published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that protect social workers and other clinicians from experiencing burnout. Many things contribute to job burnout among clinicians. Some examples of contributing factors include a shortage of government funding, heavy caseloads, and a lack of autonomy. However, this study will look at workplace factors that are more amendable to change in the agency's environment.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The aim of this study was to investigate the working conditions of social workers at Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province by focusing on the provision of resources, supervision and caseload. The qualitative research approach was used face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were utilised as a data collecting method from participants. Purposive sampling was used as a sub-type of non-probability sampling. The study was conducted at Makhado Municipality in Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Data was collected from social workers working under Makhado Municipality and analysed through thematic analysis. It was found that social workers are not provided with adequate resources to render quality social work services, and that lack of availability of transport and office space is a serious challenge. It was further found that social workers are working without enabling trade tools such as computers, printers, photocopying machines, fax machines and cell-phones. It was further found that social workers are not getting quality supervision, and supervisors are not taking supervision as seriously as it shall be. Moreover, it was found that social workers have high caseloads, which is negatively affecting service delivery. The study recommends that the Department of Social Development prioritise the provision of trade tools such as transport, computers, cell-phones, printers, photocopy machines and stationery. The study further recommends that the Department of Social Development employ more supervisors, social auxiliary workers and social workers to reduce high caseloads. Moreover, the study recommends that the Department of Social Development increase the infrastructure budget and ensure that it builds more offices for social workers.

Dealing with child sexual abuse cases, is an integral part of the social workers job. Due to the nature of the abuse and the provisions made by the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005, as amended, to safeguard the child victim, many social workers remove children of child sexual abuse cases and place them in alternative care. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of social workers on the reasons why child sexual abuse cases in alternative care is not finalized. Some of the factors that play a role in not finalising these cases are: the high case loads of the courts and social workers, the lack of cooperation from the South African Police Service, the notion that if a child is removed, the child is safe and further intervention is a luxury. This study reveals that there is a lack in training and adequate knowledge on how to deal with child sexual abuse cases. The study also indicates that a lack of communication between the role players in child sexual abuse cases exists, causing some social workers to lose their drive for these cases. Due to the high amount of cases of the Police, the courts and the social workers, these cases are not always seen as a priority and the fact that the child is not as adequate a witness as he/she needs to be, finalising these cases are not very successful. Another reality made known from this study, is that there is a dire need for forensic social workers in the field and alongside it, there is a lack of funds, prohibiting social workers to make use of the few forensic social workers in private practice. It was indicated that forum meetings and training be provided to all the stake holders in child sexual abuse cases, as well as to develop a clear protocol, indicating how to deal with these cases and explain each stakeholder’s role and responsibilities. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Dealing with child sexual abuse cases, is an integral part of the social workers job. Due to the nature of the abuse and the provisions made by the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005, as amended, to safeguard the child victim, many social workers remove children of child sexual abuse cases and place them in alternative care. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of social workers on the reasons why child sexual abuse cases in alternative care is not finalized. Some of the factors that play a role in not finalising these cases are: the high case loads of the courts and social workers, the lack of cooperation from the South African Police Service, the notion that if a child is removed, the child is safe and further intervention is a luxury. This study reveals that there is a lack in training and adequate knowledge on how to deal with child sexual abuse cases. The study also indicates that a lack of communication between the role players in child sexual abuse cases exists, causing some social workers to lose their drive for these cases. Due to the high amount of cases of the Police, the courts and the social workers, these cases are not always seen as a priority and the fact that the child is not as adequate a witness as he/she needs to be, finalising these cases are not very successful. Another reality made known from this study, is that there is a dire need for forensic social workers in the field and alongside it, there is a lack of funds, prohibiting social workers to make use of the few forensic social workers in private practice. It was indicated that forum meetings and training be provided to all the stake holders in child sexual abuse cases, as well as to develop a clear protocol, indicating how to deal with these cases and explain each stakeholder’s role and responsibilities. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis(PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 1996. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study is focussed on the evaluation of the development of participatory management in supervision. The motivation for the study was, firstly, the increasing transformation of supervision to a more managerial form whereby social workers are guided in the fulfilment of their professional obligations; secondly, that social workers and supervisors expressed an increasing desire and wi 11 ingness to share the responsibi 1 i ty of managing direct practice through participation. The research was conducted within the conceptual framework of developmental research. The investigation of the existing state of supervision was undertaken by means of a literature study, as well as a quantitative-and qualitative survey among supervisors and their supervisees. This survey was also used to evaluate how developments in the theory and practice of participatory management was being brought into supervision. The probability that participatory management would continue to be implemented and developed in practice is high, since it is bedded in a scientifically-sound conceptual basis derived from authoritative literature and empirical support. Practising supervisors and supervisees can continue to apply participatory management in the ongoing reformation and restructuring of their management of direct practice. It could also contribute towards the improved quality of direct practice. The implementation of participatory management should go'beyond organisational limits. It should extend to the profession's accountability to the wider client system, which should be made aware of changes in the approach to direct practice management in the form of greater participation between seniors and subordinates. It is regarded as essential that participatory management approaches be subjected to tests to determine their efficacy, validity, and reliability as practice methods in supervision. Follow-up evaluation would help in the further development of participatory management in supervision. Further research with regard to participatory management is necessary with the view to maintaining its features in conformity with contemporary trends in the continuous reconceptualisation of management theory and practices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is 'n evaluering van die ontwikkeling van deelnemende bestuur in supervisie. Die motivering vir die studie was eerstens die toEmemende ontwikkeling van supervisie tot 'n meer bestuursgerigte vorm wat maatskapl ike werkers in die ui tvoer van hulle professionele pligte rig; tweedens, dat maatskaplike werkers en supervisors 'n toenemende behoefte en bereidwilligheid te kenne gegee het om die verantwoordelikheid van praktykbestuur te deel. Die navorsing is binne die konsepsuele raamwerk van ontwikkelingsnavorsing onderneem. Die huidige stand van supervisie is deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie ondersoek, asook deur 'n kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe opname ender supervisors en maatskapl ike werkers. Hierdie opname is ook gebruik om te eval ueer hoe ontwikkel inge in die teorie en praktyk van deelnemende bestuur by supervisie ingesluit word. Deelnemende bestuur sal hoogs waarskynlik voortgaan om in die praktyk ge'implementeer en ontwikkel te word, aangesien di t op 'n wetenskaplik gesonde konsepsuele grondslag berus wat deur gesaghebbende literatuur en empiriese gegewens gerugsteun word. Supervisors en maatskaplike werkers kan voortgaan om deelnemende bestuur te gebruik in die voortdurende verbetering en herstrukturering van die bestuur van hul praktyke. Deelnemende bestuur kan ook die gehalte van direkte dienslewering verbeter. Die implementering van deelnemende bestuur behoort nie deur organisatoriese grense ingeperk te word nie, maar behoort uitgebrei te word tot die beroep se aanspreeklikheid teenoor die bre~r kli~ntestelsel deur bewusmaking van veranderinge in die benadering tot praktykbestuur in die vorm van groter deelname tussen seniors en ondergeskiktes. Di t is noodsaakl ik om benaderings tot deelnemende bestuur te toets om hul doeltreffendheid, geldigheid en betroubaarheid as praktykmetodes in supervisie te bepaal. Opvolg-evaluering sou 'n verdere hydrae tot die ontwikkeling van deelnemende bestuur in supervisie maak. Meer navorsing oor deelnemende bestuur is ook nodig om tred te hou met huidige tendense in die volgehoue herkonsepsualisering van bestuursteorie en -praktyke.