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| Heavy workloads, too few staff: social care workers say stress is inevitable | Heavy workloads, too few staff: social care workers say stress is inevitable |
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| “Exhausted all the time, irritable, snappy”: that was the impact of work stress on the life of one local government social worker. | “Exhausted all the time, irritable, snappy”: that was the impact of work stress on the life of one local government social worker. |
| It is not an uncommon tale. A Guardian survey of 3,700 people in public services and the voluntary sector has found that stress levels are high, with 93% experiencing some level of stress. | |
| In local government, 999 people took the survey, including many social workers and other social care professionals. It is their comments that tell the story of increasing stress due to fewer resources, increased workloads and reduced staff. One social worker said that “the pressures we are facing at the moment” meant stress was “inevitable”. | In local government, 999 people took the survey, including many social workers and other social care professionals. It is their comments that tell the story of increasing stress due to fewer resources, increased workloads and reduced staff. One social worker said that “the pressures we are facing at the moment” meant stress was “inevitable”. |
| People reported various negative effects of feeling stressed, such as loss of sleep, depression, anxiety and an impact on their relationship with their partner or family. One assistant team manager in a social work team said that in addition to having two periods off work with stress, they rarely were able to eat at work and had “little time or energy for personal interests or regular exercise”. Another local government social worker said they were “just exhausted all of the time, irritable, snappy”. | People reported various negative effects of feeling stressed, such as loss of sleep, depression, anxiety and an impact on their relationship with their partner or family. One assistant team manager in a social work team said that in addition to having two periods off work with stress, they rarely were able to eat at work and had “little time or energy for personal interests or regular exercise”. Another local government social worker said they were “just exhausted all of the time, irritable, snappy”. |
| Many of those who responded acknowledged that their jobs were inherently stressful due to the nature of supporting people in difficult circumstances. But they reported that heavy workloads were exacerbating this. A local government social worker argued that “there are not enough workers to be able to help and support the service users that need it; we are often now dealing with crisis situations only in very stressful circumstances.” One person working in community outreach said: “Supervision, when offered and used to its best purposes, is effective in resolving some, if not all of this stress. It rarely is offered or presented to workers in this way.” | Many of those who responded acknowledged that their jobs were inherently stressful due to the nature of supporting people in difficult circumstances. But they reported that heavy workloads were exacerbating this. A local government social worker argued that “there are not enough workers to be able to help and support the service users that need it; we are often now dealing with crisis situations only in very stressful circumstances.” One person working in community outreach said: “Supervision, when offered and used to its best purposes, is effective in resolving some, if not all of this stress. It rarely is offered or presented to workers in this way.” |
| Harold Bodmer, vice president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “Social work can, at times, beseverely stressful, as individual workers engage with some of the mostvulnerable people in our society at some of the most raw and sensitivemoments in their lives. Stress will never be entirely eradicated from such ahigh profile, demanding task. But it can be ameliorated and assuaged bythoughtful management, sensitive oversight of cases and a sensitiveunderstanding of the pressures colleagues sometimes work under.” | Harold Bodmer, vice president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “Social work can, at times, beseverely stressful, as individual workers engage with some of the mostvulnerable people in our society at some of the most raw and sensitivemoments in their lives. Stress will never be entirely eradicated from such ahigh profile, demanding task. But it can be ameliorated and assuaged bythoughtful management, sensitive oversight of cases and a sensitiveunderstanding of the pressures colleagues sometimes work under.” |
| And 95% of the local government workers surveyed work beyond their contracted hours, putting in an average of seven hours of unpaid overtime each week. Those working in local government were most likely to have spoken to a manager about stress, compared with people in central government, the NHS and charities. However, for nearly a third (31%), nothing was done to address this. | And 95% of the local government workers surveyed work beyond their contracted hours, putting in an average of seven hours of unpaid overtime each week. Those working in local government were most likely to have spoken to a manager about stress, compared with people in central government, the NHS and charities. However, for nearly a third (31%), nothing was done to address this. |
