Understanding Child and Youth Mental Health New Hire and Retention in the South Fraser SDA

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the research and engagement activities conducted with Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) staff in the South Fraser Service Delivery Area (SDA). This study was conducted by student researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in partnership with the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD).

This project aimed to understand the new hire experience and address organizational concerns around retention and training for CYMH staff in the South Fraser SDA. This study began with a review of relevant literature surrounding employee satisfaction, training, retention, and burnout among mental health clinicians. This information was used to inform a survey that went out to all CYMH staff in the SDA. After this survey was completed, four staff were interviewed as a follow-up to the employee survey.

This study found a number of significant strengths and concerns that CYMH staff have in their roles. Most staff show tremendous passion for their work and believe in the larger goal of CYMH. However, there are some areas of concern that make it difficult for staff to complete their work as they would like. Some of these concerns are related to the need for greater clinical supports and guidance, as well as increasing access to necessary trainings for staff. There are also concerns related to a lack of standardized practices in both onboarding and training staff in these roles. Finally, there are some larger tensions that staff feel with the administration at CYMH regarding some of the policies and expectations that create ethical concerns for many of these clinicians.

This report concludes with a list of recommended actions that CYMH could take as a way to respond to the issues brought up by this project and to improve their staff experiences.