Social Care Workers Research Articles

Changes in Psychological Distress in Five Groups of Welfare State Service Workers over a Nine-Year Period.

Health and social care workers are exposed to varying degrees of stress in their work, which may be reflected in their trajectories of psychological distress during the education program and the first years in the job. The aim of this study was to add to the knowledge concerned with the long-term development of psychological distress in five groups of welfare state service workers in Norway. The study included 1612 individuals. Psychological distress was measured with General Health Questionnaire-12 at four occasions from the start of the education program to 6 years post-graduation (nine year follow-up period). Results of linear mixed models (LMM) for repeated measures showed that psychological distress changed significantly over time in the social work professional groups. At the start of the education program, the lowest and highest levels of psychological distress were found among the child welfare and social workers, respectively. Six years post-graduation, social workers had become less distressed and child welfare workers had become more distressed. No significant change pattern for psychological distress was found among any of the health care professional groups.

Employment Inequalities Among British Minority Ethnic Workers in Health and Social Care at the Time of Covid-19: A Rapid Review of the Literature

There are long-standing concerns of inequalities in the workplace among minority ethnic (ME) workers in the UK health and social care (H&SC) sectors. ME workers contribute significantly to H&SC delivery. However, there is considerable evidence of substantial negative experiences among this group across various workplace indicators and outcomes, including (mis)treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities with higher infection rates and related deaths among ME health and care workers. A rapid review methodology was employed to examine the work experiences and outcomes of ME workers in H&SC in the UK, focusing on low paid workers. The review identified fifty-one relevant outputs, detailing the nature and extent of inequalities across recruitment, career progression and treatment at work, including bullying and harassment. The findings highlight the impact of the intersectionality of gender, race and migration status concerning the ways inequalities are manifested and operated through individual perceptions and institutional and structural racism.

African American Family Caregivers Share How they Prepared for the Death of an Older Adult with Dementia: A Pilot Study of Hospice Care in A Nursing Home

The focus of this pilot study was to ascertain how bereaved African American caregivers prepared for the death of an older family member who died from a dementia-related diagnosis and the role of hospice care; an area with little research to date. Because African American older adults in the United States are at greater risk than Caucasian older adults for dementia-related health problems though less likely to be diagnosed, treated, or to enroll in hospice services, this exploratory study asked questions of the family caregivers’ experiences in preparing for the death. Purposive criterion sampling was used to identify six African American bereaved caregivers whose family member lived in a nursing home (five who were enrolled in hospice services) who were extensively interviewed, with the use of conventional content analysis of the transcripts to identify the findings. Because of the limited sample size, themes identified were considered preliminary and may help guide ongoing and further research. Five primary themes revealed ways caregivers prepared: accepting reality; “I just kind of knew;” person with dementia “was ready;” “spending time;” and, getting your “business in order.” All caregivers believed it was important to be prepared for the death, with the five who received hospice services reporting that they were prepared. Further research is needed to explore these preliminary findings of African American caregivers of family members with dementia at end-of-life to further inform social work and hospice team care.

Time for and timing in social work with vulnerable families: responding to needs in neoliberal times

ABSTRACT In Denmark, neoliberalism has translated into an intensified focus on economic productivity and cost-effectiveness. The notion is that it should be possible to create more and better welfare for the same or less resources. Innovation focuses on how to gain and win time despite having less time to do social work and on the potentiality of fostering individual change more effectively. The research question in this article is: In the context of current governmental focus on economic productivity and cost-effectiveness, what is the time for care in social work with vulnerable children and their families and how does this connect to the attention to needs and the timing of care? The article is part of a three year Danish research project involving ethnographic field studies closely following and observing how social workers practice and reflect on the forms and possibilities for care across statutory social casework, home based counselling and family treatment. Findings show that social workers’ knowledge and skills are employed in, rather than eliminated from, the governance of vulnerable families and that a governmental emphasis on economic considerations and cost-effectiveness affects the timing of care and weighs heavily when social workers interpret, prioritise, and respond to needs.

