M.A. / This study comments on the debate surrounding the impact of measurement on the effectiveness and accountability of the social work profession. The basic objective of this study is to determine whether the utilization of the " single subject design " and " standardized measurement scales " have an impact on the effectiveness of social work service delivery. For this research study the experimental design, and specifically the comparison Pretest-Posttest design, is utilized. The experimental group was exposed to the " single subject design " and " standardized measurement scales " as intervention techniques. The control group was not exposed to measurement as an intervention technique. The results of this study indicates a statistically significant difference in growth towards target, between the experimental group and the control group. Clients in the experimental group achieved a higher level of positive growth compared with clients in the control group. Service delivery within the experimental group was therefore more effective than service delivery in the corresponding control group. This study concludes that the utilization of measurement has a positive influence on the effectiveness of social work service delivery. According to the study, social workers that apply measurement as part of their intervention techniques are more effective than social workers who do not apply measurement. It is therefore recommended that measurement should be part of all social work service rendering in order to enhance effectiveness.

This research explored the experiences and perceptions of the performance appraisal systems in place and its value to social workers within the Department: Social Services and Poverty Alleviation: Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

This research explored the experiences and perceptions of the performance appraisal systems in place and its value to social workers within the Department: Social Services and Poverty Alleviation: Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The primary objective of this study is to establish a holistic view of performance managementsystem in the Provincial Government and to assess the extent of implementation and the application of performance management, together with the challenges facing the social work managers in this regard. Furthermore it sought to identify the gaps and key priorities required for effective and efficient performance management processes. The study was preceded by a comprehensive literature study whereby the necessisty and purpose of performance mananagement were identified. Furthermore the valuable aspects and the characteristics of performance management in social work have been described. The persons involved in the performance management system were investigated tot determine the nature and scope of the performance managegement system that are implemented. The importance of the participation of both the supervisor (manager) and the social worker was determined. The report highlights the importance of a process approach and uses it as a lens for understanding performance management system. It indicate the change in focus from performance evalution to performanance management, which focuses less on productivity or the input or physical activities applied in achieving the results or outputs as such, but rather on the extent to which predetermined objectives/goals are effectively and efficiently met through the measurement of outputs/results against agreed-upon performance standards. An empirical study wat undertaken where both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied to achieve the objective of the research. The quantitative methods comprised out of a questionnaires purely for and data collection and the qualitative approach entailed the open-ended questions in the questionnaire. It sought to identify the gaps and key priorities required for the implentation of an effective and efficient performance management processes. The report highlights the importance of a developmental approach in applying the performance management system.