This research builds on and contributes to work in the field of educators' professional discretion and the prevention of negligence. Existing literature suggests that many educators are still unaware of how the law operates regarding policy requirements and their in loco parentis obligations. This is demonstrated by the number of litigations and how an educator's liability regarding negligence has grown. In South Africa, numerous authors have made contributions in relation to learner safety and educators' duty of care. An educator is tasked with duty of care and to use professional discretion appropriately. At the same time, educators should be mindful to minimise their exposure to lawsuits. However, not much appears to have been done in this country to establish how educators can maintain a respectable balance between professional discretion and policy requirements without being negligent. The purpose of this study was, thus primarily to explore ways in which educators can reconcile professional discretion and legal and policy requirements to prevent negligence. The study utilised a qualitative research approach underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. Data collection was done by the means of qualitative collection techniques, namely semi-structured interviews supported by an analysis of relevant court cases. Twenty participants from two primary and two secondary public schools in the Tshwane South school district in Gauteng participated in the study. Two of these schools were fee-paying schools and two non-fee-paying schools. Five participants from each school were identified and invited to participate in this study and consisted of the principal, a member of the school management team (deputy-principal or head of department) and three educators. Each of the participants had different legal obligations, discretions, responsibilities and accountabilities as far as negligence is concerned. The conceptual framework for this study, was based on Dworkin’s (1978:31) ‘doughnut’ metaphor for the concept of professional discretion. Based on an adapted version of Dworkin’s ‘doughnut’ metaphor, findings confirm that some educators feel restricted in their decision-making and limited in their professional discretion due to the legal and inflexible policy framework regulating their work. It came to the fore that the understanding and interpretation of certain school policies were dealt with differently by the participants due to their varied levels of experience, knowledge and training. The findings illuminated the fact that the participants did not fully grasp the vii concept of professional discretion. In making decisions and exercising judgement, these participants may not be comfortable in their knowledge experience or personal intuition. Educators’ capacity and ability to apply discretion is influenced by a number of external and internal factors. These factors restrict an educators’ autonomy space, which could ultimately lead to the inability to apply appropriate discretion. This could lead to a form of paralysis to uphold a high standard of care in dire situations and could lead to negligence. Therefore, in order to achieve a high standard of care and not be negligent, educators should not only have the ability to apply appropriate discretion, but also have the freedom to do so. Key terms: professional discretion; duty of care; in loco parentis; negligence; law of delict; standard of care; school safety policies. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / DST-NRF Innovation Master’s Scholarship. UNIQUE GRANT NO: 117504 / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

The increase of standardized working methods in social work is a well discussed topic due to the fact that the social workers have to practice social discretion in their profession. Previous research into the topic of work methods for social work and work involving human service organizations has been extensive. Many previous works have appraised standardized working methods as this is believed to effectivize and legitimize social work further. However, another school of thought argues that standardized methods may limit the worker and prevent them from making crucial decisions based on their own judgment. This study presents and discusses how standardized working methods may affect the social workers liberty to act of their own accord by using their professional discretion. Furthermore, the study discusses how standardized methods of work may affect the overall profession of social work altogether. The findings suggest that, although standardized working methods may be very effective, they must still allow room for individual judgment as well. This will ensure that rules and regulations are followed and the goals of the organization are being met, without compromising on the important relationship between social workers and their clients. A recurring theme throughout this study is the complexity of social work.

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Background: Management Control Systems (MCS) have been withheld as useful tools to support managers and increase performance, whereas Simons’ Levers of Control (LOC) increase the understanding of relations between different MCS. The characteristics of the public sector induce new dimensions of complexity in a municipal setting, where this study reveals how tensions exist between both levers and managers in turn impacting the performance of the organization.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to clarify the comprehensive use and efficiency of the MCS within Swedish municipal organizations. By using existing frameworks to acknowledge the unique challenges inherent, the relation between LOC and municipal performance is tested.  Method: The study reconciles with the pragmatic paradigm, following an abductive mixed-method approach. The research problem is addressed through a sequential explanatory method, where the quantitative research accounts for the foundation of the study, and to further enhance the understanding of the data, qualitative interviews were conducted.  Conclusion: This thesis reveals the intricate relationship between MCS and performance in Swedish municipal organizations, confirming the significance of MCS while challenging assumptions about LOCs’ direct impact on performance. By exploring the moderating role of professional discretion, the study underscores the importance of considering contextual factors in designing effective control mechanisms tailored to organizational needs.