The wounded helper: moral injury contributes to depression and anxiety among Israeli health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic can affect the mental health of health and social care workers (HSCWs) who are frontline workers in this crisis. The pandemic poses unique challenges to HSCWs as they face morally daunting decisions while working with limited knowledge and resources. This study examined the relationships between exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and depression and anxiety among HSCWs. Method A sample of 243 Israeli HSCWs completed validated self-report questionnaires that include measures of depression, anxiety, exposure to PMIEs, perceived stress, and moral injury symptoms. Results About one-third (33.6%) of the sample met the criteria for major depressive disorder, 21.5% met the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, and 19.1% reported comorbidity of depression and anxiety. Beyond demographic, COVID-19, and work-related characteristics, PMIEs contributed to depression and anxiety among HSCWs. The integrative model indicated the mediating role of perceived stress and moral injury symptoms in the associations of PMIEs with depression and anxiety. Conclusions The study’s findings highlight HSCWs’ mental burden during the COVID-19 pandemic and the important contribution of exposure to PMIEs to this burden. Clinicians treating HSCWs coping with depression and anxiety following the COVID-19 should also attend to moral injury symptoms.

An Exploratory Study on Mental Health and Burnout in Social Care Workers of an Emergency Shelter for Homeless Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of the current research is trying to fill in the gap that exists in regard with the lack of knowledge about the psychological status of social care professionals who worked in an emergency social service for homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study measured work sastisfaction, burnout, fatigue, depression, and anxiety symptoms in a sample of 44 Spanish social care professionals who worked in the IFEMA Pabellón 14 Social Emergency Centre for Homeless People in Madrid, Spain. The study was carried out in four measurement moments (between April and May), and results showed that, overall, workers displayed good levels of psychological adaptation to their workplace during the two months and a half that the emergency centre was running, in spite of all the uncertainty and risks existing throughout that time.

COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours among health and social care workers in the UK: A mixed-methods study

The UK began delivering its COVID-19 vaccination programme on 8 December 2020, with health and social care workers (H&SCWs) given high priority for vaccination. Despite well-documented occupational exposure risks, however, there is evidence of lower uptake among some H&SCW groups. We used a mixed-methods approach-involving an online cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews-to gain insight into COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours amongst H&SCWs in the UK by socio-demographic and employment variables. 1917 people were surveyed- 1656 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 261 social care workers (SCWs). Twenty participants were interviewed. Workplace factors contributed to vaccination access and uptake. SCWs were more likely to not be offered COVID-19 vaccination than HCWs (OR:1.453, 95%CI: 1.244-1.696). SCWs specifically reported uncertainties around how to access COVID-19 vaccination. Participants who indicated stronger agreement with the statement 'I would recommend my organisation as a place to work' were more likely to have been offered COVID-19 vaccination (OR:1.285, 95%CI: 1.056-1.563). Those who agreed more strongly with the statement 'I feel/felt under pressure from my employer to get a COVID-19 vaccine' were more likely to have declined vaccination (OR:1.751, 95%CI: 1.271-2.413). Interviewees that experienced employer pressure to get vaccinated felt this exacerbated their vaccine concerns and increased distrust. In comparison to White British and White Irish participants, Black African and Mixed Black African participants were more likely to not be offered (OR:2.011, 95%CI: 1.026-3.943) and more likely to have declined COVID-19 vaccination (OR:5.550, 95%CI: 2.294-13.428). Reasons for declining vaccination among Black African participants included distrust in COVID-19 vaccination, healthcare providers, and policymakers. H&SCW employers are in a pivotal position to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination access, by ensuring staff are aware of how to get vaccinated and promoting a workplace environment in which vaccination decisions are informed and voluntary.

