Social workers who are employed by non-governmental organizations have unique experiences. Through training and education, social workers are taught skills on how to remain professional during service delivery, but subjective experiences and the influence remain part of human nature. The purpose of the research was to investigate the experiences of social workers in nongovernmental organizations during investigations of child sexual abuse as well as the influence of these experiences on service delivery. The research followed a qualitative approach. Fifteen registered social workers from NG Welfare in the North West Province participated in this investigation where semi-structured interviews were conducted and notes were taken. The interviews focused on the following themes: -Theme 1: Personal experiences of social workers during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 2: The experience of social workers with other professionals during investigations of child sexual abuse. -Theme 3: Limitations social workers experience during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 4: Social workers’ experience of objectivity during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 5: Social workers’ knowledge and practice experience in child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 6: Suggestions by social workers to improve the quality of investigations of child sexual abuse cases. The results of the data were divided into subthemes for detailed clarifications and discussions of the respondent’s experiences in order to make useful recommendations. According to the results all the respondents stated that their experiences with regard to child sexual abuse cases do influence their behaviour, decision making and service delivery. Half of the respondents experience good cooperation from other professionals. Limited resources are the biggest limitation for social workers and all the respondents are of the opinion that social workers are unbiased and objective when confronted with child sexual abuse investigations. The majority of the respondents do not think social workers have enough knowledge and practice experience for conducting these investigations and made the following suggestions to improve the process. These suggestions include the following: - Establishing an assessment unit - Employing a forensic social worker - Having a place of safety and or a rehabilitation centre available for children involved in child sexual abuse / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

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.

Social workers who are employed by non-governmental organizations have unique experiences. Through training and education, social workers are taught skills on how to remain professional during service delivery, but subjective experiences and the influence remain part of human nature. The purpose of the research was to investigate the experiences of social workers in nongovernmental organizations during investigations of child sexual abuse as well as the influence of these experiences on service delivery. The research followed a qualitative approach. Fifteen registered social workers from NG Welfare in the North West Province participated in this investigation where semi-structured interviews were conducted and notes were taken. The interviews focused on the following themes: -Theme 1: Personal experiences of social workers during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 2: The experience of social workers with other professionals during investigations of child sexual abuse. -Theme 3: Limitations social workers experience during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 4: Social workers’ experience of objectivity during child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 5: Social workers’ knowledge and practice experience in child sexual abuse investigations. -Theme 6: Suggestions by social workers to improve the quality of investigations of child sexual abuse cases. The results of the data were divided into subthemes for detailed clarifications and discussions of the respondent’s experiences in order to make useful recommendations. According to the results all the respondents stated that their experiences with regard to child sexual abuse cases do influence their behaviour, decision making and service delivery. Half of the respondents experience good cooperation from other professionals. Limited resources are the biggest limitation for social workers and all the respondents are of the opinion that social workers are unbiased and objective when confronted with child sexual abuse investigations. The majority of the respondents do not think social workers have enough knowledge and practice experience for conducting these investigations and made the following suggestions to improve the process. These suggestions include the following: - Establishing an assessment unit - Employing a forensic social worker - Having a place of safety and or a rehabilitation centre available for children involved in child sexual abuse / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The prevalent rates of sexual crimes against children in South Africa require forensic social work as a specialised field to assist the criminal justice system to respond effectively to victims' essential needs. This need has led to the employment of social workers in forensic units in the South African Police Services (SAPS) as an investigative aid under detective services to enhance service delivery in forensic practices. The initiative materialised through previous collaboration between the National Department of Social Development (DSD), tertiary institutions and the South African Council of Social Service Professions (SACSSP), to deliberate on strategies to curb the alarming rates of crime, violence and other related social problems in South Africa. Instituting specialised forensic practice was the outcome and it provided context of this study. This study explored social workers' experiences of forensic practice with victims of child sexual abuse in the City of Cape Town. Forensic social work is an emerging field of practice that requires tertiary training for social workers who want to practice forensic social work to acquire specialised knowledge and skills to practice competently. The study objectives involved; ● To explore the challenges faced by social workers providing forensic services to victims of child sexual abuse. ● To discover concerns involved in generalist social workers providing forensic services to victims of child sexual abuse. ● To describe the social workers' decision making in their intervention in providing forensic social work services. ● To explore the levels of knowledge and skills of social workers in forensic practice with sexual abuse cases. The study adopted a qualitative research approach where data was collected using a semistructured interview schedule. The non-probability purposive sampling approach was implemented based on the researcher's judgement of the role players relevant to this study. The sample interviewed for this study comprised of twenty social workers handling child sexual abuse cases from government departments and non-governmental organisations in the City of Cape Town to explore their experiences in handling child sexual abuse victims. The data was analysed using Tesch's (1990) eight steps of data analysis. The findings revealed that collaborative partnerships are at the core of the criminal justice system and networking with relevant role-players and stakeholders allow the handling of these complex cases effectively. However, with the challenging nature and risk involved in forensic social work practice, social workers' attrition rates were high in a field already suffering from the scarcity of human resources. Social workers in forensic practice experience various challenges with child victims, the justice system and collaborations with other role-players. All these challenges are seen as contributing factors to the delay of cases and low conviction rates of sexual offences in South Africa. There is a need therefore to improve collaborations among role players handling child sexual abuse cases for effective service delivery.

