M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Master of Public Health - MPH / Background: The repercussions of being HIV positive coupled by the complications of antiretroviral therapy are likely to cause distress, emotional and psychological problems particularly among children infected by the virus. The limited support services for children experiencing distress intensify the urgency to address this challenge. Despite the availability of social workers and nurses' interventions currently in place, the number of children in need of psychological care continues to increase. This is particularly true at Deborah Retief Memorial (DRM) hospital, one of the main antiretroviral therapy facilities in Kgatleng district, Botswana. Method: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of social workers, nurses and caregivers on key factors contributing to psychological distress of HIV positive children. A descriptive, exploratory qualitative study design that employed the use of in-depth interviews was used to conduct this study. Participants included four caregivers of HIV positive children who seek antiretroviral therapy at DRM hospital Infectious Diseases Control Clinic, together with five nurses and two social workers who worked in the same clinic. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the in-depth interview transcripts. Results: Perceived psychological stressors for HIV positive children included disclosure of HIV status, orphanhood, social problems, lifelong treatment, stigma, poor caregiver-child relationship and lack of caregiver‟s love, care and support. However the caregivers did not fully understand the psychological distress the HIV positive children were experiencing, hence were unable to recognize it in these children. The study highlighted that major challenges faced by the health-workers included lack of qualified personnel, lack of adequate knowledge and skills, and a non-conducive working environment required to effectively assist children with psychological distress. The findings also indicated the need for education and support of caregivers and HIV positive children by the educators, family and health-worker systems. Conclusion: The profile of key stressors of psychological distress, the challenges and support needs suggested by the participants in this study can provide a framework for improving the existing services for HIV positive children with psychosocial problems. This information is important for use in training nurses and social workers involved with children with psychological behaviours.

The introduction of a new policy and approach to South Africa’s welfare system saw a shift in focus and advancement made towards, the redress of past socio-economic imbalances which was brought on by apartheid laws and legislations which deliberately discriminated against South Africa’s majority groups. Within this new welfare system, came the introduction of The White Paper for Social Development (1997) which advances Developmental Social Welfare as the new approach to social welfare in South Africa.The body of literature around this approach focuses on transformation of welfare services since the adaptation of the new developmental welfare policy in 1997. Amongst scholars there is consensus on the need to continuously explore and to make an analysis of the transformation process advocated by this new approach. Interests in recent times suggest the need to bench mark the transformation process against a set of indicators. This and the study of available literature resulted in this qualitative, exploratory-descriptive and contextual research study with the following goal: To contribute to the proposed evaluation of the implementation of the developmental social welfare approach by measuring progress towards developmental social welfare through social workers’ perceptions and experiences. On the backdrop of the research goal a qualitative research approach was used. A purposive sampling method was used to draw participants from two Non-governmental organisations in Pretoria. Data was collected by means of two focus group interviews and two individual interviews which were tape recorded for data analysis. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was done using Tesch’s model for data analysis and the findings were displayed in the form of themes subthemes and categories. Data verification occurred in reference to Guba’s model for trustworthiness. The researcher then drew conclusions from this analysis of data and used literature control to discuss the findings. Through these processes this research presents findings in relation to social workers perceptions of the concept of developmental social welfare, their perception on the implementation progress of the developmental social welfare approach, perceptions on Indicators of developmental social work and social welfare and in relation to the principles of the proposed framework by Patel and Hochfeld (2008).

Traditionally, one of the major characteristics of established professions such as medicine and law has been the possession of a Code of Ethics. The last three decades have seen the formulation of Codes of Ethics by many new professions and semi-professions as well as by many of the service occupations. In view of the intense concern of these professions, semi-professions and service occupations with the formation of codes of ethics, we set out to examine the codes of three professions to ascertain their functional significance both to the professions themselves and to the public. The rationale for the choice of the three professions of Medicine, Social Work, and Librarianship lay in their being professions whose codes of ethics were in different stages of development. A theoretical framework formulated in the first chapter was used in the following three chapters to examine the judicial viability of the codes of ethics of these professions. As main features of this analysis, we considered the formulation, promulgation, administration, review and revision procedures, jurisdiction, and implications for social policy of the codes. On the basis of the analysis and discussion of the codes of ethics studied we drew the conclusion that many of the existing codes are, to a great extent, deplorably non-specific and even rhetorical. It would therefore seem to be desirable that some measures should be taken to improve the judicial viability of these Codes; and we have made a number of recommendations calculated to achieve this end. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Hoffmann, Walter Paul Fritz; Humphrey, Patricia McLean; Thompson, Douglas Terrence / Graduate

