A qualitative study was undertaken in Pietermaritzburg to unveil the experiences and challenges of WLWHIV as perceived by social workers as well as to explore and describe the experiences of social workers in rendering services to these women. Explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs were employed for the research process. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were utilised to recruit participants who met the set criteria. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen participants. Data obtained were transcribed and analysed applying Tesch‘s eight steps (Creswell, 2009). Data verification was guided by Guba‘s model (Krefting, 1991). The findings revealed the existence of strained relationships between WLWHIV and their partners and ineffective delivery of social work services to WLWHIV. Based on the findings, it is recommended that specialised training for social workers on issues related to death and dying and services for children of WLWHIV be incorporated in the guidelines for social work practice / Social Work / M.A. (social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / In die verhandeling word daar gepoog om vas te stel of selfdeterminasie wel as 'n beginsel in maatskaplike werk, deur die maatskaplike werkers van die Hoeveldstreek in Mpumalanga, erken en toegepas word. Die ondersoek het ten doel om te bepaal vanuit watter teoretiese raamwerk die maatskaplike werkers hulle dienslewering rig en hoe die beginsel selfdeterminasie binne die werkers se teoretiese raamwerk geakkommodeer en aangespreek word. Die ekosistemiese benadering is deur navorser gebruik as teoretiese raamwerk. Die inhoud word weergegee in terme van 'n literatuurstudie, waarin die beginsel selfdeterminasie, as sodanig aangespreek word, dan die epistemologie van die maatskaplike werker, asook die uitwerking van selfdeterminasie op dienslewering aan kliente. Inligting is verkry deur middel van 'n vraelys wat deur maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk voltooi is. Die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gee 'n aanduiding van hoe selfdeterminasie erken en toegepas word en hoe die maatskaplike werkers die beginsel akkommodeer met betrekking tot hulle epistemologie. / In this dissertation the attempt is made to establish whether selfdetermination as a principle in social work is acknowledged and applied by the social workers of the Highveld region in Mpumalanga. The aims of the research were to establish the theoretical frame of reference which directs the social workers services and how the principle of self-determination within the social workers frame of reference is accommodated and applied in practice. The researcher has used as her theoretical frame of reference the ecosystemic approach. The contents of the dissertation is presented in terms of a literature study, in which the principle and the effect of self-determination on the services of the social worker to her clients, as well as her theoretical frame of reference is addressed. Information was obtained by means of a questionnaire which was completed by social workers in the field. The conclusions and recommendations give an indication of how selfdetermination is acknowledged and applied and if the social workers accommodated the principle of self-determination with their epitemology. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

This dissertation demonstrates and illustrates the challenges involved in the construction of new realities when Duhl's (1983) idea of using metaphor to apply the ecosystems concept of wholeness of systems, was exercised in two ways. Firstly, the study was written in the form of an imaginary conversation between the author in the role of researcher and an imaginary peer consultant, about making sense of ways of thinking. Through presenting her observations to other observers, who are actually herself, a new reality was constructed for the author. Secondly, new individual and group realities were constructed by a group of social workers in the SANDF, who encountered their own ways of thinking through metaphorical means such as sculpting. Recommendations, co-constructed by the author, the imaginary peer consultant and two more imaginary colleagues, suggest possible uses of the ecosystems perspective in social work including in settings such as the SANDF. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Social work was declared a “scarce skill’’ in 2003 by the Minister for Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya. In response to this, the National Department of Social Development developed the Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers. This strategy identifies supervision as a critical area requiring definite attention, if the retention of social workers is to be realised. Social work supervisees’ voices need to be heard on this issue and hence this study was undertaken. The main purpose of this study was to explore, describe and gain insight into the experiences of social work supervisees in relation to supervision within the Department of Social Development, Johannesburg Region. A qualitative research approach was used, and qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Tesch’s model in Creswell (2009:186). The researcher followed a systematic process of data analysis. The findings of this study reveal amongst others, a lack of supervision for social work supervisees, and raises questions about the quality and effectiveness of the service rendered by the social work supervisees. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

