Assessing and Preventing Compassion Fatigue

From Agency to Individual

Ontchild/YPRO Resource Day

October 21, 2010

Cathy Sorichetti MSW, RSW,

Rosalie Hall Young Parent Resource Centre

Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMP) is a

coalition of professional representatives from service agencies dedicated to promoting optimal outcomes for infants (prenatal to 36 months) in collaboration with families and other caregivers.

http://www.sickkids.ca/imp/

Best Practice Guidelines

• Supporting Practitioner Effectiveness

with Young Children in High Risk

Families

• Organizational Policies and Practices

• Competencies

• Core Prevention and Early Intervention

for the Early Years

Agency Scan• Capacity to Meet Individual Needs of

Infants and Families

• Solid Staff Training and Supervision

• Flexibility in Work Arrangements

• Adequate Staff Remuneration

• Clear Staff Hiring & Retention Practices

• Safe Working Environments

Agency Scan cont…

• Reflective Practice

• Valuing Staff

• Supporting Staff Members During Organizational Change, Conflict and Case Crises

• Staff Training

• Collaboration, Co-ordination & Consultation

Results

1. What areas are within our control (eg. consider if we can change or training would help)?

1.1 Individual staff control?1.2 Agency level control?

2. What level of follow-up would be effective? What could we do in:2.1 Individual supervision?2.2 Team meetings?2.3 All staff?

3. Which areas are not within our control (practice serenity)?3.1 Is there someone else doing something or who could do

something

Compassion Fatigue

Safeguards Training

Walk the Walk – Tools for Transforming Compassion Fatigue –

Compassion Fatigue – Train the Trainer on “Walking the Walk”

By: Françoise Mathieu, M.Ed

Questions?

Does your work have

Repeated exposure to stories of trauma and suffering

Clients who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, have chronic needs, clients situations get worse instead of better?

Large volume of demand – lack of adequate resources

Ask yourself…

Where do the stories go at the end of the shift?

Were you trained for this?

What are your particular vulnerabilities?

Do you already have self care strategies at home and work to protect yourself from the negative impact of your work with clients?

What is Compassion Fatigue?

“The cost of caring” (Figley, 1982)

The helping field has gradually recognized that workers are profoundly affected by the work they do.

Compassion fatigue is characterized by a deep physical and emotional exhaustion and a change in a helper’s ability to empathy for clients, loved ones and co-workers

Definitions Compassion fatigue – profound emotional and

physical erosion that takes place when helpers are unable to refuel and regenerate

Vicarious trauma – shift that helpers experience when working with those who have experienced trauma. Fundamental beliefs about the world are altered by repeated exposure to traumatic material

Burnout – exhaustion that sets in when a worker has low job satisfaction and feel powerless and overwhelmed at work

Who does it affect?

Compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard and almost everyone who cares about the clients they come into contact with will develop a certain amount of it.

Because you care, you are susceptible

(frontline worker, manager, receptionist, housekeeping, maintenance, cook)

Why do we get Compassion Fatigue?

Nature of the work; workload, content of work

Your own vulnerabilities; trauma history, current life situation, coping skills

Cynical, negative colleagues

Insufficient training; Are workers asked to do work outside of their scope of competency?

Strategies

Low Impact Disclosure

Increased Self Awareness – how do you debrief?

Fair Warning - does the listener know whatshe’s going to hear ?

Consent – does the listener have a choice?

Low Impact Disclosure – how much detail will I share?

Signs and Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

Physical

Behavioural

Psychological

What are YOUR warning signs?

More Resources

Life Balance Self Test

Self Care Inventory

Professional Quality of Life - ProQOL-

(Hudnall - Stamm, 2009) http://www.proqol.org

Mindfulness meditations – (UCLA) http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&oTopID=22

Summary

Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma are common, occupational consequences of the work of helping other; we get CF/VT because we care

CF can affect a workplace as a whole as well as an individual

Your signs and symptoms ARE your warning signs and can also be the place to implement strategies

Solutions

Make self care your number one priority

Check in with yourself regularly – know your warning signs

Manage stressful experiences with breathing techniques and relaxation