In the UK, the children’s hospice sector has become increasingly concerned about levels of work-related stress among its staff. This stems from increasing evidence that staff wellbeing is associated with the quality, cost and safety of patient care, and an acknowledgment of the important role of those working in children’s hospices.

The SWiCH study, conducted by the Martin House Research Centre at the University of York, aims to increase understanding about the work-related stressors and rewards experienced by children’s hospice care staff, and to identify the staff support systems and organisational practices that offer the most potential to enhance wellbeing at work. This paper will present preliminary findings from the study.

A national survey of UK children’s hospice organisations and their care staff was administered between May and November 2020. A total of 583 staff from 32 children’s hospices responded.

Initial analysis of the survey shows that 12 percent of respondents were suffering from moderate to severe burnout. Overall, respondents had an average burnout score (on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) of 32.5 (n=583), which compares to an average score of 45.7 amongst a small sample (c.2.5%) of NHS staff surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic. UK children’s hospice staff who responded to the survey had an average Job Satisfaction score of 6.9 (n=414), and an average Core Engagement score of 7.5 (n=415), the latter of which compares to the average of 7.0 for NHS staff (2020).

Further data analysis for the study will explore how these outcomes relate to the work-related stressors and rewards of working in a children’s hospice, and what staff support systems and organisational practices have an impact on psychological wellbeing.