Due to the at times very traumatic cases that Social Workers deal with on a daily basis, should they receive counselling without having to formally request it. Are Social Workers suffering from post truamatic stress syndrome wich is going unnoticed and undiagnosed. The police officers who entered the family home of the children who were found starving were given counselling due to their distress. Is the same standard of care given to Social Workers on the frontline? 

Hi Lins,

I think that automatic counselling as you suggest would be unhelpful. We tried that after the Hillsborough disaster and as I understand it the incidence of PTSD was much higher than expected. I'm afraid I've no reference to back this up but I do remember attending a lecture on it once.

Many people will just deal with their traumas if we leave them alone to get on with it. Throwing counselling or other 'talking therapies' at people who don't need it can actually get in the way of that. People get over stuff on their own if we let them.

To give people counselling when they haven't asked for it might be repeating the same mistakes and ultimately make things worse. Having said that I do think that it ought to be available for those who want it.

FWIW

Stuart

 There has been some research published recently, which I mentioned in my blog, suggesting it's not always better to talk about things after a collective trauma 

I know my husband did not recieve counselling after Gulf War 1/Kosovo/Bosnia/Somalia- don't know if a man thing, or personality type, but he just doesn't discuss it.  And I respect that.  However, if his feelings or thoughts would ever change, then I would like to think counselling would be available freely and quickly- same for anyone in horrific front line protection work of any kind.

During my time at CC I've interviewed - often face to face - a lot of social workers and social care staff working with clients who've told them about their very traumatic experiences (e.g. asylum seekers who have fled rape and torture). It's always struck me social care professionals may find it hard hearing about such things and may need support. Hopefully this is what their supervision sessions are about, a dedicated time when they can share any worries or problems with their manager.

 If they are too distressed by what their clients are telling them does it mean they don't have enough professional distance to do their job properly?

Are we not all vulnerable to such problems precisely because we are doing our jobs properly?

We must have compasssion and the ability to empathise surely. That leaves us open to being overwhelmed from time to time but it's better than not feeling isn't it?

Maybe people need to step back and 'regroup' from time to time but I don't think that's the same as not doing their job properly. It's just part of the process isn't it?

''Maybe people need to step back and 'regroup' from time to time''

This describes exactly what is often needed, but there is never time to do just that. Furthermore it is often seen as a weakness.

In my opinion, the more experienced one gets, the more one recognises the need to take a step back in order to come forward from a fresh objective standpoint.

Unfortunately the newly qualified/inexperienced workers are often left to drown and then blamed for mistakes they make.

 Don't most local authorities and NHS Trusts have access to confidential counselling services? 

I haven't worked in many but the places I have all had as a part of general employee benefits, access to external counselling services which was provided free to staff and close family members - for any range of personal or professional issues and without the knowledge of anyone within the employing organisation.. 

Maybe that's too broad an assumption that I made but I know it's always been available to me. 

Hi Stuart

I wasnt talking about throwing counselling at peopl or in this case workers. What I was attemptiung to do is open up a debate on the issue of offering this service more freely than having to be referred by managers and the stigma that goes with it including the fact that it may or may not depoending on the authority show up on your personal file. The notion to some people of going to counselling to talk about how they are coping with some very horrendous cases which they take home in the minds each night may be useful depenedant on the individaul and should not in my opinion be dismised. We work with trauma everyday to different degrees and that trauma must surely go somewhere. Over a long period of time this must effect workers or we wouldnt get some mush burn out.

However, I agree with Simone2 in the fact that it is not always helpful and in some cases it has been suggested that it has caused more harm than good. But wouldnt it be nice to have an option.  

Stuart Sorensen:

Are we not all vulnerable to such problems precisely because we are doing our jobs properly?

We must have compasssion and the ability to empathise surely. That leaves us open to being overwhelmed from time to time but it's better than not feeling isn't it?

Maybe people need to step back and 'regroup' from time to time but I don't think that's the same as not doing their job properly. It's just part of the process isn't it?

Hello Stuart,

The key word on my sentence was "...too distressed...", meaning that of course social workers and social care staff are going to find some of what they hear from their clients distressing (they are human afterall), but when it becomes too debilitating for them to deal with is when they may have crossed a professional line??

 I know when I have interviewed for features some service users who've told me about their traumatic experiences I've found it upsetting, however I have never shown this distress to them as I didn't want to influence what they were saying. Afterwards I've just processed it and been grateful they were brave enough to share their stories with me. I am lucky that hearing this sort of thing is not part of job day in, day out, as it may be for some social workers.

Ah, OK.

I think I see the confusion. I hadn't realised that support services were only available of formally requested by the managers. So really you're talking about direct access if people want it. In that case I absolutely agree that it should be available.

I'd interpreted your original post as basically saying people should have counselling whether they want it or not. I'd assumed that access would be there upon request anyway.

Ho hum.

Cheers,

Stuart

The agency workers dont have access to in house support.  its best to pay someone to assist and not allow details to be noted on your medical records- maybe its me but I dont want anyone in the NHS to write anything about me- the way the GSCC are ready to stake you to the cross should there be a need to find someone to blame, they sure dont see the bigger picture in my view. I dont tell anyone in SW anything about how I am feeling, I pay a therapist who is there for me and just me- is not worrying about protecting the "Local Authority"- but willing to understand the stress and difficulty of the job in hand.Yes I have supervision, but I talk about the cases/ clients- let the manager tell me what she wants me to do- agree with what she saying, unless its illegal. If the Local Authority want me to do their bidding, then my mortgage needs to be paid. Before anyone gets on their high horse about my comments- when you have been in a challenging position ie: possibly cant pay your mortgage, your prorities change.

I see. As a nurse working either for the NHS or for voluntary sector organisations I've always had access to staff support (including counselling) if needed.

I realise that your concerns about confidentiality with 'in-house' services would prohibit some people using the service but the notion of there being no provision for those who want it seems very odd to me.

"I'd rather you than me" as they say.

Cheers,

Stuart

I do think there is a need for counselling to be an option for Social Workers. Why should we have to pay for 'treatment' when our job is playing with our emotional well-being. Counselling has its own place aside from supervision. There may be some things said in supervisions that managers could consider a capabilities issue unless counselling is accessed, eg, if you were assaulted and then found it difficult to practise with violent people.