UK Social Worker Burnout and Coping during the First Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic: UK Social worker burnout and coping during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged human service professionals, including social workers. During the pandemic, social workers continued their practices, but developed new ways of working and adaptation to rapid changes at home and work. Social workers assisted with both short and long-term responses to COVID-19, focusing on the needs of vulnerable and marginalised populations. A UK study by McFadden and colleagues explored the impact on social worker wellbeing and coping across different periods starting in 2020. Their surveys revealed that, despite increased pressures and a change in practice, social workers mostly continued to work creatively, using online platforms and adaptive risk management approaches to ensure those most at risk of harm were ‘seen’ or ‘heard’. However, these efforts took a toll on their wellbeing with burnout reported to be high in relation to personal and work life. This chapter discusses findings from this research, focusing on the impact of working during the pandemic on wellbeing when burnout co-exists, whilst simultaneously exploring ‘how’ social workers cope with crises, which may be useful learning for the future.