enough – not because you have all the answers, but because you’re committed, compassionate, and human. Let’s continue to lift each other up, celebrate our achievements, and recognise that our doubts do not diminish our value.  

Next time you hear that annoying little voice, remember that we all hear it, and the reality is: we are sensitive, decent professionals who love social work, and together, we will continue to make a positive difference to many lives.