Thesis(PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 1996. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study is focussed on the evaluation of the development of participatory management in supervision. The motivation for the study was, firstly, the increasing transformation of supervision to a more managerial form whereby social workers are guided in the fulfilment of their professional obligations; secondly, that social workers and supervisors expressed an increasing desire and wi 11 ingness to share the responsibi 1 i ty of managing direct practice through participation. The research was conducted within the conceptual framework of developmental research. The investigation of the existing state of supervision was undertaken by means of a literature study, as well as a quantitative-and qualitative survey among supervisors and their supervisees. This survey was also used to evaluate how developments in the theory and practice of participatory management was being brought into supervision. The probability that participatory management would continue to be implemented and developed in practice is high, since it is bedded in a scientifically-sound conceptual basis derived from authoritative literature and empirical support. Practising supervisors and supervisees can continue to apply participatory management in the ongoing reformation and restructuring of their management of direct practice. It could also contribute towards the improved quality of direct practice. The implementation of participatory management should go'beyond organisational limits. It should extend to the profession's accountability to the wider client system, which should be made aware of changes in the approach to direct practice management in the form of greater participation between seniors and subordinates. It is regarded as essential that participatory management approaches be subjected to tests to determine their efficacy, validity, and reliability as practice methods in supervision. Follow-up evaluation would help in the further development of participatory management in supervision. Further research with regard to participatory management is necessary with the view to maintaining its features in conformity with contemporary trends in the continuous reconceptualisation of management theory and practices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is 'n evaluering van die ontwikkeling van deelnemende bestuur in supervisie. Die motivering vir die studie was eerstens die toEmemende ontwikkeling van supervisie tot 'n meer bestuursgerigte vorm wat maatskapl ike werkers in die ui tvoer van hulle professionele pligte rig; tweedens, dat maatskaplike werkers en supervisors 'n toenemende behoefte en bereidwilligheid te kenne gegee het om die verantwoordelikheid van praktykbestuur te deel. Die navorsing is binne die konsepsuele raamwerk van ontwikkelingsnavorsing onderneem. Die huidige stand van supervisie is deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie ondersoek, asook deur 'n kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe opname ender supervisors en maatskapl ike werkers. Hierdie opname is ook gebruik om te eval ueer hoe ontwikkel inge in die teorie en praktyk van deelnemende bestuur by supervisie ingesluit word. Deelnemende bestuur sal hoogs waarskynlik voortgaan om in die praktyk ge'implementeer en ontwikkel te word, aangesien di t op 'n wetenskaplik gesonde konsepsuele grondslag berus wat deur gesaghebbende literatuur en empiriese gegewens gerugsteun word. Supervisors en maatskaplike werkers kan voortgaan om deelnemende bestuur te gebruik in die voortdurende verbetering en herstrukturering van die bestuur van hul praktyke. Deelnemende bestuur kan ook die gehalte van direkte dienslewering verbeter. Die implementering van deelnemende bestuur behoort nie deur organisatoriese grense ingeperk te word nie, maar behoort uitgebrei te word tot die beroep se aanspreeklikheid teenoor die bre~r kli~ntestelsel deur bewusmaking van veranderinge in die benadering tot praktykbestuur in die vorm van groter deelname tussen seniors en ondergeskiktes. Di t is noodsaakl ik om benaderings tot deelnemende bestuur te toets om hul doeltreffendheid, geldigheid en betroubaarheid as praktykmetodes in supervisie te bepaal. Opvolg-evaluering sou 'n verdere hydrae tot die ontwikkeling van deelnemende bestuur in supervisie maak. Meer navorsing oor deelnemende bestuur is ook nodig om tred te hou met huidige tendense in die volgehoue herkonsepsualisering van bestuursteorie en -praktyke.