Comparing the mental health trajectories of four different types of keyworkers with non-keyworkers: 12-month follow-up observational study of 21 874 adults in England during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundThere are concerns that keyworkers may be at a greater risk for psychological distress than non-keyworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little research has included keyworkers outside of the healthcare sector or has disaggregated keyworkers into different subgroups.AimsTo examine longitudinal changes in mental health over 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic comparing four different groups of keyworkers with non-keyworkers.MethodLongitudinal data were from 21 874 adults living in England (21 March 2020 to 22 February 2021). Latent growth modelling was utilised to compare growth trajectories of depressive and anxiety symptoms in non-keyworkers and four types of keyworkers: (a) health and social care workers, (b) teachers and child care workers, (c) public service workers, and (d) essential services keyworkers (such as food chain or utility workers).ResultsWhen accounting for both time-invariant and time-varying covariates, keyworkers in the essential services category had consistently higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms than non-keyworkers across the whole of the study period. There was little difference in the mental health trajectories between health/social care, teachers/child care and public service worker categories and non-keyworkers.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the risk for poorer mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic varies within the broad category of keyworkers generally, and that those working in utility, food chain and transport roles are especially at risk. Future research should focus on identifying which aspects of working conditions may be contributing to occupational stress in these groups.

Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce.

Many health and social care (HSC) professionals have faced overwhelming pressures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As the current situation is constantly changing, and some restrictions across the UK countries such as social distancing and mask wearing in this period (May-July 2021) began to ease, it is important to examine how this workforce has been affected and how employers can help rebuild their services. The aim of this study was to compare cross-sectional data collected from the HSC workforce in the UK at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic: Phase 1 (May-July 2020), Phase 2 (November 2020-January 2021) and Phase 3 (May-July 2021). Respondents surveyed across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) consisted of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, social care workers and social workers. Wellbeing and work-related quality of life significantly declined from Phase 1 to 3 (p < 0.001); however, no significant difference occurred between Phases 2 and 3 (p > 0.05). Respondents increasingly used negative coping strategies between Phase 1 (May-July 2020) and Phase 3 (May-July 2021), suggesting that the HSC workforce has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. These results have the potential to inform HSC employers' policies, practices, and interventions as the workforce continues to respond to the COVID-19 virus and its legacy.

Characteristics of COVID-19 infection clusters occurring among workers in several Asia-Pacific countries.

The types of workplaces and occupations with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) clusters vary between countries and periods. We aimed to characterize major occupational groups with mass outbreaks of COVID-19 infections in several Asia-Pacific countries. Data on the major occupations or workplaces reporting COVID-19 cases in workplaces from January 2020 to July 2021 was collected from industrial hygiene professionals in nine countries. The proportion of workers accounted for 39.1 to 56.6% of the population in each country. The number of workers covered in the national statistics varies among nations based on their definition of a worker. None of the countries examined here have systematically collected occupational data on COVID-19 illnesses and deaths classified by type of industry, occupation, or job. Most countries experienced COVID-19 clusters among health and social care workers (HSCW) in hospitals or long-term care facilities. The types of occupations or workplaces with virus clusters in some participating countries included prisons, call centers, workplaces employing immigrants, garment facilities, grocery stores, and the military, which differed among countries, except for a few common occupations such as HSCW and those populated by immigrants. Further study is necessary in order to seek ways to control infection risks, including revisions to industrial-health-related laws.

Navigating the clinician-researcher role in health social work: Reflections from practice

This Voices from Practice article shares reflections of two social workers on our dual-role experiences when conducting qualitative health research as trained clinicians. Reflections and considerations are shared for health care social work research trainees to prepare for and navigate the integration of the clinician-researcher role in social work.

