A qualitative study was undertaken in Pietermaritzburg to unveil the experiences and challenges of WLWHIV as perceived by social workers as well as to explore and describe the experiences of social workers in rendering services to these women. Explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs were employed for the research process. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were utilised to recruit participants who met the set criteria. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen participants. Data obtained were transcribed and analysed applying Tesch‘s eight steps (Creswell, 2009). Data verification was guided by Guba‘s model (Krefting, 1991). The findings revealed the existence of strained relationships between WLWHIV and their partners and ineffective delivery of social work services to WLWHIV. Based on the findings, it is recommended that specialised training for social workers on issues related to death and dying and services for children of WLWHIV be incorporated in the guidelines for social work practice / Social Work / M.A. (social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal waarom kinders uit kinderhuise wegloop en om voorstelle ter voorkoming daarvan te maak. Ten opsigte van die fenomeen "wegloop" stateer die literatuur dat kinders wegloop vanaf onaangename omstandighede en/of wegloop na aangename omstandighede. Die belewing van gesinstres, gesinskonflik, portuurgroepdruk, utopiese voorstellings van wegloop, onaangename skoolbelewing en tiener swangerskap is aangeduide rolspelers onderliggend aan bogenoemde. Die empiriese studie na wegloop uit kinderhuise bet aan die lig gebring dat kinders uit kinderhuise wegloop weens traumatiese belewing van verwydering uit die ouerhuis, etikettering en inrigtingsversadiging. Voorts is bevind dat faktore wat onderliggend aan bogenoemde is, tot 'n groot mate voorkom kan word. Sekere aanbevelings ter voorkoming van wegloop uit kinderhuise is na aanleiding van die studie gedoen en kan gebruik word in die volwassene se bemoeienis met die kinderhuiskind. / The object of the study was to identify the reasons why children run away from children's homes and to make recommendations on how to prevent them from running away. On considering "run away" as a phenomenon, the literature states that children run away from harsh circumstances to acceptable or pleasant circumstances. Experiences such as family stress, conflict in the family, peer group pressure, romanticising the idea, harsh school experiences and teenage pregnancies are roll players subjacent to the above mentioned. The empirical study of "running away from children's homes" has confirmed that children run away because of traumatic separation from parental homes, labelling and institutional intolerance. Furthermore it was also found that factors subjacent to the above mentioned can be neutralised to a large extent. Certain guidelines have been recommended for adults when confronted with children in children's homes. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

台灣的社會和家庭型態在近年來快速變遷，家中存在的壓力使兒童及少年成為容易受傷害的一群，許多關於兒少保護的資料皆顯示出兒童及少年受虐的比例逐年不斷地攀升。兒少保護工作具有相當高的危險性和挑戰性，各縣市從事兒少保護的社工員即擔負此重責大任，當發現兒少有危險或原生家庭無法提供其適當的照顧時，則社工員會運用公權力將兒少帶離原生家庭。家外安置是根據兒童及少年福利法而建立的制度，根據法規的精神，若受虐兒少存在立即的危險情況或原生家庭目前不適合居住等情形時，則社工員會進行家外安置，以確保兒少的利益。 　本研究透過質性研究的方法，探討兒保社工員在面對受虐兒少是否需進行繼續安置時，其抉擇的因素為何，並了解其在抉擇的過程中面臨到的問題及處理方式為何。透過本研究希望瞭解：第一，兒少保社工員對於家外安置的看法為何？第二，影響兒少保社工員採取繼續安置的抉擇因素為何？第三，兒少保社工員在繼續安置抉擇過程中面臨到的問題及處理方式為何？本研究並進行北部五縣市（台北縣、桃園縣、基隆市、新竹縣、新竹市）跨區域的比較，了解北部各縣市的差異性。最後，將研究結果形成建議，提供兒少保護相關領域的社工員未來在面對這樣議題時的參考。 　　依據研究目的，研究者邀請北部地區十七位在兒少保護機構工作超過一年以上的社工員進行一對一的深度訪談，研究結果如下列幾點： 一、社工員認為家外安置的功能是：「公權力的示範」、「給孩子一個安全的生活環境」、「可能產生負面效果的權宜之計」、以及「暫時舒緩家中存在的壓力」。 二、社工員考量受虐兒少是否繼續安置的抉擇因素包括：兒少年齡、兒少意願和自主性、兒少與原生家庭的依附程度、兒少身心狀況、兒少自我保護功能、兒少人身安全、兒少受虐程度、兒少受虐歷史、兒少受虐型態、施虐者施虐原因、施虐者身心狀況、施虐者親職功能、施虐者對於處遇的配合程度、施虐者改變的動力和程度、其他親屬的照顧資源、家庭其他成員的保護能力、安置能否發揮功能、社工員人身安全的考量、安置資源有無、施虐者對兒少的脅迫。 三、決定受虐兒少需進行繼續安置最關鍵的因素為兒少人身安全是否可確保以及家庭功能的整體評估。 四、各個縣市在安置處理模式和安置資源使用狀況存在差異性。 五、兒少保社工員對於緊急安置和繼續安置考量的差異在於：行政裁量VS.法院裁定；公權力初步展現VS.較長期的家庭重建；立即性保護兒少安全VS.長期間掌控兒少的風險。 六、社工員在安置過程中面臨到的困境主要有兩類，一為評估面上的困難，包括教養的尺度難以衡定、客觀證據力不足時該如何判斷、如何評斷出什麼是正確的資訊、精神虐待類型難以評估；二為執行面上的困難，包括安置資源不足、72小時的時間限制、後送單位品質的問題、青少年後續配套資源的不足、關於安置的法律議題不熟悉、相關網絡成員的壓力、來自外界聲音的壓力、社工員人身安全的憂慮。 　　最後，本研究對於社會工作實務、政府政策、以及進一步研究的部份提出建議，提供給相關領域的機構和工作人員作為參考。 / In Taiwan, types of the society and families are changing rapidly in recent years. Pressure at home makes children and adolescents vulnerable. Statistical data about child and adolescent protection indicates that the percentage of abuse is climbing year after year. Jobs of child and adolescent protection are highly dangerous and challenging. Social workers in different cities and counties take these great responsibilities. When they find out any children/adolescents are in danger or families-of-origin can not provide proper care, the social workers would use public power to bring those children away from their families-of-origin. Out-of-home placement is a system based on Child and Youth Welfare Law. According to spirit of law, if there exists immediate danger for children and adolescents, or families-of-origin are not appropriate for living, social workers would proceed with out-of-home placement to ensure their well-being. This research is using qualitative method to discuss what determines social workers’ decisions to proceed with continuous placement, and what problems they face in the process of making decisions and how they deal with them. This research aims at understanding the following questions. First, what are child and adolescent protection social workers’ point of views regarding out-of-home placement? Second, what affects social workers’ decisions to proceed with continuous placement? Third, what problems do child and adolescent protection social workers face when they are making decisions of continuous placement and how do they cope with those problems? This research also conducted a cross area comparison between five cities/counties in north part of Taiwan including Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Keelung City, Hsin-Chu County, and Hsin-Chu City to understand difference in them. Finally, suggestions are made based on research results to provide reference for child and adolescent protection social workers when in the future they face these kinds of issues. 　　Based on objectives of the research, the researcher invited seventeen social workers that have worked over one year in child and adolescent protection institutions in north part of Taiwan for one-to-one in-depth interviews. Research results are as follows. First, social workers think the functions of out-of-home placement are, “demonstration of public power”, “to provide a safe environment for children”, “a tentative strategy with negative effects” and “a temporary release of stress at home”. Second, the factors that determine social workers’ decisions of continuous placement include children and adolescents’ ages, their inclination, autonomy, attachment to their family-of-origin, physical and psychological conditions, self-protection function, personal safety, children and adolescents’ degree of abuse, history of abuse, types of abuse, and abusers’ reasons to abuse, abusers’ physical and psychological conditions, abusers’ parenting function, degree of cooperation with placement, abusers’ motivation and degree of change, other family caring resource, other family members’ abilities of protection, effectiveness of placement, safety consideration for social workers, availability of placement resource, abusers’ threats to children and adolescents. Third, the key factors to decide continuous placement for abused children and adolescents are whether safety of children and adolescents can be assured and overall evaluation of family function. Forth, cities and counties are different in terms of placement types and usage of placement methods. Fifth, the difference between considerations of emergent and continuous placement is: administrative discretion VS. court discretion, preliminary effect of public power VS. longer-term family reconstruction, immediate protection of children and adolescents VS. risk of long-term control of children and adolescents Sixth, the main difficulties that social workers face in the process of placement fall into two categories. One is difficulty of evaluation, including difficulty to judge whether the discipline is appropriate, how to judge when there is no enough objective evidences, how to screen the right information, difficulties to determine types of mental abuse. The other is difficulty of implementation, including insufficiency of placement resource, time limit of 72 hours, problems of placement family quality, insufficiency of supporting resources for adolescents afterwards, unfamiliarity with legal issues of placement, pressure from other network members, pressure from the public voices, and concerns about social workers’ safety. Last, the research provides suggestions regarding social work practices, government policies, and further research for related institutions and workers’ reference.

