The researcher undertook exploratory research to see whether characteristics of visionary organizations, as discovered in research undertaken by Collins and Porras (2000), are present and applicable to non-profit organizations in Gauteng, South Africa. The characteristics are: - a core ideology (core purpose and core values) - big hairy audacious goals - a cult-like culture - purposeful evolution and continuous self improvement - management continuity - alignment. A schedule was used to interview directors of ten non-profit organizations. Some staff in each organization were given a questionnaire to see whether their answers correlated with the director responses. The research indicated that most characteristics are present, to some degree, in the non-profit organizations. These characteristics could however be explored more thoroughly in further research. The research includes recommendations for management of non-profit organizations to implement, to become visionary organizations. / Social work / M.A. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om die invloed van die veranderingsproses op die funksionering van 'n welsynsorganisasie te bepaal. 'n Literatuurstudie en empiriese studie is onderneem. Die navorsing het aangedui dat die redes vir verandering hoofsaaklik ekstern van aard is, dat 'n hoe persentasie respondente nie altyd die noodsaaklikheid of rede vir verandering verstaan nie, en dat die meerderheid die kommunikasieproses en deurgee van inligting nie altyd duidelik beleef nie. Die ondersoek dui verder aan dat die motivering van grondvlak maatskaplike werkers deur die bestuurders nie onderskat moet word nie. Die deurgee van inligting is positief ervaar, maar die werkers sou meer ondersteuning daarvan van die bestuur wou ervaar. Tydens die studie is daar 'n beperkte mate van weerstand gevind. Weerstand by werkers word egter beperk indien hulle ervaar dat hulle deel van die proses is, voorberei word op verandering, sekuriteit nie be"invloed word nie en hulle oor die nodige redes vir verandering ingelig wor / The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of the process of change on the functioning of a welfare organisation. A literature and empirical study was done. Research showed that reasons for change were primarily of an external kind, that a high percentage of respondents not always understand the necessity or reasons for change, and that most of the respondents experienced the communication channels and information not always as open and clear. The research shows that motivation of ground level social workers by managers must under no circumstances be under-estimated. The way in which information was given, was experienced positively, but workers needed more support with it from management. During the research a limited degree of resistance was further found. Resistance experienced by workers became less when they were part of the process, are prepared for change, their security not threatened and the reasons for change are known to them. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)

Social work / M.A. (Social Work)

This research study was initiated by the desire to identify the constraining and enabling factors experienced by environmental health officers (EH Os) and their management in the implementation of environmental health education and promotion programmes in the environmental health sector. The research contextualises the issues of health promotion, the role of education in health promotion, and community-based environmental health service provision with specific reference to the role of the EHO in relation to these issues. The foremost value ofthis study lies in the fact that it profiles the need for change in the delivery of community-based environmental health education and promotion programmes and identifies distinctive policy changes and skills development needs in the field of environmental health promotion which are central to improved and sustainable community-based environmental health education and promotion. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

Text in Afrikaans, summary in Afrikaans and English / Hierdie studie is onderneem om die effek van leierskap op verandering in 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie te bepaal. 'n Literatuur- en 'n empiriese studie is onderneem. Literatuur beklemtoon dat verandering 'n realiteit in 'n organisasie is, 'n veranderingsagent die proses moet dryf en dat die transformasieleierskapstyl die gewenste styl vir veranderingsbestuur is. Navorsing toon dat verandering vanwee ekstreme invloede wel voorkom. Verwarring ten opsigte van wie die rol en verantwoordelikheid as veranderingsagent moet vertolk kom egter in die navorsing na vore. Die wyse en frekwensie waarop kommunikasie ten opsigte van verandering plaasgevind het, word oor die algemeen positief deur die respondente ervaar, maar respondente toon egter ook positiewe en negatiewe gedragsreaksies aan ten opsigte van verandering. Respondente toon dat die transformasieleierskapstyl met leierskapsgedrag/-kenmerke wat verband hou met integriteit, toeganklikheid en objektlwiteit hul tot deelname aan verandering motiveer. Navorsing toon ook dat leierskapspotensiaal en die behoefte aan leierskapsontwikkeling by respondente teenwoordig is. Navorsing het bevestig dat leierskap 'n effek op verandering in 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie het. / This research aims to establish whether leadership has an effect on change in a not-for-profit organisation. A literature and empirical study were conducted. Literature indicated that change in organisations is a reality and that organisations need to appoint change agents in order to facilitate the change process. Research has shown that change in not-for-profit organisation was caused by external influences and indicated that confusion exists as to whom the role and responsibility of change agent belongs to. Respondents indicated that they were generally positive about the frequency and way in which change was communicated but they indicated both positive and negative behavioral reactions to change. The transformational leadership style is highlighted as the best leadership style to manage change. The transformational leadership style with leadership behavior such as integrity, approachability and objectivity motivates respondents to participate in the change process. Research also indicated that respondents have leadership potential and have a need for leadership development. This study confirmed that leadership has an effect on change in a not-for-profit organisation. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)

