Violence against child protection workers: A study of workers’ experiences, attributions, and coping strategies

Workplace verbal abuse, nurse‐reported quality of care and patient safety outcomes among early‐career hospital nurses

“…Other physical responses, including sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and headaches, can also result from verbal abuse (del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes et al, 2020). Additionally, verbal abuse has been linked to negative organisational outcomes including loss of staff productivity, reduced morale, absenteeism and increased employee turnover intention (Anjum, Ming, Siddiqi, & Rasool, 2018;Lamothe et al, 2018).…”

Culture of Safety: Using Policy to Address Traumatic Stress Among the Child Welfare Workforce

“…Job-related trauma can impact not only individual service providers but also the services they provide (Cornille & Meyers, 1999; Hunt et al, 2016; Robson et al, 2014). For instance, Lamothe et al (2018), after interviewing 30 child protection workers, reported “that some [CWWs], most of them residential workers, admitted how the fear of violence sometimes prevented them from being emotionally available for the children under their care” (p. 315). The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has also suggested that “client care can be compromised” when providers experience STS (NCTSN, Secondary Traumatic Stress Committee, 2011, p. 2).…”

“…Child welfare workers (CWWs) in particular are disproportionately exposed to verbal and physical acts of violence due to their unique role and responsibilities (Newhill & Wexler, 1997; Shin, 2011). Such experiences may occur firsthand , such as physical and verbal violence or aggression from clients (Cornille & Meyers, 1999; Hunt et al, 2016; Newhill & Wexler, 1997; Robson et al, 2014; Rochelle & Buonanno, 2018), and home visits in unsafe neighborhoods or unsafe homes (Lamothe et al, 2018; Newhill & Wexler, 1997). These experiences can also occur secondhand , such as knowledge of violence or threats experienced by coworkers (Middleton & Potter, 2015; Newhill & Wexler, 1997), or exposure to stories and observations of clients’ suffering (Bride, 2007; Cornille & Meyers, 1999; Middleton & Potter, 2015).…”

Living resiliently: The voices of a group of child protection social workers in South Africa

“…The role and duties of CPSWs involve the investigation of child maltreatment, the removal of some children from their caregivers, and initiating and finalising court inquiries (Bosman‐Sadie et al., 2013; Burns, O’Mahony, Shore, & Parkes, 2018; McFadden et al, 2019). Research highlights the challenging role of CPSWs in a work setting characterised by risks including, but not limited to : excessive workloads, resulting in burnout (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012; Ellett, Ellis, Westbrook, & Dews, 2007; McFadden, Mallet, & Leiter, 2017; Schiller, 2017; Truter & Fouché, 2019); exposure to hostile clients resulting in increased fear and anxiety, poor service delivery, increased sick leave, and high retention rates (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012; Lamothe et al., 2018; Littlechild, 2005; Truter & Fouché, 2019; Truter, Theron, & Fouché, 2018); and a lack of funding and resources, leading to lower retention rates and inefficient service delivery (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012; Haight, Sugrue, & Calhoun, 2017; Munro, 1996; Schiller, 2017; Truter & Fouché, 2019; Truter et al., 2018). Poor service delivery could lead to an increase in child abuse, possibly resulting in a burdened economy since victims may be less productive and dependant on public health and justice services (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012; Bhana & Haffejee, 1996; Fang, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012).…”

“…delivery, increased sick leave, and high retention rates (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012;Lamothe et al, 2018;Littlechild, 2005;Truter & Fouché, 2019;Truter, Theron, & Fouché, 2018); and a lack of funding and resources, leading to lower retention rates and inefficient service delivery (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012;Haight, Sugrue, & Calhoun, 2017;Munro, 1996;Schiller, 2017;Truter & Fouché, 2019;Truter et al, 2018). Poor service delivery could lead to an increase in child abuse, possibly resulting in a burdened economy since victims may be less productive and dependant on public health and justice services (Alpaslan & Shenck, 2012;Bhana & Haffejee, 1996;Fang, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012).…”