Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This research project, in which social welfare constitutes the central focus of study, is undertaken within the broad field of development studies. The basic concern of the study is to determine the role and the place of social welfare in a post-apartheid South Africa. The study therefore seeks to produce some of the policy-making knowledge and a framework for formulating alternative social policies. With the emergence of the post-apartheid South Africa, social welfare as a system, and social policy in particular, finds itself at a water-shed. For many years social welfare has been practised on a racially-differentiated basis. Social policies were firmly rooted in the prevailing political ideology of apartheid. During its formal inception in the 193Q's, the primary objective of social welfare was to solve the Poor White problem. Currently we have reached a critical turning point in the history of our country. The establishment of an inclusive democracy should have a direct impact on the welfare of all citizens. In this new context we have to deal with mass poverty - the basic human needs of many South Africans not being met - and extreme inequalities. Meanwhile we are saddled with different models of welfare based on the fragmented social policies of the past. Various themes pertaining to social welfare are examined with the view to proposing some solutions to the dilemma. Theories of development constitute the frame of reference for the analysis and development of alternative social policies. Applying these theoretical foundations, a special study is made of the emergence and structuring of social welfare in South Africa. In an empirical study the views of stakeholders in the field are gathered using qualitative methodology. Theories of development, the Reconstruction and Development Programme, the idea of social welfare as a system to meet human needs, and the views of stakeholders, form the basis for the development of alternative social policies in the post-apartheid South Africa. Using this conceptual framework and analysis of contemporary realities, certain policy proposals are examined for their appropriateness to address post-apartheid challenges. The study demonstrates that a paradigm shift is absolutely necessary in order to deal with emerging realities in South Africa. This paradigm shift entails that social welfare adopt a developmental approach within an integrated policy framework.

Hälsofrämjande arbete är en gren inom folkhälsoarbete. Arbetsplatsen är en arena som kan agera som stödjande miljö och där hälsofrämjande arbete kan bedrivas. Hälsofrämjande arbete på arbetsplatserna inom socialförvaltningen kan bedrivas med hjälp av teorin KASAM. Detta genom att skapa förutsättningar för första linjens chefer att uppleva hanterbarhet, begriplighet och meningsfullhet i att bedriva hälsofrämjande arbete. Syftet med studien är att beskriva vilka arbetsrelaterade möjligheter första linjens chefer inom socialförvaltningen upplever att de har för att kunna arbeta hälsofrämjande för medarbetarna. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och riktar sig till målgruppen första linjens chefer inom socialförvaltningen. Data samlades in med semistrukturerade intervjuer och sex intervjupersoner valdes ut med ett målstyrt urval. Materialet analyserades med en manifest innehållsanalys. Studiens resultat belyser att målgruppen saknar väsentliga resurser som budget, tid, kunskap och stöd för att kunna bedriva hälsofrämjande arbete gentemot sina medarbetare. Resultatet visar även att det finns en skillnad i hur hälsofrämjande arbete definieras och att det behövs en ökad acceptans av att bedriva hälsofrämjande arbete. Slutsatsen är att hälsofrämjande arbete bedrivs genom arbetsmiljöarbete, delaktighet, närvaro och att ha en helhetssyn på medarbetarna. Vitala resurser för hälsofrämjande arbete saknas och förutsättningar samt acceptans behövs. / Health promotion work is a branch of public health work. The workplace is a developed arena that can act as a supportive environment where health promoting work can be conducted. Health promotion at workplaces within the Swedish social services administration can be conducted with the help of the theory sense of coherence. This by creating conditions for first-line managers to experience manageability, comprehensibility and meaningfulness in acting health promoting towards their employees. The purpose of the study is to describe the work-related opportunities first-line managers of the Swedish social services administration experience when acting health promoting towards their employees' work-related health. The study has a qualitative approach and is aimed at first-line managers in social services administration with a goal-oriented selection. Data was collected from six semi-structured interviews and was analyzed using a manifest content analysis. The results highlight a lack of significant resources such as budget, time and support to be able to conduct health-promoting work towards their employees. The results also show that there is a difference in how health-promoting work is defined and that increased acceptance is needed. The study concludes that health promotion work can be conducted through work environment management, participation and a holistic view. Vital resources are missing and acceptance for conducting health promotion work is needed.