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to formulate guidelines whereby social work managers can use strategic planning as a management tool especially with regard to the formulation of service proposals or business plans. In order to accomplish this, a literature review was done about social work management within the context of a changing environment, the nature and process of strategic planning, and social work planning and the development of program financing. An empirical research was done to determine the use of strategic planning and to analyse the relationship between the formulation of service proposals and the implementation of strategic planning. The research sample was determined through a selection of welfare organisations which previously formulated a service proposal and who employ two or more top- or middle level managers. This led to six state welfare offices and ten private welfare organisations being included in the study. Self administered questionnaires were distributed to top- and middle management of which 21 of the respondents formed part of a state district welfare office and 19 formed part of a private welfare organisation. The findings are related to the following four aspects: The identified details of social work managers; the application of social work management; the use of strategic planning; and the use of service proposals. The most important findings were that certain social work managers occupy managerial positions without the necessary management training; they do not integrate and implement the components of management as a continuous process; middle management are confused about the application of strategic planning; welfare organisations do, to a greater extent, use and apply strategic planning but there is uncertainty concerning aspects of strategic planning. Furthermore, it was found that social work managers and personnel working for the specific state welfare offices are less optimistic about the formulation of service proposals compared to those working for private welfare organisations. It was also found that social work managers are of the opinion that strategic planning first needs to be applied before service proposals or business plans can be formulated. The literature review and the conclusions influenced the recommendations made concerning managerial training, development of managerial skills, the upgrading and use of planning instruments and the integration of the different planning types namely strategic planning, business planning or service proposals, and operational planning. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om riglyne op te stel waarvolgens maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders strategiese beplanning as bestuurshulpmiddel kan benut, veral met betrekking tot die formulering van diensvoorstelle of besigheidsplanne. Ten einde die riglyne op te stel is 'n literatuurstudie gedoen oor maatskaplikewerk-bestuur binne die konteks van 'n veranderde omgewing, die aard en proses van strategiese beplanning, en maatskaplikewerk-beplanning en die ontwikkeling van programfinansiering. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is ook gedoen om die benutting van strategiese beplanning te bepaal en om die verband tussen die formulering van diensvoorstelle en die toepassing van strategiese beplanning te analiseer. Die steekproef is verkry deur 'n doelbewuste seleksie van welsynsinstansies wat voorheen 'n diensvoorstel geformuleer het, en wat twee of meer top of middelvlakbestuurders in diens het. Hiervolgens is ses staatswelsynskantore en tien privaat welsynsorganisasies by die studie betrek. Daar is hoofsaaklik gebruik gemaak van die self geadministreerde vraelys, en is aan top en middelvlak maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders versprei, waarvan 21 respondente indiens is van distrikswelsynskantore verbonde aan die Departement van Maatskaplike Dienste en 19 respondente, vorm deel van die privaat welsynsorganisasies. Die bevindings wat gemaak is hou hoofsaaklik verband met die volgende vier aspekte; Die identifiseerde besonderhede van maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders; die toepassing van maatskaplikewerk-bestuur; die benutting van strategiese beplanning; en die gebruik van diensvoorstelle. Die belangrikste bevindings was: - dat sekere maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders bestuursposisies beklee sonder die nodige bestuursopleiding, dat maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders nie die komponente van bestuur as deel van 'n aaneenlopende proses tot uitvoering bring nie, middelvlakbestuurders verwar is ten opsigte van die toepassing van strategiese beplanning, dat welsynsinstansies tot 'n groot mate wel strategiese beplanning toepas, maar dat daar steeds onsekerheid is ten opsigte van sekere aspekte van strategiese beplanning. Verder is bevind dat maatskaplikewerk-bestuurders en maatskaplikewerk-personeel verbonde aan die staatsdiens minder positief is oor die formulering van diensvoorstelle as diegene werksaam by privaat welsynsorganisasies en dat die formulering van diensvoorstelle of besigheidsplanne voorafgegaan moet word met die toepassing van strategiese beplanning. Op grond van die afleidings en gevolgtrekkings, asook die literatuurstudie is sekere aanbevelings gemaak rakende bestuursopleiding, ontwikkeling van bestuursvaardighede, verbetering van die gebruik van beplanningsinstrumente, en die integrering van die volgende beplanningstipes, naamlik strategiese beplanning, besigheidsplanne of diensvoorstelle en operasionele beplanning.

