Understanding the experience of professionals of their work with children who suffered child abuse

Abstract

The aim of this research is to identify the factors that social workers encounter when working with child abuse cases, especially since they have the potential of causing them harm on a professional and personal level. A lot of research has been conducted on the impact of child abuse on children’s physical and psychological development and wellbeing, with less emphasis placed on how social workers working as front liners with child abuse are impacted professionally and personally. The researcher interviewed eight social workers who used to work within the child protection services for not more than five years, using in-depth semi structured interviews. Their experiences were shared through Thematic Analysis. The findings revealed that the three major factors which impacted the social workers professionally were; burnout, secondary trauma stress and vicarious trauma. Moreover, threats and violence, the social worker’s relationship with their families and overprotection were the three significant variables that impacted the social workers personally. Supervision and therapy were highlighted as tools that helped them overcome burnout, secondary trauma and other affects which they experienced. On the other hand, participants also mentioned positive aspects such as gaining new skills and feeling satisfied when working in child protection. Furthermore, it was revealed that it is common for newly graduate social workers to enter the child protection service and feel unprepared to listen to the traumas of children and deal with the impact this has on them due to their lack of experience. It was concluded that despite the fact that working in child protection service is challenging and exhausting, social workers identified with having had a positive experience which yet they described as impacting them in both positive and negative aspects. Based on the findings, social work students must be taught about ways in which they can handle the difficult experiences they encounter. Furthermore, the researcher also identified factors that child protection social workers feel add support and motivation within this sector.