Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the present functioning of occupational social work at local governments in the Cape Peninsula. In order to realise this aim, an exploratory study was undertaken. In this study the historical development of occupational social work, internationally as well as in the South African context, was investigated. From the investigation it became apparent that there is a difference in the pattern between the historical development of occupational social work internationally and in the South African context. In South Africa industrialization occurred almost a century later than in the European countries and the development of occupational social work was further hampered by the political system of separate development. The organizational context of occupational social work practice as well as the roles, functions, knowledge and skills of the occupational social worker were discussed. It is essential that the occupational social worker should not only have insight into the structural and functional aspects of organizations, but should also have the know how to apply this knowledge base to promote social work services in the workplace. Although the roles, functions, knowledge and skills of the occupational social worker are relatively similar to those of social workers in other fields of practice, it is also evident that this field requires more specialized skills and knowledge. Attention was given to social work supervision and management in the occupational context and it became apparent that in the occupational context, social work supervision and management are influenced by a variety of organizational factors. Supervision is extremely important to local governments because it provides the opportunity for these organizations to guide the service delivery of the social workers in a scientific and responsible manner. Lastly the structure and functioning of local governments were discussed with specific reference to occupational social work. The emergence of occupational social work at local governments in the Cape Peninsula as well as the Employee Assistance Program policy and the substance dependency treatment policy of local governments were also discussed. An empirical investigation was undertaken after the literature study, in which eight occupational social workers as well as their six managers at local governments in the Cape Peninsula participated. The questionnaire was used as the technique for data collection. On the basis of the conclusion and findings of this study, certain recommendations on the practical implementation of occupational social work policy and the process of supervision for local governments in the Cape Peninsula are made at the end of the report. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die huidige funksionering van bedryfsmaatskaplike werk by plaaslike owerhede in die Kaapse Skiereiland te ondersoek. Om hierdie doel te bereik is 'n verkennende studie onderneem. In die studie is die historiese ontwikkeling van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk internasionaal sowel as in Suid-Afrika ondersoek. Uit die ondersoek blyk dit dat die historiese ontwikkeling van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk internasionaal en in Suid-Afrika, nie dieselfde patroon gevolg het nie. In Suid-Afrika het industrialisasie bykans 'n eeu later as in die Europese lande plaasgevind en is die ontwikkeling van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk verder ook gestrem deur 'n politieke stelsel van afsondering. Die organisatoriese konteks van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk praktyk en die rolle, funksies, kennis en vaardighede van die bedryfs-maatskaplike werker is bespreek. Dit is noodsaaklik dat die bedryfs-maatskaplike werker nie slegs oor insig van die strukturele en funksionele aspekte van organisasies moet beskik nie, maar behoort hy veel eerder te weet hoe om hierdie insig en kennis-basis te benut ten einde maatskaplike werk in die werkomgewing te bevorder. Alhoewel die rolle, funksies, kennis en vaardighede van die bedryfs-maatskaplike werker tot 'n groot mate met maatskaplike werkers in ander velde ooreenstem, is dit ook duidelik dat hierdie veld meer gespesialiseerde vaardighede en kennis verg. Daar is aandag geskenk aan maatskaplike werk supervisie en bestuur in die bedryfsopset en het dit uit die studie duidelik geword dat maatskaplike werk supervisie en bestuur in die bedryfsopset deur verskeie organisatoriese faktore beïnvloed word. Supervisie is van besondere belang vir plaaslike owerhede, aangesien 'n program vir supervisie aan dié organisasies die geleentheid bied om op 'n wetenskaplike, verantwoordbare wyse met die maatskaplike werkers te kommunikeer en kontrole oor hulle dienslewering en doelbereiking uit te oefen. Laastens is die struktuur en funksionering van plaaslike owerhede met spesifieke verwysing na bedryfs-maatskaplike werk bespreek. Die ontstaan van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk by plaaslike owerhede in die Kaapse Skiereiland en plaaslike owerhede se werknemer hulpprogrambeleid en middele-afhanklikheid behandelingsbeleid is ook bespreek. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is na die literatuurstudie onderneem, waraan agt bedryfs-maatskaplike werkers by plaaslike owerhede in die Kaapse Skiereiland sowel as hul ses bestuurders deelgeneem het. Die vraelys is as tegniek van inligtinginsameling gebruik. Gegrond op die gevolgtrekkings en bevindings van hierdie studie, word daar aan die einde van die verslag bepaalde aanbevelings ten opsigte van die praktiese implementering van bedryfs-maatskaplike werk beleid en die proses van supervisie vir plaaslike owerhede in die Kaapse Skiereiland gemaak.

