Satisfaction and burnout among staff of crisis resolution, assertive outreach and community mental health teams. A multicentre cross sectional survey.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that CRTs may be sustainable from a workforce morale perspective, but longer term effects will need to be assessed.
Nelson
Tanya
T
Crisis Resolution Team, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Wonford House Hospital, Dryden Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AF, UK. tanya.nelson@nhs.net
Johnson
Sonia
S
Bebbington
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires