Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Because of changes and increasing demands within the workplace, it has been decided that the frontline-manager within the SANDF ought to acquire particular interpersonal skills so as to ensure optimum performance on the part of subordinates and to achieve organisational objectives. The development of a management training programme for front-line managers would fill this need. This has resulted in a need to empirically test the role of the military social worker and the management skills that the front-line manager ought to have acquired. The aim of the study is to identify the knowledge and skills required by the military social worker by means of a literature and empirical study and to empirically test possible content in a management training programme. All social worker officers of the Western Province Medical Command were involved in the empirical study. The findings of the empirical study are being used to establish guidelines for the content of a front-line management training programme within the South African National Defence Force. Industrial social work is regarded as a relatively young area of specialisation in social work. Because of this, a short historical overview is provided, with specific reference to the USA and South Africa. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the historical development of military social work. The four positions relating to the practice model for military social work are discussed to help identify the best position for utilisation in management training of front-line managers. The literature study determined that the ecosystem approach, because of its dual focus on the person in the environment or the employee in the working environment provides a suitable framework for the military social worker. The ecological approach serves as a basis for the study. Against the background of recent literature, a complete survey of the management tasks and skills of the front-line, as well as the human approach to management, is given. The content of subjects which focus on the interpersonal skills of front-line managers in the SANDF and which may be included in a management training programme are discussed. In conclusion, the responses from military social workers of the Western Province Medical Command are discussed and compared with the relevant literature. The literature study, and the empirical results, are utilised to establish guidelines for a management training programme for front-line managers in the SANDF. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vanweë verandering en toenemende eise in die werkplek is daar besluit dat die laevlakbestuurder in die SANW oor bepaalde interpersoonlike vaardighede behoort te beskik ten einde optimale funksionering van ondergeskiktes te verseker en om organisasie doelstellings te bereik. Die ontwikkeling van 'n bestuursopleidingsprogram vir die laevlakbestuurder sou die leemte aanspreek. Dit het die behoefte laat ontstaan om die rol van die militêre maatskaplike werker en die bestuursvaardighede waaroor die laevlakbestuurder behoort te beskik, empiries te toets. Die doel van die studie is om deur middel van 'n literatuur- en empiriese studie, kennis en vaardighede waaroor die militêre maatskaplike werker moet beskik te identifiseer en die moontlike inhoud van die bestuursopleidingsprogram empiries te toets. Vir die empiriese studie is alle maatskaplikewerk-offisiere van die Mediese Kommandement Westelike Provinsie gebruik. Die bevindinge van die empiriese studie word gebruik om riglyne daar te stel vir die inhoud van 'n bestuursopleidingsprogram vir die laevlakbestuurder in die Suid- Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Bedryfsmaatskaplike werk word as 'n relatief jong spesialisveld in maatskaplike werk beskou, daarom word 'n kort historiese oorsig gegee met spesifieke verwysing na die VSA en Suid-Afrika. Daar is verder klem gelê op die historiese ontwikkeling van militêre maatskaplikewerk. Die vier posisies in die praktykmodel vir militêre maatskaplikewerk is bespreek ten einde die beste posisie vir benutting in die bestuursopleiding van laevlakbestuurders te identifiseer. Met die literatuurstudie is vasgestel dat die ekosisteem-benadering as gevolg van sy tweeledige fokus op die persoon-in-die-omgewing of die werknemer-in-die-werksomgewing, 'n toepaslike raamwerk vir die militêre maatskaplike werker verskaf. Die ekologiese benadering dien as onderbou vir die studie. 'n Volledige oorsig word gegee van die bestuurstake en vaardighede van die laevlakbestuurder, sowel as die menslike benadering tot bestuur, na aanleiding van resente literatuur. Die inhoud van die onderwerpe wat fokus om die interpersoonlike vaardighede van die laevlakbestuurder in die SANW en wat ingesluit kan word by 'n bestuursopleidingsprogram, word bespreek. Ten slotte word die response van die militêre maatskaplike werkers van die Mediese Kommandement Westelike Provinsie bespreek en vergelyk met relevante literatuurbronne. Die literatuurstudie sowel as die empiriese resultate word benut om riglyne daar te stel vir inhoud van 'n bestuursopleidingsprogram vir die laevlakbestuurder in die SANW.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie verhandeling bied 'n illustrasie van hoe 'n ekosistemiese verwysingsraamwerk benut is in 'n gevallestudie waar terapie met 'n gesin gedoen is. Twee ekosistemiese konsepte is benut om die gevallestudie mee te bespreek. Hulle is: die taaldeterminering van die terapeutiese sisteem soos deur Anderson & Goolishian (1988) beskrywe: en die terapeutiese formula: stabiliteit/verandering/betekenisvolle geraas van Keeney & Ross (1985). Die waarde van die taaldeterminering van 'n sisteem is die insig dat 'n sisteem (soos 'n gesin) nie die terapeutiese sisteem bepaal nie, maar dat 'n probleem 'n sisteem bepaal. Die sisteem bestaan solank daar betekenisgewing in daardie sisteem plaasvind. 