Practice: Social Work in Action, 25(5), 2013, pp.349-366.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Although organisations have a duty of care to protect the well-being of employees, it is acknowledged that social workers need to enhance their personal resilience to survive in an increasingly stressful profession. The term ‘resilience’ is widely used in social work education and practice, but there is little consensus about its meaning. This study utilises a psychological perspective to explore
(Publisher abstract)
Although organisations have a duty of care to protect the well-being of employees, it is acknowledged that social workers need to enhance their personal resilience to survive in an increasingly stressful profession. The term ‘resilience’ is widely used in social work education and practice, but there is little consensus about its meaning. This study utilises a psychological perspective to explore the personal representations of resilience held by 200 social work students and 100 experienced social workers in England. Participants’ perceptions of why social workers need to be personally resilient and the means by which this quality may be enhanced are also considered. Thematic content analysis is utilised to explore the data, and similarities and differences between representations of resilience provided by students and qualified staff are investigated through the use of template analysis. The extent to which representations of resilience expressed by participants correspond with ‘academic’ definitions is also examined. Considerable variation in personal meanings of the resilience construct emerged. In general, representations of resilience articulated by experienced social workers were more complex and multi-faceted than those expressed by students. The implications of the findings for the development of interventions to enhance resilience in student and qualified social workers are considered.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social workers, student social workers, resilience, stress;
British Journal of Social Work, 50(3), 2020, pp.758-777.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Social workers are at high risk of job-related stress that can impair their well-being and professional practice. Although organisational support is a fundamental requirement, it has been argued that social workers need to develop emotional resilience to help them manage the demands of the job. This mixed method study examines the effects of an eight-week mindfulness training course on several...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Social workers are at high risk of job-related stress that can impair their well-being and professional practice. Although organisational support is a fundamental requirement, it has been argued that social workers need to develop emotional resilience to help them manage the demands of the job. This mixed method study examines the effects of an eight-week mindfulness training course on several resources previously found to underpin resilience in social workers (emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility, reflective ability and self-compassion) together with aspects of well-being relevant to the role (compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and perceived stress). Participants’ perceptions of the benefits of mindfulness for their well-being and professional practice are further explored via the content analysis of open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews. Emotional self-efficacy, psychological flexibility and compassion satisfaction increased following the intervention and compassion fatigue and perceived stress were reduced. No significant changes were found in reflective ability and self-compassion. The qualitative data provided greater insight into the potential benefits of mindfulness for the well-being and job performance of social workers and factors that might encourage and discourage its use.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social workers, mindfulness, compassion, stress, wellbeing;
British Journal of Social Work, 41(2), March 2011, pp.261-275.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Resilience is a protective factor that allows one to manage stress. It also promotes overall well-being. However, little is understood regarding the individual difference factors that promote resilience in trainee social workers. This study investigated several emotional and social competencies such as emotional intelligence, reflective ability, empathy and social competence, as predictors...
Resilience is a protective factor that allows one to manage stress. It also promotes overall well-being. However, little is understood regarding the individual difference factors that promote resilience in trainee social workers. This study investigated several emotional and social competencies such as emotional intelligence, reflective ability, empathy and social competence, as predictors of resilience in 240 trainee social workers. Whether resilience predicted psychological distress was also explored, together with the role played by resilience in the relationship between emotional intelligence and distress. Findings revealed that emotional and social competencies explained 47% of variance in resilience. A negative relationship was uncovered between resilience and psychological distress. Resilience fully mediated the negative association between emotional intelligence and psychological distress, highlighting the importance of individual emotional competencies in promoting resilience and enhancing well-being. In ending, the paper discusses how these findings might help trainee social workers be more resistant to stress in the workplace.
This comprehensive guide provides information and techniques to help social workers to develop their emotional resilience and wellbeing during the conravirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for social work and developing greater resilience can help protect social workers from the stresses they face. The guide, which is based on messages from
(Edited publisher abstract)
This comprehensive guide provides information and techniques to help social workers to develop their emotional resilience and wellbeing during the conravirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for social work and developing greater resilience can help protect social workers from the stresses they face. The guide, which is based on messages from research, considers the meaning of resilience, highlights the factors that underpin this key quality and identifies how they can be developed. It highlights the importance of qualities such as reflective thinking, social competence, supervision and organisational support, coping skills and self-compassion to developing resilience. Tools and techniques identified that can be used to develop greater resilience, include: mindfulness, thinking skills, peer support, and self-awareness and action planning.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, social workers, resilience, wellbeing, social work, infectious diseases, stress, staff development;
