An evaluation of the Professional Support Service for Social Workers in Northern Ireland
Jim Campbell, UCD Emeritus Professor of Social Work (Principle Investigator)
with
Carolyn Blair, Post Doctoral Researcher, Queens University Belfast and Rachel Leonard, Post Doctoral Researcher, Queens University Belfast
Summary
This evaluation was commissioned by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, Northern Ireland. It was designed to explore the experiences of those participating in the Northern Irish BASW Professional Support Service (PSS) over the period of delivery from April 2022 to September 2023. A mixed methods design was utilised to examine explore participants’ experiences of the service. The findings indicate that social workers were experiencing several practice related issues, including perceived loss of professional identity and skills, and high levels caseloads and work stress. The service, which involved coaching methods, appeared to enable social workers to continue in their professional role and reconnected to skills and values, but there were some organisational impediments, particularly a lack of promotion of the service, which tended to limited its effectiveness.
For more information please email (opens in a new window)Jim.Campbell@ucd.ie