The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on UK older people’s social workers: A mixed methods study

Justin Maclochlainn; Jill Manthorpe; J. Mallett; Susan Mc Grory; Jermaine Ravalier; Patricia Nicholl; Heike Schroder; Denise Currie; Paula McFadden

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcad139

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on UK older people’s social workers: A mixed methods study

Justin Maclochlainn, Jill Manthorpe, J. Mallett, Susan Mc Grory, Jermaine Ravalier, Patricia Nicholl, Heike Schroder, Denise Currie, Paula McFadden

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

47 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The social work profession was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined the well-being, working conditions and intentions to leave the social work profession among a sample of UK older people’s social workers. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study analysing data from 426 social workers who worked in older people’s services in the UK at five time points of the pandemic spanning 2020–2022. Data were collected using anonymous online surveys which included both quantitative and qualitative questions. The mental well-being of participants decreased as the pandemic progressed and this decline was associated with intentions to leave the profession. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed two major themes: Practice challenges and Staff well-being. The findings highlight the nature of stressors related to internal related practice demands, and external health and social care service stressors encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research in older people’s social work.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3838-3859
Number of pages	22
Journal	The British Journal of Social Work
Volume	53
Issue number	8
Early online date	30 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad139
Publication status	Published online - 30 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Health and Social Care Research Division (HSC R&D Division) of the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland (COVID Rapid Response Funding Scheme COM/5603/20), the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and funding from England’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce-PR-PRU-1217–21002.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).

Funding

Funding Information: This study was funded by the Health and Social Care Research Division (HSC R&D Division) of the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland (COVID Rapid Response Funding Scheme COM/5603/20), the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and funding from England’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce-PR-PRU-1217–21002. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s).

Keywords

COVID-19
Older People's Social Workers
Retention
Wellbeing
Working Conditions
Health (social science)
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1093/bjsw/bcad139

TheCOVID-19Pandemics Impact on UKFinal published version, 704 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "The COVID-19 pandemic{\textquoteright}s impact on UK older people{\textquoteright}s social workers: A mixed methods study",

abstract = "The social work profession was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined the well-being, working conditions and intentions to leave the social work profession among a sample of UK older people{\textquoteright}s social workers. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study analysing data from 426 social workers who worked in older people{\textquoteright}s services in the UK at five time points of the pandemic spanning 2020–2022. Data were collected using anonymous online surveys which included both quantitative and qualitative questions. The mental well-being of participants decreased as the pandemic progressed and this decline was associated with intentions to leave the profession. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed two major themes: Practice challenges and Staff well-being. The findings highlight the nature of stressors related to internal related practice demands, and external health and social care service stressors encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research in older people{\textquoteright}s social work.",

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note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by the Health and Social Care Research Division (HSC R\&D Division) of the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland (COVID Rapid Response Funding Scheme COM/5603/20), the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and funding from England{\textquoteright}s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce-PR-PRU-1217–21002. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s).",

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N2 - The social work profession was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined the well-being, working conditions and intentions to leave the social work profession among a sample of UK older people’s social workers. This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study analysing data from 426 social workers who worked in older people’s services in the UK at five time points of the pandemic spanning 2020–2022. Data were collected using anonymous online surveys which included both quantitative and qualitative questions. The mental well-being of participants decreased as the pandemic progressed and this decline was associated with intentions to leave the profession. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed two major themes: Practice challenges and Staff well-being. The findings highlight the nature of stressors related to internal related practice demands, and external health and social care service stressors encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implications for policy, practice and research in older people’s social work.

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The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on UK older people’s social workers: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Making a Difference:The Symbiotic Value of Workforce Wellbeing Research for Regulators

HSC UK Workforce Wellbeing and Coping (C-19 Study) - Phase 1 to 5

Children’s Social Work Safe Staffing Supply and Workforce Demands Analysis: A Case Study from Northern Ireland

Cite this

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on UK older people’s social workers: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

Making a Difference:The Symbiotic Value of Workforce Wellbeing Research for Regulators

HSC UK Workforce Wellbeing and Coping (C-19 Study) - Phase 1 to 5

Research output

Children’s Social Work Safe Staffing Supply and Workforce Demands Analysis: A Case Study from Northern Ireland

Cite this