Assessing and Preventing Compassion...
Transcript of Assessing and Preventing Compassion...
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