Linking Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Employee Retention in Child Welfare

Ellett, Alberta J.

doi:10.1300/j394v04n03_04

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Attitudes linked to resilience were positivity balanced with realism; being empathic and able to use and maintain empathy; flexibility and ability to adapt to change; awareness and management of their locus of control and limitations to this; and having a systems or big picture view. Agency and self-efficacy were identified as significant, consistent with previous research which highlighted the role of self-efficacy in staff retention (Ellett, 2007). Resilient staff were viewed as displaying agency both in relation to clients and actively developing and maintaining their resilience, including through engaging in learning, reflection, self-care, and managing personal-professional boundaries.…”

Section: Building An Understanding Of Child Protection Worker Resiliencesupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Internationally staff turnover has been the subject of multiple studies with rates being noted to be between 11% and 40% and indications of higher rates in some jurisdictions (Ellett, 2007;Healy & Oltedal, 2010). A National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS) (2010), survey of human services workers in Australia confirmed high turnover rates with child protection having a higher rate of turnover than both youth justice and disability services, with 27% of CPW having less than one year experience, and 72% less than five years of experience (NILS, 2010, p. 3).…”

Section: Issues In the Contemporary Child Protection Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been an increase in research on retention in recent years yet a focus on turnover and burnout continues, and the rigor of some studies has been challenged, therefore gaps in understanding remain (Dickinson & Painter, 2009;Ellett, 2007;Ellett, Ellett, Ellis & Lerner, 2009). This is demonstrated in Kim and Kao's meta-analysis (2014, p. 216) which identified sixteen studies of CPW intention to leave versus six studies of intention to remain employed.…”

Section: Issues In the Contemporary Child Protection Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It cannot be assumed the reasons people remain employed as CPW are simply opposite to why others leave. Research indicates that not only factors such as fit between skills and job expectations, and recognition and reward, but also frequency and quality of practice supervision, a supportive team, personal commitment, and self-efficacy contribute to retention (Bath, Lloyd, Christ, Chapman & Dickinson 2008;Dickinson & Painter 2009;Ellett, 2007;Hussein, Moriarty, Stevens, Sharpe and Manthorpe, 2014;Manthorpe, Moriarty, Hussein, Stevens & Sharpe, 2015;Westbrook et al, 2006). The weight given to the significance of these factors to retention varies across studies.…”

Section: Issues In the Contemporary Child Protection Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A sense of self-efficacy which includes the exertion of self-control, responsiveness and decision making capacity has been suggested as contributing to resilience (Lemay & Gahazal, 2001, p. 6) and CPW retention (Ellett 2007). Self-efficacy was not expressed as a concept by participants, but rather emerged from views about resilient CPW as those who took an active approach to being resilient and meeting both personal, and client needs.…”

Section: Self-efficacymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Witnessing resilience: resilience of child protection workers in Queensland

Russ¹

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Statutory child protection has a reputation for being a crisis-driven, reactive and complex system that responds to the wicked problem of child abuse and neglect. In this context there is evidence of long term workforce issues with recruitment difficulties and high turnover rates. The impact of this work not only at an organisational level but also at an individual level is acknowledged in the literature, with workers being exposed to a range of emotional and psychological challenges. Child protection workers (CPW) commonly face significant adversity such as threats, assaults and high levels of exposure to traumatic material exposing them to both direct and vicarious trauma on an acute, cumulative and chronic basis. Research suggests high rates of burnout and vicarious traumatisation in CPW with resultant effects including individual impacts with consequent impacts on turnover.Although exposed to chronic and cumulative adversity many CPW continue to operate effectively for extended period in this field. The predominant focus of previous research on the effects of this work context on CPW and the workforce has been aligned with psychopathology focusing on the distress experienced and the negative impacts.Resilience is considered to be a normal and more likely outcome for the majority of individuals following an adverse experience. While resilience is a concept which is consistently considered in the field of child protection where it relates to children, little consideration has been given to the resilience of CPW. Resilient CPW are likely to continue in the field for extended periods and provide effective services. This indicates there is benefit in examining the resilience of CPW. Given the limited research on worker resilience, particularly in the field of child protection, there is benefit in seeking to better understand the experiences of CPW as it relates to the development and maintenance of their resilience.Drawing on social constructionism as a theoretical framework, this study explored the understandings and experiences of resilience for CPW. The study considered how frontline CPW, who self-identified as resilient, understood their own resilience, the resilience of other staff, and the contributors to resilience in this adverse context. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with CPW on two occasions over a period of approximately thirteen months using a reflective approach to gain a deeper understanding of resilience and what affects resilience in this difficult work environment.The understanding of how CPW perceive and experience resilience gained through the study provides insights into how they develop and maintain an ability to work effectively when challenged with ongoing traumatic exposure. The study builds on the understanding of the process of resilience and poses a theoretical model that enhances current understandings of resilience. Although there are limitations to the generalisability of the findings due to the qualitative methodology and sample size, this study provides...

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Section: Building An Understanding Of Child Protection Worker Resiliencesupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Issues In the Contemporary Child Protection Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Issues In the Contemporary Child Protection Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%