ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the impact of organisational culture on the individuals who work in health and social care. Stress may be caused by specific factors operating in different sectors of the caring professions. The chapter also explores possible sources of stress in private medical care, complementary medicine and care in the community. Social welfare has undergone profound changes that are similar to those seen in healthcare. The social work profession has gained a coherent identity to undertake the difficult task of alleviating poverty, exclusion and deprivation. The chapter then explores the impact of dealing with ambivalence about the issues of care and control, and refer to the prevalence of a blame culture that may cause problems for social workers. It considers the damaging effects of bullying, and the importance of anti-discrimination measures. Systems theory helps those working with families to understand how emotions may be passed around and sometimes projected on to others.
