9. WORKER WELLBEING The Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) team strives for continuous improvement and the delivery of highquality services. All practitioners undertake regular clinical, peer and external supervision and membership of a relevant professional association is a requirement of all workers. Practitioners ensure they are updated about the latest research through conferences and regular professional development. The overall wellbeing and mental health of workers is prioritised.
75. Worker wellbeing is valued and encouraged. This is a complex area of work, and it is in the best interests of all clients that workers can sustain themselves in this work in a healthy and balanced way. We know that workers’ longevity is impacted by conditions in the workplace135. If workers feel valued and have a voice in their workplace, they are less likely to experience the consequences of this complex work136. This is particularly the case in relation to experiences of vicarious trauma. Research has highlighted the importance of organisations providing a positive and supportive work environment and culture for staff to prevent worker stress, burnout and vicarious trauma137.
Professional workers should be autonomous over their calendar management and have the ability to structure their days to meet client complexity and their individual needs139. 77. Multiple opportunities for reflection are provided to all workers. Regular supervision, including internal, external, peer based, individual and team; regular case review meetings; and training and professional development opportunities are prioritised to ensure worker health and development. The provision of multiple opportunities for workers to reflect and process their work is essential to worker wellbeing140.
Workers will ideally have a balance between the different levels of work including individual counselling, group work, community education, etc and are able to rotate through these to gain additional skills and to reduce the incidence of burnout138.
At times, debriefing should be provided to assist workers to process particularly challenging situations. This should include both formal and informal opportunities to process challenging work with colleagues and supervisors.
76. Workers are supported through a culture of flexibility, autonomy and participation.
78. Worker authenticity is fostered.
The organisation has a responsibility to treat workers as professionals and allow them the autonomy to do their job, with appropriate support being provided. This may include: • • •
Flexible working hours according to personal need and circumstance where possible. Encouragement to take mental health days when needed. The fostering of peer support.
To work effectively with clients, workers must be authentic and genuine in their approach. The same standards apply to collegial relationships where workers are encouraged to express their authentic selves in a variety of ways such as the way they dress, expressing their unique personalities and diverse interests and incorporating them in their work (such as yoga teaching, art, and music), and celebrating the strengths and existing skills of workers, including lived experience.
Cohen, K., & Collens, P. (2013) ‘The Impact of Trauma Work on Trauma Workers: A metasynthesis of vicarious trauma and vicarious post traumatic growth’, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 5:6, 570-580. 136 Iliffe, G., & Steed, L. G. (2000) ‘Exploring the Counselor’s Experience of Working with Perpetrators and Survivors of Domestic Violence’, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 393– 412. 137 Cohen, K., & Collens, P. (2013) ‘The Impact of Trauma Work on Trauma Workers: A metasynthesis of vicarious trauma and vicarious post traumatic growth’, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 5:6, 570-580; Harrison, R. L., & Westwood, M. J. (2009) ‘Preventing vicarious traumatisation of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices’. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46, 203–219; Rourke, M. T. (2007) ‘Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Palliative Care Providers’. Paediatric Clinics of North America, 54, 631–644; Saakvitne, K. W. & Pearlman, L. A. (1996) Transforming the Pain: A workbook on vicarious traumatisation, W.W. Norton & Company: New York. 138 Benatar, M. (2000) ‘A qualitative study of the effect of a history of childhood sexual abuse on therapists who treat survivors of sexual abuse’, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 1, 9–28; Harrison, R. L., & Westwood, M. J. (2009) ‘Preventing vicarious traumatisation of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices’. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46, 203–219; Saakvitne, K. W. & Pearlman, L. A. (1996) Transforming the Pain: A workbook on vicarious traumatisation, W.W. Norton & Company: New York. 139 Harrison, R. L., & Westwood, M. J. (2009) ‘Preventing vicarious traumatisation of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices’. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46, 203–219. 140 Iliffe, G., & Steed, L. G. (2000) ‘Exploring the Counselor’s Experience of Working with Perpetrators and Survivors of Domestic Violence’, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 393– 412; Smith, A.J.M. et al. (2007) ‘How Therapists Cope with Clients’ Traumatic Experiences. Torture, 17, 203–215. 135
Eating Disorders Queensland
39
