Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mentoring, which is described as an activity in social work supervision, is promoted to assist with the recruitment and retention of newly qualified social workers. However research relating to the execution of mentoring within the context of social work supervision is limited. Also, a lack of supervision of newly qualified as well as existing social workers has resulted in a critical shortage of social workers in South Africa. This in turn decreases the quality of social work service rendering to communities in South Africa. In an effort to reverse the aforementioned circumstances, the South African government introduced the “Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers” in 2006. The Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers reaffirmed the value of supervision for social workers as well as the utilisation of mentoring in order to provide adequate support to newly qualified as well as existing social workers. Hence the study was undertaken, first to provide an overview of social work supervision and second, to explore the use of mentoring in the context of social work supervision. A combined qualitative and quantitative research approach was utilised to explore the experiences of social work supervisors in the Department of Social Development (Western Cape), with regard to the use of mentoring as an activity of social work supervision. The motivation for this study originated from an apparent lack of research relating to the use of mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers within the Department of Social Development in the Western Cape. The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the features and use of mentoring as well as how mentoring can be utilised as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The literature study first focused on giving an overview of social work supervision, to provide a contextual basis for mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The literature study then explored the features and use of mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The researcher utilised a purposive sample of 20 social work supervisors. These supervisors have been appointed to the different regional and local offices of the Department of Social Development in the Western Cape and provide supervision to social workers, specifically newly qualified social workers. Newly qualified social workers refer to social workers with a maximum experience of 24 months in the practical field. The researcher utilised an interview schedule as a measuring instrument. The results of the investigation confirmed that supervision of newly qualified social workers is essential to ensure quality service rendering. Second, the results concluded that due to the allocation of responsibilities other than supervision, inadequate time is spent on the execution of the social work supervision process. Third, the lack of formal training of supervisors in social work supervision, has a negative impact on the execution of the supervision process, as most of the supervisors provide supervision to newly qualified social workers, based on their own experience of supervision as well as the fact that social work supervision follows a process running parallel to the social work process. Fourth, a majority of the social work supervisors execute mentoring on an informal basis. Fifth, most of the social work supervisors are in favour of the appointment of multiple mentors for each newly qualified social worker. Lastly, senior social workers are viewed as important mentors to assist newly qualified social workers with the acquisition of skills relating to social work service delivery. Recommendations made by this study highlighted the importance of providing accredited supervision training to social work supervisors as well as introducing a policy on the execution of supervision, and mentoring as an activity in social work supervision. Further recommendations focused on the provision of training to all selected mentors as well as on the use of multiple mentors for each newly qualified social worker. Lastly, the use of senior social workers both within the Department and organisations in the NPO sector is promoted, especially to assist newly qualified social workers to attain those skills relating to the execution of their statutory duties and to improve quality service rendering through the enhancement of their professional report writing skills. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mentorskap, wat as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie omskryf word, bevorder die werwing en behoud van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers. Navorsing wat verband hou met die uitvoering van mentorskap binne die konteks van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie is egter beperk. Daarbenewens het ‘n gebrek aan supervisie van pas gekwalifiseerde sowel as van die meer ervare maatskaplike werkers gelei tot ‘n kritieke tekort aan maatskaplike werkers in Suid- Afrika. Dit het weer gelei tot ‘n afname in die gehalte van maatskaplikewerk-dienslewering aan gemeenskappe in Suid-Afrika. In ‘n poging om die genoemde omstandighede om te keer, het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering die Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers in 2006 geloods. Die Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers benadruk die waarde van supervisie aan maatskaplike werkers sowel as die benutting van mentorskap om voldoende ondersteuning te bied aan pas gekwalifiseerde sowel as meer ervare maatskaplike werkers. Die studie word dus onderneem, eerstens om ‘n oorsig van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie te verkry en tweedens om die gebruik van mentorskap binne die konteks van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie te verken. ‘n Gekombineerde kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is benut om die ervarings van maatskaplikewerk-supervisors in die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, rakende mentorskap as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers te ontbloot. Die studie is gemotiveer deur ‘n opmerklike gebrek aan navorsing ten opsigte van die benutting van mentorskap as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers in die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling. Die doel van die studie was om begrip te ontwikkel rondom die eienskappe en benutting van mentorskap sowel as hoe mentorskap as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie benut kan word. Die literatuurstudie verskaf eerstens ‘n oorsig van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie om sodoende ‘n kontekstuele basis vir mentorskap as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers aan te bied. Die literatuurstudie verken voorts die eienskappe en benutting van mentorskap as ‘n aktiwiteit in maatskaplikewerk-supervisie van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers. Die navorser het ‘n doelbewuste steekproef van 20 maatskaplikewerk supervisors benut. Hierdie supervisors is werksaam in die verskillende streeks- en plaaslike kantore van die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling en verskaf supervisie aan onder andere pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers. Pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers verwys na alle maatskaplike werkers met minder as 24 maande ervaring in die praktyk. Die navorser het ‘n onderhoudskedule as meetinstrument benut. Die resultate van die ondersoek bevestig eerstens dat die verskaffing van supervisie aan pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers noodsaaklik is vir die versekering van kwaliteit dienslewering. Tweedens bevestig die bevindinge ook dat, as gevolg van die aanwysing van verantwoordelikhede, buiten supervisie, daar onvoldoende tyd aan die uitvoering van maatskaplikewerk-supervisieprosesse bestee word. Derdens het die gebrek aan formele supervisie-onderrig, ‘n negatiewe uitwerking op die uitvoering van die supervisieproses, aangesien die meeste supervisors wat supervisie aan pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers verskaf, dit baseer op hul eie ervarings van supervisie sowel as die feit dat die supervisie parallel verloop met die maatskaplikewerk-proses. Vierdens verrig die meeste maatskaplikewerk-supervisors hul mentorskap op ‘n informele wyse. Vyfdens is die meeste supervisors ten gunste van die aanstelling van meer as een mentor vir elke pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker. Laastens word senior maatskaplike werkers beskou as belangrike mentors om pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers te help met die verkryging van daardie vaardighede wat verband hou met maatskaplikewerk-dienslewering. Aanbevelings wat in die studie gemaak is beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die verskaffing van geakkrediteerde supervisie-onderrig aan maatskaplikewerk-supervisors, die daarstelling van ‘n supervisiebeleid sowel as die benutting van mentorskap as ‘n aktwiteit in maatskaplikewerksupervisie. Verdere aanbevelings fokus op die verskaffing van opleiding aangaande die proses van mentorskap. Laastens word die gebruik van senior maatskaplike werkers sowel in die Wes- Kaapse Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling as in ander organisasies in die nieregerings sektor, as mentors ondersteun, ten einde meer spesifiek pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers te help met die aanleer van daardie vaardighede wat verband hou met die uitvoering van hul statutêre verpligtinge en om die kwaliteit van dienslewering te bevorder deur die verbetering van die professionele skryfvaardighede van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Internationally accepted opinion is that the education of social work students is currently under pressure to more effectively prepare the students concerned for service delivery in changing circumstances. Emphasis is placed on the role that social justice, relevance of theory, respect for human rights, cross-cultural competencies and diversity currently play in service delivery