In this assignment, you analyze the organization in Tyrone’s case study to determine macro-level factors influencing social worker resilience—both positively and negatively. You then consider strategies to advocate for change.
Submit a 3- to 4-page p**** in which you:
- Explain the extent to which the organization contributes to unrealistic expectations. What are the expectations of the agency that support resilience or perpetuate burnout in social workers?
- Analyze the wider impact of the organization’s culture and practices. What implications are there for the larger community if social workers are not showing up as their best selves at this workplace?
- Explain how you would advocate for the organization to be supportive of social workers’ health and resilience.
Organization:
Berkshire Community Health (BCH) is a comprehensive healthcare facility serving western Massachusetts. BCH’s central campus consists of emergency services; specialty medical units, including a leading oncology department; a behavioral health therapy unit; and a social work team. Social workers are integrated throughout the facility to support behavioral health and interdisciplinary care.
The social work team is supervised by Janell Morris, who is empathetic and supportive. Janell communicates effectively and encourages team-building through regular check-in meetings. The team is close and compassionate with one another. However, social workers often experience conflict with other collegial relationships beyond the team. As they are embedded within various units in the facility, they must work in interprofessional collaboration with other disciplines. Overall, social workers are devalued outside of the social work team.
Recently, BCH rolled out a public relations campaign in which they declared the organization to be “trauma-informed.” However, no organization-wide policies or procedures have been implemented that reflect trauma-informed principles, nor were social workers consulted in the development of the campaign.
To support the health and wellness of staff, the organization has an employee assistance program that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The organization also offers premier health insurance for full-time employees. Full-time constitutes working at least 36 hours a week.