COVID-19 Impact on Children’s Social Work Practice and Social Worker Well-being: A Mixed Methods Study from Northern Ireland and Great Britain during 2020–2022

Paula McFadden, Jana Ross, Justin Maclochlainn, J. Mallett, Susan McGrory, Denise Currie, Heike Schroder, Patricia Nicholl, Jermaine Ravalier, Jill Manthorpe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
49 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Social workers were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined the wellbeing, burnout and work conditions of UK children’s social workers at five time points of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study analysing data from 1,621 social workers who worked in children’s services in the UK in 2020-2022. Data were collected using anonymous online surveys which included both quantitative and qualitative questions. The mental wellbeing of participants decreased as the pandemic progressed and work-related burnout increased. In the later stages of the pandemic, children’s social workers in Northern Ireland fared better than their Great Britain counterparts in relation to their wellbeing and levels of burnout. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed four major themes: Changes in service demand and referrals, Adapted ways of working, Staff shortages, and Emotional impact. The findings highlight the challenges that the children’s social workers encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberbcad220
Pages (from-to)1170-1190
Number of pages21
JournalBritish Journal of Social Work
Volume54
Issue number3
Early online date9 Oct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 9 Oct 2023

Keywords

  • COVID- 19
  • Child protection
  • Social work
  • Wellbeing
  • burnout

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