ABSTRACT
In the early 1970s I trained as a generic (general) social worker and worked in hospitals, children’s departments (as they were then) and also in the probation service, which meant visiting prisons as well as working with people in the community. I recall working with many troubled, disadvantaged and supposedly dangerous people during that time. I remember feeling safe most of the time, and experienced a degree of acceptance from the clients I worked with which I found surprising and had not expected.
