Since the inception of Social Work as a profession, the profession has assisted the legal system of South Africa with the evaluating and/or assessment of individuals as part of the legal processes as requested by the legal system. The presumption that a degree in social work qualifies a social worker to assist the court with the above mentioned processes, is misplaced , even amongst the social work professionals themselves. This article focuses on the definition and scope of Forensic Social Work in the South African context. This will assist the SACSSP to establish criteria to register Forensic Social Work as a specialized field in Social Work. Those Social workers who want to render forensic services will need to acquire additional, specific, specialized knowledge, skills and experience regarding this field that is not acquired during pre-graduate studies, and which comply with the requirements of the judicial system. The findings of the study will be discussed with a submission of a definition and clarifying the scope of Forensic Social Work in South-Africa. / Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Since the inception of Social Work as a profession, the profession has assisted the legal system of South Africa with the evaluating and/or assessment of individuals as part of the legal processes as requested by the legal system. The presumption that a degree in social work qualifies a social worker to assist the court with the above mentioned processes, is misplaced , even amongst the social work professionals themselves. This article focuses on the definition and scope of Forensic Social Work in the South African context. This will assist the SACSSP to establish criteria to register Forensic Social Work as a specialized field in Social Work. Those Social workers who want to render forensic services will need to acquire additional, specific, specialized knowledge, skills and experience regarding this field that is not acquired during pre-graduate studies, and which comply with the requirements of the judicial system. The findings of the study will be discussed with a submission of a definition and clarifying the scope of Forensic Social Work in South-Africa. / Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Forensic social work is a new field in South Africa. Forensic social work is regarded as a speciality, but has not been registered as such by the South African Council for Social Service Professions. There is a growing need to utilize experts in South African courts. Social workers are not trained to provide in this need. Social workers in private practice have recognized this need and equipped themselves to render this service to courts. The South African Police Service employs forensic social workers to assist the Child Protection Units. Despite this there was no formal training available in forensic social work, until recently. This study aims at investigating the availability of forensic training for social workers in order to develop guidelines for forensic training programmes. Universities agree that statutory social work forms part of the duty of every social worker and that training in this regard is needed. They also indicate that existing training does not prepare the social worker for effective services to the courts. It is clear that universities regard forensic social work as a specialised field and do not believe that under-graduate training is realistic. All participating institutions agree that a need exists for post-graduate forensic training. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Forensic social work is a new field in South Africa. Forensic social work is regarded as a speciality, but has not been registered as such by the South African Council for Social Service Professions. There is a growing need to utilize experts in South African courts. Social workers are not trained to provide in this need. Social workers in private practice have recognized this need and equipped themselves to render this service to courts. The South African Police Service employs forensic social workers to assist the Child Protection Units. Despite this there was no formal training available in forensic social work, until recently. This study aims at investigating the availability of forensic training for social workers in order to develop guidelines for forensic training programmes. Universities agree that statutory social work forms part of the duty of every social worker and that training in this regard is needed. They also indicate that existing training does not prepare the social worker for effective services to the courts. It is clear that universities regard forensic social work as a specialised field and do not believe that under-graduate training is realistic. All participating institutions agree that a need exists for post-graduate forensic training. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Working with sexually abused children and conducting forensic assessments is a difficult task for many professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse. In this specialised field, it is imperative that professionals are aware of the disclosure process, as well as what contributes to, or hampers the disclosure of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the disclosure of sexual abuse during middle childhood years from a forensic social work perspective. Research indicates that there are numerous factors that can play a role in the disclosure of sexual abuse, but that there are still shortcomings about disclosure in literature. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach to explore the disclosure patterns of sexual abuse during middle childhood with professionals working in the field of forensic social work. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who have experience in forensic social work. The interviews focused on the disclosure patterns of children during middle childhood, as well as the relationship with the perpetrator, the responses of the caregiver that is characterised by shock and denial, how long children take to disclose sexual abuse, the relationship between the caregiver and the child concerned, as well as recommendations in the context of forensic social work and the disclosure of sexual abuse. The data from the semi-structured interviews was analysed and divided into themes and subthemes, which were further described and linked with the relevant literature. It became clear that the disclosure of child sexual abuse is a complex phenomenon, which is valuable when working in the forensic context. The disclosure process was explored, and certain factors were highlighted that contribute to the disclosure of sexual abuse, as well as factors that hamper disclosure. Some of these factors include intra- and extra-familial abuse, the developmental stage of the child concerned, negative responses from the caregiver, the presence of threats and grooming as characteristics of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator, positive attachment with a caregiver that contributes to disclosure and the highly individualised cases of child sexual abuse. The respondents also made practical recommendations regarding disclosure and indicated how important it is to have the necessary training in order to handle the disclosure of sexual abuse in the correct manner. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Working with sexually abused children and conducting forensic assessments is a difficult task for many professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse. In this specialised field, it is imperative that professionals are aware of the disclosure process, as well as what contributes to, or hampers the disclosure of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the disclosure of sexual abuse during middle childhood years from a forensic social work perspective. Research indicates that there are numerous factors that can play a role in the disclosure of sexual abuse, but that there are still shortcomings about disclosure in literature. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach to explore the disclosure patterns of sexual abuse during middle childhood with professionals working in the field of forensic social work. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who have experience in forensic social work. The interviews focused on the disclosure patterns of children during middle childhood, as well as the relationship with the perpetrator, the responses of the caregiver that is characterised by shock and denial, how long children take to disclose sexual abuse, the relationship between the caregiver and the child concerned, as well as recommendations in the context of forensic social work and the disclosure of sexual abuse. The data from the semi-structured interviews was analysed and divided into themes and subthemes, which were further described and linked with the relevant literature. It became clear that the disclosure of child sexual abuse is a complex phenomenon, which is valuable when working in the forensic context. The disclosure process was explored, and certain factors were highlighted that contribute to the disclosure of sexual abuse, as well as factors that hamper disclosure. Some of these factors include intra- and extra-familial abuse, the developmental stage of the child concerned, negative responses from the caregiver, the presence of threats and grooming as characteristics of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator, positive attachment with a caregiver that contributes to disclosure and the highly individualised cases of child sexual abuse. The respondents also made practical recommendations regarding disclosure and indicated how important it is to have the necessary training in order to handle the disclosure of sexual abuse in the correct manner. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study explored the question whether forensic social work meets the requirements set by the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) for registration as a specialist field. The requirements are as follows: • It should be an identifiable and definable field in social work. • It should not be a form of intervention. • It should include a distinctive field of social work and not be shared with other professions. • It requires specialized knowledge, skills and experience from the social worker. It has been concluded that forensic social work does indeed meet the requirements for registration and it is recommended that it be registered as such. / Thesis (M.A. (MW Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

South African adolescents are at high risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse. However, research and experience by practising social workers show that adolescents are reluctant to report sexual abuse immediately. This could be due to the lack recognised guidelines available by which to report abuse and receive the necessary help. The purpose of the research was to investigate the reasons why adolescents fail to report sexual abuse in order to establish relevant guidelines. This would also determine the role of the forensic social worker in the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The research followed a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. 