The mindfulness-based social work and self-care programme: Initial roll out and expanded findings

Abstract

Abstract Stress and burnout can have serious negative effects on individual social workers and the organizations they work for. Preliminary evaluations of the Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self-Care (MBSWSC) programme have found that it reduces stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety and improves the mental well-being of social workers. Building on this evidence, the programme is currently being rolled out to social workers across Northern Ireland. Using an effectiveness–implementation hybrid design, this study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of the wider implementation of the MBSWSC programme among social workers (n = 77). The programme significantly reduced stress, facets of burnout, depression, and anxiety, and increased mental well-being. Reductions were also observed in difficulties in emotion regulation, repetitive negative thinking, and external and internal shame, although no significant changes were found in perspective taking, empathic concern, or depersonalization. These findings provide initial indicators of effectiveness and demonstrate sensitivity in several theoretically relevant psychological processes that may function as candidate mechanisms of change. Feasibility indicators—specifically recruitment, retention, and participant engagement—were strong, suggesting that wider delivery is promising, although broader organizational and system-level feasibility requires further investigation.