'n Terapeutiese sisteem kan dus beskryf word as 'n probleem-gedetermineerde en probleem-oplossende sisteem. Die terapeutiese veranderingsproses bestaan uit 'n ko-konstruksie van idees/betekenisse, wat ook die ko-konstruksie van nuwe realiteite vir almal in die terapeutiese sisteem moontlik maak. Daar is in die aanbevelings toepassingsmoontlikhede vir die ekosistemiese benadering vir die maatskaplikewerk-praktyk en maatskaplikwerk-navorsing aangedui. / This thesis presents an illustration of how an ecosystemic perspective was used in a family therapy case study. Two ecosystemic conceptes were used to discuss the case study. They are: the language determination of the therapeutic system as described by Anderson & Coolishian (1988): and the therapeutic formula: stability/change/meaningful noise as used by Keeney & Ross (1985). The value of the language determination of the system is that a system (such as a family) does not determine the therapeutic system but that the system is determined by a problem. The system exists as long as meaning is given by that system. A therapeutic system can therefore be described as a problem-determined and a problem-solving system. The therapeutic change is a process of co-construction of ideas/meaning that simultaneously makes the co-construction of new realities possible for all members of the therapeutic system. In the recommendations, possible applications of the ecosystemic perspective in social work practice are indicated. / Social Work / M.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe (Geestesgesondheid))

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie verhandeling bied 'n illustrasie van hoe 'n ekosistemiese verwysingsraamwerk benut is in 'n gevallestudie waar terapie met 'n gesin gedoen is. Twee ekosistemiese konsepte is benut om die gevallestudie mee te bespreek. Hulle is: die taaldeterminering van die terapeutiese sisteem soos deur Anderson & Goolishian (1988) beskrywe: en die terapeutiese formula: stabiliteit/verandering/betekenisvolle geraas van Keeney & Ross (1985). Die waarde van die taaldeterminering van 'n sisteem is die insig dat 'n sisteem (soos 'n gesin) nie die terapeutiese sisteem bepaal nie, maar dat 'n probleem 'n sisteem bepaal. Die sisteem bestaan solank daar betekenisgewing in daardie sisteem plaasvind. 'n Terapeutiese sisteem kan dus beskryf word as 'n probleem-gedetermineerde en probleem-oplossende sisteem. Die terapeutiese veranderingsproses bestaan uit 'n ko-konstruksie van idees/betekenisse, wat ook die ko-konstruksie van nuwe realiteite vir almal in die terapeutiese sisteem moontlik maak. Daar is in die aanbevelings toepassingsmoontlikhede vir die ekosistemiese benadering vir die maatskaplikewerk-praktyk en maatskaplikwerk-navorsing aangedui. / This thesis presents an illustration of how an ecosystemic perspective was used in a family therapy case study. Two ecosystemic conceptes were used to discuss the case study. They are: the language determination of the therapeutic system as described by Anderson & Coolishian (1988): and the therapeutic formula: stability/change/meaningful noise as used by Keeney & Ross (1985). The value of the language determination of the system is that a system (such as a family) does not determine the therapeutic system but that the system is determined by a problem. The system exists as long as meaning is given by that system. A therapeutic system can therefore be described as a problem-determined and a problem-solving system. The therapeutic change is a process of co-construction of ideas/meaning that simultaneously makes the co-construction of new realities possible for all members of the therapeutic system. In the recommendations, possible applications of the ecosystemic perspective in social work practice are indicated. / Social Work / M.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe (Geestesgesondheid))

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2004. / This stucly set out to investigate the possibility of school social work intervention as an institutional structure in South African schools with special reference to the Durban, Empangeni and Pietermaritzburg education areas where the writer carried out the empirical observation. The justification or the investigation was strengthened by the double factors of globalisation and fast increasing technology transfer throughout the world- The study regarded the multiplicity of social, financial and other problems plaguing communities in South Africa as a given. Against this background, the question asked was whether, given the reality of these factors inhibiting the intellectual and vocatipnal development of school going children, educational provision for social work intervention as it obtains at the moment, was adequate to equip the younger generation to fit gainfully in a highly competitive and fast changing global market. ln terms of methodological orientation, the study was both exploratory and descriptive in nature. It employed both qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews and focused groups. The sample was divided into two phases. The respondents in phase one were educators and education managers. The respondents in phase two were social workers and social work managers from the Department of Welfare as well as non-governmental organizations