Transformation of social service delivery began after 1994 with the establishment of the Reconstruction Development Programme. It was followed by the commitments made in the World Summit on Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995) with the emphasis on sustainable development. The Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services (1999) was introduced as a transformation tool to implement the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997). The researcher is working as a social worker in Tembisa and discovered in practice that there is little evidence of the transformation of social welfare services as stipulated in the Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services (1999). This study was part of a team effort among four researchers to investigate the impact of the Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services (1999) on service delivery in different communities in Gauteng. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services (1999) on service delivery in Tembisa from the perspective of service providers. A quantitative research approach was utilized and data was gathered through a questionnaire. From the research findings, it was concluded that, although service providers have made progress with regard to transformation of social services to a developmental approach, many challenges remain with regard to fast tracking this transformation process. Recommendations based on the research findings and conclusions of the study indicated that transformation of social service delivery to a developmental approach depends on clearly defined guidelines to give direction to service providers on how to transform social services to a developmental approach. These guidelines should include training, partnerships, communication forums, monitoring and evaluation and practice of principles for developmental approach. / Dissertation (MSD (Social Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

This study sought to explore the perceptions of stakeholders on the role and effectiveness of networking forums in promoting partnerships and integrated service delivery between government and non-profit sector organisations using the Nelmapius forum as a case study. The research adopted a qualitative research method and a case study research approach was utilized. The research population consisted of social workers and social work supervisors in both government and NGOs who participated in the Nelmapius forum. Purposive sampling which is a type of non-probability sampling was utilized to draw participants for the study. The sample consisted of 11 social workers and 4 social work supervisors who participated in the Nelmapius forum. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that participants understood the primary reason behind the establishment of the Nelmapius forum as to strengthen the relationship between the government and the NGOs in Nelmapius. It was also revealed that the Nelmapius forum was a platform for NGOs and the DHSD to share service delivery information. Findings of the study show that the forum is an effective platform for enhancing partnerships’ among organisations which enhanced integrated service delivery. The forum created a platform which enabled organisations to work cooperatively. This led to capacity building among participant members and their organisations. The forum also enabled organisations to work together to share service delivery channels and processes as well as demarcation areas of service which benefitted the community members. The forum did experience few challenges in its later stages of functioning such as poor attendance, lack of new member integration, and failure to honour commitments by some organisations which led to low of morale amongst forum members. As a way of invigorating the forum participants suggested that: All stakeholders should participate actively in the forum, facilitation of the forum should rotate among members, the forum must be open to all stakeholders, the forum must be attended by senior officials, meeting venues should rotate in different organisations and that there should be monitoring and evaluation systems in place. It is hoped the study will have impact positively on the functioning of networking forums.

The research project was aimed at exploring and describing the factors that influence job turnover of social workers in the Directorate of Developmental Social Welfare Services (DDSWS) in Namibia. The researcher was motivated to carry out this study due to the challenges experienced as a manager, working for DDSWS. In addition, the lack of literature on factors that influence job turnover of social workers motivated the researcher to conduct the study. This led to the research question of what are the factors that influence job turnover of social workers in the DDSWS in Namibia. A qualitative approach was adopted in this study and interviews were used to gather data about the factors that influence job turnover of social workers in the directorate of developmental social welfare services (DDSWS) in Namibia. A structured interview schedule and a dictaphone was used to collect data from 10 respondents who previously worked for DDSWS for the last five years, who were either male or female and based in the Khomas region. Suitable respondents for the study were selected by means of a purposive sampling method. An applied research was utilized as a means to determine and identify factors that influence job turnover of social workers because it focused on solving problems that are experienced in practice. The phenomenological research strategy was used because it understands and interprets the meaning that subjects give to their everyday lives. The researcher intended to identify and understand the factors that influence job turnover of social workers in the DDSWS from the respondents’ perspective. An overview of the structure and functions of DDSWS were discussed in Chapter 2 presenting the type of services the organization offers. A literature review on factors that influence job turnover was presented, which focused on the description of job turnover; the advantages and the disadvantages of job turnover; the type of job turnover; reasons for measuring job turnover; and job turnover costs. The factors that influence job turnover were divided into three sub-sections namely the personal, internal and external factors. The empirical findings indicated that all the respondents were influenced by a variety of factors to leave DDSWS. They identified the factors that influenced their decisions to leave as being low salaries, bad working conditions, lack of supervision, managerial support, promotional opportunities, training opportunities, job, selection and recruitment procedures, motivation, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, economic conditions, worthwhile and many others. The above factors that influence job turnover of social workers in the DDSWS in Namibia should be addressed to ensure that job turnover is maintained to a minimum. In addition, the study indicated that management has not realized the full implications of job turnover. In order to comprehend this, management should be aware of the factors that influence job turnover of social workers and devise a mechanism on how to keep job turnover to a minimum. Conclusions were formulated and recommendations made to management on how to reduce the rate of job turnover. / Dissertation (MSD (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

