Stress Free Social Work

In this modern society we all need to be encouraged to make significant changes in how we manage and deal with stress, to raise the profile of the effects of stress and offer each other information and advice on how this might be done.

As a Social Worker I believe workers need a chance to feel powerful, relaxed and nurtured by participating and having access to the appropriate facilities which would aid stress management and relief.

Unfortunately there is an astonishing disillusionment in the profession as well as a sense of helplessness.

The pressures and demands of being a Social Care Professional can at times be intolerable and relentless. Professionals have to become involved in peoples lives and this can be scary and daunting. We often feel unsupported and overwhelmed by the nature and enormity of our tasks. Some are blamed and scapegoated, others feel powerless compared to others in our own or other professions.

The almost probable certain future of the continuation of this is that workers will

1. Get more and more frustrated about the lack of positive outcomes from their hard work
2. Continue to take on blame for cases that go wrong.
3. Leave the professions due to limited job satisfaction
4. Less people will join the professions
5. Vulnerable people will not get their needs met adequately
6. Our society will loose some of the most dedicated workers that we have.

Key things which are required to counteract this poor outlook:

Caring Professionals need to have rewarding opportunities to breathe and be nurtured in a caring environment. This would promote and protect the physical and mental health of those who require is so that they can continue to meet the needs of dependent and vulnerable people in their care and in the community.

Celebration and support for Social Workers carrying out their roles in the communities is crucial. By celebrating the role of Social Workers we would acknowledge their importance in our communities and organisations.

The Education and training to workers and employers on strategies to deal successfully with the effects of stress by raising awareness, offering advice and information is underdeveloped and must evolve as it is in other professions.

Retention of Social Workers and Foster Carers, qualified and unqualified workers, paid and unpaid workers in the communities will be a by- product.

Helping those facing difficult circumstances to deal with stress will actively counteract the feeling of disaffection and demoralisation in front line Caring professions.

We can then engender a positive impact on new people joining or considering joining the profession so that they receive a positive recommendation that Social Care Workers, Social Workers and Foster Carers are looked after, valued and supported.

Gradle Gardner Martin is the founder of Stress Free Caring In The City Limited, Elevate Training and Development and The Elevate Wellbeing Foundation. Gradle is a qualified Trainer and Author practicing for over twenty years in the field of Wellbeing.