Professional Social Work, February 2013, pp.20-21.
Publisher:
British Association of Social Workers
The author reflects on her 18 years as a qualified social worker and provides some advice on how to survive the stress of the profession. She looks at how she coped with high case loads and over bureaucratic systems whilst working as a child protection officer and also in a Community Mental Health Team. Her advice is summarised into seven top tips to help keep social workers focused
The author reflects on her 18 years as a qualified social worker and provides some advice on how to survive the stress of the profession. She looks at how she coped with high case loads and over bureaucratic systems whilst working as a child protection officer and also in a Community Mental Health Team. Her advice is summarised into seven top tips to help keep social workers focused in their profession. Other experienced social workers also provide advice.
Subject terms:
professional role, social workers, stress, workload;
Administration in Social Work, 36(5), November 2012, pp.457-478.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The numbers of social workers in Turkey is quite insufficient to meet the needs. Therefore, social workers are likely to face intense workloads and be at risk of experiencing burnout syndrome. The purpose of this study is to examine main effects of workload, role ambiguity, and social support on social workers' burnout in Turkey. A questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected members of the Association of Social Workers in Turkey, and 222 completed responses were returned. The results revealed that workload might predict emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation sub-dimensions of burnout, but not personal accomplishment. Role ambiguity was positively related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and negatively related to personal accomplishment. In other words, when social workers experience greater role ambiguity, they tend to experience higher levels of burnout. Social support from supervisor decreased emotional exhaustion and increased personal accomplishment, but had no direct effect on depersonalisation of social workers.
The numbers of social workers in Turkey is quite insufficient to meet the needs. Therefore, social workers are likely to face intense workloads and be at risk of experiencing burnout syndrome. The purpose of this study is to examine main effects of workload, role ambiguity, and social support on social workers' burnout in Turkey. A questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected members of the Association of Social Workers in Turkey, and 222 completed responses were returned. The results revealed that workload might predict emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation sub-dimensions of burnout, but not personal accomplishment. Role ambiguity was positively related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and negatively related to personal accomplishment. In other words, when social workers experience greater role ambiguity, they tend to experience higher levels of burnout. Social support from supervisor decreased emotional exhaustion and increased personal accomplishment, but had no direct effect on depersonalisation of social workers.
Subject terms:
social workers, stress, staff supervision, workload;
Taking on excessive work can lead to burnout and poor service. The ability of social workers to be able to turn down unreasonable work requests is discussed.
Taking on excessive work can lead to burnout and poor service. The ability of social workers to be able to turn down unreasonable work requests is discussed.
For some social workers high caseloads and lack of cover make planning holidays very stressful. The importance of taking leave entitlements and providing adequate cover for social workers in order to meet the needs of vulnerable service users is discussed.
For some social workers high caseloads and lack of cover make planning holidays very stressful. The importance of taking leave entitlements and providing adequate cover for social workers in order to meet the needs of vulnerable service users is discussed.
Addiction Counselling World, 8(46), May 1997, pp.14-15.
Publisher:
Addiction Recovery Foundation
Overwork or "overdoing it" is the only addiction which is rewarded and praised by society - yet it can bring alienation, ill health and death. The author looks at the problem and how to assess whether you are "overdoing it".
Overwork or "overdoing it" is the only addiction which is rewarded and praised by society - yet it can bring alienation, ill health and death. The author looks at the problem and how to assess whether you are "overdoing it".
This research note presents the preliminary findings from a study into the mobilisation of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. Data gathered from 49 semi-structured interviews with representatives from local authorities (LAs), voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and mutual aid coordinators offer important insights into the state of the sector at this critical juncture, as we find ourselves in a third national lockdown. The role of the VCS in both strategic responses and on-the-ground community action has accorded it renewed respect and credibility. At the same time, the funding landscape for voluntary organisations is uncertain, demand for services is overwhelming, and staff and volunteers are suffering from fatigue. Our findings highlight the imperative of embedding the lessons of the first national lockdown in 2020 by valuing the sector’s contribution to the emergency effort and retaining its seat at the table, ensuring its role in economic and social recovery.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This research note presents the preliminary findings from a study into the mobilisation of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. Data gathered from 49 semi-structured interviews with representatives from local authorities (LAs), voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and mutual aid coordinators offer important insights into the state of the sector at this critical juncture, as we find ourselves in a third national lockdown. The role of the VCS in both strategic responses and on-the-ground community action has accorded it renewed respect and credibility. At the same time, the funding landscape for voluntary organisations is uncertain, demand for services is overwhelming, and staff and volunteers are suffering from fatigue. Our findings highlight the imperative of embedding the lessons of the first national lockdown in 2020 by valuing the sector’s contribution to the emergency effort and retaining its seat at the table, ensuring its role in economic and social recovery.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Mental Health, 30(4), 2021, pp.431-439.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
London
...and compassion satisfaction, and how these in turn relate to staff recovery attitudes. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 132 CMHT staff, utilising the Areas of Worklife Scale, Professional Quality of Life Scale and Recovery Knowledge Inventory. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed negative associations between “Workload” congruence and Secondary Traumatic Stress (p = 0.001). Low congruence
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) staff are vulnerable to burnout and compassion fatigue, which has implications for service-user care and recovery outlook. Burnout itself is increased when professionals perceive there is low congruence between themselves and their job. Aims: The aim of this study is to identify how person-job congruence is associated with compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction, and how these in turn relate to staff recovery attitudes. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 132 CMHT staff, utilising the Areas of Worklife Scale, Professional Quality of Life Scale and Recovery Knowledge Inventory. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed negative associations between “Workload” congruence and Secondary Traumatic Stress (p = 0.001). Low congruence in “Workload” (p = <0.001) “Reward” (p = 0.005) and “Values” (p = 0.005) were associated with increased Burnout. “Workload” congruence was positively associated with Compassion Satisfaction (p = 0.041). Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue were not significantly associated with recovery attitude. Conclusions: Interventions to address Compassion Fatigue are indicated to target: workloads, rewards, and aligning organisational and personal values. Further research is needed to explore predictors of compassion satisfaction and recovery attitude.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
community mental health teams, stress, workload, compassion, recovery;
This study builds on the existing research in the field of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and burnout among social workers. The authors sampled field instructors from a mid-Atlantic school of social work, comparing self-reported burnout scores among social workers on interprofessional teams with those of social workers who do not work on interprofessional teams, and completed a regression analysis of the relationship between burnout and participation in interprofessional teams, perceptions of IPC, and several individual and practice factors. Findings suggest that although members of interprofessional teams reported lower burnout scores, there was no significant relationship between working in an interprofessional team and burnout when controlling for other factors. Although the study provides an interesting first look at burnout among social workers in interprofessional teams, further research with a larger, more representative sample is needed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This study builds on the existing research in the field of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and burnout among social workers. The authors sampled field instructors from a mid-Atlantic school of social work, comparing self-reported burnout scores among social workers on interprofessional teams with those of social workers who do not work on interprofessional teams, and completed a regression analysis of the relationship between burnout and participation in interprofessional teams, perceptions of IPC, and several individual and practice factors. Findings suggest that although members of interprofessional teams reported lower burnout scores, there was no significant relationship between working in an interprofessional team and burnout when controlling for other factors. Although the study provides an interesting first look at burnout among social workers in interprofessional teams, further research with a larger, more representative sample is needed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social workers, workload, stress, interprofessional relations, collaboration;
British Journal of Social Work, 45(7), 2015, pp.2089-2105.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Little is known about social workers' job stress in a comparative sense, and whether job stress might negatively affect their views of clients within the welfare system. This authors examine these issues on the basis of cross-sectional survey data collected from professional social workers in four Nordic countries that have similar welfare systems and where workers engage in similar tasks. Job...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Little is known about social workers' job stress in a comparative sense, and whether job stress might negatively affect their views of clients within the welfare system. This authors examine these issues on the basis of cross-sectional survey data collected from professional social workers in four Nordic countries that have similar welfare systems and where workers engage in similar tasks. Job stress is measured using two indicators: workload and role conflicts. The results indicate frequent problems with job stress in all four countries, although they are especially pronounced in Finland. Social workers with limited work experience, as well as those working within the public sector, suffered the most both from an extensive workload and from role conflicts. The findings also indicate that social workers' attitudes towards clients within the welfare system are to some extent related to their level of job stress.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
stress, social workers, attitudes, workload, service users;
...in isolation but aims to show the reader how to juggle research, work, family, and social life. It is based on interviews with practitioners from health, education, social care, criminal justice, government and the third sector, as well as the author's own experience and contains practical information and tips to save time, effort and stress. Topics discussed include: overview of research; research topics
An increasing number of people working in public services are having to do research over and above their main job. This can take a number of forms including: workplace research, such as evaluation, audit, training needs analysis or satisfaction surveys; or research for a professional development qualification such as diploma, master's degree or PhD. This “how-to” book does not treat research in isolation but aims to show the reader how to juggle research, work, family, and social life. It is based on interviews with practitioners from health, education, social care, criminal justice, government and the third sector, as well as the author's own experience and contains practical information and tips to save time, effort and stress. Topics discussed include: overview of research; research topics, proposals and plans; managing the research process; background research; secondary data; primary data collection; data analysis; writing up; and dissemination. The book concludes with a glossary and list of useful resources.
Subject terms:
research design, research methods, stress, staff development, workload;