Since the accreditation of undergraduate social work programs in 1974, there has been an increasing emphasis and focus on undergraduate education and especially on the content of the curriculum. The fieldwork course has been described by undergraduate students as the most important and useful component of the curriculum. In order to determine the factors that contribute to student satisfaction in field placement, a pilot study was undertaken at George Mason University in 1978. In 1979, the pilot instrument was revised and pre-tested. The Student Practicum Satisfaction Questionnaire (SPSQ) was subsequently developed and utilized in the present study. The SPSQ consists of 27 demographic variables, 73 Likert-type satisfaction items plus three items which provided additional information. One hundred and seventy students responded to the student questionnaire. The program Frequencies was used to address three research questions (1, 3 and 5) which dealt with the demographic characteristics of the Virginia students, their field instructors and placement agencies. The t-test and Multiple Regression Analysis were utilized to address the three research questions (2, 4 and 6) which looked at the relationship between the demographic characteristics and student satisfaction. Pearson correlation was employed to explore the relationship between the expressed explanations of the student perceptions and level of satisfaction. The last research question (8) was addressed through the program Factor Analysis and the factors which made the greatest contribution to the variance of Overall Student Satisfaction were identified. The study results showed that the demographic variable Block Placement made the greatest contribution to student satisfaction. Other demographic variables which were found to be significantly associated with student satisfaction were: GPA (inverse), remuneration, degree of field instructor (inverse), social work (inverse), urban agency, prior training of graduate social work students, of undergraduate social work students (inverse) and variety of tasks. The factor which made the greatest contribution (59.3 percent) to student satisfaction was New Learning or ability to achieve fieldwork objectives. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study is to examine how professionals reason about domestic violence against older individuals with dementia within municipal elderly care. Previous research indicates that violence in intimate relationships against older individuals is a globally growing issue. Research suggests that this issue is often overlooked, which can be interpreted as ageism. Older people are at risk of being seen as a homogeneous group rather than individuals.This may result in neglecting the needs and support of the older individuals. There is a lack of knowledge on the subject of violence in intimate relationships against older individuals with dementia and how professionals experience the situation. In this study, we aim to further explore how professionals describe domestic violence against older individuals with dementia. We also aim to highlight the challenges that professionals face in addressing violence in intimate relationships against older individuals with dementia, as well as the strategies and preventive measures they use in their work on this issue. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews, where five social workers and three unit managers in municipal elderly care participated. The results of the study show that neglect is the most common form of violence against elderly people with dementia. Results also highlight the challenges faced by professionals in working with voluntarism as a basis. Professionals are calling for more initiatives related to support for family members in order to prevent and mitigate violence in close relationships with elderly people with dementia.

Living with separated parents: A study on social workers' views on how parental separation can affect a child  The purpose of the study was to investigate how social workers who worked with children felt that parental separation affected the children. The study also investigated which support measures the interviewees identified were available for these children. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven social workers. The results of the study showed that the interviewees believed that the separation does not necessarily have to affect the child negatively, but that serious conflicts between the parents affected the child negatively. What the interviewees believed was decisive for if the child was affected by the separation was the parents ability to cooperate with each other. Regarding support measures, the interviewees described similar arrangements for most of the support measures. / Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur socialarbetare som arbetade med barn ansåg att föräldrars separation påverkade barnen. Studien undersökte också vilka stödinsatser intervjupersonerna identifierade fanns tillgängliga för dessa barn. Datan samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju socialarbetare. Studiens resultat visade att intervjupersonerna ansåg att separationen inte nödvändigtvis behöver påverka barnet negativt men att allvarliga konflikter mellan föräldrarna påverkade barnet negativt. Det som intervjupersonerna trodde var avgörande för att barnet påverkades var om föräldrarna kunde samarbeta med varandra. Gällande stödinsatser beskrev intervjupersonerna liknande upplägg för de flesta av stödinsatserna.

