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)

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of why social workers believe a male juvenile would commit a sexual abuse act toward another child and how this juvenile should be understood within the social services system and society. Social workers believe interventions are needed once the abuse has occurred.

The effort of this research was focused on the assessment of the implementation process of the Hands off our Children parental guidance programme by social workers in the Western Cape during 2005. This could be seen as an evaluation of the programme in order to adjust it for future implementation. The objective of this research was to explore the application, experience and implementation of the programme by social workers in the Western Cape. The universe in this study was all social workers that did the training in the HOOC parental guidance programme in the Western Cape. In this study the population was social workers that implemented the HOOC parental guidance programme training in the work place. Participants were selected until saturation of data was reached. The method used in selecting the participants was non-probability sampling. With-in non-probability sampling purposive sampling was used. Conclusions and recommendations on the programme were made in order to empower the Department of Community safety to implement a more effective and streamline project in the future. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of this research study is to determine how Police Social Workers experience the supportive function in supervision, and how they can be empowered through the strenghts perspective. The respondents were fifteen (15) Police Social Workers in the Western Cape. The findings of the empirical study proved that Police Social Workers also experience the profession to be stressful in nature. The respondents do have inherent strenghts, that can be utilised optimally during supervision, to enhance service delivery to their different client systems. It is recommended that all SAPS social workers be exposed to supervision / consultation, as a stress management mechanism. SAPS supervisors must be empowered, eg. Inservice training, to develop an effective supervion programme. / Die doel van die navorsing is om vas te stel hoe Polisie Maatskaplike Werkers die ondersteuningsfunksie in supervisie ervaar, en hoe hulle bemagtig kan word deur die sterkteperspektief. Die respondente was vyftien (15) maatskaplike werkers indiens van die SAPD in die Wes Kaap. Die empiriese studie het getoon dat Polisie Maatskaplike Werkers ook die professie as stresvol ervaar. Die respondente beskik almal oor inherente sterkpunte en vaardighede, wat optimaal benut kan word tydens supervisie om sodoende 'n effektiewe diens aan hul onderskeie klientsisteme te lewer. Daar word aanbeveel dat alle SAPD maatskaplike werkers aan supervisie / konsultasie blootgestel word, en dat supervisie / konsultasie as 'n streshanteringsmeganisme benut moet word. SAPD supervisors moet ook bemagtig word, deur byvoorbeeld indiensopleiding, om 'n effektiewe supervisie program te ontwikel. / Social work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / OPSOMMING `n Verkennende en beskrywende studie is onderneem om wetenskaplike gefundeerde riglyne ten opsigte van die benutting van onderrigtegnieke vir praktykopleiers beskikbaar te stel vir maatskaplikewerksupervisie aan voorgraadse studente. Om supervisie effektief te kan aanwend, moet praktykopleiers van onderrigtegnieke kennis dra en dit kan aanwend. Die literatuurstudie fokus op die onderrigfunksie van supervisie en `n klassifikasie en beskrywing van onderrigtegnieke wat binne die supervisieproses aangewend kan word. Al twee-en-twintig supervisors/praktykopleiers wat betrokke is by gesinsorgorganisa- sies in die Metropool- en Bolandstreek, Wes-Kaap is betrek. `n Gestruktureerde vraelys is as data-insamelingsmetode benut. Die bevindinge en resultate toon aan dat voortgesette opleiding deur middel van informele opleidingstrategieë van praktykopleiers noodsaaklik is, om hul kennis ten opsigte van die onderrigfunksie van supervisie uit te brei asook die benutting van onderrigtegnieke aan te moedig. Verdere navorsing kan fokus op die benutting van onderrigtegnieke uit die Gestalt- of ander benaderings tydens supervisie. SUMMARY An exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken to provide scientifically based guidelines regarding educational techniques used by practical trainers when providing social work supervision to undergraduate students. To apply supervision effectively, practical trainers must have knowledge of educational techniques and be able to apply these. The literature study focuses on the educational function of supervision and provides a classification and description of educational techniques that can be applied within the supervision process. The sample included twenty-two supervisors/practical trainers at family welfare organisations in the Metropolitan and Boland regions, Western Cape. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data. The findings and results show that continuing education through informal training strategies by practical trainers is essential to expand their knowledge of the educational function of supervision and to encourage the use of educational techniques. Further research should focus on educational techniques from the Gestalt approach or other approaches. / Social work / M.Diac.

