Prevention of burnout syndrome among social field workers in České Budějovice

This thesis topic is preventing burnout among social workers in Ceske Budejovice. Currently, the burnout syndrome is struck by the large number of field social workers due to demand of social work and solving difficult situations with clients frequently. I have chosen this topic because it is very big problem nowadays. I also wanted to find out whether social field workers from the Czech Budejovice suffer from this phenomenon, and if so, whether they know the prevention. The work consists of practical and theoretical part. The theoretical part involves six main chapters. The first chapter describes the concept of burnout syndrome, which includes acute and chronic syndrome. The second chapter includes symptoms of burnout syndrome, where I describe physical, emotional, mental exhaustion and stress. The third chapter deals with the stages of burnout, which I describe more in detail. The fourth chapter focuses on risk groups of people that are the most often affected by burnout syndrome. In this chapter I characterize the concept of personality and describe the symptoms of burnout within the personality. In the fifth chapter I mention preventing burnout syndrome, furthermore there I describe the basic methods and prevention techniques, which include social networking, preventive measures by the employee as well as by the employer and last but not the least I mention supervision in that chapter. The last, sixth chapter, deals with the field social work in the context of the law on social services, basic principles, methods and procedures of social work are described. I focus on the differences between the field social work and provided social services. In the practical part two goals are set. First one is to determine whether burnout syndrome occurs among field social workers in Ceske Budejovice. The second one is what methods and prevention techniques are used by social workers in Ceske Budejovice in order to prevent burnout syndrome. Based on the objectives set, I chose two research questions. These research questions deal with burnout of social workers in the Ceske Budejovice and furthermore the most common methods and techniques for the prevention of Social Workers in the Czech Budejovice the symptoms of burnout used. In order to realize the practical part I used qualitative research methodology. Data were obtained using a semi-structured interview. The sample consisted of 7 social workers from Ceske Budejovice. I used the technique of purposive sampling research sample. The survey results showed that 4 field workers out of 7 have been experiencing symptoms of burnout syndrome. The most common methods and techniques to prevent burnout of field social workers are devoting their hobbies, social support from family, friends, colleagues, heads of organizations or supervisor. Furthermore, to separate work life from personal life and to set firm boundaries of work, adequate rest and of course supervision. My thesis could be benefit to the general public. Could be beneficial for both social workers, who have been experiencing symptoms of burnout syndrome and want to learn more, as well as for social workers who have met with burnout and want to know the possible methods and techniques in order to prevent burnout syndrome