The distress of social workers in centres for social work and NGOs in the fields of mental health, violence and addiction is addressed. Sources of occupational stress for staff arise from the underdevelopment of the service network, the lack of support and accommodation services and programmes in the field of social care, ineffec- tive municipal and state housing policies, staffing norms and shortages, and changes in the health care system. Employees face ethical dilemmas, role conflicts and a constant sense of powerlessness, as providing support and improving quality of life are the missions of social work and if this cannot be put into practice, the conse- quences manifest themselves in ongoing stress, burnout and secondary traumatisation of professionals. Most users of social care have multiple traumatic experiences, which, in inadequate working conditions, can have a negative impact on the mental health and quality of work of social work practitioners. Social work is identified as a deficit profession in Slovenia, and social policy as well as employers should be concerned with improving the quality of working environment in this field.
|
