Despite dealing which such disturbing and emotional situations as child neglect and sexual assault, social workers at Bermuda?s Child and Family Services department say they love their jobs and the opportunities their work provides to make positive contributions to the community.

Lisa Talbot, one of the intake social workers, said nothing brings more of a smile to her face than to see the children she once helped become responsible adults.

?It makes you realise that we did step in and help the family out at an important time for the child,? she said.

Terri-Lynn Richardson, another intake social worker, said when she started at Family Services she became so involved in her work that it was hard not to let it spill over into her personal life.

However, after time she developed a shell which allowed her to keep her work and private lives separate.

The women said the main aim of their department is to help families improve their situations.

Despite some negative stereotypes which prevail on the Island, putting a child into foster care is the last option explored as the department struggles to help keep families together.

The department?s three intake workers ? Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Talbot and Pari Nolan-Trott ? handled 429 cases in 2004 ? 75 of the referrals involved sexual abuse and 77 involved physical abuse.

Most cases concern allegations of neglect, they told .

Many of the cases they investigate are referred to them through the department?s anonymous hotline at 279-1111.

Very few of the tips received are malicious in nature, they said, most have some merit.

When trying to intervene for the betterment of a child, the women said the first step taken is usually to try and motivate the parents to look for ways to improve their situation.

The social workers investigate allegations of abuse and neglect and, if they feel the situation warrants it, they look at various ways to assist the family including counselling for both the child and parents.

In some cases, children are temporarily placed in foster care while the department attempts to help the parents to get back on their feet.

This is always a last resort, the women said.

Maureen Bell, the intake co-ordinator for the department, said that Bermuda has over 80 wonderful foster parents who take in children and provide them with stable, loving homes while family issues are being dealt with.

?We?re not here to take children away from families, we?re here to help them,? she said.

Despite the fact that their jobs are hard the women take heart that they make a difference in people?s lives.

But a new interagency initiative announced by the Minister of Health and Family Services, Patrice Minors, will hopefully make their work easier in the future.

Mrs. Minors said that a cross-ministry team is being put together, which will include the departments of Financial Assistance, Child and Family Services, and Court Services, the Ministries of Health and Family Services, Works, Engineering and Housing, plus the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

The team will allow families working with a number of helping agencies to access services with less red tape.

Prior to this announcement families were appealing to a number of agencies for help which leads to confusion and duplication of services.

Under the new system, a family will have just one case plan that incorporates input from all the services involved, with one supervisor overseeing the whole case, plus one social worker and one social work assistant.