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Overview

Standard 4: Wellbeing

Wellbeing

This standard calls for social work organisations to create a positive workplace culture. The wellbeing of social workers is essential and supports social workers to meet their statutory duties to children and families. Social worker wellbeing includes:

  • their comfort, health, happiness and a sense of purpose
  • an environment that values self-care 
  • recognising the emotional demands of social work
  • encouraging a culture of ongoing learning and development 
  • communicating a clear mission and vision 

To promote employee wellbeing you should value and respect diverse backgrounds in order to: 

  • apply preventative measures for safety, with systems for reporting issues 
  • encourage open communication without fear 
  • use evidence-based strategies to reduce risks throughout careers 
  • promote a culture that reduces mental health stigma and encourages wellbeing
  • support self-care, resilience, work-life balance, and responsible technology use 

The Employer standards ask employers to: 

  • recognise the emotional demands of social work and its effect on wellbeing 
  • assess risks to practitioners’ wellbeing and address them proactively 
  • provide work-based systems, resources, and tools to support wellbeing 
  • commit to improving workplace relationships
  • create a positive, inclusive culture for social workers from all backgrounds 

The yearly health check surveys practitioners on their views about how the organisation manages their wellbeing. This provides employers with useful evidence of how well they may be meeting the standards. Employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment, as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

Assessing and managing risks to mental and physical health

Given the potential for violence in social work, aggression and harassment should not be seen as just part of the job. Practitioners deserve a secure workplace and risk assessments help mitigate this. Employers should ensure the wellbeing of remote and lone workers by addressing risks like poor posture, inadequate seating, isolation, and work-life balance. 

Wellbeing-focused supervision in adult social care

As a senior leader or principal social worker in adult care you need to ensure that supervisors follow the post-qualifying standard. You should follow the Knowledge and skills statement for adult social care. This statement requires wellbeing-focused supervision for social workers. 

Promoting wellbeing in child and family social work

In children and families social work, it’s important for senior leaders and principal social workers to follow the Knowledge and skills statements. Supporting wellbeing is crucial for social workers providing good services to children and families.

This standard is designed to improve the wellbeing of social workers by creating supportive, effective workplaces that:

  • improve job satisfaction and retention outcomes 
  • reduce costs and prevent stress and burnout 
  • support those facing challenges with high-quality resources that address stress and facilitate change 
  • equip practitioners with proven interventions to manage demands at all levels 
  • promote a positive environment where leaders participate in wellbeing strategies that model compassion, emotional literacy, and healthy behaviours 
  • ensure wellbeing interventions are co-designed with employees to meet diverse needs, increasing engagement and commitment 
  • focus on employee wellbeing professional skill improvement to build organisational resilience 

Read the full details of Employment standard 4: Wellbeing on the Local Government Association website.

References

Health and Safety Executive. (2022). Work-related ill health and injury statistics in Great Britain.

Kalliath, P., Hughes, M., & Newcombe, P. (2012). When work and family are in conflict: Impact on psychological strain experienced by social workers in Australia. Australian Social Work, 65(3), 355-371.  

Kinman, G., & McDowall, A. (2014). The work-home interface: Building effective boundaries. In L. Grant & G. Kinman (Eds.), Developing resilience for social work practice (pp. 33-53). Bloomsbury Publishing. 

McFadden, P. (2015). Measuring burnout among UK social workers. Community Care.

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The resources have been developed by Research in Practice in collaboration with DfE.
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024