Parent alienation is an important phenomenon of which family care workers and legal professionals need to take cognisance of and understand. Parent alienation occurs when one parent undermines or prejudices the contact and relationship between the child and the other parent without well-founded reasons. The phenomenon parent alienation mainly occurs in the high-conflict divorce and is often accompanied by care- and contact disputes. The aim of this research is to investigate the father’s experience and perceptions of parent alienation due to high-conflict divorce so that it can lead to social workers providing the targeted father with more appropriate assistance. In this qualitative study the exploratory and interpretative research design was used. Six fathers were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was collected by means of an in-depth interview with each participant individually as well as field notes made by the researcher. The qualitative data obtained was transcribed and processed by hand in themes. Eight themes were identified from the fathers’ experience and perceptions of parent alienation due to high-conflict divorce. The themes are: Theme 1: Perception of intense pain Theme 2: Unparalleled rage Theme 3: Loss of self-esteem Theme 4: Distrust in women Theme 5: Parental responsibilities and rights Theme 6: Consistent concern about their children’s physical and social well-being Theme 7: Distrust in the court system Theme 8: Supervision and contact It is clear from the research that fathers experience parent alienation in several levels of functioning as traumatic or negative. It appeared from the findings that parent alienation is a reality and the necessity for further research on this phenomenon clearly came to the fore. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Parent alienation is an important phenomenon of which family care workers and legal professionals need to take cognisance of and understand. Parent alienation occurs when one parent undermines or prejudices the contact and relationship between the child and the other parent without well-founded reasons. The phenomenon parent alienation mainly occurs in the high-conflict divorce and is often accompanied by care- and contact disputes. The aim of this research is to investigate the father’s experience and perceptions of parent alienation due to high-conflict divorce so that it can lead to social workers providing the targeted father with more appropriate assistance. In this qualitative study the exploratory and interpretative research design was used. Six fathers were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was collected by means of an in-depth interview with each participant individually as well as field notes made by the researcher. The qualitative data obtained was transcribed and processed by hand in themes. Eight themes were identified from the fathers’ experience and perceptions of parent alienation due to high-conflict divorce. The themes are: Theme 1: Perception of intense pain Theme 2: Unparalleled rage Theme 3: Loss of self-esteem Theme 4: Distrust in women Theme 5: Parental responsibilities and rights Theme 6: Consistent concern about their children’s physical and social well-being Theme 7: Distrust in the court system Theme 8: Supervision and contact It is clear from the research that fathers experience parent alienation in several levels of functioning as traumatic or negative. It appeared from the findings that parent alienation is a reality and the necessity for further research on this phenomenon clearly came to the fore. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for the support of newly qualified nurses to ease their transition from student to professional practitioners in Lesotho; based on an exploration and description of the newly qualified nurses’ first hand experience of their transition from student to professional practitioners in a public hospital in Lesotho. The rationale behind the study was the researcher’s perception of an attitude change observed in the newly qualified professional practitioners. An explorative, descriptive, contextual, qualitative research design was chosen. The sample included all newly qualified professional nurses who worked in a public hospital in Lesotho for a period of one year or less. Data collection took place by means of semi–structured individual interviews with ten (10) participants and a focus group interview with eight (8) of the original participants. Content analysis of the data in the qualitative tradition was independently done by two coders who identified four (4) themes and ten (10) sub–themes. The first theme was described as reality shock, including the sub–themes emotional reactions and limited resources. The second theme, competence, includes the sub–themes of knowledge, skills and attitude. A third theme describes the participants experience of the support from management, colleagues, the Ministry of Health and Social welfare, nursing educational institutions and the community. The fourth theme describes the participants’ vision for the future. Each of the themes was discussed together with relevant data obtained from literature and reduced to a conclusive statement which served as basis for the formulation of guidelines to ease the transition from student to professional practitioner in Lesotho. The research report concluded with the researcher’s evaluation of the study and recommendations for nursing education, nursing management and further research. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for the support of newly qualified nurses to ease their transition from student to professional practitioners in Lesotho; based on an exploration and description of the newly qualified nurses’ first hand experience of their transition from student to professional practitioners in a public hospital in Lesotho. The rationale behind the study was the researcher’s perception of an attitude change observed in the newly qualified professional practitioners. An explorative, descriptive, contextual, qualitative research design was chosen. The sample included all newly qualified professional nurses who worked in a public hospital in Lesotho for a period of one year or less. Data collection took place by means of semi–structured individual interviews with ten (10) participants and a focus group interview with eight (8) of the original participants. Content analysis of the data in the qualitative tradition was independently done by two coders who identified four (4) themes and ten (10) sub–themes. The first theme was described as reality shock, including the sub–themes emotional reactions and limited resources. The second theme, competence, includes the sub–themes of knowledge, skills and attitude. A third theme describes the participants experience of the support from management, colleagues, the Ministry of Health and Social welfare, nursing educational institutions and the community. The fourth theme describes the participants’ vision for the future. Each of the themes was discussed together with relevant data obtained from literature and reduced to a conclusive statement which served as basis for the formulation of guidelines to ease the transition from student to professional practitioner in Lesotho. The research report concluded with the researcher’s evaluation of the study and recommendations for nursing education, nursing management and further research. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

ENGLISH : Modern fathers often insist that men and women receive equal child rearing responsibilities during marriage and after divorce. It is therefore important to an increasing number of fathers in divorce proceedings, to be considered in the ruling over custody of the child/ren. Research with reference to single fathers and as head of a family was until recently limited. The goal of the research was to explore the experiences of single parenthood by the father with custody of children in their middle childhood years. A qualitative research approach was considered as the most appropriate approach for this study, since the aim of the study was to understand “the world” of the divorced father with custody of his child/ren in their middle childhood years. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to determine how single fathers experience parenthood and how it influences their lives. Through purposive sampling six (N=6) single fathers with custody of their child/ren in their middle childhood years were involved in the study. The researcher conducted a semistructured interview with each of the identified fathers. The researcher managed to compile a theoretical framework regarding custody, the effect of the divorce on a parent as well as the child/ren in the middle childhood years and the experience of single parenthood by the single father, by means of a literature study and discussions with experts. A decade ago, single parent families with the father as the head were a rare phenomenon. The situation is starting to change as the courts are more willing to grant divorced fathers custody of their child/ren. In the past, it was the norm that custody of the children was automatically granted to mothers. At present, the courts are using the best interest of the child/ren; and the ability of a parent to care for the child/ren as guideline. Since it is not always easy for the court to determine which parent should be granted custody of the child/ren, reports from social workers as well as the family advocate are requested. If one of the parties oppose the ruling, a report from a psychologist may be requested. During the empirical study, the data was analysed. The semi-structured interviews made it possible for the researcher to follow up particular themes that emerged from the interviews, while the participants were able to give a fuller picture. Each of the interviews was transcribed and processed according to Creswell’s qualitative data-analysing process. In view of the research information the researcher reached the conclusion that the fathers are successfully fulfilling their roles as single parents. The single fathers do experience role strain but with the assistance of their established support systems they manage to master their roles and tasks. As devoted fathers they wanted to continue full-time parenting after their divorce. The fathers are willing to make the necessary sacrifices and changes that come with single parenthood. They acknowledge that there are challenges but that the positive outweighs the negative. For future research, it is recommended that a bigger sample of single fathers with custody of their child/ren in their middle childhood years should be researched to obtain representative data in terms of fathers’ experiences of single parenthood. The father’s child/ren, family members and domestic workers can also be included in future research in order to provide valuable information about the role of the single father and the impact on the father’s functioning. AFRIKAANS : Hedendaagse vaders dring dikwels daarop aan dat mans en vroue gelyke kinderopvoedingsverantwoordelikhede geniet tydens getroude lewe en ná egskeiding. Dit is gevolglik vir ‘n toenemende aantal vaders in egskeidingsgedinge belangrik om in aanmerking geneem te word met die beslissing oor die beheer en toesig van die kind/ers. Navorsing met betrekking tot vaders as enkelouers en hoof van die gesin, was tot onlangs beperk. Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die belewenis van enkelouerskap deur die vader met beheer en toesig oor kinders in die middelkinderjare te ondersoek. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is as die geskikste navorsingsbenadering vir hierdie studie beskou aangesien die doel van die studie was om die geskeide vaders, wat beheer en toesig verkry het oor hulle kind/ers in die middelkinderjare, se leefwêrelde te begryp. Voorts is daar met die studie beoog om vas te stel hoe geskeide vaders enkelouerskap beleef en hulle lewens daardeur beïnvloed word. Ses (N=6) geskeide vaders aan wie beheer en toesig van middeljarige kind/ers toegeken is, is deur middel van ‘n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking by die ondersoek betrek. Die navorser het met elk van hierdie vaders ‘n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud gevoer. Met behulp van literatuurstudie en gesprekke met kundiges het die navorser daarin geslaag om ‘n teoretiese raamwerk saam te stel ten opsigte van beheer en toesig, die effek van egskeiding op ‘n ouerpaar en ‘n kind in die middelkinderjare, asook die belewenis van enkelouerskap deur die vader. Tien jaar gelede was enkelouergesinne met ‘n vader aan die hoof ‘n vreemde verskynsel. Die situasie is egter besig om te verander soos die howe geredeliker beheer en toesig van kinders aan geskeide vaders toevertrou. In die verlede was die norm dat beheer en toesig van kinders outomaties aan moeders toegeken word. Tans gebruik howe egter die kind/ers se belange, en die ouers se vermoë om na die kind/ers om te sien, as riglyn. Aangesien dit nie altyd maklik is om te bepaal watter ouer beheer en toesig oor die kind/ers behoort te kry nie, word verslae deur maatskaplike werkers, asook ‘n aanbeveling van die gesinsadvokaat aangevra. Indien een van die partye die bevindinge teëstaan kan ‘n verslag deur ‘n sielkundige aangevra word. Tydens die empiriese studie is die inligting geanaliseer. Die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude het die navorser in staat gestel om sekere temas, wat tydens die onderhoude na vore gekom het, op te volg, terwyl die respondente in staat gestel is om hul omvattende verhaal te vertel. Elk van die onderhoude is getranskribeer en ooreenkomstig Cresswell se kwalitatiewe data-analiseproses verwerk. Op grond van die navorsingsbevindinge kom die navorser tot die gevolgtrekking dat vaders hulle goed van hul taak kwyt as enkelouers. Die enkelvaders ervaar rolspanning, maar met behulp van goed gevestigde ondersteuningstelsels slaag hulle daarin om die rolle en take te bemeester. As toegewyde vaders wou hulle graag hul ouerskap voortsit ná die egskeiding. Die vaders is bereid om die nodige opofferinge en veranderinge te maak wat ouerskap van hulle vereis. Hulle erken wel dat dit nie sonder uitdagings is nie, maar die positiewe weeg vir hulle meer as die negatiewe. Vir toekomstige navorsing word aanbeveel dat navorsers op ‘n groter aantal enkelouervaders met beheer en toesig oor hulle kind/ers in die middelkinderjare fokus om sodoende meer verteenwoordigende inligting te bekom oor hierdie vaders se belewenis van enkelouerskap. Die vaders se kind/ers, familielede, vriende en huishulpe kan ook betrek word by toekomstige navorsing, aangesien hulle waardevolle inligting kan verskaf oor die rol van die enkelvader en die impak daarvan op sy funksionering. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

This study investigated the clinical accompaniment of nursing students in a rural hospital. Nursing students are allocated to clinical facilities for clinical exposure and learning opportunities; to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills and professional socialization under guidance and support from professional practitioners. Although the rural hospital, as context for this study, provides unique and challenging learning opportunities for clinical teaching and learning, the environment as such and the relationship between the stakeholders (nursing students and professional nurses) seem to be questionable and not conducive for learning. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design served as framework for this study. Data was collected by means of semi–structured focus–group interviews with samples selected from two (2) populations of stakeholders with first hand experience of the clinical accompaniment of nursing students allocated to the rural hospital for clinical exposure and learning. The first sample consisted of thirteen (n=13) nursing students and the second sample consisted of professional nurses (n=6) directly involved in the clinical accompaniment of the nursing students. The focus of the interviews was the participants' experience of the clinical accompaniment in a specific rural hospital. Data was analyzed by means of the process of content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Three (3) themes and eight (8) subthemes emerged from the data collected from the nursing students. The data collected from the professional nurses resulted in five (5) themes and eleven (11) subthemes. The collected data was integrated with relevant national and international literature to culminate in eight (8) conclusive statements. The conclusive statements served as basis for the proposal of guidelines to improve the clinical accompaniment of nursing students in a rural hospital and to enhance learning in the clinical practice area. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This study investigated the clinical accompaniment of nursing students in a rural hospital. Nursing students are allocated to clinical facilities for clinical exposure and learning opportunities; to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills and professional socialization under guidance and support from professional practitioners. Although the rural hospital, as context for this study, provides unique and challenging learning opportunities for clinical teaching and learning, the environment as such and the relationship between the stakeholders (nursing students and professional nurses) seem to be questionable and not conducive for learning. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design served as framework for this study. Data was collected by means of semi–structured focus–group interviews with samples selected from two (2) populations of stakeholders with first hand experience of the clinical accompaniment of nursing students allocated to the rural hospital for clinical exposure and learning. The first sample consisted of thirteen (n=13) nursing students and the second sample consisted of professional nurses (n=6) directly involved in the clinical accompaniment of the nursing students. The focus of the interviews was the participants' experience of the clinical accompaniment in a specific rural hospital. Data was analyzed by means of the process of content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Three (3) themes and eight (8) subthemes emerged from the data collected from the nursing students. The data collected from the professional nurses resulted in five (5) themes and eleven (11) subthemes. The collected data was integrated with relevant national and international literature to culminate in eight (8) conclusive statements. The conclusive statements served as basis for the proposal of guidelines to improve the clinical accompaniment of nursing students in a rural hospital and to enhance learning in the clinical practice area. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Research regarding the imprisonment of a family member has mainly focused on the effects of parental imprisonment on the children in that family. Literature indicates that the child of an imprisoned parent has to deal with numerous challenges, including stigma and shame related to their parent‟s arrest and imprisonment. Other common feelings these children might experience include anger, confusion and sadness. Furthermore these children often experience pressure related to keeping the imprisonment a secret from those close to them. These children might also face multiple separations from the imprisoned parent, experience changes with regards to residence, school and friendships, adoption of adult roles and responsibilities, financial distress, lack of supervision and more. When compared to literature regarding parental imprisonment relatively few studies have been done on the effects of imprisonment on the family as a whole, especially in the South African context. The available research indicates there are numerous implications for the family as a whole. Some of these implications include stigma, financial stress, role changes within the family, relational problems between family members (including extended family), challenges in dealing with the criminal justice system and emotional distress (feelings of loneliness, anxiety, isolation and worry). The aim of this study was to explore and describe the changes that take place in family functioning when a member of that family is imprisoned as they are perceived by the members of the nuclear family. A qualitative description (descriptive) research approach was used in this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Six voluntary participants (all family members of imprisoned individuals) from four families were recruited. Participants were aged between 15 and 75, consisted of one male and five females. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. These interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. Initial questions for the semi-structured interviews were obtained using the McMaster Model of Family Functioning as a guiding framework. Therefore, first deductive (directed) content analysis was used, after which thematic analysis was then done on the transcribed data. From the analysis two main themes and nine subthemes emerged. It was found that participants relied more on their family members for problem solving, were generally more open-hearted and honest with their communication towards each other while limiting potentially distressing communication and they experienced changes in the roles and responsibilities within the family. Participants also reported experiencing new emotions (positive and negative) and experienced increased support, understanding and involvement from their family members. They furthermore experienced changes in behaviour control and household rules ranging from rigid to laissez-faire and often fluctuating between these. Some participants reported experiencing more support from outside the family. Participants furthermore reported feeling stigmatised and isolated within their communities. They also experienced gaining resilience and inner strength and found strength through their religious beliefs. The findings of this study can‟t be generalized due to the limited demographic variability and small sample size. Limited research is available regarding the changes in family functioning after the imprisonment of a family member in the family as a whole, especially in the South African context. The identification of religion and resilience (as subthemes identified from the data) as they relate to coping is probably the most important contribution of this study as it is not discussed in any of the models of family functioning mentioned in this study, including the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. It is recommended that further research focus on both resilience and religion as they relate to coping and possibly contribute to family functioning after the imprisonment of a family member. It is furthermore suggested that specific intervention programs be developed to help families function effectively after the imprisonment of a family member. These intervention programs might include group work with different families or working with individual families either with skills development, psycho-education or therapeutically. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Research regarding the imprisonment of a family member has mainly focused on the effects of parental imprisonment on the children in that family. Literature indicates that the child of an imprisoned parent has to deal with numerous challenges, including stigma and shame related to their parent‟s arrest and imprisonment. Other common feelings these children might experience include anger, confusion and sadness. Furthermore these children often experience pressure related to keeping the imprisonment a secret from those close to them. These children might also face multiple separations from the imprisoned parent, experience changes with regards to residence, school and friendships, adoption of adult roles and responsibilities, financial distress, lack of supervision and more. When compared to literature regarding parental imprisonment relatively few studies have been done on the effects of imprisonment on the family as a whole, especially in the South African context. The available research indicates there are numerous implications for the family as a whole. Some of these implications include stigma, financial stress, role changes within the family, relational problems between family members (including extended family), challenges in dealing with the criminal justice system and emotional distress (feelings of loneliness, anxiety, isolation and worry). The aim of this study was to explore and describe the changes that take place in family functioning when a member of that family is imprisoned as they are perceived by the members of the nuclear family. A qualitative description (descriptive) research approach was used in this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Six voluntary participants (all family members of imprisoned individuals) from four families were recruited. Participants were aged between 15 and 75, consisted of one male and five females. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. These interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. Initial questions for the semi-structured interviews were obtained using the McMaster Model of Family Functioning as a guiding framework. Therefore, first deductive (directed) content analysis was used, after which thematic analysis was then done on the transcribed data. From the analysis two main themes and nine subthemes emerged. It was found that participants relied more on their family members for problem solving, were generally more open-hearted and honest with their communication towards each other while limiting potentially distressing communication and they experienced changes in the roles and responsibilities within the family. Participants also reported experiencing new emotions (positive and negative) and experienced increased support, understanding and involvement from their family members. They furthermore experienced changes in behaviour control and household rules ranging from rigid to laissez-faire and often fluctuating between these. Some participants reported experiencing more support from outside the family. Participants furthermore reported feeling stigmatised and isolated within their communities. They also experienced gaining resilience and inner strength and found strength through their religious beliefs. The findings of this study can‟t be generalized due to the limited demographic variability and small sample size. Limited research is available regarding the changes in family functioning after the imprisonment of a family member in the family as a whole, especially in the South African context. The identification of religion and resilience (as subthemes identified from the data) as they relate to coping is probably the most important contribution of this study as it is not discussed in any of the models of family functioning mentioned in this study, including the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. It is recommended that further research focus on both resilience and religion as they relate to coping and possibly contribute to family functioning after the imprisonment of a family member. It is furthermore suggested that specific intervention programs be developed to help families function effectively after the imprisonment of a family member. These intervention programs might include group work with different families or working with individual families either with skills development, psycho-education or therapeutically. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Statutory social work is a mode of intervention within social work which poses many emotional and physical challenges to social workers. Social workers execute the implementing of the Children's Act (Act 38 of 2005) through the statutory removal process and they are the primary facilitators of this process. The goal of the statutory removal process is to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation by their biological parents or carers. Although research has been done previously about the experiences of social workers with regards to the statutory removal process, the research was limited to studies in America and England. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of social workers concerning the statutory removal process in South Africa in order to determine what the influences of these experiences were on the implementation of the statutory removal process. The research study is a qualitative study and a phenomenological strategy was followed to determine the social workers' experiences of the statutory removal process. The researcher made use of non-probability sampling through purposeful sampling to select participants for the study. Unstructured interviews were conducted with 26 social workers who are directly involved with the statutory removal of children. Interviewing took place until a saturation point was reached in the study. All interviews were transcribed for the purpose of data analyses, after which themes and sub-themes were identified. The themes and sub-themes were verified against existing literature, after which conclusions and recommendations were made. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014