社會工作者處於人身安全高度危險的工作環境中，國內相關的研究卻不豐富。本研究以處在高風險工作環境中的社會工作者為對象，瞭解他們目前遭受案主暴力對待的現況、回應方式，及對暴力風險的知覺情形。研究以郵寄問卷方式進行，資料蒐集範圍包括臺北市家庭暴力暨性侵害防治中心、各區社會福利服務中心、區域級以上醫療及精神醫療院所，發出231份問卷，回收有效問卷共計165份，回收率為71.43％。 首先，研究發現81.8％的社會工作者生涯中曾遭受某種形式的暴力攻擊，其中心理傷害80.6％、身體傷害16.4％、財產損害26.1％，經常發生的地點在「辦公處所」。研究尚發現44％的社工員經驗到多種形式的暴力，更有72％經驗到一次以上，顯見案主的暴力威脅並非偶發事件，高風險領域社會工作者確實面臨案主暴力威脅；邏輯迴歸分析發現，機構年資不長、工作經驗較短者面對暴力的可能性較高。其次，平均而言工作者身體風險知覺較心理及財務風險知覺為高，進一步以迴歸分析發現，尚未取得證照、保護性服務工作者、機構年資低、工作經驗較短者其風險意識較高。第三，受暴經驗與風險知覺有關，過去曾有受暴經驗的社工員整體風險知覺較高。最後，有關正式通報的情形，百分之五十七點四的受訪者表示遭遇心理傷害時會通報、受身體傷害和財務損害者則有近八成會通報，受到「形而外且具體」傷害時呈報上級的情形則更為普遍。 研究建議如下：實務上，機構應有清楚的政策及通報流程以增加暴力事件的可見度、提供員工情緒支持及教育訓練以提昇工作者風險意識及減緩工作恐懼感；工作者本身應改變信念並增加實務工作知能，避免將暴力事件地下化、私有化，及強化與案主工作時的應對技巧。另外，在教育養成上應有更多人身安全的訓練與關注，以避免社會工作學生因過度擔心阻礙其投入職場的信心。最後，政府政策應針對第一線人身安全高風險的社工員給予實質性保障、儘速將人身安全納入社工師法或專門立法，強調暴力「零容忍」的相關政策，以維護社工人員的尊嚴與生命安全。 / Although social workers are at risk of client violence in the workplace, little research on the situation has been done in Taiwan. The present study surveyed 165 social workers practicing in high risk fields in Taipei in terms of their experiences, reaction, and perception of client violence. The following are the findings. First, a prevalence rate of client violence (81.8％) was found. About eighty percent of social workers had experienced some type of psychological assault by clients during their work. Physical attack was reported by 27 workers (16.4％). Property damage was reported by 43 workers (26.1％). In multiple logistic regression, psychological assault was associated with two variables—less seniority and less social work experience. Second, on the average, scores of physical risk perception was much higher than the other two perceptions. Multiple regression showed that workers who were less senior, worked at protection service, with less social work experience, or without license, had higher scores of risk perception. Third, a significant positive correlation existed between client violence and risk perception. Finally, results indicated that only 57.4％ of the subjects who suffered psychological assault had decided to report their experience formally. On the contrary, nearly eighty percent would report when they encountered physical attack or property damage – especially external and concrete harm. Implications for practice, training and policy were discussed.

