Working in social care is one of the most meaningful and emotionally demanding professions in Ireland. Whether you’re supporting children, adults with disabilities, or vulnerable families, the work you do matters deeply. But while you’re busy caring for others, one vital question often goes unanswered:
Who’s caring for you?
The Reality of Burnout in Social Care
Social Care Workers (SCWs) face a unique set of pressures:
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Emotional labour
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Irregular hours and shift work
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Complex caseloads
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Exposure to trauma and crisis situations
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Balancing empathy with professional boundaries
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Over time, this can lead to burnout a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. Symptoms often go unnoticed until they affect your energy, motivation, relationships, or even health.
Recent research and anecdotal evidence from across HSE, Tusla, and Section 39-funded services show that SCWs are at increased risk of stress-related fatigue and burnout especially in residential and frontline roles.
Self-care isn’t selfish it’s an ethical responsibility. Maintaining your own well-being directly impacts your ability to deliver safe, consistent, and compassionate care. In fact, CORU’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics encourages registrants to look after their own health and wellness as part of safe, effective practice.
6 Simple Self-Care Strategies That help protect your well-being:
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- Set Emotional Boundaries
Learn to recognise emotional overload. It’s okay to care deeply, but you must also disconnect and decompress. Reflective supervision can help with this. - Prioritise Recovery Time
Make sure your days off are truly restorative. Turn off work notifications. Sleep, move, and eat well, your body and mind are your most important tools. - Use Your Support Network
Colleagues, mentors, line managers, and unions are there for a reason. Talking about your workload or experiences isn’t a weakness, it’s smart practice. - Continue CPD
Engage in meaningful Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Learning and growth can energise your sense of purpose and reduce stagnation. - Recognise Compassion Fatigue
Be honest with yourself. If you’re feeling emotionally numb or disconnected, it may be time to take a break or seek additional support. - Say “No” When Needed
You are not obligated to fix everything. Advocating for safe caseloads, fair hours, and healthy boundaries is part of caring, both for others and yourself.
- Set Emotional Boundaries
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At Orange Recruitment, we don’t just place SCWs, we advocate for your growth, health, and long-term well-being. We work with employers support their staff teams prioritise supervision, Build structured rotas that support work-life balance and fund CPD that fuels both compliance and confidence.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsupported, or undervalued, we can help you explore new roles that not only match your skill set but also support your wellness.
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View our latest social care workers jobs right now.
We also have helpful blogs on other topics for social care workers, see here.
