Rendering trauma-informed services : experiences, challenges and coping strategies of social workers

Abstract

Background of the study: Social workers are confronted with persons’ experiencing extreme levels of trauma in South African communities. Limited research has so far been documented regarding the experiences, challenges and coping strategies of social workers rendering trauma-informed services in South African communities. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences, challenges and coping strategies of social workers rendering trauma-informed social work services in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province. Methods: A qualitative research approach was applied, utilising a phenomenological research design supported by the explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. The ecological systems theory and trauma-informed perspective were the underlining theoretical frameworks. Semi-structured interviews assisted with an interview guide, were used for data collection from a sample of purposively selected social workers employed in the Department of Social Development in Limpopo Province in the Waterberg District. Data analysis was done according the eight steps of Tesch (in Creswell 2014:198) and data verification of collected data was done according to the model of Lincoln and Guba (Lietz & Zayas 2010:443). The study complied with the ethical principles of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, privacy, beneficence and thorough management of information. Results: The social workers concerned encountered positive experiences and negative experiences while rendering trauma-informed services. The positive experiences resulting in feelings of intrinsically reward and self-actualisation served as motivational factor and feelings of work satisfaction. Negative experience included secondary trauma and over-identification with clients (counter-transference) because of rendering trauma-informed services. The social worker’s challenges regarding rendering trauma-informed services included challenges in their work circumstances, wherein social workers felt unsafe and unsupported. They lacked resources, had high caseloads and had to deal with uninformed and uncooperative stakeholders in their work circumstances. The social workers’ challenges also included dealing with resistant clients while rendering services. Coping strategies utilized by the social workers rendering trauma-informed services, included seeking counselling and joining the employment assistance programmes, getting support from supervisors and others, self-care strategies, their religion, engaging in different constructive activities and destructive activities. The social workers made several suggestions to improve internal organisational structures with regards to rendering trauma-informed services. These included suggestions that the Department of Social Development should provide support and debriefing services to social workers, development of multi-disciplinary teams, suggestion for staff training and ensuring a safe workplace in the organisations.