In 1994 the new democratic South Africa called for the shift in legislation and policies. Social welfare service delivery post-1994 has to be aligned with the principles and key themes of developmental social welfare heralded by the RDP (1994), the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, as well as the Copenhagen Commitments to Social Development (1995). In the social welfare sector, the White Paper for Social Welfare of 1997 was adopted as social welfare policy for South Africa. The White Paper for Social Welfare is embedded in a developmental approach and charted a new path for social welfare in the promotion of national social development. Developmental social welfare is a pro poor strategy which strives to promote a welfare system that facilitates the development of human capacity and self-reliance within a caring and enabling socio-economic environment. The goal of this study was to determine the progress of social welfare service delivery towards a developmental social welfare approach in the Vhembe district, Limpopo. A qualitative research approach was used for this study and the research design was an instrumental case study. The sample for the study was selected purposively and included 28 social workers and four supervisors from four sub-districts in the Vhembe district. Data was collected through four focus group interviews with social workers and one-on-one interviews with the supervisors. Research findings indicate that developmental social welfare service delivery in this district has progressed in terms of protective services to families and children. However, in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods, the social service sector still lags behind. The overall conclusion is that the progress of social welfare service delivery towards the developmental approach is slow and unsatisfactory. The recommendations of this study are captured in strategies that social workers could use to promote progress in developmental social welfare service delivery, strategies suggested for supervisors to promote progress in developmental social welfare service delivery, and lastly strategies on the creation of an enabling environment. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

Occupational social work and corporate social responsibility share commonalities which could provide significant avenues for occupational social worker practice, especially at a macro level of intervention, the area most lacking in their service delivery. The engagement of occupational social workers in corporate social responsibility in South Africa seems to have been misunderstood, with consequent limited involvement of the profession in this field. The main aim of this qualitative exploratory study was to explore the perceptions of occupational social workers in Gauteng regarding their definition and envisaged engagement in corporate social responsibility interventions in order to motivate for the incorporation of corporate social responsibility into their practice. To achieve the aim of the study, semi-structured interviews were held with seven occupational social workers and three social workers with five years practical experience in occupational social work. Sampling was not necessary given the small size of the research population. Data analysis took the form of thematic content analysis. The main findings were that the participants’ primarily defined corporate social responsibility as the contribution made by companies to the community outside the workplace however, they subsequently identified internal stakeholders, such as employees, as legitimate recipients of corporate social responsibility services. The data analysis revealed a clear perception that occupational social workers were well-suited to play roles in corporate social responsibility, utilising a full range of their micro, meso and macro skills. The identification of avenues for macro practice with internal and external company stakeholders was particularly significant, given that this is the area of intervention which has been most lacking in occupational social work service delivery. It was also established that the objectives of developmental social welfare could be incorporated into occupational social work roles in corporate social responsibility. The conclusion was reached that occupational social workers could play valuable roles in the social responsibility endeavours of companies to contribute towards change efforts to address the social problems and transformation challenges which plague South African society. The support of company leadership, who are open to the ideas of occupational social workers and champion an increased mandate for them, would be facilitative to the development of an occupational social work domain in the field of corporate social responsibility.

No abstract present on CD

Eradicating poverty is one of the biggest challenges in South Africa. A Development Centre Model was developed by the Department of Social Development as a strategy to empower citizens of South Africa to become independent and self-reliant in an attempt to alleviate poverty. The Department fulfils the role of programme monitoring and evaluation of different programmes offered by the Development Centres. A Social Development Approach was used as a guide to the theoretical framework of the study. The primary aim of the study was to explore the perceptions about the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation of incomegenerating projects rendered to the development centres by the Department of Social Development in the Gauteng North Region. A qualitative research strategy was followed and a multiple case study design was applied. Purposive sampling was used to initially select six beneficiaries, six centre managers, two service providers and two departmental officials involved in the development centres that are government-funded. However, the total number of the participants in the end came to thirteen; five beneficiaries; five centre managers; two evaluators and one departmental official. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews with participants and the interviews were tape recorded. To analyse data, thematic content analysis was applied. Some of the findings and the recommendations are, firstly, that the study contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of programme monitoring and evaluation; secondly, that programme monitoring and evaluation is in fact effective; and thirdly, that beneficiaries should participate in monitoring and evaluation of their projects. Fourthly, the majority of the beneficiaries and the centre managers felt that the process has no impact on the actual programme or projects. These participants felt that there is no follow-up to solve problems that have been identified during this process of monitoring and evaluation. The participants recommended that the department do more visits thereby making sure that problems identified during monitoring and evaluation are immediately resolved through constant visits to the development centres.

