@article{f5da8da943ac427980b1c71dbbf389e1,
title = "COVID-19 Impact on Children{\textquoteright}s Social Work Practice and Social Worker Well-being: A Mixed Methods Study from Northern Ireland and Great Britain during 2020–2022",
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{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}s social workers encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research.",
keywords = "COVID- 19, Child protection, Social work, Wellbeing, burnout",
author = "Paula McFadden and Jana Ross and Justin Maclochlainn and J. Mallett and Susan McGrory and Denise Currie and Heike Schroder and Patricia Nicholl and Jermaine Ravalier and Jill Manthorpe",
year = "2023",
month = oct,
day = "9",
doi = "10.1093/bjsw/bcad220",
language = "English",
volume = "54",
pages = "1170--1190",
journal = "British Journal of Social Work",
issn = "0045-3102",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
number = "3",
}