Youth homelessness : an investigation into the emotional effects on social care workers
Authors
Bermingham, Annette
Issue Date
2014
Degree
BA (Hons) in Social Science
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
This research aims to investigate if social care workers were emotionally affected when working with young people aged between 12-17 years accessing emergency services. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach and data was collected through the use of semi structured interviews. A thematic analysis was conducted and the data identified four themes which revealed there was a difference between social care workers working with young people in emergency settings compared to a residential setting. The research study found that social care workers were emotionally affected while providing young people out-of-home with emergency accommodation, basic needs and support. This study has contributed to the large gap in the existing literature of emergency placements and how these young people accessing emergency accommodation are vulnerable to the detrimental effects of trauma exposure, psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. Author Keywords: Youth homelessness, emergency accommodation, social care workers, Stress.