M. Tech. Human Resources Management / It is important to acknowledge that employees need to be physically and mentally healthy in order to be productive, thus boosting the profitability of the organisation. According to resources, employee assistance programmes have the potential of enhancing the profitability of the company by reducing absenteeism, staff turnover, tardiness, accidents and medical claims. The problem statement of this study involves the uncertainty about the perceptions of the employees in the coal mines within the Nkangala region about the outsourced employee assistance programmes. It is only one coal mining company and an Employee Assistance Programmes service provider that granted permission to conduct the research at their organisations. This research project aims to evaluate the perceptions of the employees of the coal mine within the Nkangala region in South Africa, about the outsourced employee assistance programmes. The objectives of the study are to determine if the perceptions of demographic groups differ and also to determine if there are relationships between the theoretically envisaged subscales or dimensions.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The work environment in South Africa is currently undergoing dramatic changes that are caused by a variety of factors and increasing pressure is placed on industries to take more responsibilities for the wellbeing of their employees. The structure and philosophy of employee assistance programmes provide an unique opportunity to organizations to address the changing workplace and the needs of employees in a potential growth productive way. From an employers viewpoint employee assistance programmes are becoming essential for the success of present day companies and the employee assistance programme practitioner is steadily becoming part of the corporative policy formulating team. Due to the fact that there are no guidelines or much literature in the South African context regarding the application of employee assistance programmes in organizations, and in the absence of any specific practice approach for a social worker in private practice that delivers services within employee assistance programmes, the goal of this study is to provide guidelines that can serve to provide a social worker in private practice who is involved with employee assistance programmes, or that considers entering this field, with accurate and relevant information of such programmes. Guidelines won't only contribute to the application of employee assistance programmes to its full potential, but will also assist a social worker in private practice during negotiations to implement and determine an appropriate model for service delivery in a specific organization. In order to achieve the goal of this study, a literature as well as an empirical study was undertaken. The literature study had a dual purpose. Firstly it was conducted in order to describe the value of the utilization of employee assistance programmes in organizations and included the relevant concepts and elements of employee assistance programmes. Secondly, the literature study has been utilized in order to provide a useful conceptual framework for social workers in private practice by placing employee assistance programmes within the framework of the generic perspective. The findings of the literature study emphasize the re-focusing of employee assistance programmes on the dual client system with alliance to micro- as well as macro activities, as well as the fact that more specialized abilities are required from a social worker in private practice. Further, it emphasizes that employee assistance programmes provides structure to the professional activities of a social worker in private practice and as such contributes to these activities having a more effective impact in organizations. The empirical study was undertaken in order to determine the knowledge and opinion of the key personnel in organizations that are involved in the decision-making whether or not to invest in a program of this kind, and the nature of the employee assistance programme. This step has been taken, not only to make a social worker in private practice aware of the viewpoints of these people, but also to determine the possibilities for introducing an employee assistance programme in an organization and at the same time identify aspects that might be against the adoption of such a programme. The findings of the empirical study indicated that the key personnel maintain a caring philosophy towards their employees that is linked to productivity. Their expectations of an employee assistance programme is linked closely to this, and is only associated with micro level activities. Further more, the findings points to a lack of knowledge as far as the true nature, purpose and function of an employee assistance programme is concerned. In conclusion, recommendations were made based on the deductions and findings of the literature as well as the empirical study. These recommendations also serve as guidelines for a social worker in private practice who is involved with employee assistance programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dramatiese veranderinge vind tans plaas in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmilieu wat te weeg gebring word deur 'n verskeidenheid van faktore en daar word meer druk op bedryfsondernemings geplaas om toenemend groter verantwoordelikheid te neem vir die welstand van hul werknemers. Die struktuur en filosofie van werknemershulpprogramme bied 'n unieke geleentheid aan bedryfsondernemings om die veranderde werksmilieu en behoeftes van werknemers aan te spreek op 'n potensieel groei produktiewe