Client-Perpetrated Violence Among Frontline Child Welfare Workers

Melissa Dalton Radey · Dina J. Wilke

36 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Interpersonal Violence

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Social Work Education and Practice Intimate Partner and Family Violence Workplace Violence and Bullying

Abstract

Client-perpetrated violence against child protective services (CPS) workers is common and detrimental to worker wellbeing with consequences including physical injury and psychological illnesses. Despite the impacts of violence, few studies capture violence in a representative sample of CPS workers. This study examines prevalence and applies a structural inequality framework to consider who among CPS workers is most susceptible. This article used the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families dataset, a longitudinal panel study of newly hired CPS workers ( N = 1,501) to examine the prevalence of violence in the first 6 months of employment and consider the influence of individual characteristics. CPS workers experienced high levels of non-physical violence (75%), threats (37%), and physical violence (2.3%). Age and race were significantly related to instances of violence as were college major and position. Relationships were nuanced and did not uniformly follow a structural inequality framework. The high prevalence of violence within the first months on the job illustrates the importance of conflict and violence training before workers acquire independent caseloads. In addition, institutionalized mandatory reporting procedures with definitions of non-physical violence, threats, and physical violence may promote a culture of safety rather than an attitude that violence is part of the job. Finally, supervisors and peers can benefit from opportunities to support one other. The high prevalence of violence within certain subgroups of workers coupled with its wide-ranging consequences call for additional theoretical and empirical research and responsive policy to prioritize worker safety and wellbeing.

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References

2012The current prevalence of child sexual abuse worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis 2008Retention of front-line staff in child welfare: A systematic review of research 2009Employment-based social capital, job stress, and employee burnout: A public child welfare employee structural model 2008Child Welfare Worker Characteristics and Job Satisfaction: A National Study 2008Analysing Child Deaths and Serious Injury through Abuse and Neglect: What can we learn? Biennial Analysis of Serious Case Reviews 2003-2005 2005The Stresses Arising from Violence, Threats and Aggression Against Child Protection Social Workers 2010Conflict, Power, and Violence in Families 2005The Nature and Effects of Violence against Child-Protection Social Workers: Providing Effective Support

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2023Vulnerability on the frontline: systematic review and meta-analysis of frontline employee vulnerability 2022Examining the Relationship between Workplace Safety and Professional Burnout among U.S. Social Workers 2023Helping or Controlling? Choice of Coping Methods When Dealing with Violent Clients in Statutory Social Work 2021Creeping under the skin: manifestations of client violence towards social workers in Swedish individual and family services

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