Let’s face it self-care isn’t just about exercising, eating healthily and getting enough sleep. While important, these elements only scratch the surface of what supporting health and wellbeing is all about.
Maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health is vital for everyone, but it’s particularly important for those working in caring professions, like social workers, who are often called upon to be resilient.
Developing mindfulness, accessing support and selfcare practice is essential for preventing professional burnout for social workers.
Does there need to be a cultural change in the social work profession? Many in practice are used to getting into hero mode to help other people, but the question is are they looking after themselves. There are several ways they can do this, and interventions and supports available to ensure they can take care of themselves so they can take care of others.
Want to hear more? In this episode Dr Wendy Austin MBE sits down with Dr Alan Maddock, Lecturer, Dept of Health Psychology, School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Jeananne Jackson, Senior Social Worker, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Carolyn Ewart, National Director, BASW NI and Janine Gordon, Divisional Social Worker, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
They explore issues relevant to social workers, including wellbeing, burnout, selfcare and resilience interventions as prevention. Listen to hear practical advice and evidence-based strategies about how mentoring, coaching and mindfulness can make a difference.
Remember it’s okay not to feel okay. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Talking about her experiences Janine says taking care of yourself is so important as a social worker and things like coaching can help.
“It is about investing time in yourself. One of the lines advertising for the professional coaching sessions would be – it’s about supporting you, as we support others’ and that is so important because if we do not look after ourselves and we aren’t investing in ourselves, we aren’t in the best place to be helping others.”
The Social Care Council releases a new episode every fortnight, discussing current topics about social care and social work regulation in Northern Ireland. Download, subscribe and listen to the latest Social Care Council ‘Care to chat?’ podcast episode today here, or by searching ‘Care to chat’ in your podcast player.
Episode 7: Wellbeing and support for social workers – Taking care of yourself, to take care of others – (41 minutes)
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As the Care to chat podcasts are designed with the social care and social work workforce in mind, we would like to invite suggestions of topics that our listeners would be interested to hear covered. If you have questions, suggestions or feedback about the podcast, email: comms@niscc.hscni.net.