The dissertation presents a participatory research process in organisational change with social work supervision. The study was conducted with a group of social work supervisors employed by the Department of Health and Welfare in the Central region of the Northern Province from September 1997 to November 1998. The participatory research process engaged the participants in a consciousness-raising and educational process. They were enabled to identify problems which rendered them ineffective, brought about by the socio-political transformation process in South Africa since 1994, and were strengthened as a collaborative group to work together to bring about change in their situation. Going through the process of dialogue as a group, the participants became empowered and more confident to do participatory supervision, which in tum would empower the supervisees as direct service providers. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of this research study is to determine how Police Social Workers experience the supportive function in supervision, and how they can be empowered through the strenghts perspective. The respondents were fifteen (15) Police Social Workers in the Western Cape. The findings of the empirical study proved that Police Social Workers also experience the profession to be stressful in nature. The respondents do have inherent strenghts, that can be utilised optimally during supervision, to enhance service delivery to their different client systems. It is recommended that all SAPS social workers be exposed to supervision / consultation, as a stress management mechanism. SAPS supervisors must be empowered, eg. Inservice training, to develop an effective supervion programme. / Die doel van die navorsing is om vas te stel hoe Polisie Maatskaplike Werkers die ondersteuningsfunksie in supervisie ervaar, en hoe hulle bemagtig kan word deur die sterkteperspektief. Die respondente was vyftien (15) maatskaplike werkers indiens van die SAPD in die Wes Kaap. Die empiriese studie het getoon dat Polisie Maatskaplike Werkers ook die professie as stresvol ervaar. Die respondente beskik almal oor inherente sterkpunte en vaardighede, wat optimaal benut kan word tydens supervisie om sodoende 'n effektiewe diens aan hul onderskeie klientsisteme te lewer. Daar word aanbeveel dat alle SAPD maatskaplike werkers aan supervisie / konsultasie blootgestel word, en dat supervisie / konsultasie as 'n streshanteringsmeganisme benut moet word. SAPD supervisors moet ook bemagtig word, deur byvoorbeeld indiensopleiding, om 'n effektiewe supervisie program te ontwikel. / Social work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / OPSOMMING `n Verkennende en beskrywende studie is onderneem om wetenskaplike gefundeerde riglyne ten opsigte van die benutting van onderrigtegnieke vir praktykopleiers beskikbaar te stel vir maatskaplikewerksupervisie aan voorgraadse studente. Om supervisie effektief te kan aanwend, moet praktykopleiers van onderrigtegnieke kennis dra en dit kan aanwend. Die literatuurstudie fokus op die onderrigfunksie van supervisie en `n klassifikasie en beskrywing van onderrigtegnieke wat binne die supervisieproses aangewend kan word. Al twee-en-twintig supervisors/praktykopleiers wat betrokke is by gesinsorgorganisa- sies in die Metropool- en Bolandstreek, Wes-Kaap is betrek. `n Gestruktureerde vraelys is as data-insamelingsmetode benut. Die bevindinge en resultate toon aan dat voortgesette opleiding deur middel van informele opleidingstrategieë van praktykopleiers noodsaaklik is, om hul kennis ten opsigte van die onderrigfunksie van supervisie uit te brei asook die benutting van onderrigtegnieke aan te moedig. Verdere navorsing kan fokus op die benutting van onderrigtegnieke uit die Gestalt- of ander benaderings tydens supervisie. SUMMARY An exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken to provide scientifically based guidelines regarding educational techniques used by practical trainers when providing social work supervision to undergraduate students. To apply supervision effectively, practical trainers must have knowledge of educational techniques and be able to apply these. The literature study focuses on the educational function of supervision and provides a classification and description of educational techniques that can be applied within the supervision process. The sample included twenty-two supervisors/practical trainers at family welfare organisations in the Metropolitan and Boland regions, Western Cape. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data. The findings and results show that continuing education through informal training strategies by practical trainers is essential to expand their knowledge of the educational function of supervision and to encourage the use of educational techniques. Further research should focus on educational techniques from the Gestalt approach or other approaches. / Social work / M.Diac.

The effort of this research was focused on the assessment of the implementation process of the Hands off our Children parental guidance programme by social workers in the Western Cape during 2005. This could be seen as an evaluation of the programme in order to adjust it for future implementation. The objective of this research was to explore the application, experience and implementation of the programme by social workers in the Western Cape. The universe in this study was all social workers that did the training in the HOOC parental guidance programme in the Western Cape. In this study the population was social workers that implemented the HOOC parental guidance programme training in the work place. Participants were selected until saturation of data was reached. The method used in selecting the participants was non-probability sampling. With-in non-probability sampling purposive sampling was used. Conclusions and recommendations on the programme were made in order to empower the Department of Community safety to implement a more effective and streamline project in the future. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The dissertation presents a participatory research process in organisational change with social work supervision. The study was conducted with a group of social work supervisors employed by the Department of Health and Welfare in the Central region of the Northern Province from September 1997 to November 1998. The participatory research process engaged the participants in a consciousness-raising and educational process. They were enabled to identify problems which rendered them ineffective, brought about by the socio-political transformation process in South Africa since 1994, and were strengthened as a collaborative group to work together to bring about change in their situation. Going through the process of dialogue as a group, the participants became empowered and more confident to do participatory supervision, which in tum would empower the supervisees as direct service providers. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))