The Influence of Competencies and Work Environment on the Performance of Social Care Workers

Abstract Introduction. The organizational structure of the National Emergency Medical system ensures the health of citizens. Unfortunately, patients present dangerous behaviors, thereby damaging the safety of workers during medical emergencies. Aggression and violence, in spite of the widespread perception of it as a negative phenomenon undermining the individual’s health, is an indispensable part of everyday life and work environment. Aim. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of acts of aggression that led to violence, and the types of occurrence of this phenomenon, which influenced the staff of the National Emergency Medical system. Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2015/2016 among the employees of the National Emergency Medical system in Lublin, Puławy and Zamość; the research tool was a questionnaire survey. Results. On the basis of the conducted research, it can be concluded that the employees of the National Emergency Medical system are, to a large extent, exposed to acts of aggression on the part of patients. Almost all the employees of the Accident & Emergency Units (98.2%) and almost all the employees of the Medical Rescue Teams (98.3%) encountered aggression from the patients. Conclusion. There observed a phenomenon of aggression as well as verbal and physical violence on the part of patients towards health care workers. Alcohol and drugs increased both verbal and physical aggression among patients. Employees of the National Emergency Medical system have indicated aggression as an intrinsic element in the work environment.

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Workplace Violence in Social Care Settings: Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Staff

DBS Business Review ◽

10.22375/dbr.v3i0.62 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Dowling ◽

Prakashini Banka

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Stress ◽

Workplace Violence ◽

Social Care ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Demographic Questionnaire ◽

Care Workers ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Quantitative Correlational Study

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between frequency of exposure to physical violence/aggression and traumatic stress and burnout in social care workers (SCWs). One hundred SCWs were surveyed using non-experimental, cross-sectional, quantitative correlational study design with three questionnaires: Demographic Questionnaire, Revised Impact of Events Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Responses were analysed using SPSS quantitative software and utilised descriptive statistics, and non-parametric correlational tests. Results indicated statistically significant positive relationships between the frequency of exposure to physical aggression/violence and traumatic stress and burnout measures. Results also indicated significant positive correlations between traumatic stress and burnout. Furthermore, exposure to workplace violence/aggression, traumatic stress, and burnout also positively correlated with SCWs desire to leave the profession in the next five years. Finally, results indicated a significant relationship between frequency of self-care and levels of traumatic stress and burnout subscales in SCWs.)

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Young People’s Voice: The First Visiting Advocacy Project in Italian Residential Care for Children

Socialinė teorija empirija politika ir praktika ◽

10.15388/stepp.2017.15.10808 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (15) ◽

pp. 44

Author(s):

Valentina Calcaterra ◽

Maria Luisa Raineri

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Residential Care ◽

Child Protection ◽

Social Care ◽

Looked After Children ◽

Care Workers ◽

Children’S Homes ◽

Set Up ◽

Listening Process

This article presents the research of the project Giving Young People a Voice: Advocacy in Children’s Homes, set up as a result of the interest of a nonprofit organization working with looked-after children, with an aim to improve advocacy as a listening process and to promote the participation of children that reside in children’s homes. The research focused on the implementation of a visiting advocacy project and the activities carried out by an independent advocate working in children’s homes. The children’s evaluation of the project was collected by two focus groups; interviews were conducted with social care workers and the manager of the organization. This research deals with the implementation of the first visiting advocacy project in the context of the Italian child protection system.

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An insight into the work of sexual assault referral centres and the role of the forensic nurse examiner

British Journal of Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjon.2021.30.22.1296 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (22) ◽

pp. 1296-1302

Author(s):

Helen Hand-Oades

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Social Care ◽

Criminal Offence ◽

Healthcare Staff ◽

Referral Centre ◽

Know How ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Insight Into

It is more likely than ever that healthcare staff of all grades and in all settings will encounter cases of sexual assault, so it is crucial that they know how to respond appropriately to support survivors. Health and social care workers engage with clients in a range of situations, which means that they are well placed for such disclosure. In some cases, particularly if the assault is a recent incident, time is of the essence to ensure that there is no loss of evidence that could be crucial in gaining a conviction. This article explores the role of a sexual assault referral centre (SARC), a service that few people know about or think they will ever need. The type of sexual activity that constitutes a criminal offence will be discussed and information presented that offers direction for those who want to involve the police, and for those who do not. Links to a range of organisations are also included that survivors of recent or historic sexual assault can access for support and advice.