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Juvenile delinquency is currently reaching alarming proportions and the number of juveniles within the prison population is on the increase. The crimes committed by male juvenile offenders, are often of an aggressive nature and include crimes such as murder and rape. The high rate of crime and the nature of the offences make it essential for social work services to be rendered to the juvenile offender. The purpose of the study was to establish guidelines for the social worker with the male juvenile offender in the Department of Correctional Services. The literature study dealt with the development of the juvenile offender as adolescent and a profile of the offender was compiled. Those factors both within the family and in the environment that contribute to criminal behaviour in the male juvenile offender were discussed. Furthermore the social work intervention process based on behaviour therapy was described. An exploratory descriptive study was undertaken in order to determine the knowledge that social workers have with regard to social work intervention to the male juvenile offender. An empirical study was done based on the literature study. A sample comprised of ten social workers that work with juvenile offenders at the youth centres of the Department of Correctional Services were involved in the study. With the help of the empirical study the knowledge and skills of social workers regarding the nature of social work intervention to the juvenile was examined. The findings of the study reveal that social workers require more knowledge on the development of the juvenile offender and on those factors that contribute to criminal behaviour, as well as skills with regard to the social work intervention process with the male juvenile offender. In order to render effective social work intervention to male juvenile offenders, social workers must possess adequate knowledge about the juvenile offender and about the skills needed to apply the social work intervention process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Jeugmisdaad neem tans geweldige afmetings aan en die gevangenisbevolking neem toe. Die misdade wat deur manlike jeugoortreders gepleeg word, is dikwels aggressief van aard en sluit misdade soos moord en verkragting in. Die hoë voorkoms van misdaad en die aard van die oortredings noodsaak dat maatskaplike werk dienste aan die jeugoortreder gelewer sal word. Die doel van die studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die maatskaplike werker in die Departement Korrektiewe Dienste wat met die manlike jeugoortreder werk. Die literatuurstudie het gehandel oor die ontwikkeling van die jeugoortreder as adolessent en 'n profiel van die jeugoortreder is saamgestel. Die faktore in die gesin en in die omgewing wat aanleiding gee tot misdaadgedrag by die manlike jeugoortreder, is bespreek. Voorts is die maatskaplike werk intervensieproses aan die hand van gedragsterapie beskryf. 'n Verkennende-beskrywende studie is onderneem om die kennis van maatskaplike werkers ten opsigte van maatskaplike werk intervensie aan die manlike jeugoortreder te bepaal. 'n Empiriese studie gegrond op die literatuurstudie is gedoen. 'n Steekproef bestaande uit tien maatskaplike werkers wat by jeugsentrums van die Departement Korrektiewe Dienste met jeugoortreders werk, is by die ondersoek betrek. Met behulp van die empiriese ondersoek is die kennis en vaardighede van maatskaplike werkers rakende die aard van maatskaplike werk intervensie aan die jeugoortreder ondersoek. Die bevindinge van die ondersoek toon dat maatskaplike werkers meer kennis benodig oor die ontwikkeling van die jeugoortreder en die aanleidende faktore tot misdaadgedrag, asook oor vaardighede ten opsigte van die maatskaplike werk intervensieproses aan die manlike jeugoortreder. Ten einde effektiewe maatskaplike werk intervensie aan die manlike jeugoortreder te lewer, moet maatskaplike werkers beskik oor voldoende kennis van die jeugoortreder en oor vaardighede in die toepassing van die maatskaplike werk intervensieproses.