In 1997 the democratic government of South Africa adopted the White Paper for Social Welfare (Republic of South Africa [RSA], 1997) which committed the country to a developmental approach to social welfare. The implementation of the developmental approach to social services is a shared responsibility of the state, non-governmental organisations and the private sector (Patel, 2015:93). Despite the ongoing studies relating to developmental social welfare service delivery, there is insufficient evidence of the shift made towards a developmental approach by government social workers employed by the Department of Social Development. The goal of the study was to explore social workers? perspectives on the shift towards the developmental approach in social service delivery in the Department of Social Development in the Mopani District, Limpopo. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. The sample for the study was selected purposefully and included thirty-two (32) social workers and four (4) supervisors from four sub-districts in the Mopani District. Data was collected through one focus group interview with social workers and one-on-one interviews with supervisors in the four regions respectively. The research findings indicate that social workers have made a partial shift towards a developmental approach in service delivery. The shift is more evident in protection and prevention service delivery than in promoting socio-economic development. The shift is reflected in some strides towards a human rights-based approach; social and economic development; participation; partnerships; and efforts to link micro and macro practice. The findings further point out the barriers that hinder social workers from making significant progress towards the developmental approach. The overall conclusion of this research endeavour is that there is a need in the Department of Social Development for guidelines and capacity building of social workers and supervisors in the developmental approach. The study recommends guidelines to accelerate the progress of implementing the developmental approach in the Mopani District. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

In South Africa, commitment to switch to the developmental approach with the aim of alleviating poverty and integrating social and economic development is evident in the White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA, Ministry for Social Welfare and Population Development, 1997), the Reconstruction and Development Programme (1994), the Growth Employment and Redistribution strategy (1996), the Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers (2005) and the Integrated Service Delivery Model (ISDM) (2005). These policy documents attempt to integrate social development goals and economic development within a developmental approach to social welfare. The social development approach to social welfare in the South African context is firmly rooted in a rights-based approach. Its goals include achieving social justice, a minimum standard of living, equitable access and equal opportunity to services and benefits, and a commitment to meeting the needs of all South Africans with a special emphasis on the needs of the most disadvantaged people in the society. The right to dignity for all citizens is the core of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108/1996). This basic human rights value endorses the inherent worth of all human beings, as well as equity without bias based on gender, race or religion. In addition to this, the White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA, Ministry for Social Welfare and Population Development, 1997) states that social welfare services and programmes must be based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as articulated in the Constitution of the country. The social developmental approach is relevant as it embraces human rights values and ensures socio-economic development. It is therefore of immense importance for the social work profession to incorporate the new approach into its professional interventions. The research tool was administered to the social work practitioners who are in the employment of the Department of Social Development, Gauteng Province. The respondents confirmed that the developmental approach to welfare was essential and has been adopted, as reflected on the policy documents and frameworks that guide service delivery. Implementation of the developmental approach in practice, however, poses some challenges as the model has not yet been adopted by some practitioners who have to implement policy. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the experiences of social workers regarding the current implementation of a developmental social welfare approach. The objectives of this research study were the following: <ul> <li> to conceptualise theoretically the social developmental approach within the field of social welfare;</li> <li> to explore and describe social workers’ experiences regarding the implementation of the developmental social welfare approach in practice;</li> <li> to identify the challenges social workers are experiencing in the implementation of the developmental social welfare approach in practice; and</li> <li> to make recommendations, based on the research findings, to enhance the effective implementation of a developmental social welfare approach in social work.</li> Against this background the study was guided by the following research question: <li> What are the experiences of social work practitioners regarding the implementation of a developmental social welfare approach within the Department of Social Development, Gauteng Province?