The aim of this study was to identify differences in how the service respite care in ordinary housing is offered to people who are caring for or supporting relatives with dementia in nine municipalities in a region in southern Sweden. The study has focused on organizational factors that may affect the use of the service and the theoretical aspects of professional discretion and assessment principles in social work. To examine this, data was collected from a semi-structured survey (n = 59) directed to assistance officers and chief managers. Secondary quantitative data from a mapping of the nine municipalities support for people with dementia and their relatives was also included in the study. The methods used to analyse data were statistical analysis and quantitative content analysis. The span between equal and individual care have been studied to gain perspective on how local assistance officers and chief managers can adapt the availability and configuration of the service, in relation to the guidelines and the individual's needs. The results of the study show that there are differences in how municipalities offer respite care in ordinary housing for the informal carers and on what grounds they have access to it. There are also differences in the range of the service in some of the municipalities. Respondents estimate that they have wide professional discretion to adapt the service to individual needs, while they feel that the municipality's guidelines should be followed. Furthermore, the results show that use of the service is relatively low in the studied municipalities. To increase the use, respondents believe that security, confidence and trust are especially important in the relationship between the staff in home care services and the carers.

I den här studien beskrivs hur skolkuratorer arbetar förebyggande mot kränkande behandling för att främja elevers välmående och utveckling. Studien syftar till att undersöka skolkuratorers arbetssätt gällande förebyggande arbete mot kränkande behandling på grundskolan. Frågeställningar för att uppfylla studiens syfte är: Hur arbetar skolkuratorer förebyggande mot kränkande behandling? Hur är handlingsutrymmet i det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling utifrån skolkuratorers perspektiv? Hur ser samverkan ut med andra professioner i det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling? För att uppfylla studiens syfte och behandla frågeställningarna valdes en kvalitativ metod i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Datainsamlingen transkriberades och analyserades genom tematisk analys och jämfördes sedan med relevant tidigare forskning inom det aktuella ämnet. Resultatet som presenteras innebär att det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling utförs på olika sätt, på olika nivåer. Andra betydande delar i studien påvisar handlingsutrymmet och samverkan med andra yrkesprofessioner på skolan. Resultatet har diskuterats och analyserats med en grund i den systemteoretiska utvecklingsekologiska teorin, vilket har varit studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt. Ytterligare fynd, som studien redovisar, är: förebyggande arbetssätt i form av vuxennärvaro, värdegrundsarbete och förebyggande i kombination med åtgärdande arbete. / This study describes how school counsellors work to prevent bullying in order to ensure pupils' well-being and development. The aim of the study is to investigate school counsellors' approaches to preventing bullying in primary schools.  The questions posed to fulfill the purpose of the study are: How do school counsellors work to prevent bullying? From the perspective of school counsellors, how is the professional discretion in the prevention of bullying? How is the collaboration with other professions present in the prevention work preventing bullying? In order to fulfill the study's purpose and answer the research questions, a qualitative method was chosen using semi-structured interviews. The data collection was transcribed and analyzed through thematic analysis and then compared with relevant previous research on the topic of bullying. The result of the study shows that the prevention work against bullying is carried out in different ways at different levels. Other significant elements of the study are the scope of action and the interaction with other groups of professionals present and active at a school. The presented result is discussed and analyzed with the basis in the system theoretical developmental ecological theory, which has been the theoretical starting point of the study. Other findings in the study are: preventive approaches in the form of adult presence, value-based work and prevention combined with remedial work.

The goal of this research was to investigate teachers' perceptions of professional discretion and satisfaction related to internal and external factors of curriculum control. Results of the study were intended to provide data to policy makers and school district administrators that could be used in the development and implementation of the curriculum reform process. Middle and high school teachers in a large central Florida school district completed the survey. The survey's six constructs were 1. Influence of Teacher Beliefs 2. Perceptions of Success and Satisfaction 3. Influence of Tests and Curriculum Guides 4. Teacher Control of Pedagogy 5. Leadership 6. Maintaining High Standards The research questions focused on determining the difference in perspectives due to years of teaching experience, level of teaching (middle or high school), and curriculum control category (high, medium, or low). The results revealed there was not significant disagreement among teacher perceptions based on years of teaching experience. However, results indicated significant differences in perceptions based on level of teaching and curriculum control category in regard to the six survey constructs. The construct of leadership revealed significant differences between both levels of teaching and curriculum control categories. Overall, the results indicated a significant relationship among curriculum control policies and effects on teachers' perceptions of professional discretion and satisfaction. The literature on curriculum reform efforts since the 1980s, specifically in the areas of curriculum standards, textbook adoption policies, testing policies and leadership practices, framed the study. The literature review focused on existing research issues within the six constructs and the research questions. The information gained from this study may be used to inform policies, improve teachers' working conditions, and promote teacher and leadership effectiveness. Recommendations for practice were addressed in terms of what policy makers, school district administrators, and individual classroom teachers can and should do to implement and support meaningful curriculum reform. The researcher emphasized that recognizing the professional expertise and knowing the perspective of teachers are key to the development and implementation of an effective curriculum reform process.

