Working Conditions and Well-Being across the COVID Pandemic in UK Social (Care) Workers

Author:

Ravalier Jermaine M1ORCID,McFadden Paula2ORCID,Gillen Patricia2,Mallett John2,Nicholl Patricia2,Neill Ruth2ORCID,Manthorpe Jill3ORCID,Moriarty John4ORCID,Schroder Heike4,Curry Denise4

Affiliation:

1. School of Science, Bath Spa University, Newton Park Campus , Newton St Loe , Bath BA29BN, UK

2. School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, University of Ulster , Londonderry, Northern Ireland

3. The Policy Institute at King's College London , London, UK

4. Queen’s University Belfast , Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abstract

Abstract Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, social work and social care practitioners had some the worst working conditions of any sector in the UK. During the pandemic, data revealed that social care occupations had higher COVID infection and mortality rates than the general population. The article reports the changing working conditions (measured via the Work-Related Quality of Life scale) and well-being (measured via the Short Warwich–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale) of UK social care and social workers across three timepoints between May 2020 and July 2021 through an online cross-sectional survey of working conditions and well-being. Analysis of variance demonstrated that both well-being and working conditions were significantly poorer in July 2021 (phase 3 [n = 1,606]) than the previous two phases (n = 2,523 and n = 2,424, respectively), suggesting that both working conditions and well-being worsened within the social care and social work workforce across the pandemic. Furthermore, each of career satisfaction, working conditions, control, general well-being and home–work interface predicted poorer well-being at Time 3. Whilst chronically poor working conditions can lead to poorer individual psychological and physiological health outcomes, our findings highlight continually poor conditions in this sector, with potential further impacts on organisations and the service users that social care workers support. It is therefore important that individuals, organisations and government develop mechanisms to support these critical workers during and following the pandemic.

Funder

HSC R&D Division of the Public Health Agency

Rapid Response Funding Scheme

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

National Institute for Health and Care Research

Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce

Department of Health and Social Care

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Social Sciences (miscellaneous),Health (social science)

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