</li> </ul> A qualitative research approach was used to investigate the experiences of social workers regarding the implementation of a social developmental approach. Applied research focuses on problem solving in practice and emphasizes the participation of the people who are experiencing a problem, by involving them in finding the solution to the problem. In this study applied research was applicable to contribute towards solving the problems related to the implementation of the developmental approach in practice. In the context of qualitative research the collective case study design was utilized as the most appropriate case study design, because the researcher wanted to further her understanding of a ‘social issue’ namely the implementation of the social developmental approach to social welfare services. The data collection method entailed focus group discussions. Qualitative data was collected through interviews of group members. The participants were social workers within the Department of Social Development employed in the five regions of Gauteng Province. There was one focus group, consisting of 10 participants, in each region; thus the researcher conducted five focus groups with 50 participants in total. The researcher utilized a combination of stratified and systematic sampling to select the participants for the five focus groups. The process used in data collection for the study entailed initially a pilot study which was used to test the focus group interview schedule among respondents who were not included in the focus group discussions that were held for data collection for the study. Using the Creswell method of data analysis, the data that was collected in the focus group discussions was subsequently analysed, interpreted and finally displayed in the form of themes and subthemes. The goal of the study was definitely achieved as the study determined not only that there is a need for ongoing training and reorientation of social workers toward the implementation of the developmental approach in practice, but also the revelation that there is a need to develop an action plan and clear procedure guidelines on how to implement the approach in practice, at national level. From a qualitative perspective, it is thus recommended that a procedure guideline and a national plan to implement the social developmental approach in practice should be developed in order to enhance the implementation process. AFRIKAANS : In Suid-Afrika is die toewyding om om te skakel na die ontwikkelings-benadering, met die doel om armoede op te hef en die maatskaplike en ekonomiese ontwikkeling te integreer, duidelik te lese in die White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA, Departement van Welsyn en Bevolkingsontwikkeling, 1997), die Reconstruction and Development Programme (1994), die Growth Employment and Redistribution strategy (1996), die Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers (2005) en die Integrated Service Delivery Model (ISDM) (2005). Hierdie beleidsdokumente poog om maatskaplike doelwitte en ekonomiese ontwikkeling te integreer binne ’n ontwikkelingsbenadering tot maatskaplike welsyn. Binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is die maatskaplike ontwikkelings-beleid tot maatskaplike welsyn stewig geanker in ’n regte-gebaseerde benadering. Die doelstellings hiervan sluit in die bereiking van maatskaplike geregtigheid, ’n minimum-lewenstandaard, billike toegang en gelyke geleentheid tot dienste en voordele, en ’n verbintenis om in die behoeftes van alle Suid-Afrikaners te voorsien, met besondere klem op die behoeftes van die mees benadeelde mense in die samelewing. Die reg tot waardigheid vir alle burgers is die kern van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Akte 108/1996). Hierdie basiese menseregtewaarde onderskryf die inherente waarde van alle mense, asook gelykheid sonder vooroordeel gegrond op gender, ras of geloof. Daarbenewens stel die White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA, Departement van Welsyn en Bevolkingsontwikkeling, 1997) dat maatskaplike welsynsdienste en –programme gegrond moet wees op respek vir menseregte en fundamentele vryhede, soos uiteengesit in die land se Grondwet. Die maatskaplike ontwikkelings-benadering is relevant omdat dit menseregte omarm en sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling verseker. Dit is daarom van ontsaglike belang vir die beroep maatskaplike werk om hierdie nuwe benadering in sy professionele bemoeienis te inkorporeer. Die navorsingshulpbron is beskikbaar gestel aan die maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, Gauteng Provinsie. Die respondente het bevestig dat die ontwikkelings-benadering tot welsyn noodsaaklik is en dat dit aangeneem is, soos gereflekteer word in die beleidsdokumente en –raamwerke wat dienslewering rig. Die implementering van die ontwikkelings-benadering lewer egter in die praktyk ’n aantal probleme op, aangesien die model nog nie aangeneem is deur sommige praktisyns wat die beleid moet implementeer nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om die ervarings van maatskaplike werkers aangaande die huidige toepassing van ’n ontwikkelings- maatskaplike welsyn-beleid te ondersoek. Die doelwitte van hierdie navorsingstudie was die volgende: <ul> <li> om die maatskaplike ontwikkelings-benadering teoreties te konseptualiseer binne die veld van maatskaplike welsyn;</li> <li> om die ervarings van maatskaplike werkers aangaande die toepassing van die ontwikkelings- maatskaplike welsyn-benadering in die praktyk te verken en te beskryf;</li> <li> om die uitdagings te identifiseer wat maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk ervaar met die toepassing van die ontwikkelings- maatskaplike welsyn-benadering; en</li> <li> om, gebaseer op die navorsingsbevindings, voorstelle te maak ter verbetering van die doeltreffende implementering van ’n ontwikkelings- maatskaplike welsyn-benadering in maatskaplike werk.