Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental healthsocial workers in England and Wales

BackgroundPrevious research suggests that social workers experience high levels ofstress and burnout but most remain committed to their work.AimsTo examine the prevalence of stress and burnout, and job satisfactionamong mental health social workers (MHSWs) and the factors responsiblefor this.MethodA postal survey incorporating the General Health Questionnaire, MaslachBurnout Inventory, Karasek Job Content Questionnaire and a jobsatisfaction measure was sent to 610 MHSWs in England and Wales.ResultsEligible respondents (n=237) reported high levels ofstress and emotional exhaustion and low levels of job satisfaction; 111(47%) showed significant symptomatology and distress, which is twice thelevel reported by similar surveys of psychiatrists. Feeling undervaluedat work, excessive job demands, limited latitude in decision-making, andunhappiness about the place of MHSWs in modern services contributed tothe poor job satisfaction and most aspects of burnout. Those who hadapproved social worker status had greater dissatisfaction.ConclusionsStress may exacerbate recruitment and retention problems. Employers mustrecognise the demands placed upon MHSWs and value their contribution tomental health services.