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Satisfaction and burnout among staff of crisis resolution, assertive outreach and community mental health teams

A multicentre cross sectional survey

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Abstract

Background

The NHS Plan required extensive changes in the configuration of mental health services in the UK, including introduction of crisis resolution teams, CRTs. Little is known about the effects of these changes on mental health staff and their recruitment and retention.

Aims

To assess levels of burnout and sources of satisfaction and stress in CRT staff and compare them with assertive outreach team (AOT) and community mental health team (CMHT) staff.

Method

Cross sectional survey using questionnaires, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Minnesota Satisfaction Scale and global job satisfaction item from the Job Diagnostic Survey. All staff in 11 CRTs in 7 London boroughs were included.

Results

One hundred and sixty-nine questionnaires were received (response rate 78%). CRT staff were moderately satisfied with their jobs and scores for the three components of burnout were low or average. Their sense of personal accomplishment was greater than in the other types of team.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that CRTs may be sustainable from a workforce morale perspective, but longer term effects will need to be assessed.

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Notes

  1. For the Job Diagnostic Survey, a mean score is calculated with 1 indicating severe dissatisfaction, 7 indicating a very high level of satisfaction and 4 indicating neither overall satisfaction nor dissatisfaction with work.

  2. For the Minnesota score, a neutral attitude is indicated by scores of 60 for overall satisfaction, 18 for extrinsic satisfaction and 36 for intrinsic satisfaction.

  3. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI, categorised each dimension of burnout into low, medium and high levels, producing standardised norms for various professions. According to their norms for mental health staff, high burnout is characterised by a score of 21 or more in emotional exhaustion, 8 or more on depersonalisation and 28 or less on personal accomplishment. Average burnout is indicated by 14–20 emotional exhaustion, 5–7 on depersonalisation and 33–29 on personal accomplishment. Low burnout is indicated by scores of 13 or less on emotional exhaustion, 4 or less on depersonalisation and 34 or more on personal accomplishment.

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Declaration of interest

None. Funding None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crisis Resolution Team, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Wonford House Hospital, Dryden Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AF, UK

    Tanya Nelson MBBS, MRCPsych, MSc

  2. Dept. of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK

    Sonia Johnson BA, BM, BCh, MSc, MRCPsych, DM &  Paul Bebbington MA, MPhil, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych

Authors
  1. Tanya Nelson MBBS, MRCPsych, MSc
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  2. Sonia Johnson BA, BM, BCh, MSc, MRCPsych, DM
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  3. Paul Bebbington MA, MPhil, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tanya Nelson MBBS, MRCPsych, MSc.

Additional information

Harvey Whiteford, served as a guest editor for the manuscript and was responsible for all editorial decisions, including the selection of reviewers. The policy applies to all manuscript with authors from the editor’s institution.

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Nelson, T., Johnson, S. & Bebbington, P. Satisfaction and burnout among staff of crisis resolution, assertive outreach and community mental health teams. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 541–549 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0480-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0480-4

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