Thesis (PhD (Social Work))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / It is generally accepted that the inability to consummate a marriage causes couples great distress, and can finally lead to divorce. Limited research has been done on the unconsummated marriage in South Africa. International studies have pointed out that the unconsummated marriage is a reality and a prevalent problem. While medical and therapeutic intervention is available, many people still suffer in silence and feel embarrassed about their condition. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the emotional and psycho-social experiences and perceptions of the couple in an unconsummated marriage. In order to achieve this goal, the objectives of the study were to explore the experiences of the couple in an unconsummated marriage in order to obtain the couple’s perception of their marriage; to present a literature overview on the subject of marriage within the context of the family life cycle; to describe the nature and causes of an unconsummated marriage; to critically describe approaches and models that may be used for the assessment of an unconsummated marriage; and to reflect on the implications of the emotional and psycho-social experiences and perceptions of the couple in an unconsummated marriage within a postmodern systemic framework. The purpose of the literature study was to provide a context for the research study. The researcher conducted an extensive literature review in order to establish and refine the research subject and to guide the empirical study. An exploratory study was executed and the purposive non-probability sampling method utilised. The sample for this study was obtained from Intercare Medical Centre, Johannesburg and The Square Medical Centre, Umhlanga between April 2004 and November 2004. Ten couples that have not consummated their marriage were included in the sample. An interview schedule with open-ended questions was used to conduct joint interviews with the couples. The empirical study enabled the researcher to draw certain conclusions. The main conclusion was that males and females in an unconsummated marriage experience and perceive control-related problems; negative feelings towards their own and their partner’s body; a fear of engaging in an intimate relationship and other phobias; a feeling of sin and moral dilemma; feelings of guilt and shame; the manifestation of depression and apathetic attitudes; personal distress and psychological problems; a feeling of serious regret and sadness; self-blame, self-destructive behaviour, mutilation and suicidal thoughts and episodes; and lastly, a lack of information on how to be sexually intimate with a partner. A number of recommendations flowed from the findings. The main recommendation was that healthcare professionals such as social workers should be better educated about the phenomenon of the unconsummated marriage in order to make a correct diagnosis and deliver high quality medical and therapeutic intervention.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / It is a common phenomenon that women’s sexual desire diminishes in relationships, yet, to date, limited research has been done locally on this topic. International studies indicate that low sexual desire affects more than half of women, and that an even greater proportion of women indicate that they have sexual intercourse with their husbands without they themselves having a desire to do so. In spite of this, there is an expectation in society that couples should continue to have an active sex life. Low sexual desire may lead to distress in the individual or discord in the couple, and in this aspect the practitioner can render a service. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the life-world of women with low sexual desire towards their life-partners, and the extent to which this causes her distress or impedes on her relationship. The objectives of the study thus included providing an overview of models of sexual response, an evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions, and an exploration of factors affecting the experience of sexual desire, including the role of social scripts on sexual behaviour. The context for the study is provided by a review of relevant literature, and a qualitative study with a phenomenological interpretative approach was executed. Data gathering focused on a nonprobable purposive sample of ten participants, and used an interview schedule with open-ended questions. Seven themes emerged from the analysis of the data, namely (1) perceptions of sexual desire, (2) experience of sexual desire, (3) experience of sex life without desire, (4) the perceived impact of low desire on the individual or the relationship, (5) personal reasons for decline in desire, (6) relationship factors affecting sexual desire, and (7) the experience of low desire in the socio-cultural context. It was found that ‘desire’ is difficult to conceptualise, that women put a higher premises on the emotional