Exploring children's services workers' perceptions of COVID-19: Trauma, connection and creativity

Background: Children services workers (CSWs) in child welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic were tasked with providing services amidst various government mandates and restrictions causing a multitude of effects. Objective: To examine the lived experience of CSWs practice during COVID-19. Participants and setting: 31 CSWs were recruited from a Western Province in Canada. Methods: This participatory action research utilized 7 focus groups and 4 interviews with frontline and supervisory CSWs. Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis approach and coding processes were employed. Results: The findings revealed difficult and traumatic experiences, along with the commitment, creativity and innovation of the workers. Technology was a necessary resource and a barrier in service delivery. Three main themes and associated subthemes that emerged included 1) the trauma of COVIP, with subthemes: influences on CSWs, and influences on children and families, 2) practice context matters, with subthemes the impacts on policy and service delivery, and accessibility and lack of resources, and 3) connection, creativity, and removal of perceived barriers, with subthemes, relationships matter, and innovative practices. Conclusions: The study highlighted how CSWs were affected during the pandemic by government restrictions, inconsistent practice and policy implementation, increased stressors, and workloads, and the experience of deaths. It was evident that CSWs were courageous, creative, and innovative, as well as hardworking, committed, and persevered in providing services to children and families. Recommendations for training, practice and policy are offered.