Social work, as a profession, is critical for societies as it aims to promote social change and development, as well as social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Whereas the working conditions of social workers have been the focus of previous research, the topic of social workers’ personal safety challenges and the coping strategies employed during social work service delivery seems to be sparsely researched and documented in indigenous literature. In view of this, I designed a research project aimed at exploring the personal safety challenges that social workers encounter and the coping strategies they employ during social work service delivery from a qualitative research approach with a collective case study design, coupled with an explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological research design, with a view to proffer suggestions for promoting social workers’ personal safety. From the conception of the research project, up until its finalisation which culminated in this research report, I observed the ethical principles of informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality in the context of the management of information. I employed semi-structured interviews as a data collection method from a sample of 14 purposively selected social workers in the employ of one government Department and three non-profit organisations in the Tshwane region. Data was analysed using Tesch’s (1990) steps and data verification was done through Gibbs’ (2008) model. I utilised Schlossberg’s (1981) Transition Process Model as the theoretical lens in this study. Based on the findings presented in this research report, it is evident that social workers face various challenges in terms of their personal safety, ranging from being physically attacked and being at the receiving end of aggressive behaviour from distressed, frustrated, and hostile service users, to facing risks to their personal safety in the social work offices and whilst on the road during fieldwork or in the communities they serve. The various coping strategies that social workers employ as way of dealing with the incidents and situations in which their personal safety is compromised include speaking to a supervisor, colleagues, friends, or a therapist; using their personal faith; remaining calm and withdrawing from the unsafe situation; and enlisting the help of the police or ensuring that they are accompanied by colleagues when doing fieldwork. The research findings included the suggestions proffered by the research participants on how to promote the personal safety of social workers and these are directed at employer organisations and social workers themselves. In addition, recommendations are provided which are directed towards social work practice; social work education and training; and continuous professional development. There are also recommendations for areas of further research. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Afrikaans text / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die voorkoms en hantering van stressors en stres by welsynsorganisasies in die Boland streek te ondersoek ten einde aanbevelings aan die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies te maak met die oog op voorkoming en vermindering van stres in die werksplek. Vyftien (15) welsynsorganisasies en agtien (18) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek is by die ondersoek betrek. Slegs veertien (14) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsinginligting is met behulp van literatuurstudie en ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat Maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek werkstres ervaar en dat die meeste privaat-; en staatswelsynsorganisasies nie oor programme vir die voorkoming van stres beskik nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies die verantwoordelikheid moet neem om stres in die werksplek te bestuur deur die daarstelling van stres voorkomingstrategieë. / The purpose of this research study was to investigate the occurrence of stressors and stress in the private-; as well as government welfare organisation in the Boland region and to make recommendations to the Management of welfare organisations regarding the prevention and decrease of stress in the workplace. Fifteen (15) welfare organisations with eighteen (18) social work managers were approached, but only fourteen (14) participated in the investigation. The research process was directed by quantitative research and research information being obtained through literature study and a structured questionnaire. With reference to the empirical study, it was established that social workers in the Boland region experience stress in the workplace and most of the welfare organisations do not have stress prevention programmes available for social work personnel. It is recommended that the Management of welfare organisations institute stress management programmes with the focus on management of stress through stress prevention strategies. / Social Work / M.A. (SS)