component of desire, and that there is a difference between innate sexual desires and desire that is evoked by stimuli. Reasons for low sexual desire include an array of personal medial, psychological, and life context factors, and in many cases the lack of desire is specific to the present life-partner. Women are especially sensitive to a wide variety of aspects in the relationship and with regards to their partners, and it emerged that even in happy and intimate relationships low sexual desire is experienced. Women experience a loss of emotional intimacy as a result of low sexual desire but do not necessarily feel that their low desire is abnormal. The impact on the relationship is limited mostly because women concede to sex for many reasons, including a need for emotional intimacy. Many strategies, including faking orgasms, are implemented to cope with sexual relationships in the absence of desire. It also appears that social scripts have a big influence on the inception of negative perceptions on sexuality, and generate unreasonable and idealistic expectations of sexual experiences in long-term relationships. Several recommendations flowed from the findings and conclusions. The most important recommendation is that professional people should gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon of low desire in women, in order to render a more effective therapeutic intervention.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / It is generally accepted that pre-teen sexual offences are becoming a widespread problem in South Africa and social workers are ill-equipped to render a competent service to prevent these youth offenders from re-offending. To date, the social, judicial and legislative systems do not provide any definite guidelines to prevent pre-teen sexual offenders from re-offending. The purpose of this study was to present guidelines which could serve as a framework when designing prevention programmes for pre-teen sex offenders. With the results of the study an attempt will be made to augment the knowledge and skills in this area in the social service delivery system, in order to render a professional and effective service to prevent pre-teen sexual offenders from reoffending. The objectives of the study were: first, to explain policy under the South African criminal justice system regarding crime according to the Sexual Offences Act, no 23 of 1957, and the Child Care Act, no 74 of 1983, as well as government and non-government services available to children under the age of 13 who sexually offend; second, to describe the social and personal circumstances of pre-teen sexual offenders in order to illustrate the nature of the deviant sexual behaviour of these children and to determine the need for prevention programmes; third, to reflect on the nature and function of prevention programmes for pre-teen sexual offenders and to investigate the need for social workers to utilize these programmes in welfare agencies in South Africa; fourth, to determine the nature of social work programmes which social workers in welfare agencies are using to address the needs and/or problems of pre-teen sexual offenders; and finally, to describe the knowledge and practice skills needed by social workers to design prevention programmes for pre-teen sexual offenders. The literature review was focused on research findings relating to issues examined in this study. An exploratory research design for the study was confined to a purposive sample of 79 respondents who were identified from a universe of 130 social workers to assess their need to develop prevention programmes in order to render a competent service to pre-teen sex offenders and their families. The results were analysed mainly quantitatively. The empirical study enabled the researcher to draw certain conclusions. The main finding was that pre-teen sex offences were on the increase, and that social workers therefore required ever greater knowledge and skills to empower them to use existing prevention of re-offending programmes for preteen sexual offenders, or alternatively, needed to develop their own such programmes. A number of recommendations flowed from the findings. The main recommendation was that welfare organisations rendering child care service should ensure that social workers have at their disposal a diverse knowledge and skills base consisting of the most significant prevention models and approaches to enable them to design their own prevention programmes for pre-teen sexual offenders. The welfare organisations should further supply social workers with training opportunities to enable them to design prevention programmes, thereby empowering them to render a professional service to pre-teen sexual offenders and their families. Finally, preventing pre-teen sex offenders from reoffending should be a state-driven initiative and national and provincial governments should provide adequate policies and facilities for the implementation of prevention programmes for pre-teen sexual offenders.