CNGO's). For this study two interview schedules were used to obtain data. One was for Educators and Education Managers and the other was for Social Workers and Social Work Managers. The findings of this study are revealing in their disclosure. They reveal that the child could benefit from a developmental perspective in school social work, as this perspective would discourage dependency, and promote parental involvement and that of other sections of the community having a vested interest in the school. The findings of this study give ample indication that given the situation of South Africa within a fast changing global economy, the introduction of, as well as adequate provisioning for school social work intervention would be a well placed structural improvement in the South African schooling system. Somewhat disturbing though was the finding that educators were not making adequate use of social Work services (where available in referring children with social problems to social work agencies). In turn the agency social workers were'unable to attend speedily to children's social problems because of their heavy case loads. With this in the background, the recommendation for the insti'tutionalisation of school social work is no longer of legislative choice but an existential imperative.

Bibliography: pages 178-181. / In this study the writer assumed that the psycho-social characteristics of physically disabled patients would influence the role and task of the medical social worker at the Rehabilitation Clinic. Therefore an attempt was made to determine the psycho-social characteristics of patients referred to the Rehabilitation Clinic. Furthermore an attempt was made to determine the role and task of the medical social worker in relation to these psycho-social characteristics. The research method was a descriptive one, using archival data; the latter being social work records of interviews with patients. Prior to the research a literature study was done on various aspects of physical disability and vocational rehabilitation. A sample group of 45 subjects was compiled by a random sampling technique. Two structured schedules were used to extract data from both the social work file and the Rehabilitation Clinic patient file. The research and processing of the information was done manually. The findings revealed the following 1. The majority of the physically disabled patients were Coloured males in the age category of 31-50 years. 2. These patients had poor educational qualifications and were previously unskilled or semi-skilled labourers. 3. The patients were unemployed and had no income. 4. These patients had a passive lifestyle with no hobbies or little religious involvement. They also habitually abused liquor and/or cannabis. 5. The housing conditions of these patients were inadequate and primitive. 6. The various roles of the medical social worker included those of rehabilitation counsellor, team member, co-ordinator/resource manager and teacher, whereas the tasks included assessment, dissemination of information, referrals, co-ordinating of services and education. The final conclusion in this study was that the role and task of medical social worker was influenced by both the psycho-social characteristics of referred patients as well as the expectations of the rehabilitation team of the Rehabilitation Clinic.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1997. / Een kopie mikrofiche. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: School social work has been part of the services rendered to schools in the Western Cape province for the past 13 years. This service, however, was not equally available to all schools and learners. In addition to this, services are being rendered by four different systems in a diverse way. The aim of this study is to develop guidelines for the effective management of school social work services in the Western Cape province. The underlying goal to this study is to explore in which system school social work should be structured as part of an Education Support Service. A literature study and its practical application lead to the conclusion that school social work is a specialist field. The fact that school social work and education share common goals, serves to confirm the structuring of school social work within the education system. From a description of the existing state of school social work in the Western Cape province, it becomes evident that the diverse nature of the service is the result of the differences in its management. The unification of the different school social work systems therefore seems to be a priority in the creation of a service which can be accountable in every way. On the grounds of the established fact that school social work should be structured as a unit within the Western Cape Education Department, the compatability of the management administrations of social work and education was investigated. It was concluded that both these services could be grouped under the concept human service organization and thus share a common management administration. From the caracteristics of a human service organization's structural framework, an empirical investigation was conducted as to the way school social work is being managed as a unit within the Western Cape Education Department. According to the description of the style of management, interpretations were made on the basis of applications from existing literature. By means of this descriptive and applied research methods, the conclusion was reached that the characteristics of the management of a human service organization are not adhered to with regard to school social work services within the Directorate: Para- Edicational Service. It was also found that the management of school social work is ineffective. On the basis of these conclusions, recommendations were made regarding the structuring of school social work within the Western Cape province, as well as on a national level. The way in which such structuring should be implemented is formulated in the recommendation regarding guidelines which were developed for the effective management of school social work in the Western Cape Province. