The experience of alcohol and drug recovery service staff working with mothers who have had their children removed

McFarline, S., White, N. and Russell, L. (2023) The experience of alcohol and drug recovery service staff working with mothers who have had their children removed. Health and Social Care in the Community, 2023, 2983040. (doi: 10.1155/2023/2983040)

Abstract

Parenting can be impacted by substance misuse, and children can be at risk of maltreatment, leading to their removal from their mothers. Successful treatment of substance abuse relies on these women gaining effective support from services. Previous research has demonstrated the impact working in this field can have on staff, including high staff turnover, vicarious trauma, and burnout. The present study further explores the experience of staff members working in a Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service in Scotland who work with mothers who have had their children removed. Six interviews with nurses and social care workers were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Two superordinate themes were developed from the data: (1) complexity and tension within working relationships and (2) emotional experiences and attempts to resolve them. Participants described the complexity of their roles, including the dual role of supporting mothers while also being involved in the child removal process by providing reports and evidence and how they respond and work with mothers after removal and conflicts with the wider system. They also highlighted their attempts to cope with the emotional impact of being part of this process and the empathy they have with mothers, especially when they are parents themselves, and described the complexities of trying to cope and manage when working in this challenging area. Clinical implications, including training needs and requirements, are discussed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McFarline, Sarah and Russell, Dr Lynda and White, Dr Naomi
• Authors: McFarline, S., White, N., and Russell, L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Health and Social Care in the Community
• Publisher: Hindawi
• ISSN: 0966-0410
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2524
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 Sarah McFarline et al.
• First Published: First published in Health and Social Care in the Community 2023: 2983040
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License