DWP Work coach burnout, Looking for help
Hi all,
I’m sorry to bring down the mood by sharing my story and asking for advice, but I really feel like I need to.
I’ve been a work coach for a little over a year. I started in early 2025. The first few months after training were okay — we were getting into summer, and there was a lot of work I could do to start helping people. But as the days got shorter and the work dried up, things got a lot darker.
I had several mini anxiety episodes at work that lasted a couple of weeks at a time, but they always resolved themselves. My mind tends to handle stress by focusing it onto anything other than the actual stressor. But my claimants’ situations started becoming more and more upsetting. I won’t go into their stories, because that wouldn’t be fair to them, but there was a real mix of people who were struggling deeply or who had done terrible things. I had to carry out quite a few six-point plans and call ambulances or the police more times than I expected.
Then it happened. I had a really bad call with a claimant. I felt useless, exhausted, sad, and scared. The person was manipulative and very upsetting, and on the bus ride home I just broke down. I couldn’t stop crying.
Over Christmas, I managed to pull myself together, and when I was away from work staying with my partner, I felt so much better. But once I came back, I was only able to manage a couple more weeks.
I ended up in the emergency room having the worst panic attack of my life. The psychiatrist there said I was completely overwhelmed. Needless to say, we’re now five months on, and although I’ve had good weeks and bad weeks, I still haven’t been able to return to work properly. I’ve tried and managed a few weeks at a time, but I always get sick again.
I have no idea what to do. I’m from an impoverished area, and this job felt like my big chance. Now I feel like I’ve blown it. I asked about a managed move, but my boss said it could take years. There doesn’t seem to be any way to amend my duties, and at this point I just feel lost.
Honestly, any advice or commiseration would help at this point. Everyone in my office seems so tough, like this kind of thing doesn’t affect them.
PS: My boss has been amazing and very supportive throughout all of this, as has the company. I just wanted to make that clear so there’s no confusion.