Most social workers fear the pressure of working with limited information resources and inadequate supervision will push them to the brink of burnout, an exclusive Community Care survey has revealed.
Our research, based on responses from 450 practitioners, found:
- Nearly three-quarters (72%) face burnout due to making difficult decisions under stress.
- One in six always make tough decisions under pressure.
- One in 10 “rarely” have access to adequate resources and support to inform practice.
- A third believe their supervision is inadequate.
Although 80% of social workers said access to trusted information was essential to their work, almost three-quarters said proper resources and support were available only part of the time.
Our exposure of poor working environments, conducted jointly with Community Care Inform, the online information service for children and families professionals, comes after Lord Laming’s review of child protection warned that practitioners were working under “immense” pressure.
Read more
Support shortfall leaves staff on brink of burnout
A quarter of social workers have no weekly supervision
Social workers lack access to reliable data to inform decisions
In depth: Poor supervision continues to hinder child protection practice
Blog: Social workers unsupported as they reach breaking point
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