Social workers worldwide play a pivotal role in delivering social services to those in need of such services. Designated social workers (DSWs) deliver statutory services pertaining to the protection of children in need of care and protection. All social workers are confronted by several professional risk factors that jeopardise their well-being; yet risks specifically observed in DSWs support the plea to enhance their resilience. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological inquiry was to explore pathways of resilience among resilient South African DSWs by studying relevant literature and examining South African DSWs’ lived experiences. A secondary purpose was to draw on these experiences and literature to develop guidelines for South African DSW supervisors who may encourage the promotion of DSW resilience. Conducting a qualitative research synthesis was the first step and resulted in the confirmation of social worker risk and a deficient understanding of South African DSW resilience. An advisory panel of social work, DSW, and resilience experts assembled and formulated indicators of resilience in resilient South African DSWs, namely: a value-embedded life, having a support network, and having personal strengths, which, next, facilitated the identification of 15 resilient South African DSWs through snowball sampling. These 15 DSWs wrote narratives and were interviewed through semi-structured interviews in order to explore their lived experiences of workplace risks and their resilience processes. The findings concluded that these DSWs adapted to workplace adversities by living a purpose- and practice-informing creed, enjoying supportive collaborations, engaging in constructive transactions, and accentuating the positive. Guidelines for South African DSW supervisors, which emerged from these findings and literature, were proposed to be framed by reflective supervision as a step towards promoting South African DSW resilience. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

L’importance accordée à la reconnaissance des droits fondamentaux des personnes en matière d’intégrité physique et de consentement aux soins dans notre société fait que le travailleur social appelé à participer à l’ouverture de régimes de protection du majeur doit développer une expertise multidimensionnelle. De plus, le travailleur social se retrouve à confronté à différentes logiques d’action (juridique et procédurale, médicale, psychosociale, pragmatique) dont il doit tenir compte dans le processus d’évaluation. Ceci nous amène à aborder la position difficile dans laquelle se trouve généralement le travailleur social qui oscille entre la possibilité de favoriser l’autonomie de la personne et la volonté de protéger celle-ci. L’objectif de ce mémoire est donc d’accroître notre compréhension du processus de prise de décision du travailleur social dans la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée, dans le cadre des régimes de protection du majeur. D’une manière plus spécifique, cette étude consiste à retracer et à théoriser, par l’analyse de sa logique d’action, le processus à travers lequel le travailleur social se positionne lorsqu’il se retrouve confronté à des dilemmes éthiques par rapport à la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée. L’analyse de l’expérience du travailleur social a été réalisée à travers le paradigme de l’individualisme méthodologique tel que définit par Raymond Boudon. Les données furent recueillies lors d’entrevues semi-dirigées réalisées auprès de sept intervenants. Les témoignages recueillis par le biais de cette recherche exploratoire montrent à quel point il peut être difficile et éprouvant pour le travailleur social de devoir se positionner dans la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée, dans le cadre des régimes de protection du majeur et comment ces interventions s’inscrivent dans un jeu infiniment complexe d’interactions multiples entre acteurs et actants. Les principaux obstacles à la prise de décision éthique dont ont fait part les travailleurs sociaux interrogés sont liés au contexte de pratique. Il s’agit du manque de ressources financières et humaines disponibles ainsi que le fait que les décisions ne soient pas toujours prises en équipe interdisciplinaire et dans un climat qui soit non menaçant. La reconnaissance de l’expertise des travailleurs sociaux en matière d’ouverture de régimes protection est d’ailleurs ressortie comme un enjeu important. / In our society, the emphasis on recognition of the fundamental rights of a person regarding his\her physical integrity and consent for care requires social workers to develop a multidimensional expertise in order to participate in the instituting of protective supervision for persons of full age. Moreover, social workers are confronted with various dimensions (legal and procedural, medical, psychosocial and pragmatic) which should be considered in the process of evaluation. This brings us to consider delicate position of the social worker who must make a difficult choice between promoting the service user’s individual autonomy or protecting him or her from harm, courses of action that are not always compatible. The objective of this research is to increase our understanding of social workers ‘decision-making process when determining the incapacity of an elderly person within the framework of protective supervision for persons of full age. More specifically, this study aims to review and theorize, by analyzing its logic of action, the process through which the social worker is making a decision when confronted with ethical dilemmas in relation to determining incapacity of an elderly person. The framework of this research is based on the methodological individualism of Raymond Boudon. The data were collected using semi-directed interviews with seven participants. The result of the study has shown how it can be difficult and challenging for the social workers to have to position themselves in determining incapacity of an elderly person. In fact, the interventions are part of an infinitely complex interaction between multiple actors and agents. The main obstacles to ethical decision-making are related to the context of practice, i.e. the lack of financial and human resources, and the lack an interdisciplinary team approach in a non-threatening climate. The non-recognition of the expertise of social workers regards to protective supervision was also identified as an issue.

