Social work is a demanding profession because it involves dealing with human suffering and managing adversity, risk and uncertainty in ways that can render us vulnerable to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of ill-health.

The exceptional period of duress we have recently lived through, where we have practiced ‘social work in extremis’, calls for an exceptional response; namely a proactive, radical approach to professional health and resilience. Whilst the primary responsibility for cultivating professional resilience rests with the employer, practitioners also have a role to play in safeguarding their own health and wellbeing through radical, authentic self-care.

The purpose of this learning tool is to help you reflect on what you have learned about yourself during the recent era of multiple disasters and pandemics; underline the importance of radical, authentic self-care for social work practitioners and help harness learning to support post traumatic growth.

This tool was created by Joan Fletcher, Goldsmiths University, London. It was informed by the work of the Serpentine Galleries and the project Radio Ballads.

Download