Child abuse and neglect is a significant problem facing our community (AIHW, 2013). Western Australia has sought to systematically improve outcomes for children, their families and the child protection workforce through the sustained implementation of the Signs of Safety Child Protection Practice Framework, commencing in 2008.
This presentation will report on findings from a study utilising the 2014 Western Australian Department for Child Protection and Family Support Staff Survey, aimed at examining the relationships between skill and confidence in Signs of Safety practice, and the resilience of frontline practitioners. Utilising a cross-sectional mixed-method study design, an online survey was used to collect data from 94 frontline practitioners about their:
Skill and confidence in Signs of Safety practice.
Resilience resources such as hope, role clarity, autonomy, organisational support.
Resilience outcomes including worker engagement, professional behaviour, job satisfaction and emotional burnout.
The study revealed small but significant positive relationships between Signs of Safety practice, role clarity, autonomy and professional responsibility towards clients. Examination of this group of participants also found hope, organisational support and role clarity to be predictors of facets of workforce resilience. While findings are promising, the study has several limitations including a small sample size and unvalidated measure of Signs of Safety fidelity.
This study is part of a broader program of research into the use of Signs of Safety in Western Australia which will inform assessments of the effectiveness of the approach for children, families and the child protection workforce. (Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia)
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