A Study of Compassion and Job Satisfaction among Erie County 's Child Protective Services Caseworkers: Vicarious Trauma, Coping, Supervisory Style, Bureaucratic Structure, and Safety
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College
Abstract
When high profile child fatalities with previous Erie County Child Protection Services (CPS)
involvement generated considerable negative media commentary questioning the competency of
CPS, there was concern over the mental well-being of CPS caseworkers. Furthermore, a key
problem to be resolved was the high turnover of CPS caseworkers, which is both a budgetary
drain on the County due to the training costs involved with new caseworkers, but also deprives
the Department of Social Services of experienced family and child welfare personnel. This study
seeks to understand factors negatively affecting the CPS caseworkers. Previous research indicate
that human service workers exposed to traumatic events can experience a reduction in
compassion satisfaction and an increase in vicarious trauma and burnout. Government human
services administration tends to be organized under the traditional public administration model of
a rigid hierarchy in authority and decision making with tight supervisory structures and little
opportunity (or encouragement) of opinions from front-line workers, which also can reduce CPS
worker job satisfaction. Other potentially negative factors identified in the literature include
perceptions of safety, the workplace environment, and supervisory styles. This study of Erie
County CPS caseworkers utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods research design in order
to analyze compassion satisfaction, burnout, and vicarious trauma (ProQOL instrument) and
workplace safety and environment, organizational structure, and supervisory styles (focus
groups). A single sample t-test conducted on the ProQOL results revealed that Compassion
Satisfaction among the respondents was statistically significant (lower than the population mean)
while Vicarious Trauma and Burnout were not statistically significant from the population mean.
The qualitative phase (focus groups with CPS workers) uncovered significant dissatisfaction
among CPS workers with respect to organizational factors, supervisory styles, and safety and
environment. This study found that CPS was organized according to the traditional (hierarchical)
public administration model in which CPS caseworkers were not empowered to have a voice
within their agency and were not invited to participate in the policy-making process.
Furthermore, it was found that CPS supervisors and front line staff were not trained in Trauma
Informed Care practices. Thus, it was concluded that counterproductive organizational practices
within Erie County have produced negative outcomes for the workers and may be a greater
source of caseworker turnover than either the nature of the job itself or the recent negative
perceptions of Erie County’s CPS division.
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
child protection workers, vicarious trauma, supervision, coping, research
Citation
Rochelle, S. L. (2015). A Study of Compassion and Job Satisfaction among Erie County's Child Protective Services Caseworkers: Vicarious Trauma, Coping, Supervisory Style, Bureaucratic Structure, and Safety. Buffalo, NY: State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College.