A summary of findings from a survey to examine the levels of burnout, resilience, mental health and other aspects of wellbeing experienced by Independent Social Workers. The research also considers the factors that protect or increase the risk of poor wellbeing and burnout and makes recommendations for key areas for intervention. Overall, ISWs who completed the questionnaires were mentally healthy and experienced fairly low levels of emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue. Job control and social support help ISWs manage the demands of their work more effectively. A lack of emotional support and the inability to discuss work-related issues with colleagues, was often identified as a problem. The findings suggest that ISWs with less experience should be prioritised for support and targeted interventions to improve their wellbeing, and that peer coaching or mentoring schemes could be beneficial. The report also recommends that a portal is developed to share best practice in improving mental health and increasing feelings of connectedness and social support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A summary of findings from a survey to examine the levels of burnout, resilience, mental health and other aspects of wellbeing experienced by Independent Social Workers. The research also considers the factors that protect or increase the risk of poor wellbeing and burnout and makes recommendations for key areas for intervention. Overall, ISWs who completed the questionnaires were mentally healthy and experienced fairly low levels of emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue. Job control and social support help ISWs manage the demands of their work more effectively. A lack of emotional support and the inability to discuss work-related issues with colleagues, was often identified as a problem. The findings suggest that ISWs with less experience should be prioritised for support and targeted interventions to improve their wellbeing, and that peer coaching or mentoring schemes could be beneficial. The report also recommends that a portal is developed to share best practice in improving mental health and increasing feelings of connectedness and social support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
resilience, stress, wellbeing, social workers, social work, self-employment, peer support, staff mentoring;
British Journal of Social Work, 47(7), 2017, pp.1979-1998.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
It is widely recognised that social workers need to increase their emotional resilience to protect their well-being and enhance the quality of their professional practice, but there is little evidence-based guidance on how this might be achieved. This study evaluated a multi-modal intervention that aimed to improve emotional resilience and well-being in newly qualified social workers from children’s services in England. More specifically, it examined whether the intervention enhanced several personal resources associated with resilience (emotional self-efficacy, reflective ability, self-compassion and compassion satisfaction/fatigue) together with the overall level of mental health. A repeated-measures waitlist-controlled design was utilised. Twenty-five social workers in their first year of qualified practice in children’s statutory services received training over a two-month period. The control group comprised thirty-one early-career social workers also working in statutory children’s services. An online survey obtained data before the intervention and two months afterwards. Evidence was found that the intervention was effective in enhancing some personal resources, as well as psychological well-being more generally. The finding that psychological distress and compassion fatigue increased during the study period for the control group raises some concerns. The potential of the findings to inform sustainable, evidence-based interventions to protect and promote well-being in early-career social workers is discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
It is widely recognised that social workers need to increase their emotional resilience to protect their well-being and enhance the quality of their professional practice, but there is little evidence-based guidance on how this might be achieved. This study evaluated a multi-modal intervention that aimed to improve emotional resilience and well-being in newly qualified social workers from children’s services in England. More specifically, it examined whether the intervention enhanced several personal resources associated with resilience (emotional self-efficacy, reflective ability, self-compassion and compassion satisfaction/fatigue) together with the overall level of mental health. A repeated-measures waitlist-controlled design was utilised. Twenty-five social workers in their first year of qualified practice in children’s statutory services received training over a two-month period. The control group comprised thirty-one early-career social workers also working in statutory children’s services. An online survey obtained data before the intervention and two months afterwards. Evidence was found that the intervention was effective in enhancing some personal resources, as well as psychological well-being more generally. The finding that psychological distress and compassion fatigue increased during the study period for the control group raises some concerns. The potential of the findings to inform sustainable, evidence-based interventions to protect and promote well-being in early-career social workers is discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
resilience, social workers, stress, wellbeing, intervention, newly qualified social workers, childrens social care, surveys;
Working with children, young people and their families can be stressful. This briefing providing strategic leads and managers with organisational approaches and personal competencies that can support emotional resilience in frontline staff. It introduces a systemic model of resilience, where resilience practitioners are supported by effective national policies and organisational initiatives
(Edited publisher abstract)
Working with children, young people and their families can be stressful. This briefing providing strategic leads and managers with organisational approaches and personal competencies that can support emotional resilience in frontline staff. It introduces a systemic model of resilience, where resilience practitioners are supported by effective national policies and organisational initiatives. It also highlights ways in which emotional resilience and wellbeing can be developed at both organisational and individual levels using carefully-targeted interventions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
organisational culture, stress, resilience, staff, social workers, child protection, systems approach, policy, wellbeing, childrens social care;
Social Work Education (The International Journal), 31(5), 2012, pp.605-621.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
...more emotionally intelligent, who were more socially confident and reflective, and whose reflective abilities were more developed, tended to be more resilient to stress. The findings suggest that social work training should focus more explicitly on developing these skills. The paper also outlines an intervention for social work trainees based on the findings of the research. The ‘Wellbeing Days’ were
It is widely recognised that social work is a complex and emotionally demanding occupation. Social workers need to develop the resilience required to protect their own wellbeing and provide high quality care to service users. This paper argues that building resilience in the future workforce should be a key element of social work education. A study was conducted to identify the emotional and social competencies that underpin resilience in trainee social workers, and the extent to which resilience is related to psychological wellbeing. A sample of 240 undergraduate social work students completed a range of online questionnaires. The competencies examined were emotional intelligence, reflective ability, empathy and social competence. The findings revealed that social work students who were more emotionally intelligent, who were more socially confident and reflective, and whose reflective abilities were more developed, tended to be more resilient to stress. The findings suggest that social work training should focus more explicitly on developing these skills. The paper also outlines an intervention for social work trainees based on the findings of the research. The ‘Wellbeing Days’ were designed to raise awareness of the importance of resilience and self-knowledge more generally. Also considered are the ways in which the social work curriculum might be developed to enhance these qualities.
Subject terms:
resilience, social work education, stress, student social workers, wellbeing, curriculum development, emotions, empathy;