| Abstract: | Correspondence to Martin Smith (Emergency Duty Team), The Katharine Knapp House, Stretton Close, Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks, HP10 8EW, UK. Summary Recognizing the current concern relating to social workers facingdistressing experiences, a qualitative research investigationwas undertaken which asked workers of grade 3 or above withina social services department to recall one distressing experienceencountered in their working life. Each was asked to describethe experience and recount the immediate and longer term impactsof the experience. They were then asked to evaluate what hadbeen helpful and unhelpful in their attempts to deal with, andprocess, the experience. Finally, they were asked what organizationalstructures they thought should be in place to help workers affectedby distressing experiences. Both qualitative and quantitative evidence is presented. Anunexpected repercussion of the study was that the interviewerwas asked to share the findings with his employer's DivisionalManagement Team who expressed interest in making appropriateprovision for staff care. |
