Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The present study is a comparative analysis of social work fieldwork supervision at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) and the University of Limpopo (UL) and has produced a list of implications for policy and practice guidelines. The study adopted a qualitative approach to scientific enquiry. It was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The population of the study consisted of final year student social workers and fieldwork coordinators from UNIVEN and UL. Data was collected by means of semi-structured and focus group interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study’s results demonstrated that most students from both universities had outstanding relationships with their supervisors. The study also found that most students were supervised on an individual basis. Informal and ad hoc methods of supervision sessions were also preferred by supervisors, entailing that, as soon as a supervisor felt like saying something, they would just say it. If was found further that supervision methods lacked supervision structure, whereby it would have been planned and communicated in advance, so that students could contribute to the agenda, have a designated venue, and arrive prepared. Group supervision was found to be a rarely used method. The study also found that most students reported that the frequency of supervisions was once a week, while others felt that supervision occurred every day. Fieldwork supervisors continue to deliver the three major functions of supervision, which are administrative, educational, and supportive. The study found that students had little support from university fieldwork coordinators. The researcher established that field support visits by both universities were unsystematic. The researcher has also established that UL students need financial support in the form of a stipend to cater for costs related to their fieldwork placement, such as transport and food. Furthermore, the researcher found that students from both universities need regular contacts with the university-based supervisors/ coordinators. The study revealed the need to reinforce many critical aspects of fieldwork supervision. These include regular contact, field visits, ensuring formal supervision, ensuring formal orientation of students, and making sure that students are adequately exposed to social work practice. Despite the challenges they face, coordinators continued to play a critical role in ensuring that students were properly placed. Measures must be developed to ensure compliance with policy mandates. The study also found that UL did not have fieldwork practice policies, operating instead by using a manual for practical work dated 2012. Given the fact that the university was operating on a newly accredited BSW programme, this manual is outdated. There is a need to align it for fieldwork with the current BSW curriculum. In response to these findings and loopholes in fieldwork coordination and practice in general, the study recommends that UL develop policies related to fieldwork practice that will guide the department when planning fieldwork-related activities. Although UNIVEN has fieldwork practice and supervision policies in place, their practice lacks compliance with the policies, as reflected in the presentation of study findings in Chapter 10. In response to these inadequacies, the study recommends measures the university could use to ensure compliance. Finally, the study developed a social work fieldwork practice model. It is a six-phase model that includes analysis of historical and cultural dynamics for planning purposes, drafting a concept paper placement plan, broad consultation with the stakeholders, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and post-implementation consultation and termination. Key Words: Fieldwork supervision, fieldwork supervisor, fieldwork coordinator, social work, student social workers / University of Venda (UNIVEN)

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.