| Social care professionals from other sectors, such as the NHS and charities, also reported high levels of stress. In a representative comment, a safeguarding children practitioner working in an NHS trust said they felt “constant stress from heavy workload. Pressure from managers and clients to cut costs and provide the best service.” And one social worker employed by a quango said they had experienced insomnia, anxiety and depression as a result of work stress: “The phrase ‘doing more with less resources’ is not only an offence against physics, it is the frontline workers who bear this ever-increasing load.” | Social care professionals from other sectors, such as the NHS and charities, also reported high levels of stress. In a representative comment, a safeguarding children practitioner working in an NHS trust said they felt “constant stress from heavy workload. Pressure from managers and clients to cut costs and provide the best service.” And one social worker employed by a quango said they had experienced insomnia, anxiety and depression as a result of work stress: “The phrase ‘doing more with less resources’ is not only an offence against physics, it is the frontline workers who bear this ever-increasing load.” |
| Increased pressure was not just experienced by social workers: one local government occupational therapist said that “there is less money … and yet we are supposed to be assessing and providing a service to an increasing number of people”. And a social care manager said their job was insecure, which was stressful in itself: “Workloads are way too high to be manageable. Add to that perpetual fear of job loss and you have a recipe for stress, depression and anxiety.” | Increased pressure was not just experienced by social workers: one local government occupational therapist said that “there is less money … and yet we are supposed to be assessing and providing a service to an increasing number of people”. And a social care manager said their job was insecure, which was stressful in itself: “Workloads are way too high to be manageable. Add to that perpetual fear of job loss and you have a recipe for stress, depression and anxiety.” |
| Maris Stratulis, England manager at the British Association of Social Workers, said: “We do have reports from members about high stress levels in the workplace, and regardless of the national narrative we are still hearing about high caseloads, the challenges of hot desking, the challenges of court timescales and procedures, covering for colleagues who are sick or absent. And the other thing we are hearing is that first line managers are feeling squeezed from pressures from their own managers as well as from trying to support the staff they manage. | Maris Stratulis, England manager at the British Association of Social Workers, said: “We do have reports from members about high stress levels in the workplace, and regardless of the national narrative we are still hearing about high caseloads, the challenges of hot desking, the challenges of court timescales and procedures, covering for colleagues who are sick or absent. And the other thing we are hearing is that first line managers are feeling squeezed from pressures from their own managers as well as from trying to support the staff they manage. |
| “We also need to acknowledge that social workers have demands outside of work, including childcare, adult caring responsibilities, and that can also take its toll when they have busy work/life demands.” | “We also need to acknowledge that social workers have demands outside of work, including childcare, adult caring responsibilities, and that can also take its toll when they have busy work/life demands.” |
| Related: Government staff suffer longer hours, fewer breaks and increased stress | Related: Government staff suffer longer hours, fewer breaks and increased stress |
| Julia Skelton, director of professional operations at the British Association and College of Occupational Therapists, said: “Work-related stress has a profound impact on our members’ health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists deal with 40% of referrals in social care, and the impact of sourcing equipment from a small budget and finding additional monies to support disabled facilities grant progressing can be demoralising. | Julia Skelton, director of professional operations at the British Association and College of Occupational Therapists, said: “Work-related stress has a profound impact on our members’ health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists deal with 40% of referrals in social care, and the impact of sourcing equipment from a small budget and finding additional monies to support disabled facilities grant progressing can be demoralising. |
| “Equipment and changes to a person’s environment can make such a difference to people’s lives when provided. In addition, occupational therapists are being expected to cope with increasing workloads, whilst at the same time having their pay frozen and pension benefits reduced. It is no surprise that high levels of stress are being reported. Stress is a silent timebomb that the government and employers cannot afford to ignore.” | “Equipment and changes to a person’s environment can make such a difference to people’s lives when provided. In addition, occupational therapists are being expected to cope with increasing workloads, whilst at the same time having their pay frozen and pension benefits reduced. It is no surprise that high levels of stress are being reported. Stress is a silent timebomb that the government and employers cannot afford to ignore.” |
| Society Professionals also want to hear from you. Tell us how you manage your work-life balance on social media with the hashtag #ClockOff and share your stories and photos via Guardian Witness. | Society Professionals also want to hear from you. Tell us how you manage your work-life balance on social media with the hashtag #ClockOff and share your stories and photos via Guardian Witness. |