to the client system and therefore also within the educational situation. Social work educators must be equipped to provide students with effective education and to facilitate an effective learning process for a diverse student population. Various authors point out that during the learning process students must first be empowered to take control of their own life decisions before being able to successfully render services to a client system. Such empowerment in a diverse setting can be achieved through both the educators and students utilizing their diversity of cultures, backgrounds and experiences as resources to increase learning expenences. Education of social work students occurs amongst others through supervision, which a competent social work educator gives to the student. It is the purpose of this study to examine the nature of education by means of supervision in a diverse student population. Appropriate adult learning models that strive towards empowering students through supervision in a diverse setting, are discussed, as well as the nature of the multicultural competencies of the social work educator concerned. Finally practical and theoretical guidelines are provided according to which social work supervision can be used successfully in the education of a diverse student population. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionaal word die mening gehuldig dat die onderrig van maatskaplikewerkstudente tans onder druk is om die betrokke studente meer effektief vir dienslewering in veranderende omstandighede voor te berei. Klem word geplaas op die rol wat sosiale geregtigheid, relevansie van teorie, respek vir menseregte, kruiskulturele kompetensies en diversiteit tans in dienslewering aan die kliëntsisteem en dus ook in die onderrigsituasie, vertolk. Maatskaplikewerkdosente moet toegerus wees om effektiewe onderrig aan studente te gee en om 'n effektiewe leerproses vir 'n diverse studentepopulasie te fasiliteer. Verskeie outeurs wys daarop dat studente tydens die leerproses eers bemagtig moet word om beheer oor hulle eie lewensbesluite te neem alvorens tot suksesvolIe dienslewering aan 'n kliëntsisteem oorgegaan kan word. Sodanige bemagtiging in 'n diverse opset kan bereik word deurdat beide dosente en studente hulle verskeidenheid van kulture, agtergronde en ervarings as hulpbronne gebruik om leerervarings te verhoog. Onderrig van maatskaplikewerkstudente geskied onder andere deur supervisie wat deur 'n kompetente maatskaplikewerkdosent aan die studente gegee word. Hierdie studie het ten doel om die aard van onderrig deur middel van supervisie in 'n diverse studentepopulasie te ondersoek. Geskikte volwassene onderrigmodelle wat tydens supervisie in 'n diverse opset die bemagtiging van studente nastreef, word bespreek, asook die aard van die multikulturele kompetensies van die betrokke maatskaplikewerkdosent. Ten slotte word praktiese en teoretiese riglyne daargestel waarvolgens maatskaplikewerksupervisie suksesvol benut kan word in die onderrig van 'n diverse studentepopulasie.

Supervision in social work is composed of educational, administrative and supportive functions. Supportive supervision is particularly important for child protection social workers, given their work with vulnerable children. Supportive supervision facilitates the child protection social worker’s reflection on practice issues with a designated supervisor who, through this process, addresses their personal and professional development as well as their emotional needs; this, in turn, contributes to sound ethical practice. The sparse literature available on the topic and practice observations pointing to the lack of supportive function in the area of Child Protection Services gave rise to this study. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was thus toenhance an understanding of the experiences of social workers in Child Protection Services in respect of supportive function of supervision within the public sector in the Nelson Mandela Bay region. A non-probability purposive sampling strategy was used to identify social workers working in the field of child protection for an uninterrupted minimum period of three years. The final sample consisted of ten child protection social workers. Data was collected through semi-structured, in-depth, individual, face-to-face interviews, which were guided by an interview schedule. The data was analysed using Tesch’s (1990) model as outlined in Creswell (2014:198). The trustworthiness of the research process and the findings was enhanced by using a range of data verification techniques. The main themes that emerged from the process of data analysis are: 1) Social workers’ experiences of working in Child Protection Services; 2) Social workers’ perceptions and experiences of social work supervision in general and supportive supervision in particular; and 3) Social workers’ recommendations on how supportive supervision needs can be addressed. The findings of this study yielded valuable scholarly knowledge in respect of the supportive supervision function in Child Protection Services.

