‘You Wish You Could Do More, but You Just Can’t’: The Hidden Harms of Casework With Justice‐Involved Women

ABSTRACT

Caseworkers in women’s centres in the United Kingdom provide support to justice-involved women. They do so amidst an unpredictable funding landscape shaped by austerity, resulting in underfunded and overstretched public services. As part of the penal voluntary sector, women’s centres have stepped forward, providing frontline support to women with unmet needs, including those in crisis and with significant histories of trauma. Despite their vital role, little research has explored what it means to be a women’s centre caseworker, and their emotional experiences remain largely unknown. This article addresses this gap by drawing on qualitative research conducted with caseworkers and managers in women’s centres in England between September 2023 and February 2024. The findings examine the interrelated drivers of vicarious harm that shape caseworkers’ experiences, illuminating the hidden costs involved in providing one-to-one support.