The release of ex-president Nelson Mandela on 10 February 1990, introduced transformation in South Africa. The road to transformation, in a post apartheid era, placed pressure and demands on the social work profession and the professionals. Change was inevitable (Lesnik 1997:164) while the inequities and the disparities of the past had to be eliminated and replaced with transformed services. This study explores the transformational challenges experienced in contemporary social work practice at The Department of Social Development, Johannesburg, South Africa. A non-probability sample was selected (Babbie and Mouton 2004:166). A combination of the qualitative and the quantitative approaches, with more emphasis on the quantitative approach was utilized. Questionnaires were used for data collection and analysis was done according to the framework as described by Tesch in De Vos et al., (1998:343). The transformational challenges were identified and guidelines are drafted to assist in addressing the identified challenges. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Background: The implementation of the Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care Green Paper (Department for Education and Skills, (DfES) 2006) and the subsequent Care Matters: Time for Change White Paper (DfES, 2007), witnessed the consolidation of a universal ambition to improve the opportunities for all children living in care. Arguably, the most important recommendation in this pursuit is reflected in the need to provide people who have lived in care as children with independent support, which enables them to discuss their experiences, and suggest ways in which the care system might be improved. However, whilst this recommendation has been implemented with a diverse range of care leavers, the impact of the experience of living in care and the associated disadvantage experienced by Travellers and Gypsies remains under researched, understated, and unacknowledged (Cemlyn et al., 2009). Methodology: Guided by the philosophical assumptions of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study represents and constructs the experience of living in public care by focusing on the voices 10 Travellers and Gypsies who lived in care as children. Testimonies were collected through a wide variety of methods that included face-to-face interviews, focus groups, telephone interviews, blogs, emails, letters, song lyrics, and poems. Findings: Following a considered application of IPA, six main themes emerged from the analysis. These were social intervention; an emotional rollercoaster of separation, transition, and reincorporation; a war against becoming settled; leaving care and the changing relationship with the self and others; inclusion and strength; and, messages for children living in care. In line with the tenets of phenomenology, these findings are presented in such a way to as to invite the reader to move away from their own personal understanding of the world in order to enter the ‘lifeworld’ (Husserl, 1970, 1982) of Travellers and Gypsies who lived in care as children. However, to assist in this sense making activity, this study also provides a discrete interpretation of the findings before developing this knowledge to form a more detailed theoretical construct entitled ‘the model of reflective self-concepts’. Taken together with the testimonies of each person who took part in the study, the thesis enables an understanding of how the experience of living in care is inextricably linked to a process of social and psychological acculturation. By staying close to the experiences provided, it reveals how a process of change is determined, more often than not, by a sense of personal resilience directly related towards a Traveller or Gypsy self-concept. In attempt to move towards service improvement, this thesis offers a series of recommendations and conclusions which aim to support social workers and carers empower Traveller and Gypsy children to develop a secure Traveller and Gypsy self-concept thus enabling them experience improved outcomes including those opportunities set out in Care Matters social policy agenda (DfES, 2006; 2007).

This research investigated an issue that has implications for early breastfeeding cessation and impaired mother-child bonding. It focused on child abuse survivors' perceptions and reactions surrounding breastfeeding and bonding, the necessity of trust before disclosing abuse, and the transition to self-efficacy. It also provided recommendations for health professionals' practice.

The release of ex-president Nelson Mandela on 10 February 1990, introduced transformation in South Africa. The road to transformation, in a post apartheid era, placed pressure and demands on the social work profession and the professionals. Change was inevitable (Lesnik 1997:164) while the inequities and the disparities of the past had to be eliminated and replaced with transformed services. This study explores the transformational challenges experienced in contemporary social work practice at The Department of Social Development, Johannesburg, South Africa. A non-probability sample was selected (Babbie and Mouton 2004:166). A combination of the qualitative and the quantitative approaches, with more emphasis on the quantitative approach was utilized. Questionnaires were used for data collection and analysis was done according to the framework as described by Tesch in De Vos et al., (1998:343). The transformational challenges were identified and guidelines are drafted to assist in addressing the identified challenges. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The diploma thesis deals with a value of "critical social work" compared to other approaches of social work with respect to bases, principles and values in this area of practice. This thesis consists of three chapters. The first chapter deals with selected bases of practice, philosophical-ethical principles, basic principles and values of social work. The first part of the second chapter deals with three "small" paradigms and selected approaches of individual paradigms. The second part of this chapter deals with "critical social work". The third chapter deals with the comparison of critical social work with other approaches in selected areas of human practice.

The aim of the research was to explore perceived stigmatization of People with Bipolar Disorder to deepen the knowledge for Glocal Social Work Practice by means of an Interview and Literature Study. The data of the research was gathered from the perspective of people with bipolar diagnosis and a peer within the field, about whether stigma is experienced by people with bipolar disorder and how their resilience factors i.e. strength factors can be supported and enhanced. A qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of expanding the evidence-based knowledge base by exploring how people with bipolar disorder with resilience experienced stigmatization, and the factors that supported their resilience versus inhibited their resilience in their adversity. The research results were analyzed through literature reviews and interviews to gain an in-depth knowledge of the phenomena. The findings indicated that stigma was experienced by the people with bipolar disorder, and was experienced as affecting recovery negatively, creating reluctance to seek help and adding more stress factors. It was mentioned that a healthy social network for support (spouses, relatives, friends andprofessionals) i.e. inclusion along with an active lifestyle, defined goals in life andpurpose, spirituality, nature, faith and hope for a better tomorrow assisted in building and cementing resilience. The findings also indicated that education and anti-stigmainterventions helped in establishing better attitudes revolving around mental illness, especially interventions with personal encounters with people with mental illness.