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Skool maatskaplike werk word reeds vir 13 jaar in die Wes- Kaapprovinsie geimplementeer. Hierdie dienste was egter nie tot 'n gelyke mate beskikbaar aan alle skole en leerders nie. Verder word die diens gefragmenteerd vanuit vier verskillende stelsels gelewer en bestuur. Hierdie ondersoek het ten doel om riglyne te ontwikkel vir die effektiewe bestuur van skool maatskaplike werk. Onderliggend tot die riglyne is ondersoek ingestel na waar die skool maatskaplikewerk-diens, as deel van 'n Onderwysondersteuningsdiens gestruktureer behoort te word. Op grond van 'n literatuurstudie en praktiese toepassing vanuit die literatuur is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat skool maatskaplike werk 'n spesialiteitsrigting in die maatskaplike werk is. Die gemeenskaplike aard van die doelstellings van skool maatskaplike werk en die opvoedkunde of onderwys dien as bevestiging vir die strukturering van skool maatskaplike werk binne die onderwysstelsel. Uit die bespreking van die stand van skool maatskaplike werk in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie blyk dit dat die gediversifiseerde aard van die diens voortspruit uit die verskille wat bestaan ten opsigte van die bestuur daarvan. Die vereniging van die verskillende skool maatskaplikewerk-stelsels onder een bestuurstelsel, blyk dus 'n prioriteit te wees in die daarstel van 'n verantwoordbare diens. Op grond van die bevestiging dat skool maatskaplike werk as 'n eenheid gestruktureer moet wees binne die Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement, is ondersoek ingestel na die verenigbaarheid van die bestuursadministrasies van maatskaplike werk en onderwys. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beide hierdie dienste gegroepeer kan word onder die begrip diensgerigte instelling. Hulle deel dus een bestuursadministrasie, naamlik die bestuursadministrasie vir 'n diensgerigte instelling. Vanuit die bestuurskenmerke van 'n diensgerigte instelling is 'n empiriese ondersoek gedoen na die wyse waarop skool maatskaplike werk as 'n eenheid binne die Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement bestuur word. Na aanleiding van die beskrywing van die bestuurswyse is interpretasies gemaak op grond van toepassings uit die literatuur. Deur middel van hierdie beskrywende en toegepaste navorsing is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die bestuurskenmerke van 'n diensgerigte instelling nie realiseer ten opsigte van skool maatskaplikewerk-dienste binne die Direktoraat: Para- Opvoedkundige Diens nie en dat bestuur van die skool maatskaplikewerk-diens oneffektief is. Op grond van hierdie gevolgtrekkings is aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van die strukturering van skool maatskaplike werk binne die Wes- Kaapprovinsie, sowel as op nasionale vlak. Die wyse waarop hierdie strukturering in praktyk gestel behoort te word is geformuleer in die aanbeveling ten opsigte van riglyne wat ontwikkel is vir die effektiewe bestuur van skool maatskaplike werk in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to compile practical guidelines to assist medical practitioners in utilizing social work services in their practices. Exploratory, descriptive and applied research was done to determine and describe medical practitioners' knowledge of psychosocial problems and their present and potential utilization of social work services. Results were generalized in respect of the population as a whole. In the theoretical study social functioning was conceptualized by the description of micro, mezzo and macro levels of functioning. The approach towards rendering of services (in the Medical field) and intervention (in the Social Work field) was described, followed by recommendations for the eclectical utilization of the approaches. The eclectical application of the intervention approaches requires that social workers should have certain knowledge, values and skills to interpret certain roles. This occurs within certain social work areas, with the achievement of the aims and functions of Social Work as goal. The ethical and value basis of Social Work and Medical Science shows certain similarities and disparities. The values of Social Work, as contained in the Behavioural- and Ethical Code for Social Work and the Oath of Hippocrates, in Medical Science, are described in this study. In the empirical study qualitative and quantitative information was gathered, inter alia, about the existence of psychosocial problems of patients in medical practitioners' practices, how medical practitioners handled them, how well equipped they were to do it, their present and potential utilization of Social Work services, the role of third parties in the rendering of services and referral procedures. Thirty nine (39) medical practitioners, selected by random sampling procedure, were involved in the study and completed selfadministered questionnaires. The majority respondents indicated that their undergraduate training was inadequate in enabling them to handle psychosocial