Thesi (DPhil (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / According to South African policy documents social workers are encouraged to implement a developmental-focused policy regarding social work service delivery. This implies that social work service delivery should focus firstly on preventive services, then on early intervention services and lastly on statutory services. In terms of the delivery of family preservation services this prerequisite requires that preventive services should be aimed at the provision of family preservation services by integrating the parents of high risk families in informal and formal sources in their communities. Early intervention services require that family-centred and intensive crisis services should be delivered to high risk families to prevent statutory services or the removal of children from their families. This study explored the perspective of social workers on the state of family preservation services provided by three non-governmental organizations in the Western Cape Metropole and surrounding areas. The study also identifies social workers‟ perspective on the obstacles experienced during the implementation of developmental-focused policy according to policy documents. A combined quantitative and qualitative research methodology was used to involve social workers employed by three non-governmental organizations in the Western Cape Metropole and surrounding areas in an exploratory study. Findings derived from the empirical study on the state of family preservation services show that social workers are unsure of the exact meaning of the term family preservation services. As far as family-centred preservation services (early intervention services) are concerned, the study found that limited concrete services are delivered, and that there is a stronger focus on educational and therapeutic services. With regard to family-supportive preservation services (preventive services), findings indicate the existence of limited services or sources at family organizations with which parents can be integrated on a continuous basis to expand their informal and formal networks, in accordance with the viewpoints of family support. With regard to the implementation of policy documents, it seems that there is still a stronger focus on delivering statutory rather than preventive services. Obstacles influencing the delivery of preventive services are, inter alia, large case loads, where especially statutory services are delivered, as well as a lack of human resources. A lack of funding to initiate and maintain projects is a further obstacle to the delivery of developmental-focused services. Another important aspect is the fact that social workers are unsure of what preventive and early intervention services comprise, in terms of family maintenance. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that family organizations are incapable of implementing a developmental-focused policy if the State does not attend to the obstacles that exist at non-governmental organizations in the form of inadequate human resources and funding. Social workers should also receive thorough inservice training regarding the content of family preservation services. The non-governmental organizations should also investigate ways of delivering more comprehensive family-centred services like concrete and enabling services, since there is currently an imbalance between, for example, the delivery of concrete and therapeutic services. With regard to family support services, the study recommends that family organizations should try to initiate more services and resources, in accordance with a development-centred policy, that can be available continually to high risk families in the community, and that can be used as a resource. The development of appropriate support services, for instance home visit programs, can reduce the workload of social workers and simultaneously increase the networks available to high risk families, so that social exclusion can be counteracted, in accordance with the viewpoints of family preservation services.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since demographers are predicting that by the year 2010 stepfamilies will be the most prevalent type of family in the USA, it is not surprising that stepfamily members in South Africa also constitute a significant proportion of the clients of therapists, counsellors and social workers. From a developmental approach the present study examined attachment in stepfamilies with children in middle childhood. The literature review was focused on research fmdings related to the issues examined in the study. Information was collected using multiple informants and multiple methods. These included interviews, questionnaires and checklists of attachment behaviour symptoms. Because differences in perspectives were expected, information was sought from parents and target children in order to obtain a broad view of family attachment. The research design was qualitative and quantitative in nature. The main fmdings revealed that, although stepfamily members considered their families to be attached, factors such as the stepparent-stepchild relationship, length of marriage and unrealistic expectations had a negative influence on attachment. Findings confirm that attachment to the parents remain the primary source of security and that the child's willingness to participate in the partnership, influence attachment. The results clearly demonstrate that the children did not necessarily hold similar perceptions of the attachment in the family as the parents. Attachment theory provided a framework for understanding the complexities in stepfamily relationships. A synopsis of social work intervention with stepfamilies was developed based on an extensive literature study. Structured techniques within the five forms of play were used to consciously replicate healthy parent-child relationships in order to facilitate attachment. A central feature of the interventions discussed, is the active participation of the parent with whom the child is expected to learn to form an attachment relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die lig van demograwe se voorspelling dat stiefgesinne teen die jaar 2010 die mees algemene gesinsvorm in die VSA gaan wees, is dit nie vreemd dat in Suid-Afrika stiefgesinne reeds 'n beduidende persentasie van terapeute, beraders en maatskaplike werkers se ladings uitmaak nie. Vanuit 'n ontwikkelings benadering is ondersoek ingestel na binding in stiefgesinne met 'n kind/ers in die