TITLE: Foster care for temporary period: Process of imparting child to biological family ABSTRACT: This thesis is dedicated to the question of process of returning children from foster care for temporary period to their biological family. Its aim was to spot problems that have occurred within the process and to provide suggestions for their possible solution. Research among a sample of eight families was carried via semistructured interview method. The results were summed up in case studies, while each case was thoroughly analysed. Research questions were answered and the answers were presented collectively for all families. The research uncovered repetitive failures in the process of imparting children from foster care for temporary period to their biological family. The outcome of the research was a recommendation for Ministry of Labour and Social affairs, in whose competence this area of foster care lies. KEYWORDS: Foster care Foster care for temporary period Biological family Process of imparting a child Social worker

This thesis deals with personnel training in the helping professions. The main objective of this thesis is to report on the current state and trends of the future orientation of personnel education in the helping professions. The theoretical part deals with the definition of the components involved in the process of personnel training in the helping professions, possible attitudes of organizations to education of their employees, supervision, as a form of further education, legislation related to the topic of workers' education in the helping professions and implemented projects supporting the education of these workers. The empirical part is devoted to the analysis of documents, which tries to determine whether there have been changes in personnel training in the helping professions in the monitored period in Hradec Králové Region in connection with the implementation of quality standards of social services and the amendment of the Act on Social Services. The empirical part also includes a quantitative analysis. It is a research probe using the method of scaling questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to participants of training courses. The questionnaire evaluates the connection between educational needs, the topic of the courses and the way of implementation of training courses....

This thesis constitutes an analysis and instructions for use of the Communi-crate resources, the 'communication crate' which is a set of specific practical tools used in working with vulnerable children and families as used in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and are being introduced in practice in the Czech Republic. The tools contained in this thesis are designed for use by special educators and social workers in direct work with vulnerable families, children, young persons, or even adults. All of these tools have actually been tested and proven in practice and some have been adapted from their original language versions for use in the Czech Republic. In this thesis, the resources contained in the Communi-crate are divided into logical groups and each of them is described structured into chapters accordingly. Each tool is described in more or less detail, including tips for use. Most resources are also illustrated. The case studies described have been collected from practice in the Czech Republic and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This thesis has been compiled from materials gathered by the author during foreign study visits and in seminars conducted by foreign experts in the Czech Republic in 2009 through 2014. This thesis uses analytical...

My diploma thesis deals with Low-threshold services for children and youth and with fulfilling of the standards for quality in social services. Firstly I analysed problems of leisure time, historical events in the development in Low-threshold services for children and youth and binding documents for social workers. These problems are also discussed in relevance to the social services law. I mentioned the principles of low-threshold, aims of these establishments, target group and the whole process of this programme. One chapter deals with the management and financing and with social workers, their qualities, competences and supervision as the aide in self-education, and beneficiaries of social services and their characteristics. What threatens these beneficiaries are socio-pathological phenomenons, the most important ones are listed and I added the prevention. I described one mentioned establishment, which employs volunteers. For the evaluation of fulfilling of standards in social services I have chosen two low-threshold services for children and youth from Hradec Králové, where I have found if the standars are fulfilled or not by means of studying of methodology, observations and interviews with workers and beneficiaries. For conclusion I suggested some improvements which could be used in these establishments.