Date of Award

8-2008

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department

Social Work

Supervisor

Donna Baines

Language

English

Abstract

The job of a frontline child protection worker is highly demanding and very emotional. Issues of job-related stress have become an inevitable part of child welfare practice. The majority of research that attempts to understand the stress experienced by child protection workers perpetuates a larger held belief that places the responsibility of managing stress upon the individual worker. This body of research also offers micro-level strategies for alleviating the stress experienced by workers.

This research project sets out to understand the issue from a broader perspective and to consider socio-economic factors as central to the critical analysis. The purpose of this research project is to engage in conversations with frontline child protection workers in order to build a sense of the context in which these workers experience job-related stress. A contextual framework is missing from most of the research that has attempted to understand the experience of job-related stress of frontline child protection workers.

The two themes that connected all the research participants was the degree to which their agencies acknowledged stress as an issue and the strength of supportive networks within their work environments. From the responses of the workers it was apparent that their work environments do not necessarily provide a safe haven for them to acknowledge the emotional impact of their job and to simply think about the work they do. The author suggests that further research that challenges the structure of broader systemic issues will be the best path to begin developing strategies to alleviate the stress experienced by child protection workers and to retain experienced, educated and dedicated workers who are committed to ensuring the safety of children.

McMaster University Library


Download

Included in

Social Work Commons

Share

COinS