COVID-19 Vaccination Should not be Mandatory for Health and Social Care Workers

A COVID-19 vaccine mandate is being introduced for health and social care workers in England, and those refusing to comply will either be redeployed or have their employment terminated. We argue that COVID-19 vaccination should not be mandatory for these workers for several reasons. First, it ignores their genuine concerns, and fails to respect their moral integrity and bodily autonomy. Second, it risks causing psychological reactance, potentially worsening vaccine hesitancy. Third, Black and minority ethnic workers are less likely to have been vaccinated and therefore may be disproportionately impacted by the implications of the mandate. Fourth, a mandate could have a significant negative effect on service provision. Fifth, waning immunity and new variants mean that booster doses are increasingly likely to be regularly required, meaning that what constitutes being ‘fully vaccinated’ will be a constantly shifting target. Finally, vaccine mandates may have an adverse effect on health and social care recruitment. We argue that daily rapid antigen testing is a viable alternative to a vaccine mandate that is non-coercive and fair. This could also be supplemented by monetary incentives to be vaccinated.

A call for a new perspective in social work and health care: the developmental-clinical social work perspective. COVID-19 pandemic through the human rights perspective

ABSTRACT Human rights are essential in shaping the pandemic response both for the public health emergency and the broader impact on people’s well-being. Utilizing the human rights lenses, this article expatiates on a developmental-clinical social work approach to the COVID-19 pandemic response. The disquisition explores human rights to health, education, adequate food and nutrition, water and sanitation, and development. It conducts projections and a cost–benefit analysis of remedial and developmental focus on health. The paper emphasizes that it is criminal to deprive human beings of their entitlements. The paper argues that socio-economic inequalities deprive people of their human rights. To this end, it calls for the equal distribution of wealth to end poverty and ultimately address human rights concerns. It advances for the integration of health in all policies. The article calls for the social work profession and other helping professions to rethink of their priorities in the enhancement of people’s welfare: either to be an agent of social control or an agent of social change. Social work should face the socio-economic inequalities head-on if it is to truly reflect its professional philosophy of social justice.

Supplemental Material for Moral Injury, PTSD, and Complex PTSD Among Israeli Health and Social Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Self-Criticism

Supplemental Material for Moral Injury, PTSD, and Complex PTSD Among Israeli Health and Social Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Self-Criticism

Treating the Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patient with Compassion

Delivering high-quality care services is essential in the support and treatment of the unvaccinated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient. The need to show compassion to the patient has been preserved within the codes of conduct for health and social care professionals and a fundamental value in the National Health Service (NHS) constitution. This article highlights the place and necessity of compassion when health and social care workers are caring for the unvaccinated COVID-19 patient.

The Multifactorial Background of Helping Professionals’ Vital Exhaustion and Subjective Well-Being During the First Wave of COVID-19 in Hungary: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Vital exhaustion and the well-being of helping professionals are important issues regarding the sustainability of services, especially in a critical situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate helping professionals’ vital exhaustion and well-being, concerning different groups of background variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In the spring of 2020, Hungarian helping professionals (N = 931) were contacted with an online questionnaire. Results: Our results show that indicators of physical well-being are strongly associated with vital exhaustion and subjective well-being (sleeping quality (χ2 (2) = 251.062, p < .001); frequency of meals (χ2 (2) = 99.454, p < .001)). Health and social care workers were more exhausted than members of other helping professions (χ2(4) =37.782, p < .001). There were statistically significant negative correlations between the Vital exhaustion and Well-being Score and satisfaction with work conditions (rs(929) = -.418, p < .001), satisfaction with family life (rs(806) = -.342, p < .001) and its change (rs(807) = -.287, p < .001), family-work balance (rs(675) = -.444, p < .001) and its change (rs(786) = -.515, p < .001). In the prediction of the Vital Exhaustion and the Well-being Score, the addition of physical well-being indicators to the regression model led to the strongest increase in R2 of .344, p < .001. Conclusion: A clear and consensual framework for life and work provides security amid unpredictable external changes.

The mental health of NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: two-wave Scottish cohort study.