220 adolescents from two high schools and six Welkom social workers were involved in the investigation. Both groups of participants completed questionnaires while the social workers were also involved in a focus group. Forensic social workers work is a new field of specialisation in the social work profession. There is a serious misconception about the role of the forensic social worker not only among other practising social workers, but also among the general public and adolescents in specific. The forensic social worker can play an important role in establishing guidelines for the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The findings clearly showed that adolescents do not report sexual abuse within the family. The abused adolescent becomes a victim as South Africa does not yet have definite guidelines available for the report of sexual abuse. The study found that the forensic social worker has a definite role to play in the report of sexual abuse by adolescents. / Thesis (M.A. (MW Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The sexual abuse of children in South–Africa, and across the world, is becoming a daily phenomenon. Such abuse of children takes place in every class, culture and race. Forensic social workers are appointed for sexual abuse cases to assess the alleged victims of sexual abuse in order to determine the likelihood that sexual abuse actually took place. The problem in South–Africa is two–fold: first, only a few social workers are qualified forensic social workers and second, most of the forensic social workers in South–Africa are white females who cannot speak or understand all the 11 official languages of South–Africa. Yet the children who are victims of sexual abuse come from cultures and races where these 11 languages are spoken. This then raises the problem of the language barrier between the forensic social worker and the alleged victim of sexual abuse. The appointment of language interpreters for forensic interviews is evidently the only way to overcome the language barrier. There is a great need for language interpreters as their role is crucial to the forensic process. However, many forensic social workers have experienced serious problems with language interpreters during the forensic interviews and have remarked that the mere presence and behaviour of the language interpreter is often so detrimental to the forensic assessment that they prefer to do without them. The problem of the language barrier remains, however, and the problems of the appointment of the language interpreters have to be addressed to enable forensic social workers to conduct forensic assessments successfully and thereby assist in ensuring justice in such criminal cases. The researcher in this study believes that the communication barrier that exists between the forensic social worker, the alleged victim of sexual abuse and the language interpreter is a crucial issue that requires immediate attention to ensure effective service delivery in the judicial system of South–Africa. The article format was selected in accordance with Regulation A.11.2.5 for a Master’s degree in (Social Work in Forensic Practice). The article complies with the requirements of the Journal CARSA. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

* OPSOMMING: Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die reaksies van die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking van die oortreding te bepaal en hoedat die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Doelwit 1: Om vas te stel wat die emosionele reaksies van die moeders was nadat seksuele misbruik van hul kinders bekend gemaak is. Doelwit 2: Om vas te stel in watter mate die forensiese maatskaplike werker inligting aan die moeder verstrek het rakende die wetlike en forensiese prosesse asook moontlike implikasies rakende bepaalde besluitneming. Doelwit 3: Om vas te stel hoe die forensiese maatskaplike werker die moeder tydens die forensiese proses behulpsaam kan wees. Ten opsigte van doelwit een (1) is 'n gestandaardiseerde meetinstrument (PMSI) benut ten einde die moeder se emosionele reaksies te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind na bekendmaking daarvan, binne 'n emosionele konteks, met simptome van trauma presenteer. Doelwit twee (2) is met behulp van 'n selfontwerpte vraelys ondersoek, aan die hand waarvan bevind is dat die meerderheid moeders voldoende inligting met betrekking tot die wetlike en forensiese prosesse van die forensiese maatskaplike werker ontvang het. Enkele van die moeders het egter beleef dat hulle nie op aile vlakke toepaslik ingelig was rakende die wetlike en forensiese proses nie. Ten aansien van doelwit drie (3) is dieselfde selfontwerpte vraelys benut as die in doelwit twee (2) genoem. Daar is bevind dat die forensiese maatskaplike werker toepaslike inligting aan die moeder moet verstrek en dat sy haar na bevoegde kundiges wat oor spesifieke terapeutiese kennis en vaardighede beskik, moet verwys. Hierdie bevindinge is vervat in die aanbevelings wat in die studie gedoen is, wat fokus op die forensiese maatskaplike werker se rol en taak met betrekking tot die moeder van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / • SUMMARY: The purpose of the research was to determine the emotional reactions of the mother of the sexually abused child after disclosure and how the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. Objective 1: To determine what the emotional reactions of the mothers of their sexually abused children were after disclosure of sexual abuse. Objective 2: To ascertain to what extent the forensic social worker furnished the mother with information regarding the legal and forensic process as well as possible implications concerning certain decision making. Objective 3: How the forensic social worker can assist the mother in the forensic process. A standardised measuring instrument (PMSI) was utilised in obtaining information with regard to objective one (1). The findings indicate that the mother of the sexually abused child presents with symptoms of trauma after disclosure of sexual abuse. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate objective two (2). The findings indicated that the majority of mothers received sufficient information from the forensic social worker regarding the legal and forensic process. The same self-designed questionnaire was utilised for objectives two (2) and three (3). Objective three (3) focused on how the forensic social worker could assist the mother in the forensic process. The findings indicated that the forensic social worker should furnish the mother with specific information, especially by referring the mother to competent therapists with specific therapeutic knowledge and skills. These findings were included in the recommendation made in this study that focussed on the forensic social worker's role and task with regard to the mother of the sexually abused child. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.