Health and wellbeing support for social workers

UNDER pressure social work staff are being given extra support to try and avoid burnout on the job.

The health and wellbeing of the frontline workforce is being given special attention amid increases in staff going off sick due to the stress of huge caseloads, writes Marc McLean.

Mental health awareness training and compassion fatigue training has been delivered to 178 employees, while eight wellbeing cafes have been set up across the region, focusing on different themes around wellbeing, self-care, and managing stress.

These actions have already been taken by Dumfries and Galloway Council, however more is planned for later this year.

A report for councillors explains that the following measures are planned for September this year: “Develop access to good quality, supportive, trauma-informed counselling for frontline children and families staff. Training for managers on recognising and supporting work-based stress. Evaluate current programme of work.”

It is hoped that the work being done will also reduce average sickness days and kickstart an increase in return-to-work interviews

Meanwhile, there are also plans to re-introduce the provision of buddy systems in December, to ensure all staff have someone to talk to if they are experiencing stress and mental health difficulties.

Social workers supporting vulnerable children and families in Dumfries and Galloway have caseloads that are three times higher than they should be, a report revealed last year.

Staff work with more than 1200 children in total, and more and more complex cases have emerged in the aftermath of the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Meanwhile, the service regularly operates at two thirds of capacity – because of staff vacancies and workers off with stress.