Factors influencing the turnover of frontline public child welfare supervisors

ABSTRACT

Frontline child welfare supervisors are a vitally important component for providing leadership in service delivery and workforce stability. This statewide study of public child welfare supervisors uses a modified version of a previously developed instrument (the CWEFS) to examine job satisfaction and factors influencing supervisors’ intention to leave. A consistent negative perception of salary was found but a stratified pattern of dissatisfaction emerged across other variables when examined by intention to leave (Stayers, Undecided, and Leavers). A Hierarchical Binary Logistic Regression Model identified two factors that predicted intention to leave: dissatisfaction with administrative support and workload impact.

KEYWORDS:

• Child welfare
• supervisor
• supervision
• turnover
• retention
• job satisfaction

Acknowledgments

The description of the findings of this study are solely those of the authors. The authors would like to relay great appreciation to the agency for their support and assistance in this study. Data from this study was collected immediately following a change in administration, and the new leadership is using employee feedback to facilitate systematic change.

Additional information

Funding

This research was not supported by any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Austin Griffiths

Austin Griffiths, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University and previously worked for the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services in adult and child protective services.  He is the Director for the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and his current research is focused on child welfare practice, training, and workforce development.

April Murphy

April Murphy, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University.  She is an Associate in the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and her research interests include child welfare, human trafficking, and leadership in social work education.

Patricia Desrosiers

Patricia Desrosiers, PhD, LCSW, worked with child welfare partners for over 20 years. She is currently an Associate Professor and the Department Head of Social Work at Western Kentucky University. She is an Associate in the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and her areas of research interest include leadership, supervision, trauma informed care practices, online teaching, and international social work.

Whitney Harper

Whitney Harper, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the BSW program at Western Kentucky University.  She received her doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University.  Her major research interests include addiction, family studies, and positive youth development.

David Royse

David Royse, PhD, is a Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky.