Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

The theoretical part defines the concept of a social worker. This diploma thesis tries to highlight the fifferences between social workers, workers in social services and health and social workers. Another chapter is devoted to social work itself. Many celebrities have influenced social work, and this thesis gives them place. We live in a postmodern era, which affects us at every step. Social work is influenced by postmodernism as we are. Social worker, is aon important element in the whole social work. Social worker takes on different roles. The roles of social workers are devided in this diploma thesis on role according to the minimum standard of education, the role according to the value systém, the role under the Code of Ethics, the Role Competency Based. Perception of social workers pervades the whole diploma thesis. Social perception is related to how we perceive ourselves. Values and value systems shape the individual's attitude to all areas of human life. Attitudes are formed throughout life and are more or less constant. Supervision, which is described in one of the chapters is an important part of the social worker profession. The concept of lifelong education occupies in the lives of social workers a significant place. Law No. 108/2006 Collections on social services, as amended, requires social workers obliged to further education. The aim of this diploma thesis was to identify the position of social workers in society and finf out how prestigious is the profession of social workers. A secondary aim was to determine what features a social worker should have. The practical part was processed using quantitative research strategy. A method of questioning, questionnaire technique ware used. Collection of questionnaires conducted on the territory of Jindřichohradecko from 15 January to 16 March of 2015. The general public were chosen by quota sampling. People residing in the territory of Jindřichohradecko represent it. Professional public was chosen randomly purposeful choice. Professional public was represented by social workers working in the territory of Jindřichohradecko. 5 hypotheses have been established with regard to the objectives of the work. These are specified in detail in the research part of the diploma thesis. Hypotheses were statistically tested and evaluated as follows: Hypothesis 1: There is no difference in perception of the status of social workers in society between those who have experience with the profession of social worker and those who do not have this experience. Hypothesis 1 was confirmed. Hypothesis 2: There is no difference in perception of presentation profession of social workers by the media between professionals and public. Hypothesis 2 was confirmed. Hypothesis 3: There is no relationship between age and evaluation activities of social worker in professional public. Hypothesis 3 was rejected. Hypothesis 4: The level of educational attainment does not affect how the prestige of social worker is perceived from professional public. Hypothesis 4 was confirmed. Hypothesis 5: There is no correlation between high educational attainment and perceptions of the need for higher education of social workers. Hypothesis 5 was rejected. Social worker are present rather negatively. Negative slideshow presentation helps presentation of social work through the media. Prestige social workers are affected by the prestige of social work. The research results showed that the profession of social worker is neither prestigious nor low prestigious profession or rather low prestigious profession. Professional and general public said the three qualities that should have a social worker: empathy, patience and willingness. Benefits of this diploma thesis can be seen in the presentation of public attitudes towards the profession of social workers. This diploma thesis has helped to clarify the weaknesses in this field and noted the timeliness of the issue of prestige social workers.

This study assesses the continuing education needs of social caseworkers employed by the Community Care for the Aged, Blind and Disabled Program Division of the Texas State Department of Human Resources. A model by which needs assessments and discrepancy evaluation can be conducted was identified. The study was designed to answer three major questions. These were (1) What are the behavioral competencies critical to the effective practice of C.C.A.B.D. social casework within the Texas State Department of Human Resources? (2) What are the current continuing education needs of C.C.A.B.D. caseworkers with respect to these competencies? (3) What significant discrepancies exist as to the perception of these needs among caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators that hold implications for continuing education program planning. The needs assessment model developed in this study is designed to overcome many of the limitations of traditional approaches to needs assessment by defining critical job requirements from the perspective of current practice as well as administrative policy, establishing a profile of the successful worker as a model for staff development, and integrating the perceptions of administrators, supervisors, and workers in identifying continuing education needs.