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The policy statements of South Africa stipulate that students of social work have to be led in an interactive way during teaching and learning in order to prepare them for their career, but also to attain the outcomes of the current tertiary education system of South Africa. These outcomes have, among others, the purpose of empowering students to develop into critical thinkers. During the mentioned teaching and learning process students are given the opportunity of bringing their own diverse frames of reference and experiences to the learning situation and share with one another. Because different inputs are accommodated in the teaching- and learning process, students get the opportunity to appreciate their own diversity, that of their fellow students, as well as the diversity of society. Students can consciously reflect on this and so doing understand theory better and eventually integrate it. Lecturers in social work are not necessarily prepared and equipped to teach effectively within the mentioned context. Although teaching and learning in social work is unique, the effectiveness of the process of teaching and learning depends on the implementation of a suitable teaching style by the lecturer, as well as the fitting of this style to the particular learning style of the students by which empowering teaching and learning is facilitated. In this research, the Huguenot College, Wellington was used as a case study to critically study the application of interactive teaching and learning. A combined qualitative and quantitative research method was used to involve the final year students in social work in an exploratory study. Eight principal themes, including the traditional Christian character of the Huguenot College and the preferred method of study of the students were researched. Significant findings of this study indicate that: • The students in social work at the Huguenot College are of the opinion that the Christian character of this institute should be preserved to play a role in teaching and learning and that the appropriate accommodation of the diverse spiritual needs of the students augments the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process. • The students in social work at the Huguenot College prefer to study according to a combination of the Assimilative Study Method (observe-and-think) and the Convergent Study Method (think-and-do). These two learning styles correspond with the expectations of the outcomes based education system, according to which, among others, students are expected to be critical thinkers in effective teaching and learning. • Lecturers in social work impair the effective handling of diversity during teaching and learning because class discussions on sensitive issues are ignored and the lecturers do not demonstrate adequate knowledge and understanding of the differences among students in a diverse context. In conclusion the recommendations of this study are given as guidelines for lecturers in social work in order to optimize interactive teaching and learning. The most important recommendations resulting from this study indicate that: • The most relevant and appropriate way in which the Christian character of the Huguenot College can be accommodated has to be examined and implemented and the Christian church communities have to become involved in an appropriate way as co-role players in the teaching and learning of prospective social workers. • The course of the historic events at the Huguenot College must be utilized to stimulate the critical thinking process of the students. • Lecturers in social work must make a concerted effort to increase interactive teaching and learning in social work by, for example, fitting the unique learning styles of the students to appropriate teaching styles in a creative way with the view to optimizing the teaching and learning process.

On t.p.: Master of Arts in Social Work (Welfare Programme management) / Thesis (MA(MW))--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Medical social workers working in children's wards are more prone to burnout because of the stressful nature of their work. Because social work requires emotional involvement, it is not uncommon for workers to be emotionally drained and frustrated, which might lead to burnout. Stress amongst social workers is an important issue, as a stressed workforce can negatively affect the quality of service. This study was undertaken with the aim of providing guidelines for handling stress amongst medical social workers working in children's wards, in order to promote job satisfaction and enhance work performance. Chronically ill children who are hospitalised, often suffer from behavioural and emotional problems that require social work intervention, which in turn puts pressure on the social worker. Concurrent stressors on the children and their families may exhaust their normal coping capacity and further complicate the child's adaptation to hospitalisation. The role of the medical social worker is to provide social support to the child and the family in order to promote positive coping in the child during and after hospital treatment. The demands put on the social worker by hospitalised children can cause stress, which could adversely affect their work performance and job satisfaction. Social workers therefore, have to carefully select an appropriate practice framework when dealing with hospitalised children. This entails the selection of appropriate perspectives, theories and models to ensure effective intervention. These frameworks provide structure and directive to social work intervention, and combined with supervision, can promote job satisfaction amongst medical social workers. The study was undertaken amongst medical social workers working in paediatric wards within hospitals in the Cape Metropolitan area. The empirical study focused on an investigation of factors, which might contribute to the experience of burnout amongst the social workers. Work-related stressors playa major role in increasing the likelihood of burnout amongst social workers. If these stressors are not properly dealt with they might lead to burnout amongst medical social workers, which will have a direct bearing on the child's benefit from medical services. A combination of both organisationally based and individually based strategies should be implemented in order to overcome job-related stress and to prevent burnout. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mediese maatskaplike werkers wat in kindersale werk, is meer geneig tot uitbranding as gevolg van die stresvolle aard van hulle werk. Maatskaplike werk vereis emosionele betrokkenheid. Dit is dus nie ongewoon vir maatskaplike werkers om emosioneel gedreineerd en gefrustreerd te voel nie. Laasgenoemde is kenmerke van uitbranding. Oormatige stres by maatskaplike werkers kan 'n negatiewe uitwerking op die kwaliteit van hul dienslewering hê. Hierdie navorsingstudie was onderneem met die oog op die daarstelling van riglyne vir die hantering van stres by mediese maatskaplike werkers, wat in kindersale werk om sodoende werkstevredenheid en -verrigting te bevorder. Kroniese siek kinders wat gehospitaliseer word, presenteer dikwels met gedrags- en emosionele probleme wat uiteraard tydens intervensie addisionele druk op die maatskaplike werker plaas. Gepaardgaande stressors kan daartoe lei dat pasiënte en hul gesinne afwyk van hul normale funksionering wat weer die pasiënt se hanteringsvermoë en aanpassing by die hospitaalopset belemmer. Die rol van die mediese maatskaplike werker is om sosiale ondersteuning aan bogenoemde partye te gee ten einde positiewe hanteringsvermoë tydens en na mediese behandeling, by pasiënte te vestig. Die eise wat deur pasiënte aan maatskaplike werkers gestel word kan stres veroorsaak wat hul werksverrigtinge en tevredenheid negatief kan affekteer. Maatskaplike werkers moet dus versigtig te werk gaan in die keuse van 'n gepaste praktykraamwerk vir intervensie ten opsigte van gehospitaliseerde kinders. 'n Verantwoordbare keuse van perspektiewe, teorieë en modelle lê ten grondslag van effektiewe maatskaplike werk intervensie. Hierdie raamwerke bied struktuur en rigting aan maatskaplike werk intervensie. Laasgenoemde, tesame met Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za superviste kan werkstevredenheid onder mediese maatskaplike werkers bevorder. Stressors wat met werk verband hou, speel 'n groot rol in die toename van uitbranding onder mediese maatskaplike werkers. Indien hierdie stressors nie effektief hanteer word nie, kan dit tot uitbranding by maatskaplike werkers ly wat dan weer die pasiënt se benutting van mediese dienste negatief beïnvloed. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit tien mediese maatskaplike werkers wat werksaam was in paediatriese sale in hospitale binne die Kaapse Metropool. Tydens 'n empiriese ondersoek is gefokus op faktore wat moontlik aanleiding kan gee tot die uitbranding van maatskaplike werkers. Dit word dus aanbeveel dat 'n kombinasie van strategieë van beide die orgarusaste en die persoon geïmplementeer moet word om werksverwante stres te oorkom en dus uitbranding by mediese maatskaplike werkers te voorkom.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates guidelines for a supervision programme for social workers in the service of the Provincial Administration Western Cape, Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation. In practice social work supervision is done at the organizations to develop young social workers' knowledge, skills and attitudes. This will enable them to develop professionally and to work independently. At the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation supervision is also done with newly appointed social workers to empower them to work independently. Supervision in social work is 'n specialized method that enquires specific knowledge and skills. Effective and structured supervision's aim is to better the service rendering to the client. The Department of Social Services' vision and mission is also aimed at the best service rendering to their clients. The Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation has the problem that there is no guidelines to structure the supervision process. There for this research is aimed at the necessacity of guidelines for the practicing of social work supervision to get the results of better service rendering to the clients. To give the guidelines, there was a focus in this research report that includes 'n thorough literature study that describes the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation's structure and the way supervision has been done up till this moment. The nature of supervision is also looked at in a theoretical way to broaden the knowledge of how supervision is supposed to be done. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative an quantitative methods to explore the theoretical part of the research. An explo The fmdings of this study can be used as guidelines in the development of a supervision programme for social workers in the service of the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek riglyne vir 'n supervisieprogram vir maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Provinsiale Administrasie Wes-Kaap, Department Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting. Maatskaplikewerk-supervisie word in die praktyk by organisasies beoefen ten einde jong maatskaplike werkers se kennis, vaardighede en houdings te ontwikkel om die maatskaplike werkers instaat te stel om professioneel te ontwikkel en onafhanklik te werk. By die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting word nuwe maatskaplike werkers ook onderwerp aan supervisie ten einde hulle te bemagtig om onafhanklik hul werk te verrig. Maatskaplikewerk-supervisie is 'n gespesialiseerde metode wat spesifieke kennis en vaardighede vereis. Effektiewe, gestruktureerde supervisie het ten doel beter dienslewering aan die kliëntsisteem. Die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste se visie, missie en beginsels is daarop gerig om die kliëntsisteem van die beste dienste te voorsien. Die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting se dilemma lê juis hierin dat daar nie 'n handleiding met riglyne bestaan ten einde gestruktureerde supervisie te doen nie. Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die noodsaaklikheid van riglyne vir die beoefening van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie ten einde kliëntediens te verbeter. Ten einde riglyne daar te stel, fokus die literatuurstudie op 'n bespreking van die struktuur van die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting en die wyse waarop maatskaplikewerk-supervisie binne hierdie struktuur verrig word. Die aard van supervisie word ook teoreties bespreek ten einde teoretiese kennis uit te brei oor hoe supervisie behoort gedoen te word. Die teoretiese deel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur ontleding en bespreking van die resultate van die ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie is benut en beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om die inligting van respondente te bekom. Die bevindinge en resultate van die ondersoek is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur en sekere aanbevelings is gemaak. Die bevindinge van hiedie studie kan as riglyn gebruik word vir die samestelling van 'n supervisieprogram vir maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates education strategies for field instructors working with undergraduate social work students. Social work students at the University of Stellenbosch receive practical experience and education at welfare institutions as part of their formal education. During this practice education period students are guided and educated by field instructors. Practice education of undergraduate social work students is a demanding responsibility to field instructors and knowledge and skills are required to complete the task successfully. During the practice education period, field instructors are still confronted with their own work pressure and environmental demands in practice, along with the practice education of undergraduate social work students. The basic premise for this research is focused on the importance of the role of field instructors during the field practice period, as well as the importance of continuous education to these field instructors. This research report includes 'n thorough literature study that refers to the knowledge and skills that are required of field instructors for practice eduaction of students. The partnership between the educational institution and practice education agency are discussed and the roles, tasks and expectations of the partners are described in the chapters. Both parties are responsible for the education of field instructors and several educational strategies are examined. As a conclusion, educational strategies for field instructors are discussed and recommendations are made. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the theoretical part of the research. An explorary study was used to obtain the information from respondants. The findings and results of the research are analized and compared with the literature and some recommendations are made. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for the education of field instructors concerned with the education of undergraduate social work students. Field instructors contribute to the education of professional social workers and all parties involved in the education process should bare a responsibilty to participate in field instructors' education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Maatskaplikewerk-studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch word as deel van hul formele opleiding blootgestel aan praktiese ondervinding en -onderrig by welsynsinstansies. Gedurende hierdie praktykonderrigplasing ontvang studente leiding en onderrig van praktykopleiers. Praktykonderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente stel hoë eise aan praktykopleiers en verg kennis en vaardighede om die taak suksesvol uit te voer. Tydens die praktykonderrigperiode word praktykopleiers steeds gekonfronteer met die eise van die werks- en omgewingsdruk in die praktyk, tesame met die praktykonderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die noodsaaklikheid van praktykopleiers se rol tydens die praktykonderrigperiode van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente, sowel as die belangrikheid van voortgesette opleiding aan hierdie praktykopleiers. Ten einde opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers daar te stel, fokus die literatuurstudie op 'n bespreking van die kennis en vaardighede waaroor praktykopleiers moet beskik vir praktykonderrig aan studente. Die vennootskap tussen die opleidingsinstansie en praktykonderrigsinstansie word volledig bespreek en rolle, funksies en verwagtinge van die vennote word aangedui. Beide partye dra 'n verantwoordelikheid teenoor die opleiding van praktykopleiers en moontlike opleidingsmetodes word ondersoek. Ter samevatting word opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers bespreek en aanbevelings word gemaak. Die teoretiese deel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur 'n ontleding en bespreking van die resultate van die ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie is benut en beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om die inligting van respondente te bekom. Die bevindinge en resultate van die ondersoek is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur en sekere aanbevelings is gemaak. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan as riglyn gebruik word vir die opleiding van praktykopleiers wat betrokke is by die onderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Praktykopleiers speel 'n belangrike rol in die opleiding en onderrig van professionele maatskaplike werkers en betrokke partye in die opleidingsproses dra 'n verantwoordelikheid om praktykopleiers toe te rus vir die taak.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education