Children are being removed unnecessarily from their families and placed into substitute care because service programmes lack resources to keep families intact. There are overseas programmes, which provide home services to families, with children at risk of out of home placement. Although there has been an IFPS project there is no established intensive short-term programme in South Africa that deals with families at the brink of dissolution.The objective of the research is to investigate whether an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. The researcher received training in the United States and met with leaders in the field, to discuss the development and implementation of the programme in South Africa. Surveys obtained the attitudes and opinions of the local social workers and commissioners of Child Welfare in Durban towards the programme. The results from opinion surveys indicate that an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. / Social Science / M.A.(Social Work)

This study addresses the effectiveness of communication between the team (doctors, sisters and social workers) and patients at the Breast Cancer Clinic of the Johannesburg Hospital. Tue needs of patients were highlighted, as well as the role of care-giver, both as a group and in their separate disciplines, in attempting to meet these needs. Tue empirical survey was carried out through the use of questionnaires as well as interview schedules. Patients, doctors, nurses and social workers were used as respondents. Results indicated that the majority of patients' needs for information and support were met by the team in general; however, a need for further social work intervention seemed to be apparent. In addition, several barriers were found to inhibit both team-patient and inter-team communication. Tue researcher used the information gathered in this study to make recommendations that will facilitate improved communication in the clinic, with specific reference to the role of the social worker. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Science: Mental Health)

Modern society is increasingly threatened by organised crime. Crime undermines democracy and causes harm to the general functioning of a country and the quality of life of its citizens. A lack of protection measures for witnesses of crime renders the criminal justice system weak and ineffective in its quest to fight crime. Witness protection programmes and the testimony of a witness play a pivotal role in the fight against organised crime, without which securing successful prosecutions becomes a daunting task. Despite the important role of witnesses in the criminal justice system, there seems to be a dearth of literature focusing on the experiences of witnesses within the South African context. The researcher was able to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of witnesses by employing an instrumental case study design within the framework of exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research from the vantage point of witnesses and staff members in the witness protection programme in South Africa. A total number of 30 participants were recruited by means of purposive sampling. Data was collected through individual, face-to-face interviews undertaken in six provinces. Analysis of the data was conducted in line with the eight steps of data analysis proposed by Tesch (in Creswell 2009:186) and Guba’s principles of trustworthiness were employed in the verification of the data. The ethical principles of informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, beneficence, data management, and debriefing were observed. This study drew from Caplan’s (1964) crisis theory and the coping theory by Lazarus (1993). The findings of this study revealed that there is a general lack of awareness among the communities and members of the criminal justice system about the existence of the witness protection programme in South Africa. Witnesses also expressed that they found it difficult to cope and adjust in the programme, because of challenges such as social uprooting and isolation. While some witnesses were able to adjust, some resorted to exiting the programme prematurely. Suggestions by participants towards the support of witnesses paved a foundation for the development of guidelines for coordinated service delivery in the South African Witness Protection Programme. / Social Work / D. Phil. (Social Work)

The Department of Social Work at UNISA places the emphasis on developmental social work and trains students according to the Person Centred Approach which emphasises the uniqueness of each client. The question thus arises if this Department is indeed working with their students in a person-centred way, and if students think the Department lives out a person-centred philosophy. Exploring the personal contexts of students would give the Department of Social Work the oppor-tunity to try and find a fit between the personal contexts of students and the national requirements of training. From a population of 114 fourth level students in Social Work at UNISA, a self-selected sample of 79% emerged. Focus is placed on the students' perceptions of following five areas: (1) the self, (2) family life and family of origin, (3) living and study conditions, (4) UNISA and social work training, (5) social work as future career. / Social Work / M.A. Social Science (Mental Health)

Poverty, violence, unemployment, the high rate of HIV/Aids and a lack of resources are some of the issues the South African government is currently trying to address. Victims of crime and violence have special needs that require early intervention. Studies show that if left unattended, victims may show maladjustment in their social, marital and work environments; receiving assistance and support following victimisation therefore holds many benefits for the victim. The Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) announced by government as part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy is meant to address these needs. The VEP is a comprehensive, multifaceted, intersectoral model that brings together integrated service delivery for victims of crime and violence. One of the mandates of the Department of Social Development as the lead department of the VEP is to provide services that empower and meet the needs of communities and individuals who are considered victims. This study seeks to justify why it is beneficial to use a participatory learning approach when designing and conducting „in-service‟ continuing professional development training courses for state-appointed social workers working within the field of victim empowerment (VE) in South Africa. It also advocates for the theoretical approaches of experiential problem-based learning and psychosocial empowerment, and discusses the use of a crossover of theories from the different disciplines of mainstream psychology, community psychology and social work. The vision of a new South Africa based on post-1994 ANC government policies is outlined and the history of the field of socio-economic development and community development is discussed. Mainstream psychology‟s contribution to community development, and the tenets of community psychology, participation and empowerment, are applied in the design of an „in-service‟ short course. The primary focus of the study is on the range of skills and abilities needed to initiate and maintain successful VE services. These include the following: skills in group process facilitation; skills in intersectoral collaboration (referral and networking) with other governmental departments and other healthcare professionals; knowing how to establish and maintain forums; an understanding of the principles and tools of participatory learning and action; skills required for designing, organising and presenting workshops; project management, and the monitoring and evaluation of VE projects. This study elucidates how critical the „in-service‟ training of VE social workers is within the new social development paradigm in South Africa, and offers key considerations and recommendations regarding future „in-service‟ training programmes/short courses for state-employed social workers involved in VE services. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)