M.A. (Social Work) / The study aimed at determining the nature of social work supervision in welfare agencies in the Sedibeng Region, Gauteng. The research was of an exploratorydescriptive nature. A questionnaire was used as a data collection tool and was self administered by the respondents. A total population of 57 social work supervisors are employed by non-governmental organisations (NGO), community-based organisations (CSO) and government departments in the Sedibeng region and were included in the study. Fifty one completed questionnaires were returned. The research revealed that the majority of the respondents held a management position within the organisation and it is therefore concluded that supervision of social workers formed part of their management function. In addition, the supervisors rendering social work supervision were in possession of a Social Work Degree, which indicated that supervisors met the basic educational requirement to supervise social workers. Fifty eight percent of supervisors had six or more supervisees under their span of control. This is above the current norm set by government of one supervisor to five social workers. Respondents felt they had the knowledge, experience, infrastructure and resources to supervise staff including relevant policies and procedures to guide supervision. Key supervisory roles and qualities that are relevant to supervision were identified by the respondents. Four key roles were identified by supervisors namely, motivating and inspiring staff (88%), facilitating skills development and increasing the knowledge of supervisees (84%), facilitating professional development of supervisees (76%) and developing the social worker to use him/herself more efficiently and effectively (76%). The most important qualities of a supervisor that were identified are: first, openness, Willingness to help and learn from others (76%), second, a supervisor should be calm, focused and goal-orientated (74%). Finally supervisors should be able to deal with conflict (70%). These three qualities were highly rated among the respondents. Barriers to supervision included: increasing work pressures and demands (74%), high staff turnover (54%) and the emphasis on quantity instead of quality social work services (56%). Recommendations included policies that set minimum norms and standards for supervision. The need to prioritise supervision as part of a management function in social welfare settings within Governmental and Non Governmental Organisations, forums to promote dialogue, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation tools are needed to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of supervision provided and its impact.

The purpose of this research study was to assess the control function of social work managers. The basic focus of the study is on how they perceive this management function of control as they exercise it, as well as how it is exercised to them. Out of two research methods that one can choose from, namely quantitative and qualitative, the quantitative was chosen as the relevant one to use because of the specific close-ended questions that were to be answered by respondents regarding the exercise of control as a management function. Out of twenty five (25) questionnaires, an analysis of data was done on twenty (N = 20), because that was the original target and the five were just distributed in case some could not answer for whatever reason. The findings and responses from the respondents were analysed and interpreted to meet the main objectives of the study. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel wat die kontrole funksie van ’n maatskaplikewerk-bestuurder is. Hierdie studie is gefokus op hoe die bestuursfunksie beleef word soos dit beoefen word. Van die twee navorsingsmetodes waaruit gekies kan word, naamlik kwalitatief en kwantitatief, is daar besluit dat die kwantitatiewe metode meer relevant sal wees omdat dit spesifieke geslote vrae vra wat ingestel is op die bestuursfunksie van kontrole. Uit die 25 vraelyste is die data van 20 (N = 20) vraelyste ontleed, aangesien dit die aanvanklike teiken was. Daar is 5 ekstra uitgedeel net ingeval daar persone sou wees wat nie die vraelys kon voltooi nie. Die bevindinge en reaksie van die 20 ondervraagdes is ontleed en geïnterpreteer om die basiese doel van die studie te bereik. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Social Work supervisors experience a lot of challenges when supervising inexperienced social workers. The overall aim of the study was to explore and describe experiences of social work supervisors in supervising inexperienced social workers in the Department of Social Development Malamulele Area Office. The study objectives were to identify supervisors’ training needs that enable them to manage inexperienced social workers; to appraise how supervisors manage poor confidence among inexperienced social workers; to assess how supervisors manage time to meet deadlines coupled with supervising; and to establish knowledge gaps between supervisors and inexperienced social workers in terms of relevant theories, skills and techniques. The researcher used both explorative and descriptive research designs. The data was collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews from eight (8) social work supervisors who are employed by the Department of Social Development, Malamulele area office. The sample consisted of social work supervisors who were available and ready to participate in the study. Eight social work supervisors who had supervised inexperienced social workers were interviewed. The researcher followed the steps of thematic data analysis which