This study examines two groups, Native and Non-Native Canadians, in terms of three research questions: (a) what do they identify as a problem or concern, (b) who do they seek out for assistance, and (c) what are the preferred qualities of the helper. The sample group was comprised of 255 subjects aged 13-15, and 108 subjects aged 18-20 from Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Native subjects represented 25% of this sample group. Though Native and Non-Native respondents identified similar problems, differences were noted in the selection of helper and preferred qualities of a helper. Native respondents preferred helpers within the family and valued different helper qualities than their Non-Native counterparts. Implications of this study are discussed with respect to, (a) contributing to existing literature in cross-cultural counselling, (b) assisting practising counsellors by providing information about client expectations and (c) contributing to the development of cross-cultural counselling education programs. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

M.A (Clinical Social Work) / The Department of Health and Social Development (DHSD) has the crucial mandate of protecting the vulnerable groups within society. These include women, children and people living with disabilities. In order to attain this, DHSD has employed social workers and other social service professionals to render the required services. Sexual abuse is a violent crime that is committed on children, who form part of the vulnerable groups. This study aims to determine social workers’ perception of their role in the management of child sexual abuse in the West Rand, Gauteng. It further aims to make recommendations that will enhance social workers’ intervention with sexually abused children. Kantrowitz and Okun’s (2008) framework of the roles of social workers was considered when analyzing participants’ perceptions of their roles in intervening with sexually abused children. The concepts relevant to the study included social workers’ perceptions and social work roles. The research approach of the study was qualitative, as the goal was to describe and analyse social workers’ perceptions of their roles. The findings indicated that social workers were not clear on their roles when rendering services to sexually abused children. They do not utilise evidence-based tools, and they end up doing tasks that are supposed to be done by other service providers, such as parents or care givers. They furthermore do not feel confident to render therapeutic services, and require training and support in this regard. Recommendations made to DHSD included providing continuous training and debriefing sessions to social workers.

M.A. / Social, political and economical changes in modern society, as well as the growing need for aid and assistance, have resulted in the questioning of the work procedures within the social services of the Dutch Reformed Church. This has motivated the researcher to do research on the productivity and effectiveness of the Christelik-maatskaplike raad (CMR) as a branch of the "Sinodale Kommissie vir die Diens van Barmhartigheid" of Northern Transvaal. The investigation was undertaken by identifying a strategic productivity model in the literature and applying that model to the CMR of Pretoria. A qualitative, as well as a quantitative approach has been used and the study can be described as exploratory/descriptive. The literature ·study indicated that not only physical but also human factors influence the productivity within the organisation. A description was given of the physical set-up of the organisation and of the attempts that have been made to improve productivity. It was found that a large number of these factors do indeed play a role in the organisation. The findings showed that social workers are aware of the necessary changes that must occur to create a better productivity function. Recommendations were made concerning the changes of the work procedure of the CMR, in order to improve the quality of the services rendered and to eliminate the factors that have had a detrimental influence on the productivity of the organisation.

Abstract Therefore, we remain, despite everything Factors affecting social workers to remain in the workplace       In studies conducted in the social welfare a complex picture regarding the social workers' job situation. The work of the public authority is complex and place high demands on the individual social worker. Social workers has a complex worksituation at the same time as many of the social offices has a high staff turnover and many teams go understaffed. Both in Sweden and internationally, many social workers choose to change jobs or to completely leave the social services because of the tough work situation. However, there are the social workers who choose to remain in their jobs despite a heavy workload and staff turnover. In the light of the social service current work situation, the question which factors make the social worker chooses to remain in the workplace. In this qualitative study, 12 social workers who have choosed to remain in their workplace been interviewed and the answers were then interpreted from a hermeneutic approach. The result shows that the work situation is tough as a social worker and that there are several factors that individually and together have an influence on choosing to remain in the workplace. The work- and work groups importance in combination with good management within organizations and a clear, empathetic and competent leadership and support in various forms are factors that are crucial to remain in the workplace.       Keywords: turnover, intention to quit, retention, social services, social workers, work conditions, satisfaction