problems of patients. The entire spectrum of psychosocial problems existed in all the respondents' practices. The majority of respondents handled such problems themselves, while specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists were at times used as resources. The majority of respondents indicated that they could perhaps utilize Social Work services and that there is a great need for such a resource. Most medical practitioners preferred to send written referrals via patients, with the responsibility being with the patient for making an appointment with the social worker. Minimal use was made of third parties in the patients' frame of reference in the assessment and treatment of patients. Third parties, within the reference framework of patients, were used minimally by medical practitioners in the making of assessments and the rendering of services. Respondents had divergent opinions regarding their competence in the psychosocial field of service rendering. The majority of respondents indicated the need for training programs focusing on the handling of patients' psychosocial problems. Limited time for attending such training programs was however mentioned as the biggest obstacle. These findings of the empirical study, together with the theoretical framework, were used as a guideline for the composition of a practical guideline for the referral of services to social workers in private practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelstelling van hierdie studie was om praktykriglynne te ontwikkel, waarvolgens geneeshere in privaat praktyk maatskaplike werkers as ondersteuningshulpbron kan benut. Verkennende, beskrywende en toegepaste navorsing is gedoen, ten einde geneeshere se kennis van psigososiale probleme en hul huidige en potensiele benutting van maatskaplikewerkdienste te bepaal en te beskryf. Bevindinge is ten opsigte van die populasie as geheel veralgemeen. In die teoretiese studie is maatskaplike funksionering deur die beskrywing van mikro-, meso- en makrovlakfunksionering, gekonseptualiseer. Die benaderings tot dienslewering (in Geneeskunde) en intervensie (in Maatskaplike Werk) is beskryf. Daarna is 'n aanbeveling vir die eklektiese benutting van die benaderings gedoen. Die eklektiese benutting van die intervensiebenaderings vereis dat maatskaplike werkers oor sekere kennis, waardes en vaardighede moet beskik en sekere rolle moet vertolk. Dit geskied binne sekere maatskaplikewerkvelde en het as mikpunt die verwesenliking van die doelstellings en funksies van Maatskaplike Werk. Die etiese en waardegrondslag van Maatskaplike Werk en Geneeskunde toon sekere ooreenkomste en verskille. Die waardes van Maatskaplike Werk, soos vervat in die Gedrags- en Etiese Kodes vir Maatskaplike Werk, en van Geneeskunde, soos vervat in die Eed van Hippocrates, word in hierdie studie bespreek. In die empiriese studie is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe inligting ingesamel oor, onder andere, die voorkoms van psigososiale probleme by pasiente in geneeshere se praktyke, geneeshere se hantering daarvan, hul bekwaamheid om sodanige probleme te hanteer, hul huidige en potensiele benutting van maatskaplikewerkdienste, die rol van derde partye by dienslewering en verwysingsprosedures. Nege-en-dertig (39) geneeshere, geselekteer deur ewekansige steekproeftrekking, is by die ondersoek betrek en het self die vraelyste ingevul. Die meeste geneeshere het aangedui dat hul voorgraadse opleiding hulle nie voldoende toegerus het om psigososiale probleme by pasiente te hanteer nie. Die hele spektrum van psigososiale probleme het in respondente se praktyke voorgekom. Die meeste respondente het sodanige probleme self hanteer, terwyl spesialiste, sielkundiges en psigiaters soms as hulpbronne benut is. Die meeste respondente het aangetoon dat hulle moontlik van maatskaplike werkers gebruik kan maak en dat daar 'n groot behoefte aan sodanige hulpbron bestaan. Die verwysingsprosedure wat deur die meeste geneeshere verkies is, was die stuur van skriftelike verwysings saam met pasiente. Derde partye, in pasiente se verwysingsraamwerk, is minimaal deur geneeshere by assessering en dienslewering betrek. Geneeshere het uiteenlopende menings gehad oor hul bevoegdhede in die psigososiale veld van dienslewering. Die behoefte aan opleidingsprogramme, wat fokus op die hantering van psigososiale probleme by pasiente, is deur die meeste respondente aangedui. Beperkte tyd is egter as die grootste struikelblok vir die bywoning van sodanige opleidingsessies aangevoer. Hierdie bevindinge van die empiriese studie, saam met die teoretiese raamwerk, is as riglyn benut vir die ontwikkeling van 'n praktykriglyn vir verwysing van dienste na maatskaplike werkers in privaat praktyk.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social workers that render child protection services are, according to The White Paper for Social Welfare (Ministry of Welfare and Population Development, 1997) and the Integrated Service Delivery Model (Department of Social Development, 2006), required to render family preservation services through mainly preventive services and early intervention services. This implies that during the implementation of family preservation services, the social worker should focus on preventing the unnecessary alternative placement of children through immediate intervention that defuses the crisis situation, stabilizes the family, and teaches family members new problem-resolution skills, so they can avoid future crisis. A social work intervention method that could effectively enhance family preservation services is group work. Social workers