Secondary Traumatisation of Social Workers Supporting Traumatised Children and Their Families: A Preliminary Qualitative Inquiry

Drawing on a preliminary study guided by the principles of the Job Demands-Resources Model, the aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of secondary traumatisation (ST) of social workers supporting traumatised children and their families. In partnership with the Lazio Regional Chapter of the National Council of Social Workers in Italy (CROAS Lazio), the research team analysed a small sample of in-depth interviews with social workers engaged in community-based and justice-related services for children and families. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and submitted to theoretically-oriented thematic analysis. The narratives analysed appeared to blur the lines between ST and burnout, a more widely recognised professional risk among Italian social workers. However, traumatic symptoms of ST are particularly pervasive when working with sexually abused children in specific situations, such as family separations or trials. Our findings show that participants identified personal, work-related, organisational, and interorganisational factors that function either as job demands or resources, influencing the reinforcement or mitigation of ST risk. The findings offer insights into developing targeted strategies to prevent ST, thereby fostering sustainable and supportive work environments. IMPLICATIONS Systemic interventions are crucial to addressing secondary traumatisation among social workers, including specialised training throughout their careers, particularly in high-risk contexts like court trials and removals of children from the home due to abuse and neglect. Policy reforms should focus on reducing caseloads, enhancing professional supervision, and fostering team collaboration. Improved interprofessional and interorganisational co-operation can further alleviate the isolating nature of the profession, promoting social workers' wellbeing and improving care quality for vulnerable children and families.