Caring for the Caregivers: Understanding Professionals’ Compassion Fatigue and Work Engage-ment in Italian Residential Care - Reflections on Job Selection and Retention

In many European countries, the recruitment and retention of professionals for residential care for children are increasingly challenging. Factors contributing to this issue remain underexplored. Despite long-standing concerns about excessive workloads and turnover, exacerbated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on professionals remains poorly understood. Drawing on a 2023 survey of 215 educators across Italy, guided by the Job Demands and Resources Model, this study investigates compassion fatigue (CF) and work engagement (WE). Results reveal concerning CF scores, with over one third experiencing high Personal Burnout and significant manifestations of Secondary Traumatic Stress. However, relatively high levels of WE were also observed. Variations across individual, work, and organizational factors were significant. The study further analyzes job resources and demands, identifying risk and protective factors, and proposes strategies to mitigate CF and enhance WE in residential child care, aiming to improve workforce selection and retention.