Social Work Now: Burnout will persist unless we put the 'social' back into social work

Impossible caseloads and limited support cause many to burn out: emotionally exhausted, demoralised and defeated. It's a depressing situation given that forming relationships is the stock-in-trade of social work with children and families. This month's main feature examines some of the causes and the techniques that organisations can deploy to support those on the frontline to cope. Social workers need to have space for critical reflection of their cases but they also need managers and supervisors who themselves have the space and time to support them in their work. Unfortunately, that seems all too rare. Much of the problem lies in the present system. The burdensome volume of procedures, guidance and targets has created a culture of compliance and managerialism at the expense of relationships and practice. Previous reforms of the system have put so much emphasis on technical solutions and processes and undervalued the emotional dimensions of social work practice and the skills that are vital to engage families. Professor Eileen Munro's (delayed) final report for the government on child protection in England promises to be a watershed moment. Let us hope that it puts the "social" back firmly at the centre of social work.