Health and social care workers (HSCWs) are at risk of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes (e.g. higher levels of anxiety and depression) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This can have a detrimental effect on quality of care, the national response to the pandemic and its aftermath. A longitudinal design provided follow-up evidence on the mental health (changes in prevalence of disease over time) of NHS staff working at a remote health board in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigated the determinants of mental health outcomes over time. A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted from July to September 2020. Participants self-reported levels of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) and mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale) at baseline and 1.5 months later. The analytic sample of 169 participants, working in community (43%) and hospital (44%) settings, reported substantial levels of depression and anxiety, and low mental well-being at baseline (depression, 30.8%; anxiety, 20.1%; well-being, 31.9%). Although mental health remained mostly constant over time, the proportion of participants meeting the threshold for anxiety increased to 27.2% at follow-up. Multivariable modelling indicated that working with, and disruption because of, COVID-19 were associated with adverse mental health changes over time. HSCWs working in a remote area with low COVID-19 prevalence reported substantial levels of anxiety and depression, similar to those working in areas with high COVID-19 prevalence. Efforts to support HSCW mental health must remain a priority, and should minimise the adverse effects of working with, and disruption caused by, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Violence against Female Domestic Workers in Kuwait

This study aims to examine the types and severity of violence and abuse encountered by female domestic workers in Kuwait. Methodologically, the study employed a quantitative approach. This study found that in terms of ethnicity and origin, Philippine and Sri-Lankan females dominated the social care and domestic workers sector in Kuwait. The statistical analysis showed that 82 % encountered physical abuse; 45%, sexual abuse; 88 %, psychological abuse; and 70 %, battering abuse. The paper recommends changes to Kuwaiti criminal laws to include proper prosecution of those who abuse domestic workers. It also recommends the implementation of proper protective mechanisms for these female workers.

A Study on the Role of Social Health Care Workers during COVID Times in Madhurawada Village of Visakhapatnam District

On the off chance that patients have gentle side effects, they are urged to remain at home with close observing. In the event that conceivable, assessment by means of telehealth ought to be facilitated to diminish the gamble of likely openness to different patients and staff. Numerous foundations have likewise settled screening facilities that are isolated from other clinical regions to lessen the gamble of openness to asymptomatic patients with malignant growth who are looking for care. With an end goal to incorporate guardian support during patient visits and medicines, phone or video correspondence with parental figures ought to be obliged. Disease focus strategies can be imparted to patients and guests through letters and messages, and during telephone screening to set suitable assumptions. The present paper is aimed at the role of social health care worker duty of COVID people in Madhurawada village of Visakhapatnam district.

Research concerning the Care Planning by Care Managers in Home-Based Community Care Support Centers of Japan

Frailty among older adults is common, especially those who have undergone breast cancer treatment; however, we do not know how frailty among this group presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to examine self-reported frailty among older breast cancer survivors (BCS) during the pandemic. This IRB-approved study recruited BCS who were at least 1-year post-treatment and 60 years of age or older, via online advertisements (e.g., Dr. Susan Love Foundation). BCS completed demographic and Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) RedCap questionnaires from 11/2020 to 05/2021. The TFI, is a 15-item measure with 3 sub-scales with published cut points indicating frailty: total (5), physical (3), psychological (2), and social (2). Descriptive statistics were used. Older BCS (n=203) who were on average 65.5 (SD=4.7) years of age, white (93.6%; n=190) and had stage II breast cancer at diagnosis (39.9%; n=81) participated. The average total (M=5.4, SD=2.5) and physical (M=3.2, SD=1.5) frailty scores were above the threshold for frailty. Overall, 58.6% (n=119) and 63.1% (n=128) scored at or above the threshold on the total and physical sub-scales, respectively. In addition,78.8% (n=160) responded that they ‘missed having people around’ on the social frailty sub-scale. Research has shown that higher TFI scores (more frailty) are associated with increased healthcare utilization, poorer quality of life, and even mortality. Thus, frailty among older BCS is an important health concern within the context of the pandemic. Further research is needed to understand the lasting effects of self-reported frailty for BCS including COVID-19 survivors.