wyse. Van werkgewers oogpunt, raak werknemershulpprogramme essensieel vir die sukses van hedendaagse ondernemings en vorm die werknemershulpprogram-praktisyn algaande 'n deel van die korporatiewe beleidsformulering span. Vanweë die feit dat daar nie in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks riglyne of selfs veel literatuur ten opsigte van die benutting van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings is nie, asook 'n afwesigheid in die literatuur van enige spesifieke praktykbenadering vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat binne werknemershulpprogramme dienste lewer, is die doel van hierdie studie om riglyne daar te stel wat kan dien om 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat gemoeid is met werknemershulpprogramme, of wat dit oorweeg om op hierdie gebied toe te tree, toe te rus met akkurate en toepaslike inligting van sodanige programme. Riglyne, wat nie net daartoe sal bydra dat werknemershulpprogramme tot sy volle reg toegepas word nie, maar ook kan dien as hulpmiddel vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk tydens onderhandelinge ten opsigte van die instel, en bepaling van 'n geskikte model vir dienslewering in'n bepaalde bedryfsonderneming. Ten einde die doel van hierdie studie te bereik is 'n literatuurstudie, sowel as empiriese ondersoek gedoen. Die literatuurstudie is tweërlei van aard, eerstens is dit aangewend om die benuttingswaarde van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings te beskryf en is die relevante konsepte en elemente in die verband uitgelig. Tweedens is die literatuurstudie aangewend om 'n nuttige konseptuele raamwerk vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk te skep deur werknemershulpprogramme te bespreek binne die raamwerk van die generiese perspektief. Die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie beklemtoon die herfokussering van werknemershulpprogramme op die tweeledige kliëntsisteem met 'n verbintenis tot mikro sowel as makrovlak aktiwiteite en ook die feit dat daar as sulks 'n meer gespesialiseerde kundigheid van 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk vereis word. Verder dui dit ook daarop dat werknemershulpprogramme struktuur aan die professionele werksaamhede van 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk bied wat bydra daartoe dat dit doeltreffender inslag in bedryfsondernemings vind. Die empiriese ondersoek is gedoen ten einde die kennis en opinie van sleutelpersone betrokke in besluitneming oor die instel en aard van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings te bepaal. Die stap is geneem nie net om 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk bewus te maak van die sienings van die persone nie, maar ook om die moontlikhede vir die instelling van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings bloot te lê en terselfdertyd aspekte wat dit weerlê te identifiseer. Die bevindinge van die empiriese studie dui daarop dat die sleutelpersone 'n filosofie van besorgdheid teenoor hul werknemers openbaar wat verband hou met produktiwiteit, en dat hul verwagtinge van 'n werknemershulpprogram nou hiermee saamhang en slegs met mikrovlak aktiwiteite geassosieer word. Verder is bevindinge aanduidend van'n positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor werknemershulpprogramme, maar 'n gebrek aan kennis oor die werklike aard, doel en funksie van 'n effektiewe werknemershulpprogram. Ten slotte is aanbevelings gemaak op grond van die gevolgtrekkings soos verkry vanuit die bevindinge van die literatuur sowel as empiriese studie. Die aanbevelings dien terselfdertyd ook as riglyne vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat gemoeid is met werknemershulpprogramme.

M.A. (Social Sciences) / Presently a fine balance between South Africa's politics and the industrial situation exists. The South African political focus was aimed at fulfilling the clamouring of America and Europe, and not tailored for the South Africa situation that asks for reciprocity. This immediate way of handling the South Africa political field, has resulted in the industry being at the receiving end of the country's political controversies. What we find in the industry is a total distortion of white male managers occupying 88.2% of all the middle and senior positions, whilst 75% of the South African population consist out of blacks. A very poor representation of African managers is thus visible in the industry that asks for change, reformation and renewal. These changes that are required, will have to take place within a limited accelerated time span, which might be revolutionary rather than evolutionary. Limited research has been done on coping during stressful situations (Feldman & Brett, 1983; Latack, 1986; Burke & Belcourt, 1974; Newton & Keenan, 1985 and Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The research that had been implemented was taxonomic (Burke & Belcourt in Newton & Keenan, 1985:108). This scientific research is about the stress management and coping skills of Afrocentric and Eurocentric middle managers. These managers are employed by Eskom which implies a working milieu that has been exposed to reorganisation, structural changes and rationalisation. An important component of .this research, is that the Eurocentric middle managers are being compared with the Afrocentric middle managers regarding their work and life circumstances and coping skills one or two months before South Africa's very first democratic election that took place on the 27th April 1994. It was important to assess the climate within Eskom as an organisation regarding the white versus the black managers just before a third world democratisation.