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Supporting people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2021.32.2.65 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 65-68

Author(s):

Linda Nazarko

Keyword(s):

Primary Care Practice ◽

Social Care ◽

Practice Nurse ◽

Informal Support ◽

Care Practice ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health And Social Care

People with dementia have experienced great disruption to their lives due to the pandemic. Linda Nazarko highlights the way individuals have been affected and how the practice nurse can support them People with dementia and their caregivers have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation, a reduction in formal and informal support, and disruption to routine have contributed to feelings of loneliness and anxiety in people with dementia and their caregivers. The pandemic has led to staff shortages in health and social care, changes of care workers and a reduction in the level of support provided. These changes have affected the physical and mental health of people with dementia and increased their reliance on primary care. Practice nurses have a key role to play in supporting affected individuals.

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ENACT Study: What has helped health and social care workers maintain their mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Adaptive coping, team resilience, help-seeking behaviour and work based supports

10.31234/osf.io/su45w ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Nicola Cogan ◽

Chloe Kennedy ◽

Zoe Beck ◽

Lisa McInnes ◽

Gillian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Online Survey ◽

Social Care ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Team Resilience ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health And Social Care

Rapid studies have highlighted the adverse mental health impact of COVID-19 on health and social care workers (HSCWs). Complementing this work, we report on the psychosocial factors that have helped HSCWs adapt to the adversities associated with COVID-19 and protect staff wellbeing in Scotland. The ENACT study collected data from HSCWs (n= 1364) in Scotland during the third national lockdown. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed an online survey providing quantitative data and free responses. A multi-method approach to analysis was used. The majority of HSCWs were found to have low wellbeing scores, high levels of COVID-19 stress, worry, burnout and risk perception scores and almost half of HSCWs met the clinical cut off for acute stress. Adaptive coping strategies and increased perceived team resilience helped mitigate against the adverse impact that COVID-19 stressors have on HSCWs’ mental wellbeing. HSCWs were significantly more likely to seek informal support for dealing with personal or emotional problems. Barriers to formal help-seeking were identified including stigma and fears of consequence of disclosure. HSCWs most valued peer support, workplace supports, visible leadership and teamwork. Our findings illuminate the complexity of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HSCWs’ wellbeing and will inform future intervention development to increase positive adaptation amongst staff. Addressing barriers to mental health help-seeking among HSCWs is essential. The implications emphasise the importance of lessons learned across health and social care contexts, planning and preparedness for future pandemics.

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‘You couldn’t have a heart and want to strike’: Mobilising workers in England’s social care sector

Capital & Class ◽

10.1177/03098168211054803 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030981682110548

Author(s):

Grace J. Whitfield

Keyword(s):

Social Care ◽

State Funding ◽

Care Provision ◽

Collective Identities ◽

Private Providers ◽

Care Workers ◽

Insight Into ◽

Care Company

This article uses John Kelly’s mobilisation framework, with its foundational concept of injustice, to explore workers’ propensity towards unionism in England’s outsourced social care sector. Drawing on 60 interviews with union organisers and officers, care workers, support workers and care company managers, this research highlights the difficulties of union organising in the sector and explores theorisations of mobilising. The research contends that for mobilisation theory to provide insight into relationships between work and unionism, varieties of injustice and collectivism need to be contextualised. Paid care provision generates both employment-related injustices and care-related injustices, which lead to divergent collective identities and attitudes towards unions. An absence of a coherent entity for workers to attach blame to – within a context where private providers frequently remain reliant on state funding levels – affects whether injustice and collectivism progress to mobilisation and unionisation.

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