MPH / Department of Public Health / This study was about work related stress among social workers in the Greater Giyani Municipality, South Africa. Work related stress among social workers globally can be attributed to a number of factors that are either internal or external to the workers. When not addressed, work related stress may have tremendous impact on the workers, their productivity and even health. The aim of this study was to explore the sources of work related stress among social workers in selected offices in Greater Giyani Municipality, South Africa. This study adopted a qualitative research design making use of exploratory approach. The study was conducted at Unigaz social work offices, Greater Giyani Municipality, South Africa. The study sample was chosen from the target population of social workers using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using an interview guide and analyzed using thematic analytical approach. To ensure trustworthiness, credibility and dependability of the study findings, the researcher pre-tested the interview guide to ascertain if it will enable the researcher to get the desired information. The researcher adhered to the following ethical principles: Informed consent, deception of respondents, confidentiality and anonymity, voluntary participation and avoidance of harm to respondents The study revealed that work related stress among social workers results from a variety of factors. These factors are either organisational such as poor remuneration, workload etc. or extra-organisational factors such as lack of support from family members. The study recommends that the Department of Social Development should put in place Employee Wellness Offices in all districts as a measure to curb and deal with work related stress among social workers. / NRF

The serious shortage of social workers (nationally) caused by their exodus from the profession at an alarming rate and the resultant classification of social work as a "scare skill" served as motivation for this research project into retention strategies to retain social workers for the profession. A qualitative research approach and an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 purposely selected participants in the geographically defined boundaries of the Northern Free State and Gauteng. Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994) and Guba's models (in Krefting, 1991) aided the processes of data collection and verification, respectively. The research findings uncovered: general and specific reasons for the social workers' exodus, feelings and emotional reactions of social workers subsequent to the early exodus from the profession, and retention proposals to retain social workers. Based on the findings, recommendation directed to practice, education, policy and further research, were made. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The serious shortage of social workers (nationally) caused by their exodus from the profession at an alarming rate and the resultant classification of social work as a "scare skill" served as motivation for this research project into retention strategies to retain social workers for the profession. A qualitative research approach and an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 purposely selected participants in the geographically defined boundaries of the Northern Free State and Gauteng. Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994) and Guba's models (in Krefting, 1991) aided the processes of data collection and verification, respectively. The research findings uncovered: general and specific reasons for the social workers' exodus, feelings and emotional reactions of social workers subsequent to the early exodus from the profession, and retention proposals to retain social workers. Based on the findings, recommendation directed to practice, education, policy and further research, were made. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Social work, as a profession, is critical for societies as it aims to promote social change and development, as well as social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Whereas the working conditions of social workers have been the focus of previous research, the topic of social workers’ personal safety challenges and the coping strategies employed during social work service delivery seems to be sparsely researched and documented in indigenous literature. In view of this, I designed a research project aimed at exploring the personal safety challenges that social workers encounter and the coping strategies they employ during social work service delivery from a qualitative research approach with a collective case study design, coupled with an explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological research design, with a view to proffer suggestions for promoting social workers’ personal safety. From the conception of the research project, up until its finalisation which culminated in this research report, I observed the ethical principles of informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality in the context of the management of information. I employed semi-structured interviews as a data collection method from a sample of 14 purposively selected social workers in the employ of one government Department and three non-profit organisations in the Tshwane region. Data was analysed using Tesch’s (1990) steps and data verification was done through Gibbs’ (2008) model. I utilised Schlossberg’s (1981) Transition Process Model as the theoretical lens in this study. Based on the findings presented in this research report, it is evident that social workers face various challenges in terms of their personal safety, ranging from being physically attacked and being at the receiving end of aggressive behaviour from distressed, frustrated, and hostile service users, to facing risks to their personal safety in the social work offices and whilst on the road during fieldwork or in the communities they serve. The various coping strategies that social workers employ as way of dealing with the incidents and situations in which their personal safety is compromised include speaking to a supervisor, colleagues, friends, or a therapist; using their personal faith; remaining calm and withdrawing from the unsafe situation; and enlisting the help of the police or ensuring that they are accompanied by colleagues when doing fieldwork. The research findings included the suggestions proffered by the research participants on how to promote the personal safety of social workers and these are directed at employer organisations and social workers themselves. In addition, recommendations are provided which are directed towards social work practice; social work education and training; and continuous professional development. There are also recommendations for areas of further research. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

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 / 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)