The purpose of this study is to develop a substantive grounded theory explaining the development of a philosophy and the practice of leadership amongst young adults who had attended Hilton College and whom were exposed to their servant leadership development programme. The grounded theory method in this study was developed using conventions identified by Strauss and Corbin (1990) and relying upon a collection of incidents noted during interviews with former students, teachers, housemasters, headmaster and Hiltonian Society board members. In total thirty-six interviews were conducted over a period of four years in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Kenya. Using the grounded theory methodology, an understanding of the theoretical model emerged through the development of a personal philosophy and the practice of servant leadership. Related to the central phenomenon of individual leadership philosophy and practice, the causal condition of opportunity to lead, influenced how the individual philosophy and practice emerged. Strategies used by the participants to nurture their philosophy and practice of leadership were the leadership development programme, community service, feedback and reflection. The data identified the intervening conditions and conditions relating to the context of the leadership philosophy and practice. The consequences of developing a leadership philosophy and practice were related to leadership behaviour; self-esteem; growth; follower relations; empowering of others; and relationship to institutions. The theoretical model illustrated the holistic nature of an individual’s leadership philosophy and practice. In this instance, the nature of the data revealed that the individual's leadership philosophy and practice that developed amongst the participants was predominately servant leadership. The different approaches to leadership development were scrutinised with the intention of locating the grounded theory that developed in this study, within the available literature. The literature did provide some useful insights, in particular the social field theory of Bourdieu (1998), which offered a more encompassing explanation and showed much promise in providing an understanding of leadership development. Wheatley's (1999) interpretation of field theory further explained the influence of servant leadership in leadership development. Finally, the researcher developed a set of propositions and recommendations for practice and future research and discussed the value of this research.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of accessibility of social welfare services of the Department of Social Development in Shakung Village, Limpopo province. The objectives of the study were to examine the effectiveness of the implementation on the accessibility of social welfare services by the Department of Social Development, investigate challenges of the implementation on the accessibility of social welfare services by the Department of Social Development and assess the access level that beneficiaries have on social welfare services in the Shakung Village in Limpopo province, South Africa. The study was qualitative and the researcher used a case study research design. The data was collected through the semi-structured face-to-face interview from fourteen (14) beneficiaries of social welfare services and five (05) Social workers working for the Department of Social Development at Moroke Social work Office and analysed following Creswell (1998)’s steps of analysis. The study sample size was nineteen (19) respondents which were reached through purposive sampling with non-probability used as a sub-type. The study findings indicate that the implementation on the accessibility of social welfare services is beneficial and improves their social lives of beneficiaries of social welfare services; the level of satisfaction is good concerning the response to the experiences that beneficiaries of social welfare have on the implementation of accessibility of social welfare services, the role of the Department of Social Development when addressing challenges faced by beneficiaries concerning the implementation on the accessibility of social welfare services is not fully prominent, beneficiaries travel a long distance to Moroke office approximately 20 km to access social welfare services; beneficiaries of social welfare services have no support systems while facing the challenges and social workers have limited resources while facilitating the implementation on the accessibility of social welfare services.

Thesis (M.A. (Social Work)) -- University Of Lmpopo, 2022 / The study concentrated on factors that hinder the utilisation of intermediary social work support services to alleged child offenders in Mopani District. The study aimed to assess knowledge from probation officers in respect of awareness, utilisation and effectiveness of referral to intermediary services, as well as the level at which they can refer alleged child offenders to an intermediary. The study employed the qualitative research design. The Integrated Service model was employed to understand the utilisation of intermediary social work support services to alleged child offenders. Purposive sampling was used to obtain nine participants who were probation officers. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Limpopo and gatekeepers approval from the Department of Social Development. Participation was voluntary and no one was forced to participate. The findings of the study revealed that there are no clear guidelines or legislation for probation officers to guide them on how and when to recommend the alleged child offenders to the intermediary services. The study also revealed that section 158(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 is not effective to alleged child offenders but rather is used to child victims. Therefore, probation officers must have understanding of the role of an intermediary, process and referral when conducting assessments. As a result, the study recommends that the probation officers should come to the developmental level of the child, speak the language of the child and follow up assessment interviews as opposed to informed allegation interviews. However, training is also recommended to all probation officers about the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and amendments of the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 with the inclusion of intermediary services to alleged child offenders

No abstract available / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The research aimed to pro-activeiy embark in an internal transformation process, in order to improve efficiency of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command of the South African Military Health Service. Participatory action research as a qualitative research design was- used. The intervention identification process was implemented as a problem-solving technique to direct the process of transformation-change. The research was conducted by a research group often social workers from the South African National Defence Force. The results of the research were the implementation of interventions on identified systems, namely the service delivery system and the performance management system of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command. The use of particpatorv action research as a process to address problems in an organisation was confirmed. The contribution of the participatory action process to process outcomes, such as empowerment and learning, was also indicated in the findings. / Social Work / MA(SS) (Mental Health)

The importance of supervision and the influence of this relationship on the process of supervision, is often underrated. In order for this process to be implementede success-fully knowledge of the different functions including the administrative- educational- and supportive functions is of the utmost importance. It is also becoming increasingly impor-tant that note should be taken of the impact that cultural differences has on supervisor-relationships, the supervisional process and the effectivity of rendering of service as so-cial service organisations increasingly consists of diverse staff members rendering service to a diverse clientelle. This descriptive study has as goal to describe the impact of cultural differences on the practice focussing on the function of supervision and the establishment of diverse organisations and problems arising in this connection. Carefull attention will be paid as to how respondents experience cultural differences in the working environment, their problems and their opinions of how to solve these problems effectively. Conclusions and recomendations were made, which focussed on problems arising as result of cultural differences. The compilation of tentative guidelines which could be usefull in establishing supervision services with greater cultural sensitivity were given. / Social Work / M.Diac (Maatskaplike Werk-Rigting)