The purpose of this study was to develop a survey that would provide professionals with an idea as to the thoughts, feelings, and values that social workers held regarding physical punishment towards a child. Social workers stand in a position to intervene in the intergenerational transmission of violence.

Text in Afrikaans / Performance management and performance appraisal plays a crucial role in developing human resources. In the social work profession the social work supervisor is the person responsible to appraise the performance of the social worker because of the excellent position to observe the job performance directly and consistently. The purpose of this study is to investigate how social work supervisors perform their supervisory functions and apply performance appraisal. The researcher used qualitative research for an exploratory and descriptive study. In-depth interviews were use as data collection method. The sample group was social work supervisors in the employment of the Western Cape Department of Social Development. Performance appraisal can be use to encourage professional growth and development of social workers. Performance appraisal is a supervisory duty and thus a component of administrative, educational and supportive supervision. It seems however that supervisors experience problems with performing supervision and to apply performance appraisal. / Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk))

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Prestasiebeoordeling is van kritiese belang vir die effektiewe bestuur van 'n welsynsorganisasie. Prestasiebeoordeling van maatskaplike werkers word dikwels afgeskeep, foutiewelik uitgevoer en met groot negatiwiteit bejeen. Hierdie verkennend-beskrywende studie het ten doel om wetenskaplik gefundeerde riglyne daar te stel vir die implementering van prestasiebeoordeling ten opsigte van maatskaplike werkers. Die doel is nie om volledige riglyne vir elke aspek van prestasiebeoordeling daar te stel nie, maar om probleme en leemtes vir toekomstige navorsing te identifiseer. Agt en dertig maatskaplike werkers en vier maatskaplikewerkbestuurders se belewenisse van prestasiebeoordeling is deur middel van vraelyste getoets en beskryf. Dit het geblyk dat prestasiebeoordeling van maatskaplike werkers ontwikkelingsgerig is en dat die maatskaplike werkers en maatskaplikewerkbestuurders baat vind by prestasiebeoordeling. Die maatskaplike werkers is van mening dat prestasiebeoordeling aangewend behoort te word vir die identifisering van leemtes en ontwikkelingsareas in die professionele toerusting van maatskaplike werkers. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van aspekte wat vir verdere navorsing oorweeg kan word, is gemaak. / Performance appraisal is critical to the effective management of a welfare organisation. Performance appraisal of social workers are often neglected, implemented incorrectly or regarded within a negative light. This exploratory/ descriptive study aims to set scientifically grounded guidelines for the implementation of performance appraisal with regard to social workers. The aim is not to provide comprehensive guidelines regarding every aspect of perforance appraisal, but to identify gaps and problems which may be studied in future research. Through questionnaires the perceptions of performance appraisal by 38 social workers and four social work managers were tested and described. It seemed that performance appraisal of social workers is geared towards development, and that social workers and social work managers do benefit from performance appraisal. Social workers were of the opinion that performance appraisal should be employed to identify gaps and development areas in equipping social workers professionally. Recommendations are made regarding aspects for further research / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)

Text in Afrikaans / Performance management and performance appraisal plays a crucial role in developing human resources. In the social work profession the social work supervisor is the person responsible to appraise the performance of the social worker because of the excellent position to observe the job performance directly and consistently. The purpose of this study is to investigate how social work supervisors perform their supervisory functions and apply performance appraisal. The researcher used qualitative research for an exploratory and descriptive study. In-depth interviews were use as data collection method. The sample group was social work supervisors in the employment of the Western Cape Department of Social Development. Performance appraisal can be use to encourage professional growth and development of social workers. Performance appraisal is a supervisory duty and thus a component of administrative, educational and supportive supervision. It seems however that supervisors experience problems with performing supervision and to apply performance appraisal. / Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk))

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Prestasiebeoordeling is van kritiese belang vir die effektiewe bestuur van 'n welsynsorganisasie. Prestasiebeoordeling van maatskaplike werkers word dikwels afgeskeep, foutiewelik uitgevoer en met groot negatiwiteit bejeen. Hierdie verkennend-beskrywende studie het ten doel om wetenskaplik gefundeerde riglyne daar te stel vir die implementering van prestasiebeoordeling ten opsigte van maatskaplike werkers. Die doel is nie om volledige riglyne vir elke aspek van prestasiebeoordeling daar te stel nie, maar om probleme en leemtes vir toekomstige navorsing te identifiseer. Agt en dertig maatskaplike werkers en vier maatskaplikewerkbestuurders se belewenisse van prestasiebeoordeling is deur middel van vraelyste getoets en beskryf. Dit het geblyk dat prestasiebeoordeling van maatskaplike werkers ontwikkelingsgerig is en dat die maatskaplike werkers en maatskaplikewerkbestuurders baat vind by prestasiebeoordeling. Die maatskaplike werkers is van mening dat prestasiebeoordeling aangewend behoort te word vir die identifisering van leemtes en ontwikkelingsareas in die professionele toerusting van maatskaplike werkers. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van aspekte wat vir verdere navorsing oorweeg kan word, is gemaak. / Performance appraisal is critical to the effective management of a welfare organisation. Performance appraisal of social workers are often neglected, implemented incorrectly or regarded within a negative light. This exploratory/ descriptive study aims to set scientifically grounded guidelines for the implementation of performance appraisal with regard to social workers. The aim is not to provide comprehensive guidelines regarding every aspect of perforance appraisal, but to identify gaps and problems which may be studied in future research. Through questionnaires the perceptions of performance appraisal by 38 social workers and four social work managers were tested and described. It seemed that performance appraisal of social workers is geared towards development, and that social workers and social work managers do benefit from performance appraisal. Social workers were of the opinion that performance appraisal should be employed to identify gaps and development areas in equipping social workers professionally. Recommendations are made regarding aspects for further research / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)