</li> Teen hierdie agtergrond is die studie begelei deur die volgende navorsingsvraag: <li> Wat is die ervarings van maatskaplikewerk praktisyns in die toepassing van ’n ontwikkelings- maatskaplike welsyn-benadering binne die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, Gauteng Provinsie?</li></ul> ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gebruik om die ervarings van maatskaplike werkers te ondersoek in die toepassing van ’n maatskaplike ontwikkelings-benadering. Toegepaste navorsing fokus op probleemoplossing in die praktyk en beklemtoon die deelname van die mense wat die probleem ervaar deur hulle te betrek by die vind van die oplossing vir die probleem. In hierdie studie was toegepaste navorsing toepaslik om by te dra tot die oplossing van probleme aangaande die toepassing van die ontwikkelings-benadering in die praktyk. Binne die konteks van kwalitatiewe navorsing is die kollektiewe gevallestudie-ontwerp gebruik as die geskikste gevallestudie-ontwerp, omdat die navorser haar begrip van ’n ‘maatskaplike kwessie’ wou uitbrei, naamlik die toepassing van die maatskaplike ontwikkelings-benadering in maatskaplike welsynsdienste. Die data insamelingsmetode het fokusgroepbesprekings behels. Kwalitatiewe data is versamel deur onderhoude met groeplede. Die deelnemers was maatskaplike werkers binne die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, in diens in die vyf streke van Gauteng Provinsie. Daar was een fokusgoep,bestaande uit 10 deelnemers, in elke streek; dus het die navorser vyf fokusgroepe gelei, met ’n totaal van 50 deelnemers. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van ’n kombinasie van gestratifiseerde en sistematiese steekproef tegnieke ten einde die deelnemers vir die vyf fokusgroepe te selekteer. Die proses wat tydens dataversameling vir die studie gebruik is, het aanvanklik ’n loodsstudie behels. Dit is gebruik om die fokusgroep se onderhoudskedule te toets onder respondente wat nie ingesluit is nie in die fokusgroep-besprekings wat gehou is vir dataversameling vir die studie. Deur gebruik te maak van die Creswell data-analisemetode is die data wat versamel is tydens die fokusgroep-besprekings vervolgens geanaliseer, geïnterpreteer en eindelik voorgestel in die vorm van temas en sub-temas. Die doel van hierdie studie is definitief bereik, aangesien die studie bepaal het dat daar nie slegs ’n behoefte bestaan vir voortgesette opleiding en heroriëntasie van maatskaplike werkers ten opsigte van die toepassing van die ontwikkelings-benadering in praktyk nie, maar ook dat daar ’n behoefte is aan die ontwikkeling van ’n operasionele plan en duidelike prosedure riglyne vir die implementering van die benadering in die praktyk op nasionale vlak. Vanuit ’n kwalitatiewe perspektief word daar dus voorgestel dat ’n prosedure riglyn en nasionale plan ontwikkel word vir die implementering van die maatskaplike ontwikkelingsbenadering in die praktyk, ten einde die implementeringsproses te verbeter. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Income generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Department of Social Development to alleviate poverty and foster sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of beneficiaries of income generating projects regarding these projects and whether the income generating projects run by the Development Centres in the Sedibeng Region, Gauteng Department of Social Development were perceived to be making any impact and were responding to the needs of the poor. The research design for the study could be classified as qualitativedescriptive. A sample of 20 participants was drawn from two Development Centres. The sampling method for the study was partly purposive and partly availability sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and responses obtained from the interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. The main findings that emerged from the study were that participants appeared to have a clear understanding of the fact that income generating projects represented a government strategy to fight poverty, create jobs and uplift the standard of living of the poor. However, most participants were dissatisfied with the lack of clearly defined expectations, planning and monitoring on the part of the Department of Social Development. Despite the fact that there were challenges and limitations encountered by beneficiaries during implementation of the projects, the Development Centre was perceived to be an effective service delivery model for alleviating poverty and enhancing the quality of life of beneficiaries. The conclusion drawn was that income generating projects conducted at the two Development Centres seemed to be achieving their aims even though there would seem to be room for improvement in terms of knowledge and skills imparted and participation of beneficiaries in decision-making. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for Development Centres, the Department of Social Development, social work practice and future research.