The development of well-being and supervision programmes for caregivers in post conflict Cambodia: A creative response to the need for long term sustainability

This article will describe a creative arts therapy action research that engages organizations in a collaborative process in the development of effective responses to staff care and organizational well-being in the context of post conflict humanitarian work in Cambodia. Creative Arts Therapy techniques used in supervision, de-briefing and assessment processes were developed to support staff care well-being practice and policy creation in Cambodia with non-governmental organizations. This model revealed an acute need for effective staff care and well-being programmes across agencies and demonstrated a subsequent reduction in the levels of work-related stress and vicarious trauma. The model proposes the development of national guidelines for policy and practice alongside the building of capacity in national staff for ongoing evolution and implementation. It is further recommended that such developments need adequate time, support and resource investment for integration into a policy, structure and programming of an organization.