Begreppet tyst kunskap är centralt i uppsatsen och utgår från Polanyis förståelse att vi kan veta mer än vi kan säga. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utforska begreppet tyst kunskap med utgångspunkt i Polanyis teori om tyst kunskap. I relation till socialt arbete är det värdefullt att få syn på och fördjupa förståelsen för tyst kunskap. Med hänsyn till transparens i professionens kunskapsutövande är det särskilt viktigt att vara medveten om hur tyst kunskap kan yttra sig i yrkesutövandet och inverka på det sociala arbetet. Studiens övergripande forskningsfråga är på vilka sätt det går att förstå innebörden av ett begrepp som tyst kunskap och dess implikationer för kunskapsutövande i socialt arbete. I uppsatsen som har formen av en filosofisk studie, utforskar jag olika tänkares tankar och teorier om tyst kunskap utifrån min tes att tyst kunskap existerar och att det är viktigt att förstå och vara medveten om hur förståelsen av tyst kunskap påverkar det sociala arbetet som kunskapsfält. Bengt Molander, Bertil Rolf och Donald A. Schön är några av de tänkare som förekommer i arbetet.  Uppsatsens slutsatser visar att vi sannolikt inte kan sätta ord på all den kunskap vi använder oss av i socialt arbete. Tyst kunskap beskrivs som nära förbunden med våra sinnen och färdigheter och kan därför vara svår att beskriva med ord. Det kan handla om undermedveten kunskap, eller kunskap som inte fullt ut ryms i språket eller vårt logiska tänkande. Följaktligen kan Polanyis konstaterande att vi kan mer än vi kan säga betraktas som en förutsättning för att förstå socionomens kunskapsutövande.  Uppsatsen indikerar att det behövs en transparent levande dialog om kunskapsutövande för att dra nytta av tyst kunskap i socialt arbete. Tyst kunskap förutsätter därför ett engagemang, ansvar och vilja som håller kunskapen livskraftig. I uppsatsen förs ett resonemang som mynnar ut i vikten av att låta personliga erfarenheter och handlingar få stå i rampljuset för att, med stöd av teoretiska perspektiv, synliggöra olika aspekter av tyst kunskap och dess betydelse för professionellt socialt arbete. Hur tyst tyst kunskap behöver vara och hur nära vi kan komma en förståelse för den tysta kunskapens innebörd för kunskapsutövande i socialt arbete, beror sannolikt på de arbetssätt och metoder vi använder oss av. / The main aim of this thesis is to explore the impact of tacit knowledge in everyday life of professional social workers. The findings of this philosophical study is that it is necessary to understand the impact of tacit knowledge, in order to understand the very heart of social work practice and the ways of the reflective practitioner. Theories of philosophers like Michael Polanyi and Donald A. Schön are at focus in the study.

The aim of the research was to explore perceived stigmatization of People with Bipolar Disorder to deepen the knowledge for Glocal Social Work Practice by means of an Interview and Literature Study. The data of the research was gathered from the perspective of people with bipolar diagnosis and a peer within the field, about whether stigma is experienced by people with bipolar disorder and how their resilience factors i.e. strength factors can be supported and enhanced. A qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of expanding the evidence-based knowledge base by exploring how people with bipolar disorder with resilience experienced stigmatization, and the factors that supported their resilience versus inhibited their resilience in their adversity. The research results were analyzed through literature reviews and interviews to gain an in-depth knowledge of the phenomena. The findings indicated that stigma was experienced by the people with bipolar disorder, and was experienced as affecting recovery negatively, creating reluctance to seek help and adding more stress factors. It was mentioned that a healthy social network for support (spouses, relatives, friends andprofessionals) i.e. inclusion along with an active lifestyle, defined goals in life andpurpose, spirituality, nature, faith and hope for a better tomorrow assisted in building and cementing resilience. The findings also indicated that education and anti-stigmainterventions helped in establishing better attitudes revolving around mental illness, especially interventions with personal encounters with people with mental illness. / <p>Godkända - Studie resultat: D</p>

博士(社会福祉学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University

Social workers in private practice / Social work in South Africa appears to have low status and a negative ”welfare” image. The general public seems to regard social workers and the profession with disdain and for the most part is ignorant of what social workers do apart from handing out grants and removing children from their families. This exploratory research focuses on social workers in private practice - how they view their professional selves, the factors that contribute to the development of their professional selves and the factors that hinder or facilitate this development. The impact of public opinion on social workers in private practice is explored and possible solutions to problems experienced by these private practitioners are sought. Modern and postmodern paradigms are summarised as a background to the Rogerian theory, constructivist philosophy and social constructionist theory that underlie this research. The researcher explores the perceptions of each respondent who shares his/her particular reality with the researcher through the meanings he/she attributes to his/her experiences. / Social work / M.A (Social Science (Mental Health))