middelkinderjare. Die literatuurstudie het verband gehou met veranderlikes wat in hierdie navorsing bestudeer is. Inligting is ingewin deur gebruik te maak van meervoudige respondente en metodes. Dit het onderhoude, vraelyste en 'n oorsiglys van bindingsgedrag ingesluit. Aangesien daar verwag is dat gesinslede se persepsies sal verskil, is kinders en ouers genader ten einde 'n breë oorsig te verkry van gesinsbinding. Beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik. Bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat lede van stiefgesinne opvallend ooreenstem oor die binding in die gesin. Stiefouer-stiefkind verhoudings, die duur van die huwelik en onrealistiese verwagtinge is van die veranderlikes wat blyk 'n invloed te hê op die vorming van binding. Bevindinge bevestig dat kinders in die middelkinderjare se primêre binding steeds met die ouers is, maar dat hierdie binding afhanklik is van die kind se bereidheid om te deel in hierdie vennootskap. Resultate dui ook onteenseglik daarop dat die kinders en ouers nie noodwendig saamstem in hulle beoordeling van binding in die stiefgesin nie. Bindingsteorie het 'n raamwerk gebied vir die bestudering van die kompleksiteit van stiefgesin verhoudinge. Praktykgerigte maatskaplikwerk-hulpverleningstrategie~ is ontwikkel, gegrond op 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie. Die strategieë is gestruktureerd en gegrond op vyf spelvorme met ondersteunende tegnieke. Deur normale bindingsgedrag tussen ouer en kind na te boots, word binding gefasiliteer. Die sentrale kenmerk van hierdie hulpverleningstrategieë is die aktiewe betrokkenheid van die stiefouer.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / An exploratory and descriptive research was conducted and the predominant research approach employed for this study is a qualitative research approach, however, elements of a quantitative research approach was included for the purpose of obtaining the goal of the research. The outcome of qualitative research is in the form of descriptive data in the participant’s own words, thereby identifying the participant’s beliefs and values that underlie the phenomena of adolescent-caregiver conflict. Consequently, this qualitative study is concerned with non-statistical methods and small samples that were purposively selected. However, some of the processed data were presented in a quantitative manner, by means of tables and figures. By means of observation within the field of social work, it has been noted that there is an increasing need for intervention between adolescents and caregivers, as disputes occur increasingly between caregivers and their children, especially during the adolescent years. Social workers often take on the role of mediator, or use elements of mediation, acting as intermediaries and emphasizing collaborative and consensual processes when dealing with conflict. However, mediation has been utilized in many different situations and problems, but the social work profession has not kept pace with the rapid development of mediation as both a conceptual framework and a practice approach to conflict resolution in diverse settings. Therefore, in doing this research study, the researcher’s motivation is to provide the necessary knowledge in this relatively new field by means of a theoretical framework and practical guidelines in using mediation.

Thesis (MA (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / A study combining the explanatory and exploratory research methodologies was undertaken relating to the value base of social work and the application of social work values by social workers at a Government Department. An interest of the history, development and importance of the value base of social work, as well as the relative absence of specific South African literature and research results concerning the application of social work values in the South African context, prompted this particular study as a contribution to both the social work profession in the South African context and the service agency involved. An empirical study based on the literature study was performed on a test sample comprising 20 social workers at a District office of a Government Department in the Western Cape. The literature study investigated and explored the history and development of the value base of social work both as a profession and specifically in the South African context. The empirical study, by means of a questionnaire investigated the participants’ understanding of certain values as well as the nature, objectives and functions of social work. It also explores their application of basic social work values in their daily practice situation, together with obstacles faced by them in applying these values.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the experiences and perceptions of male juvenile delinquents from a multidimensional perspective in order to provide guidelines for effective service delivery. The motivation for this study is the current trend in South Africa regarding youth, crime and families and the necessity to have a multidimensional view on these phenomenas. The contribution that this study can make towards crime prevention and rehabilitation of male youth offenders is a further motivation for this study. The research was done based on an extensive literature study, which firstly focused on the conceptualisation of a multidimensional perspective as framework from which the family experiences and perceptions of male juvenile delinquents could be described. This conceptual framework was put together through the compilation of the systems-, ecological-, ethnic-sensitive- and strength perspectives. Subsequently both male juvenile delinquents and their families were described from a multidimensional perspective. The empirical investigation of the study gave a description of the family experiences and perceptions of male juvenile delinquents from a multidimensional perspective. From this multidimensional description of the experiences and perceptions of the juvenile delinquents, findings of the literature study was confirmed namely that the experiences and perceptions of the juvenile delinquents was influenced by various factors on the micro-, meso- and macro levels of functioning. In light of the findings derived from the literature study and empirical research, conclusions and recommendations were made concerning the phenomena under investigation. The recommendations focused on the utilisation of a multidimensional perspective during service delivery to juvenile delinquents and their families.