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) / The changing landscape of parental responsibilities and rights, and the protection of children’s rights create an ever-changing phenomenon in social science. Limited research has been conducted regarding social workers in private practice, and in particular, regarding their professional and personal experiences in dealing with care and contact matters, pertaining to the South African Children’s Act 38 of 2005. This study aimed to provide insight and knowledge regarding the roles and experiences of social workers in private practice, particularly of those rendering services in the greater Gauteng area, in family law matters related to care and contact disputes.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Social Work)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Child sexual abuse is a serious social and health issue that affects people worldwide. A variety of professions is trying to address this problem. It has numerous consequences, such as psychological, physical, social and emotional effects. An integral part of fighting child sexual abuse is disclosure. Forensic social work has been introduced in South Africa recently to facilitate the disclosure of child sexual abuse. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of interviewing techniques with the Black child during forensic social work assessments in a South African perspective. The ecosystems theory was used in this research study to zoom into the nature of child sexual abuse and the environmental systems in South Africa that may affect the effectiveness of the interviewing techniques during forensic assessments with Black children. The study employed qualitative and evaluation designs. Non-probability sampling and probability sampling methods aided triangulation. Stratified random sampling, purposive sampling and convenient sampling techniques were followed to select fourteen (14) forensic social workers in South Africa. Out of these forensic social workers, thirteen (13) were females and one (1) was a male. Data were collected by means of a literature review and semi-structured in-depth interviews guided by an interview schedule with open-ended questions. The collected data were analysed thematically with the help of the Nvivo programme. The study revealed that rape is the most common sexual offence against Black children that forensic social workers across South Africa address. For the purpose of this research, rape is defined in accordance with the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. Other sexual offences such as sexual assault, sexual grooming, and sexual exploitation/labour are barely reported because some South African communities regard them as minor things or taboos that could be addressed within families. As a result, they are not given the same recognition as rape in South Africa. Forensic social workers therefore have fewer such cases. The study also revealed that child pornography or exposing children to explicit sexual materials takes place more in urban areas than in rural areas, and as a result, it is not assessed among Black children in rural areas. This study further reveals that the disclosure of child sexual abuse is a process where children only disclose to someone whom they trust. In this regard, the environment where children are raised contributes to the disclosure of child sexual abuse. In rural areas, child xiv sexual abuse is mostly disclosed accidentally. Children from urban areas disclose more deliberately. Findings point to factors such as fear of the perpetrator, relationship with the perpetrator, boundaries of culture, the environmental setting, fear of embarrassment and shame, age of the child, language competency, poverty and the South African justice system as factors that play a role in disclosure of child sexual abuse during forensic social work assessments. In the facilitation of the disclosure of child sexual abuse, there is a variety of dynamics that professionals should be watchful of that may influence the disclosure rate. Personal characteristics of the child and the interviewer may affect disclosure of child sexual abuse during forensic interviews. For forensic social workers to ensure the protection of children and the conviction of perpetrators in child sexual abuse cases, they have to conduct skilful forensic interviews. There are specific interviewing techniques that aid disclosure. Some of these techniques appear to be very effective at eliciting detailed and accurate disclosures. Research reveals that in South Africa, cultural background, developmental level, language barriers and the manner of questioning children have an impact in the effectiveness of interviewing techniques during the assessments of allegations of child sexual abuse. Techniques should be contextualized in terms of cultural backgrounds and one should consider developmental level (age in particular), types of questions and language of the child, especially for Blacks. Once again, the disclosure of sexual abuse is a process with definable phases and characteristics. Many children find it difficult to talk about their sexual abuse experiences. It is therefore imperative that forensic social workers have an understanding of the diagonal process of disclosure when conducting forensic assessments. Forensic social workers have to be watchful of varied dynamics that are likely to affect the disclosure rate. The findings reveal that personal characteristics of the child and the interviewer, communication skills, blind assessments and informed allegation interviews have an impact on making the interviewing techniques effective during the disclosure of child sexual abuse. As a result, the study recommends that the forensic social worker should come to the developmental level of the child, speak the language of the child or use interpreters for the child to understand, and follow blind assessments interviews as opposed to informed allegation interviews. However, informed allegations interviews are recommended when assessing children below the age of four (4) years.

Research has demonstrated that implicit bias is an inescapable part of the human experience that can have harmful repercussions. Its effects can be seen particularly in the criminal justice system where those of marginalized groups are disproportionately represented. Social workers in the public defender’s office representing indigent clients in the criminal justice system, implicit bias can negatively impact client outcomes or service access. This study sought to explore how these social workers understand implicit bias in their work and will be conducted using qualitative analysis through the use of interviews and document review. This research found that social workers in this setting identify in ways that are very different from their clients and view the resulting implicit bias as an important hurdle to overcome. Social workers reported that working with clients who are similar to them can increase rapport but also introduce issues of countertransference. When working with clients who are different from them, social workers found it most challenging to serve clients with worldviews they found personally offensive, such as homophobia or white supremacy. Social workers of more privileged identities found ways to leverage this advantage to best serve their clients. The participants in this study had mixed feelings on whether or not differences in identity between social workers and clients increase implicit bias or impact client outcomes. There are many larger factors that increase the risk of implicit bias, which participants feel can be mitigated with training and more diverse teams.