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Child Maintenance Service

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Worst year of my life - Case Worker Child Maintenance Service Employee Review

1.0
12 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Flexi but never allowed to use it cause the phones came before anything in your life - Once I passed probation I was able to transfer to another govt department as soon as possible

Cons

where to start - Blatant lies on the job ad/ interview/ even training about the level of telephony involved, particularly inbound calls. Don't be fooled, this is a call centre, no longer than 5 minutes allowed between phonecalls, will get a vicious message from a TL if you take any longer, even if you've been on a call for 45 mins getting abuse/ talking them out of killing themselves - Toxic managers, rampant bullying, very common to hear managers gossiping and badmouthing people in their team. Often the subject of bullying in team meetings with team members as an audiance - Abusive phonecalls, that or you're dealing with seriously vulnerable people, you will need to talk some one out of killing themselves at least 3 times, with absolutely no support - No time for any casework to get done cause you're always on the phones apologising to people cause their case hasn't been looked at cause we're all on the phones, turnover of staff through the roof so no experienced workers to help with complex cases, stuff will rot in queues for months - Very common to walk in and see people sobbing at their desks, frequent walk outs, high sickness. You get used to hearing people crying or vomiting in the toilets - Disgracefully underpaid - Only way you can move up is if you are a sociopath - Ended up on antidepressants, beta blockers and sedatives to get through the day, lost a stone in a month from the stress - Multiple OHS referrals, still getting MH support even though I resigned in December of 2024 - completely shattered my confidence - Absolute refusal to improve any conditions, for staff or the customers. Suggestions on how to make the job doable are shut down, no care for the customers at all

Explore other reviews about Child Maintenance Service

1.0
27 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Enjoyed speaking to some of the parents in change of circs who mostly were respectful and patient. I don’t know why as I didn’t feel I could provide a decent service. Great colleagues as you are all going through the same hell together and the training period can be fun. If you can stick it out it it’s good experience and you’ll appreciate your next role. Part time hours can be agreed before starting the role (the initial 3 month training needs to be full time). Big car park and spacious office.

Cons

The job itself would have been ok but the IT system, training, vastness of the role with minimal support and lazy management made the job unbearable. Even the flexi turned out to be a let down. I gave it my all at first hoping to stay on until retirement but after passing probation and began to realise that unless I could try and not care about the quality of my work I’d never be happy there. Old style kind of management not effective leadership, they just seem to turn a blind eye to issues. It feels like the staff who stay are there for the pension and flexible hours and have found a way to put up with it.

2.0
5 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexi time, Colleagues are generally very nice people - as are most of the customers you speak to, Pension, experience working in civil service

Cons

Glorified call centre. Micro management. 10 minutes after call work and still expected to progress high case loads. Toxic environment - colleagues can be poisonous from the get go. Cannot use your annual leave as freely as you’d imagine, lucky dip for time off at Christmas, I got 2 days where some people get 7 days off, then you’d be asked to “give a day back” to meet business demands. “A rule for thee but not for me” management when it comes to doing 60% of working hours in office. Some of the longer standing members of staff don’t do half the job but if you’re new, there is NO negotiation in your role, or playing to your strengths as an individual. Finally, too many tasks expected of one person for AO grade.

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