Bakgrund: Erkända globala och nationella dokument framhåller sexualitet som en mänsklig rättighet. Trots detta förbises personer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning (IF) rätt till sin sexualitet. Förbiseendet medför bland annat att de får bristande stöd av personal i detta viktiga livsområde varpå deras möjlighet att uttrycka sin sexuella identitet minimeras. Syfte: Studien syftar till att undersöka personals upplevelser av att bemöta personer med IF:s sexualitet inom bostäder med särskild service enligt LSS utifrån sin kunskap och kompetens, samt vad de ser för eventuellt kompetensbehov. Metod: Vi har använt en kvalitativ forskningsdesign och intervjuat sju kommunalt anställda personer inom bostäder med särskild service. Alla informanter har erfarenhet av att arbeta med LSS personkrets ett och några även av personkrets tre. Studiens insamlade empiri har analyserats med hjälp av tematisk analys och slutligen har vi tolkat vårt resultat med hjälp av ett socialkonstruktivistiskt perspektiv på sexualitet och teorier om professionellt handlingsutrymme. Resultat: Studien visar att informanterna har begränsad kunskap och färdigheter i att bemöta sexuella behov hos personer med IF. Dessutom framkommer en övergripande tabukänsla kring ämnet sexualitet med tystnadskultur som följd. Riktlinjer och vägledningsdokument saknas att luta sig emot samt bristande stöd från ledning framkommer. Informanterna uttrycker en stor osäkerhet kring att vara ett sexuellt stöd och efterfrågar omfattande kompetensutveckling för att de ska känna sig kunskapsmässigt och rättsligt säkra att arbeta med sexualitet. Slutsats: För att förbättra stödet och möjligheterna för personer med IF att få vara sexuella personer och bli erkända som sådana på ett respektfullt sätt, krävs det bättre utbildning, riktlinjer samt lagstöd för personalen. Det är också viktigt att arbeta mot de fördomar och tabun som råder kring sexualitet och IF, så att människor med IF inte stigmatiseras och marginaliseras ytterligare. Detta är ett område där personal och samhället som helhet har en avgörande roll, genom att se till att alla individer har rätt till sin sexuella identitet och sina sexuella behov. / Background: Nationally and globally established documents accentuate sexuality as a human right. Although this is the case, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are shunned regarding their rights to their own sexuality. This precedence leads to caregivers, tasked with supporting intellectually disabled service users, to neglect helping them in this field, giving them less opportunities to express their own sexual identities. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate caregivers experiences when it comes to addressing sexuality in the residential homes of the people with IDs that they support, as well as what competence they deem as necessary to handle such situations. Method: In this qualitative study we have interviewed seven municipally employed, tasked with supporting people with ID within group homes. The empirical data we've collected has been analyzed with the help of a thematic analysis, for which our result has been interpreted while using social constructivist perspectives on sexuality and theories on professional discretion. Results: The study shows that the informants have limited knowledge and lack of skill when it comes to assisting people with ID with their sexualities, as well as coping with the stigma related to the topic sexuality and the culture of silence that follows. Most workplaces lack guidance documents and rules regarding the topic of sexuality and a lack of support from managers. Conclusion: To better help shape the support needs and possibilities of people with ID, allowing them to voice their sexualities and being recognized as sexual beings in a respectful manner; education, guidance, overall rules and regulations are needed for the caregivers tasked to work with them. This is an area where the caregivers and society as a whole have a deciding role, making sure that all people, no matter their abilities, are allowed to express themselves sexually. It is also important that society keeps on working against the taboo that is related to disabled people and sexual expression, which could lead to being stigmatized more than what they already are.