The Employee Assistance Programme is regarded as a tool that could assist employees in organisations with both their personal and work-related problems. This has become evident as more employers are offering these services to their employees. The goal of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of social workers’ views and experiences in rendering EAP services in the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH). The study used a qualitative research approach by focusing on the explorative, descriptive, and contextual designs. Constructivist theory and the person-environmentfit model formed the framework of this study. Purposeful sampling (a criterion-based sample) was used to select social workers rendering EAP services in the GDOH. Eleven social workers who met the criteria participated in the study and their ages ranged between 33 and 50 years. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis was used, and data verification was conducted based on the Guba model. The findings in this study indicate that EAP is an important programme. However, it is not prioritised by the GDoH. Consequently, EAP practitioners experience challenges that negatively affect the provision of quality EAP services. Despite the challenges, most of the EAP practitioners nonetheless continue to render these services albeit under difficult circumstances since they love and have a passion for the work they do. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Farm workers are viewed as a neglected segment in the South African society. This qualitative research study focused on exploring and describing the social needs of farm workers in the Central Koup from the perspectives of samples comprising of farm workers and farm owners and/or managers. The aim was to contribute in finding solutions to address the identified needs through employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as one of the areas that an occupational social worker focuses on. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and the findings were verified with literature. Tesch’s framework for data analysis (in Creswell, 2003) was employed, and data verification was conducted through Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings indicated that the social needs of farm workers could be addressed through typical EAP-related focus areas such as working- and interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, spiritual well-being, recreation, financial management, conflict management, child care and parenting skills, trauma counselling, and practical assistance regarding transport, housing and accessibility of resources. This research endeavour resulted in recommendations regarding the use of EAPs to address the social needs of farm workers. / M. Soc. Sc.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Finding practice education placements for undergraduate social work students is becoming increasingly difficult in the Western Cape Metropolis, because many welfare agencies have either closed down or do not have the capacity to accommodate students for field placement. As a result of this situation, this research was undertaken with the aim to investigate the feasibility of the corporate sector as a field placement for undergraduate social work students. By using the corporate sector as a field placement an opportunity can be created whereby the university and the corporate sector could establish a workable partnership, with mutual benefits for each. The corporate sector can benefit by services offered by the students in the form of case-group and community work that can be rendered to the employees. The university will benefit because a new option for student placements will become available to them. The domain of social work in the corporate sector was explored by defining occupational social work; the nature of service rendering on micro, meso and macro levels and discussing occupational social work in the 21st century. Field placements of undergraduate students in the corporate sector were examined in order to establish what the theoretical background for field placements in a corporate setting ought to be. To this end, the nature and purpose; formats; settings and key role players in field placements were explored. Social work methods in social work per se and occupational social work in general were investigated. An investigation was also made into the management of the field placement programme for undergraduate social work students in the corporate sector. The following were facets were explored: the requirements of the department of social work at the University of the Western Cape for fourth year students as well as the requirements for field placements in the corporate sector, in order to establish the suitability of the corporate sector for field placements. Existing literature and empirical findings were used to collect data for this study. Exploratory and descriptive research designs were applied in this study. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews and conclusions and recommendations were based on the findings of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit word al hoe moeiliker om praktykonderrigplasings vir voorgraadse maatskaplike werk studente in die Wes-Kaapse Metropool te vind, aangesien baie welsynsagentskappe of gesluit het of nie die vermoë het om studente in posisies vir praktykonderrigplasings te akkommodeer nie. As 'n gevolg van hierdie situasie is hierdie navorsing onderneem met die doel om vas te stel of menslike hulpbron personeel binne die korporatiewe sektor gewillig sal wees om voorgraadse studente vir praktykonderrig te akkommodeer. Deur die korporatiewe sektor vir praktykonderrigplasings te gebruik, kan 'n geleentheid geskep word waardeur die universiteit en die korporatiewe sektor 'n uitvoerbare vennootskap, met wedersydse voordele vir albei, tot stand kan bring. Die korporatiewe sektor kan voordeel trek uit die dienste wat deur die studente aangebied word, soos gevalle-, groep- en gemeenskapswerk wat aan die werknemers gebied kan word. Die universiteit se voordeel sal daarin lê dat nuwe opsies vir praktykonderrigplasings vir die studente beskikbaar word. Die sfeer van maatskaplike werk in die korporatiewe sektor is ondersoek deur beroepsmaatskaplike werk en die aard van dienslewering op mikro-, meso- en makrovlakke te definieer, en deur die aard van beroepsmaatskaplike werk in die 21ste eeu te bespreek. Praktykonderrigplasings van voorgraadse studente in die korporatiewe sektor is ondersoek om te bepaal wat die teoretiese agtergrond vir praktykonderrigplasings in die korporatiewe omgewing behoort te wees. Vir hierdie doel is die aard en doel, formate, omgewings en sleutel rolspelers in praktykonderrigplasings verken. Maatskaplike werkmetodes in maatskaplike werk per se en beroepsmaatskaplike werk in die algemeen is ondersoek. 'n Ondersoek is ook gedoen na die bestuur van die praktykonderrigplasingsprogram vir voorgraadse maatskaplike werkstudente in die korporatiewe sektor. Die volgende fasette is verken: die vereistes wat die Departement Maatskaplike Werk van die Universiteit van Wes- Kaapland aan vierdejaarstudente stel, sowel as die vereistes vir praktykonderrigplasings in die korporatiewe sektor, met die doel om die gewilligheid van die korporatiewe sektor vir praktykonderrigplasings te bepaal. Bestaande literatuur en empiriese bevindings is gebruik om data vir hierdie studie te versamel. Verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerpe is in hierdie studie benut. Deur middel van vraelyste en onderhoude is data versamel en afleidings en aanbevelings op grond van die bevindinge van die ondersoek is gemaak.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical and practical guidelines for the implementation of employee assistance programmes at the Department of Correctional Services in the Western Cape. An explorative research design was used. The historical development of occupational social work international as well as the historical development of occupational social work in the South African context was discussed. The nature and content of employee assistance programmes is also discussed. Attention was given to employee assistance programmes within the organizational context. The functions of the EAP practitioner as well as the current nature and content employee assistance programmes within the Department of Correctional Services is discussed. The roles, knowledge and skills of the occupational social worker is also discussed. An empirical investigation was undertaken in which SIX EAP practitioners participated for the purpose of the study a questionnaire was designed. A structured questionnaire as well as interviews was conducted in order to gather data. Certain recommendations are made based upon the conclusions and findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n teoretiese en praktiese riglyne daar te stel vir die implementering van werknemershulpprogramme binne die Departement van Korrektiewe Dienste in die Wes-Kaap. Daar is van 'n verkennende navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak. In die studie is die ontwikkeling van bedryfs maatskaplike werk internasionaal sowel as in Suid-Afrika bespreek. Die aard en omvang van werknemershulpprogramme is bespreek. Daar is aandag geskenk aan werknemershulpprogramme binne organisasie verband. Die funksies van die werknemershulpprogram praktisyn sowel as die huidige aard van bedryfs maatskaplike werk binne die Departement van Korrektiewe Dienste is bespreek. Die rolle, kennis en vaardighede van die bedryfs maatskaplike werker is ook bespreek. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is gedoen waarvan ses werknemerhulpprogram praktisyns deelgeneem het. Vir die doel van die empiriese ondersoek is 'n vraelys ontwerp. Daar is gebruik gemaak van 'n gestruktureerde vraelys en onderhoude om data te versamel. Aan die einde van die studie word daar sekere aanbevelings gemaak wat gebaseer is op die gevolgtrekkings en die bevindings van die studie.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Currently much attention is given in South African welfare legislation and in recent local and intemationalliterature and research to the process of social integration and the formation of social capital as one of the ideational outcomes of a social development approach, and therefore also a key practice element of developmental social work. Very little research have been undertaken to document the changes in social work practice brought about by the transition to a social development approach in South Africa. The purpose of this study is to formulate social work practice guidelines on the facilitation of social integration on community level. It therefore constitutes an attempt to illuminate how social workers could contribute to the national thrust toward the social integration of communities and provide valuable guidelines to social workers on the practical realization of this key element of developmental social work. In order to gain new insight and to clarify central concepts relating to this relatively unfamiliar research area, an exploratory research design was utilised. The population for the study consisted of practising social workers in welfare agencies subsidised by the Department of Social Services in the Cape Metropolitan area. From the population a sample was drawn utilising sampling strategies from both the probability and non-probability sampling procedures. The study was both qualitative and quantitative in nature and in-dept interviews were chosen as the method of datacollection. The interview schedule was compiled from the literature survey. In this survey the relation between the social development approach to welfare and social integration was explained, and some of the core focus areas for the social integration of South African communities were identified. Furthermore a discussion was given on community intervention strategies as a core method of social work as well as its practice implications for developmental social work. From this literature survey structured and unstructured questions were formulated and compiled in an interview schedule. This measurement instrument was utilised to explore how social workers can facilitate the social integration of communities through community intervention strategies. From the analysis ofthe results of the empirical study, social work practice guidelines on the facilitation of social integration on community level were formulated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huidige Suid-Afrikaanse welsynsbeleid asook kontemporêre plaaslike en internasionale literatuur en navorsing plaas verhoogde klem op die proses van maatskaplike integrasie en die vorming van sosiale kapitaal as een van die uitkomste van 'n sosiale ontwikkeling benadering en 'n kern praktyk element van ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk. Tans is daar nog min navorsing gedoen wat poog om die praktyk implikasies, wat die skuifna 'n ontwikkelingsgerigte benadering vir maatskaplike werk inhou, te dokumenteer. Die doel van hierdie studie is om maatskaplike werk praktykriglyne vir die fasilitering van maatskaplike integrasie op gemeenskapsvlak te formuleer. Die studie vergestalt dus 'n poging om die rol van maatskaplike werkers in die strewe na die maatskaplike integrasie van gemeenskappe te probeer verhelder, asook om aan maatskaplike werkers waardevolle riglyne te voorsien rondom die praktiese realisering van hierdie kern element van ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk. Ten einde nuwe insigte te ontwikkel en belangrike konsepte binne hierdie relatief onbekende navorsingsveld te klarifiseer, is 'n verkennende navoringsontwerp gebruik. Die universum vir hierdie studie het bestaan uit praktiserende maatskaplike werkers in diens van welsynsorganisasies in die Kaapse Metropool wat deur die Provinsiale Departement van Welsyn subsidieer word. Vanuit die universum is 'n steekproef getrek deur beide waarskynlikheid- en nie-waarskynlikheid steekproef trekking prosedures te benut. Die studie was beide kwalitatief en kwantitatief van aard en in-diepte onderhoude is gebruik as metode van data-versameling. Die onderhoude was gevoer aan die hand van onderhoudskedules wat op grond van die literatuur ondersoek opgestel is. In die literatuur ondersoek is die verhouding tussen die sosiale ontwikkeling benadering tot welsyn en maatskaplike integrasie ondersoek, asook kern areas vir die maatskaplike integrasie van Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskappe identifiseer. Verder is gemeenskapsintervensiestrategieë as 'n kern metode in die maatskaplike werk, asook die implikasies daarvan vir ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk, bespreek. Die onderhoudskedule is gebruik om te eksploreer hoe maatskaplike werkers deur middel van hulle gemeenskapswerk intervensie kan bydrae tot die fasilitering van maatskaplike integrasie. Die versamelde data is analiseer en maatskaplikewerk praktykriglyne vir die fasilitering van maatskaplike integrasie op gemeenskapsvlak is geformuleer.

Farm workers are viewed as a neglected segment in the South African society. This qualitative research study focused on exploring and describing the social needs of farm workers in the Central Koup from the perspectives of samples comprising of farm workers and farm owners and/or managers. The aim was to contribute in finding solutions to address the identified needs through employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as one of the areas that an occupational social worker focuses on. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and the findings were verified with literature. Tesch’s framework for data analysis (in Creswell, 2003) was employed, and data verification was conducted through Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings indicated that the social needs of farm workers could be addressed through typical EAP-related focus areas such as working- and interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, spiritual well-being, recreation, financial management, conflict management, child care and parenting skills, trauma counselling, and practical assistance regarding transport, housing and accessibility of resources. This research endeavour resulted in recommendations regarding the use of EAPs to address the social needs of farm workers. / M. Soc. Sc.