Context: Care homes in the UK were hit badly by the COVID-19 pandemic, with
numerous outbreaks and deaths of residents and staff.
Objectives: To capture the impact of the pandemic on care home staff well-being and
share insights and learning about how to optimise support for the workforce.
Methods: Fifteen senior care staff from ...
Context: Care homes in the UK were hit badly by the COVID-19 pandemic, with
numerous outbreaks and deaths of residents and staff.
Objectives: To capture the impact of the pandemic on care home staff well-being and
share insights and learning about how to optimise support for the workforce.
Methods: Fifteen senior care staff from care homes looking after older people in
England were interviewed between December 2020 and March 2021, when the
sector was still under strict restriction measures. The topic guide was developed in
consultation with care home staff. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a
reflexive thematic analysis approach to identify themes and sub-themes of the impact
on staff well-being.
Findings: The impact of the pandemic was overwhelmingly negative, with those
interviewed reporting both mental and physical health implications. We identified
three themes: emotional exhaustion (upset and trauma, increased responsibility
and workload, feelings of guilt); frustration (feeling misunderstood, undervalued,
unrecognised, abandoned); and relationships (the importance of supportive working
relationships within the care home and with external agencies).
Limitations: Staff interviewed were managers or in other senior roles; it would be
beneficial to synthesise this research with studies involving other care home staff and
residents and their relatives. Given the disparate nature of the care home sector, a
larger sample may have identified additional insights.
Implications: This study provides insight into the resilience of care home staff during
the pandemic and challenges to this; this could help to inform future efforts as to
support of the workforce and sector.