Afrikaans: Tydens elke ontwikkelingsfase ervaar die mens unieke uitdagings waarvan adolessensie 'n besonder uitdagende fase van die mens se lewe is. In hierdie fase ervaar adolessente onder andere veranderinge wat in hulle eie liggame plaasvind, wat hulle uiteindelik moet aanvaar en inkorporeer as deel van hulle selfkonsep. Hulle moet by die verwisseling van laerskool na hoërskool aanpas, die verandering van die verhouding tussen adolessent en ouer waartydens die adolessent streef na onafhanklikheid akkommodeer en verskeie kognitiewe vaardighede bemeester. Die grootste ontwikkelingskrisis waardeur die adolessent moet beweeg, is egter die soeke na 'n eie identiteit. Die adolessent moet 'n sintese vind tussen die pole van identiteit en identiteitsverwarring. Die ideale sintese is betroubaarheid. Adolessente se soeke na 'n eie identiteit bring mee dat hulle in hierdie fase van hulle lewens eerder vir ondersteuning op hulle vriende sal staatmaak en ongelukkig dikwels aan dwelms, alkohol, vroeë seksuele aktiwiteite en die okkulte blootgestel word. Faktore wat hiermee saamgaan, is tienerswangerskappe, prostitusie, seksueeloordraagbare siektes, skoolverlating en haweloosheid. Die adolessent vertrou dikwels die jeugwerker met sy/haar behoeftes aangesien die jeugwerker gereeld saam met die adolessent belewenisse meemaak en jonk van gees is. Sekere jeugwerkers voel soms onseker en onkundig om die adolessent se probleme in totaliteit aan te spreek. Die onkundige gevoel en gebrek aan selfvertroue kan onder andere toegeskryf word aan ontoereikende vakkundige opleiding in berading. Aangesien die maatskaplike werker aansienlik meer in diepte vakkundige opleiding in berading ontvang, meestal vir vier (4) jaar, is die maatskaplike werker geïdentifiseer as 'n moontlike ondersteuningsisteem vir jeugwerkers wat met adolessente werk. Daar is 'n verkennende studie met die doel om 'n ondersteuningsisteem vir jeugwerkers in hulle werk met adolessente binne kerkverband te ontwikkel, geloods. Tydens hierdie studie is daar semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met elf (11) respondente gevoer. Vier areas waarin die maatskaplike werker moontlik die jeugwerker kan ondersteun is geïdentifiseer, naamlik konsultasie met die jeugwerker oor adolessente, verwysing van adolessente na 'n maatskaplike werker, deurlopende opleiding deur 'n maatskaplike werker aan jeugwerkers en konsultasie vir jeugwerkers in terme van persoonlike en professionele groei. Hierdie vier areas is in die onderhoudskedule geïnkorporeer en resultate van die onderhoude is verwerk. Die ondersteuningsisteem wat die maatskaplike werker aan die jeugwerker kan bied is beskryf aan die hand van Carl Rogers se persoongesentreerde benadering. Daar is ook aandag geskenk aan die jeugwerker en die historiese ontwikkeling van jeugwerk in Suid Afrika sowel as in die buiteland. Jeugwerk as professie behels ongereelde en ongewone werksure, dikwels ontoereikende salarisse, onduidelike vereistes rondom take van die jeugwerker en emosionele betrokkenheid en inspanning. Daar is bevind dat die maatskaplike werker 'n belangrike rol in die ondersteuning van jeugwerkers kan vervul ten einde meer effektiewe hulpverlening aan die adolessent te bied. English: A human being will experience challenges in every one of life's development phases. Of these developmental phases adolescence is an incredible challenging phase. As part of this phase adolescents experience changes to their bodies and have to except it and make it part of their self concept. The adolescent also has to deal with moving between primary and secondary school, learn to handle parent-child relationships while striving towards independence, and still master an amount of cognitive skills. The search for identity is however the greatest crisis to handle during this development phase. Here the adolescent must find a synthesis between the two opposites: identity and identity confusion. The ideal synthesis between these opposites is fidelity. It is exactly this search for their identity that urges the adolescent to seek support and advise from their peergroup. Unfortunately this advise often leads to the misuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as early sexual activity, and occultic practices. The above mentioned could lead to teenage pregnancies, prostitution, sexualy transmitted diseases, homelessness and leaving school early. Because the youth worker is young and youthful and also experiences events with the adolescent, adolescents will often trust the youth worker with their needs and problems. Some youth workers is unsure and lacks enough knowledge to deal with the adolescent's problems in totality. This lack of selfassurance could be a reflexion on the amount and dept of training received on guidance or counselling. The social worker receives sufficient training in councelling, mostly for four years, and are therefore identified as a possible support system for the youth worker working with adolescents. An exploratory research design was used with the main purpose of the study to develop a support system for youth workers working with adolescents in church. During this study eleven (11) participants were interviewed using an unstructured interview with a schedule. The four areas of support that were identified, were: consultation with the social worker about adolescent needs and problems, reference of adolescents to the social worker, continious training opportunities for the youth worker presented by the social worker, and the debriefing of youth workers to gain personal and professional growth. These four areas were included in the interview schedule and the results were analysed and interpreted. The above mentioned support system for youth workers is described by using the person-centred approach of Carl Rogers. Attention was also given to the historical development of youth work as a profession. Unusual and irregular working hours, inadequate salaries, unclear job descriptions, and emotional involvement and effort is often part of being a youth worker. It was concluded that the social worker can play an important role in the support system of youth workers to enable them to help adolescents in all their social needs and problems. / Dissertation (MSD (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Magister Artium - MA / This research explored the experiences and perceptions of the performance appraisal systems in place and its value to social workers within the Department: Social Services and Poverty Alleviation: Provincial Government of the Western Cape. / South Africa