Exploring Rates of Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction Amongst Assessment and Permanency CPS Workers
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Burnout and compassion fatigue have been a problem within the social welfare field for years. High caseloads, low pay and lack of workers puts more pressure on those who stay in the field leading to lower rates of compassion satisfaction and higher rates of burnout. This exploratory study will look specifically at burnout and compassion satisfaction in assessment and permanency children’s services caseworkers with the goal of seeing if there is a difference in ratings between the two sections. By using the ProQol, a tested survey that measures a person’s compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress, this research aims to see if there is a difference in ratings between assessment and permanency workers at children’s services. This research is limited in sample size as a convenience sample of caseworkers from Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services will be sampled. The survey was sent to the workers, including both caseworkers and managers, of two section chiefs, one from permanency and one from assessments. The research relies on self-reporting and completion of the survey by caseworkers for results. Using SPSS, the results of the study will be analyzed to see if there is a difference between rates of burnout and compassion satisfaction between permanency and assessment children services workers.
Exploring Rates of Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction Amongst Assessment and Permanency CPS Workers
2nd floor - Library
Burnout and compassion fatigue have been a problem within the social welfare field for years. High caseloads, low pay and lack of workers puts more pressure on those who stay in the field leading to lower rates of compassion satisfaction and higher rates of burnout. This exploratory study will look specifically at burnout and compassion satisfaction in assessment and permanency children’s services caseworkers with the goal of seeing if there is a difference in ratings between the two sections. By using the ProQol, a tested survey that measures a person’s compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress, this research aims to see if there is a difference in ratings between assessment and permanency workers at children’s services. This research is limited in sample size as a convenience sample of caseworkers from Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services will be sampled. The survey was sent to the workers, including both caseworkers and managers, of two section chiefs, one from permanency and one from assessments. The research relies on self-reporting and completion of the survey by caseworkers for results. Using SPSS, the results of the study will be analyzed to see if there is a difference between rates of burnout and compassion satisfaction between permanency and assessment children services workers.