This study has as its object of analysis the socio-historic significance of the struggle for the workweek from 30 hours without salary reduction for Brazilian social worker. The struggle of the working class by the reduction of working hours is a historic battle that looms over the centuries, with aspects of achievements and regressions. The achievements reflect the gradual reduction of journey as a victory for workers in the capital versus labor confrontation. At the same time, if it regresses time that capital finds mechanisms to circumvent the reduction of journey through measures that camouflage the character of implicit exploration, stepping up the pace of work, for example. The social worker, while employed, assumes the position in favor of these class interests, as it is inserted into the working class and subject to the same determinations that reach. In this sense, the present study aimed to grasp the socio- historical significance of the struggle that culminated in the Law 12.317/2010, mainly through the organization of the category and the strategies of mobilization CFESS / CRESS whole process. The above Act amended the Act Regulating the Profession (Law 8.662/93) and included an article that indicates the workload of social workers for 30 hours without salary reduction. The research was qualitative type based on the analysis of literature and documents on the subject now exposed. The literature used traced a historical evolution of labor and forms of exploitation and how this was reflected in the Social Services, emphasizing the need to reduce the workload. Also documents, reports, legal opinions, information from the |Observatory of the 30 o´clock| CFESS and CRESS and judicial decisions relating to the reduction of working hours for social workers were used. Finally, the results showed this achievement as reflected not only in the gain of reduced journey for the category in question, but, in general, showed a reflection of achievement in working class as a way to stand against the heightened exploitation of labor and in favor better conditions of life and work, as well as quality of services, as proposed by the professional ethical-political project . Also, pointed out the challenges that the professional category still faces to overcome other issues that are directly linked to the reduction of the working day. / Este estudo possui como objeto de análise o significado sócio-histórico da luta pela jornada de trabalho de 30 horas semanais sem redução salarial para o assistente social brasileiro. A luta da classe trabalhadora pela redução da jornada de trabalho é uma batalha histórica que se delineia ao longo dos séculos, com aspectos de conquistas e regressões. As conquistas refletem a redução gradativa da jornada como uma vitória dos trabalhadores no confronto capital versus trabalho. Ao mesmo tempo, regride-se no momento em que o capital encontra mecanismos de burlar a redução da jornada através de medidas que camuflam o caráter de exploração implícita, com a intensificação do ritmo do trabalho, por exemplo. O assistente social, enquanto trabalhador assalariado, assume o posicionamento em favor desses interesses de classe, visto que está inserido na classe trabalhadora e sujeito às mesmas determinações que a alcançam. Nesse sentido, o estudo em questão teve como objetivo principal apreender o significado sócio-histórico do processo de luta que culminou na Lei 12.317/2010, principalmente por meio da organização da categoria e das estratégias de mobilização do conjunto CFESS/CRESS. A Lei supracitada alterou a Lei de Regulamentação da Profissão (Lei 8.662/93) e incluiu um artigo que indica a jornada de trabalho dos assistentes sociais de 30 horas semanais sem redução salarial. A pesquisa foi do tipo qualitativa, com base em análise de bibliografia e documentos sobre o tema ora exposto. A literatura utilizada traçou um resgate histórico da evolução do trabalho e suas formas de exploração e, como isso, refletiu-se no Serviço Social, enfatizando a necessidade da redução da jornada de trabalho. Foram utilizados também documentos, relatórios, pareceres jurídicos, informações do Observatório das 30 horas do CFESS e dos CRESS e decisões judiciais a respeito da redução da jornada de trabalho para assistentes sociais. Por fim, os resultados evidenciaram como essa conquista refletiu não só no ganho da redução da jornada para a categoria em questão, mas, de modo geral, demonstrou o reflexo da conquista na classe trabalhadora como forma de posicionamento contra a exploração exacerbada do trabalho e a favor de melhores condições de vida e de trabalho, bem como da qualidade dos serviços prestados, como propõe o projeto ético-político profissional. Além disso, apontaram os desafios que a categoria profissional ainda enfrenta para superar outras questões que estão diretamente ligadas à redução da jornada de trabalho.

Overall attitudes, beliefs, and values have been shown to effect how individuals evaluate and process information. This knowledge is important and relevant to the practice of social work. Social workers are expected to put their attitudes, values, and perceptions aside when working with their clients. Attitudes are effecting processing and evaluation of events, therefore, it is imortant to understand the possible implications of workers perceptions and attitudes. Highly embedded attitudes toward transracial adoption, will influenceSocial workers behavior.

Social workers' attitudes, beliefs and values have been shown to effect how they evalute and process gay adoptive parents paperwork.

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Foster care is the best method of alternative care for children that need care and protection. It offers children an atmosphere and environment that recognise their economic, social, educational, health and cultural needs without discrimination. The fundamental objective of foster care is to make sure children are protected and grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Notwithstanding the positive impact that comes with it, it has been confirmed worldwide that foster care suffers from serious deficiencies to an extent that the rights of children are compromised. The Department of Social Development is no exception to foster care backlogs, which result in foster care placement applications accumulating and families’ quality of life being affected and compromised. Social workers are inundated with high caseloads on a daily basis. The study employed qualitative and collective case study design. The non-probability, convenient sampling technique was followed to select twelve statutory social workers at Botlokwa Department of Social Development satellites. Out of these social workers, eight were female and four were male. Data was collected by means of literature review and semi-structured in-depth interviews guided by an interview schedule with open-ended questions. The data was analysed thematically with the help of the Nvivo programme. The study unearthed factors such as shortage of social workers, social auxiliary workers and supervisors, system deficiencies within the children’s court fraternity, insufficient tools of trade, multiple work responsibilities and lack of cooperation from clients as contributing to foster care backlogs. The findings also revealed that in order to cope with these backlogs, some social workers engage in unethical conducts such as comforting clients with lies and not attending to foster care files. Instead, they write process notes and use their own resources to execute their roles and help one another to deal with the backlogs. Therefore, it is recommended that specialisation in foster care, foster care file audit, hiring more social workers, effective working relationship between foster care stakeholders, adopting a computerised reminder system for files due for review, convenient court dates and amendment of form 30 and the advertisement of unknown fathers can be efficient measures to mitigate foster care not only at Botlokwa, but also within the Department of Social Development nationwide. The researcher therefore concludes that foster care backlogs within social work offices is real, and that to curb it requires collaborative efforts x by role players, particularly the Department of Social Development and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Building a good relationship in social work is the most central part of the work. For a new practitioner it’s clearly an important thing, but it seems harder than it looks. This study examines the experiences of newly examined social workers in relationships with clients in Sweden and internationally. The aim of this study is to find out their experiences and how they feel when they in practice try to build a relationship with a client. It’s also an interest to find out if they feel that their education has prepared them well for the challenge and also their opinion about the content of their education. Systematic review was conducted for this paper and the result clearly showed that newly examined social workers felt unprepared and insecure for the many challenges for building a relationship with a client. Their opinions about the educational content was a wish for more practical exercises and more knowledge about communication skills, because it was clearly that they were lacking practical skills. The result also showed the newly examined social workers appreciation when they actually did have practical education. The practical exercises made them feel more confident and secure. This is a global matter regarding social work that needs to be further investigated in order to increase the quality for both newly examined social workers and clients.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The present study is a comparative analysis of social work fieldwork supervision at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) and the University of Limpopo (UL) and has produced a list of implications for policy and practice guidelines. The study adopted a qualitative approach to scientific enquiry. It was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The population of the study consisted of final year student social workers and fieldwork coordinators from UNIVEN and UL. Data was collected by means of semi-structured and focus group interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study’s results demonstrated that most students from both universities had outstanding relationships with their supervisors. The study also found that most students were supervised on an individual basis. Informal and ad hoc methods of supervision sessions were also preferred by supervisors, entailing that, as soon as a supervisor felt like saying something, they would just say it. If was found further that supervision methods lacked supervision structure, whereby it would have been planned and communicated in advance, so that students could contribute to the agenda, have a designated venue, and arrive prepared. Group supervision was found to be a rarely used method. The study also found that most students reported that the frequency of supervisions was once a week, while others felt that supervision occurred every day. Fieldwork supervisors continue to deliver the three major functions of supervision, which are administrative, educational, and supportive. The study found that students had little support from university fieldwork coordinators. The researcher established that field support visits by both universities were unsystematic. The researcher has also established that UL students need financial support in the form of a stipend to cater for costs related to their fieldwork placement, such as transport and food. Furthermore, the researcher found that students from both universities need regular contacts with the university-based supervisors/ coordinators. The study revealed the need to reinforce many critical aspects of fieldwork supervision. These include regular contact, field visits, ensuring formal supervision, ensuring formal orientation of students, and making sure that students are adequately exposed to social work practice. Despite the challenges they face, coordinators continued to play a critical role in ensuring that students were properly placed. Measures must be developed to ensure compliance with policy mandates. The study also found that UL did not have fieldwork practice policies, operating instead by using a manual for practical work dated 2012. Given the fact that the university was operating on a newly accredited BSW programme, this manual is outdated. There is a need to align it for fieldwork with the current BSW curriculum. In response to these findings and loopholes in fieldwork coordination and practice in general, the study recommends that UL develop policies related to fieldwork practice that will guide the department when planning fieldwork-related activities. Although UNIVEN has fieldwork practice and supervision policies in place, their practice lacks compliance with the policies, as reflected in the presentation of study findings in Chapter 10. In response to these inadequacies, the study recommends measures the university could use to ensure compliance. Finally, the study developed a social work fieldwork practice model. It is a six-phase model that includes analysis of historical and cultural dynamics for planning purposes, drafting a concept paper placement plan, broad consultation with the stakeholders, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and post-implementation consultation and termination. Key Words: Fieldwork supervision, fieldwork supervisor, fieldwork coordinator, social work, student social workers / University of Venda (UNIVEN)