are transcription of data, checking and editing, analysing and interpretation, and generalisation to analyse data. Ethical considerations such as voluntary participation, permission to conduct the study, anonymity, confidentiality and no harm to respondents were considered. The researcher found that Social Work supervisors who render supervision do not have relevant and up-to-date theoretical knowledge. They still apply relevant theories that they learned during their time as undergraduate Social Workers, and the fact that they do attend supervisory training makes the supervision to be poor. The researcher found that a lot of Social Work supervisors rely on their experiences because they do not have formal supervision training. The researcher also found that inexperienced Social Workers are not receiving enough supervision from their supervisors. The researcher concluded that these Social Workers are receiving enough supervision because their supervisors have a lot of work such as attending clients and meetings. Social Work supervisors in Malamulele area office are currently practising without supervisory training, but they are appointed based on their working experience. The researcher recommended that the Department of Social Development, Vhembe x District Municipality should encourage inexperienced Social Workers and supervisors to attend courses in supervision offered by different service providers and to understand their role.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The purpose of this research study was to assess the control function of social work managers. The basic focus of the study is on how they perceive this management function of control as they exercise it, as well as how it is exercised to them. Out of two research methods that one can choose from, namely quantitative and qualitative, the quantitative was chosen as the relevant one to use because of the specific close-ended questions that were to be answered by respondents regarding the exercise of control as a management function. Out of twenty five (25) questionnaires, an analysis of data was done on twenty (N = 20), because that was the original target and the five were just distributed in case some could not answer for whatever reason. The findings and responses from the respondents were analysed and interpreted to meet the main objectives of the study. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel wat die kontrole funksie van ’n maatskaplikewerk-bestuurder is. Hierdie studie is gefokus op hoe die bestuursfunksie beleef word soos dit beoefen word. Van die twee navorsingsmetodes waaruit gekies kan word, naamlik kwalitatief en kwantitatief, is daar besluit dat die kwantitatiewe metode meer relevant sal wees omdat dit spesifieke geslote vrae vra wat ingestel is op die bestuursfunksie van kontrole. Uit die 25 vraelyste is die data van 20 (N = 20) vraelyste ontleed, aangesien dit die aanvanklike teiken was. Daar is 5 ekstra uitgedeel net ingeval daar persone sou wees wat nie die vraelys kon voltooi nie. Die bevindinge en reaksie van die 20 ondervraagdes is ontleed en geïnterpreteer om die basiese doel van die studie te bereik. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

M.A. / A research study is undertaken with the aim of establishing what the attitudes and perceptions of supervisors and supervisees are regarding the rendering of cultural-sensitive supervision in social work. The aim of the study is to provide supervisors in social work with recommendations regarding the rendering of cultural-sensitive supervision. The amalgamation of organisations rendering social services has brought about multi-cultural and cross-cultural supervisional relationships that could be potentially problematic. The research process followed is the process identified by Mindel and McDonald in Grinnell (1993). The research process is initiated with a literature study on the concepts of supervision and cultural diversity. The research is limited to the Gauteng area and the study did not take place on a large scale due to the qualitative design utilised. An in-depth study is mader rather than a statistical analysis. Data collection takes place by means of semi-structured interviews with social work supervisors and self-administered questionnaires, completed by both supervisors and supervisees. The target group of the study is supervisors and supervisees employed by organisations which already render cross-cultural services. Results of the study indicate that supervisors and supervises generally don't experience problems in the rendering and receiving of cultural-sensitive supervision. Cultural sensitivity is perceived as being the acceptance of cultural factors such as background and values, as well as having a working knowledge of the cultural background, values attitudes etc. of the supervisees. Communication barriers seem to be the problem experienced by the majority of the participants of the study. It is recommended that supervisors receive further training in cultural-sensitive supervision and that cultural-sensitive supervision needs to focus on cultural values rather than biographical aspects such as race. Anthropology included in social work training, could address the need to enhance the knowledge base of social workers and supervisors, to the benefit of supervisor-supervisees relationships and thus the client system. Results and conclusions drawn from this study can not be generalised to the broader population of social workers and supervisors. Further research is needed to determine whether the perceptions and attitudes established in this study are the general perceptions and attitudes of social workers in South Africa.