Realistic workloads and ongoing emotional support are essential if social workers are to manage stress and perform their job effectively, says a study by British researchers.
Involving 209 child and family social workers across eight local authorities in Britain, the study by University of East Anglia's Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF) examined the relationship between emotional intelligence - the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others, stress, burnout and social work practice.
"The study confirmed that social work is an emotionally demanding profession, suggesting that particular attention should be given by social work employers to the workplace environment and social worker support," said Laura Biggart, lecturer in social science research and psychology.
The researchers recommend that if social workers are to be most effective, it is essential that they have realistic workloads and good administrative support and that the demands for more recording and regulation should come with provision of sufficient resources.
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