Preventing and Managing Burnout for Employees in Services that Support Autistic Individuals - PreBurn

Direct support staff of autistic individuals experience high levels of burnout due to the substantial and constant challenges they experience in work. Burnout has crucial implications for the well...

Direct support staff of autistic individuals experience high levels of burnout due to the substantial and constant challenges they experience in work. Burnout has crucial implications for the wellbeing of staff, and impacts the quality and reliability of care autistic people receive. The aim of PreBurn is to develop a Training Module, digital Self-Training Tool and Policy Recommendations to prevent and manage burnout in mental health and care professionals working with autistic individuals.

We will conduct a survey to identify risk factors for burnout in autism mental health and care professionals, using evidence generated to develop the PreBurn Training Module and digital Self-Training Tool. We will conduct pre- and post-Training evaluations and a satisfaction survey with 90 participants trained using the Training Module, and with 90 participants testing the Self-Training Tool. We will conduct Participatory Policymaking exercises in 3 countries to formulate Policy Recommendations.

Project results will include identification of risk factors for burnout in mental health and care professionals supporting individuals with autism; and development and testing of a Training Module and digital Self-Training Tool to prevent and address burnout in the autism workforce. With autism service providers, we will also co-create Policy Recommendations to address systemic issues contributing to burnout. These results will contribute to improved staff and service user health and wellbeing.