rendering family preservation services, however make limited use of group work. Various studies done with regards to group work showed a definite decrease in the utilisation of group work by social workers at child and family welfare organisations, possible reasons for the decrease in the utilisation of group work were noted but no definite conclusions were drawn. Therefore a gap exists within research on the view of social workers with regards to the utilisation of group work during the rendering of family preservation services. The research study therefore investigated the perspective of social workers on the utilisation of group work during implementation of family preservation services. A combined quantitative and qualitative research methodology was used to involve social workers employed at non-governmental organizations in the Western Cape Metropole area in the study that was based on both an explorative and descriptive research design. For the aim of the research study, the researcher used purposeful non-probability sampling. Twenty social workers that met the inclusion criteria of the research study were selected according to their willingness to participate. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect the data during the empirical investigation and a pilot study was implemented to test the measuring instrument with two participants. A literature study aimed at describing the role and function of the social worker with regards the implementation of family preservation services as well the nature of group work when rendering family preservation services was completed. Thereafter an empirical investigation was done and the results from the empirical investigation were purposefully processed and analysed. Through processing and analysing the results the researcher was able to conclude with certain conclusions and recommendations with regards to the utilisation of group work during the implementation of family preservation services. The most important conclusion resulting from the research study indicate that child and family welfare organisations are struggling to effectively utilise the group work method during the implementation of family preservation services. The research study therefore recommends that social workers should receive thorough in-service training with regards to the possible ways of utilising the group work method more effectively during the delivery of family preservation services. Furthermore it is recommended that appropriate group work programmes be developed that are specifically aimed at family preservation services, in order to ensure that group work is effectively utilised by social workers when implementing family preservation services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskaplike werkers wat kinderbeskermingsdienste lewer word, volgens die Witskrif vir Maatskaplike Welsyn (Ministry of Welfare and Population Development, 1997) en die Geïntegreerde Diensleweringsmodel (Department of Social Development, 2006), vereis om gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste te lewer deur hoofsaaklik te fokus op voorkomende dienste en vroeë intervensie dienste. Dit beteken dat tydens die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste moet die maatskaplike werker fokus op die voorkoming van die onnodige alternatiewe plasing van kinders deur middel van onmiddellike ingryping wat die krisis situasie ontlont, die familie stabiliseer, en familielede nuwe probleemoplossings vaardighede aanleer ten einde toekomstige krisisse te verhoed. ‘n Maatskaplike werk intervensie metode wat effektief kan bydra tot die bevordering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste is groepwerk. Maatskaplike werkers wat gesinsinstandhoudings-dienste lewer maak egter beperkte gebruik van groepwerk. Verskeie studies wat gedoen is met betrekking tot groepwerk in maatskaplike werk dui ‘n definitiewe afname in die benutting van groepwerk deur maatskaplike werkers by kinder- en gesinsorg welsynsorganisasies aan, moontlike redes vir die afname in die benutting van groepwerk is opgemerk, maar geen definitiewe gevolgtrekkings is gemaak nie. Dus bestaan daar ‘n definitiewe gaping in navorsing rondom die sienings van maatskaplike werkers rakende die benutting van groepwerk in die lewering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste. Daarom is die perspektief van maatskaplike werkers rakende die benutting van groepwerk tydens die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste in die navorsingstudie ondersoek. ‘n Gesamentlike kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik om maatskaplike werkers in diens by nie-regeringsorganisasies in die Wes-Kaap Metropool area in die navorsingsstudie, gebassseer op ‘n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp, te betrek. Vir die doel van die navorsingstudie het die navorser gebruik gemaak van ‘n doelgerigte nie-waarskynlikheids steekproefneming. Twintig maatskaplike werkers wat aan die insluitingskriteria van die navorsingstudie voldoen het is dus volgens hul bereidwilligheid om deel te neem gekies. Tydens die empiriese ondersoek is ‘n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule gebruik om die data in te samel en ‘n loodsstudie is geïmplementeer om die meetinstrument met twee deelnemers te toets. ‘n Literatuurstudie wat daarop gemik was om die rol en funksie van die maatskaplike werker te beskryf met betrekking tot die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste asook die aard van groep werk tydens die lewering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste is voltooi. Daarna is ‘n empiriese ondersoek gedoen en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek is doelbewus verwerk en ontleed. Deur verwerking en ontleding van die resultate was die navorser daartoe in staat om sekere gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings met betrekking tot die benutting van groepwerk tydens die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste te maak. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekking uit die navorsingstudie dui daarop dat kinder en gesins welsynsorganisasies sukkel om effektief gebruik te maak van die groepwerk metode tydens die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste. Die navorsingstudie beveel dus aan dat maatskaplike werkers deeglike in-diens opleiding ontvang met betrekking tot die moontlike maniere waarop die groepwerk metode meer effektief tydens die lewering van gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste benut kan word. Verder word daar aanbeveel dat toepaslike groepwerk programme spesifiek gemik op gesinsinstandhoudingsdienste ontwikkel word ten einde te verseker dat groepwerk effektief benut word deur maatskaplike werkers tydens die implementering van gesinsinstandhoudings-dienste.

As social workers are challenged to move away from a preoccupation with direct, clinical practice and move toward developmental interventions, there is concern that vulnerable members of society will be abandoned. It is feared that these members are likely to become the responsibility of their family, friends and neighbours, who themselves may be struggling for their own survival. Kinship carers are left to care for children whose parents are unable to fulfil their parental responsibilities because of illness, death, poverty, or other debilitating social factors . In many instances the children arrive into these placements as a result of tragic circumstances and are thus in need of remedial intervention. The rapid growth of this pheneomenon has superseded the development of relevant services for kinship carers and their wards. Filial therapy is an effective method for helping families in distress as it combines treatment and prevention. It incorporates didactic and dynamic principles where parents are trained to act as therapeutic agents in their children's lives. It is a strength-based intervention that recognises parents' abilities to provide emotional support for their children. Parents are empowered to do this by participating in professionally facilitated group sessions where they learn to develop healthy relationship skills, which may lead to the alleviation of psychosocial difficulties. This study was an exploratory study to establish whether the western model of filial therapy could be adapted for a locally specific group of kinship carers through a participatory process. Using a qualitative research design a group was formed to explore ways in which the model needed to be adapted to meet locally specific needs. There were two phases in this study. The first phase was concerned with identifying the problem. The second phase was the formation of the filial group and the evaluation of members' experiences. The participatory research methodology which underpinned the study is consistent with the person-centred approach and with participatory learning experiences. Over a ten-week period the research participants familiarised themselves with the techniques and assumptions of this intervention, and made recommendations for the adaptation of the model to a locally specific one. The data were collected via semistructured interviews, focus groups, researcher assisted questionnaires, and video recordings of the group sessions. The outcome of this study revealed that filial therapy, as adapted to locally specific needs by participants, provided them with valuable support, enhanced their relationships with the children in their care, provided them opportunities to address unresolved issues from their pasts, and in some cases, resulted in positive behavioural changes in their children. Whilst these findings are tentative in view of the limitations identified in the study, the workbook that evolved from this participatory process is a consolidated outcome which may be used by other practitioners. Recommendations for further research are detailed . / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Families in communities remain vulnerable and, apart from poverty, face a host of other crises and challenges on a daily basis. Amongst the challenges that families face, children are affected most. Services targeting families with very young children therefore are imperative. This study was aimed at exploring the impact of family preservation and family reunification services on families in South Africa, with a focus on the Eastern Cape Province. To answer the research questions of this study, the research adopted a mixed methods design known as methodological triangulation. The study incorporated two sets of participants, Social Workers and heads of families that benefit from family preservation and family reunification services. The total sample for the study included 260 participants; 220 of the participants were heads of families and 40 of the participants were Social Workers. Questionnaires were administered to 200 heads of families and 20 Social Workers selected by means of the random sampling technique. In addition, 20 heads of families and 20 Social Workers who participated in in-depth interviews were purposively selected. The quantitative data were analysed by means of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data were categorised with the use of themes and subthemes