Hierdie navorsing handel oor die maatskaplikewerksupervisor wat as laervlakbestuurder sekere take en verantwoordelikhede het. Die doel van die navorsing is om vas te stel of die supervisor toegerus is om die take en verantwoordelikhede verbonde aan die pos van laervlakbestuurder suksesvol uit te voer. Vir die navorsing is ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering en ‘n beskrywende navorsingsontwerp gevolg. In die eerste gedeelte van die studie (Hoofstukke 1 en 2) is gefokus op onder andere die agtergrond tot die navorsingsprobleem en rasionaal, probleemstelling, navorsingsmetodologie en literatuurstudie. Die tweede gedeelte van die studie (Hoofstukke 3 en 4) hou verband met die bevindinge en dataverifiëring en word afgesluit met gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat op die studie van toepassing is. / Social Work / M.A. (Social work)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates guidelines for a supervision programme for social workers in the service of the Provincial Administration Western Cape, Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation. In practice social work supervision is done at the organizations to develop young social workers' knowledge, skills and attitudes. This will enable them to develop professionally and to work independently. At the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation supervision is also done with newly appointed social workers to empower them to work independently. Supervision in social work is 'n specialized method that enquires specific knowledge and skills. Effective and structured supervision's aim is to better the service rendering to the client. The Department of Social Services' vision and mission is also aimed at the best service rendering to their clients. The Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation has the problem that there is no guidelines to structure the supervision process. There for this research is aimed at the necessacity of guidelines for the practicing of social work supervision to get the results of better service rendering to the clients. To give the guidelines, there was a focus in this research report that includes 'n thorough literature study that describes the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation's structure and the way supervision has been done up till this moment. The nature of supervision is also looked at in a theoretical way to broaden the knowledge of how supervision is supposed to be done. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative an quantitative methods to explore the theoretical part of the research. An explo The fmdings of this study can be used as guidelines in the development of a supervision programme for social workers in the service of the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek riglyne vir 'n supervisieprogram vir maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Provinsiale Administrasie Wes-Kaap, Department Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting. Maatskaplikewerk-supervisie word in die praktyk by organisasies beoefen ten einde jong maatskaplike werkers se kennis, vaardighede en houdings te ontwikkel om die maatskaplike werkers instaat te stel om professioneel te ontwikkel en onafhanklik te werk. By die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting word nuwe maatskaplike werkers ook onderwerp aan supervisie ten einde hulle te bemagtig om onafhanklik hul werk te verrig. Maatskaplikewerk-supervisie is 'n gespesialiseerde metode wat spesifieke kennis en vaardighede vereis. Effektiewe, gestruktureerde supervisie het ten doel beter dienslewering aan die kliëntsisteem. Die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste se visie, missie en beginsels is daarop gerig om die kliëntsisteem van die beste dienste te voorsien. Die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting se dilemma lê juis hierin dat daar nie 'n handleiding met riglyne bestaan ten einde gestruktureerde supervisie te doen nie. Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die noodsaaklikheid van riglyne vir die beoefening van maatskaplikewerk-supervisie ten einde kliëntediens te verbeter. Ten einde riglyne daar te stel, fokus die literatuurstudie op 'n bespreking van die struktuur van die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting en die wyse waarop maatskaplikewerk-supervisie binne hierdie struktuur verrig word. Die aard van supervisie word ook teoreties bespreek ten einde teoretiese kennis uit te brei oor hoe supervisie behoort gedoen te word. Die teoretiese deel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur ontleding en bespreking van die resultate van die ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie is benut en beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om die inligting van respondente te bekom. Die bevindinge en resultate van die ondersoek is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur en sekere aanbevelings is gemaak. Die bevindinge van hiedie studie kan as riglyn gebruik word vir die samestelling van 'n supervisieprogram vir maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Departement Maatskaplike Dienste en Armoedeverligting.

Social work was declared a “scarce skill’’ in 2003 by the Minister for Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya. In response to this, the National Department of Social Development developed the Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers. This strategy identifies supervision as a critical area requiring definite attention, if the retention of social workers is to be realised. Social work supervisees’ voices need to be heard on this issue and hence this study was undertaken. The main purpose of this study was to explore, describe and gain insight into the experiences of social work supervisees in relation to supervision within the Department of Social Development, Johannesburg Region. A qualitative research approach was used, and qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Tesch’s model in Creswell (2009:186). The researcher followed a systematic process of data analysis. The findings of this study reveal amongst others, a lack of supervision for social work supervisees, and raises questions about the quality and effectiveness of the service rendered by the social work supervisees. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

Hierdie navorsing handel oor die maatskaplikewerksupervisor wat as laervlakbestuurder sekere take en verantwoordelikhede het. Die doel van die navorsing is om vas te stel of die supervisor toegerus is om die take en verantwoordelikhede verbonde aan die pos van laervlakbestuurder suksesvol uit te voer. Vir die navorsing is ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering en ‘n beskrywende navorsingsontwerp gevolg. In die eerste gedeelte van die studie (Hoofstukke 1 en 2) is gefokus op onder andere die agtergrond tot die navorsingsprobleem en rasionaal, probleemstelling, navorsingsmetodologie en literatuurstudie. Die tweede gedeelte van die studie (Hoofstukke 3 en 4) hou verband met die bevindinge en dataverifiëring en word afgesluit met gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat op die studie van toepassing is. / Social Work / M.A. (Social work)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Every year, more than 200 schools of social work graduate thousands of Master of Social Work (MSW) students. These graduates enter the world of work and continue on their journey toward becoming professional social workers. Surprisingly, very little is known in social work about the transition from student to professional, especially for MSW graduates. Related literature in nursing and education is reviewed in order to have a foundational knowledge of the transition process for similar professionals. The research questions for this study were: (a) What is the process of transition from student to employee like for new MSW graduates? (b) What are the factors that influence this transition during the first 18 months for MSW graduates? and (c) Are there critical junctures in the processes of transitioning from being a student through the first 18 months of MSW employment that are related to satisfaction and/or professional growth? This dissertation used qualitative, constructivist grounded theory methodology in order to study this relatively unknown subject. The conceptual model that emerged in this study is called Riding the Waves, and illustrates the transition process for new graduates learning to become a professional social worker. There are five stages of this model: Testing the Waters, Jumping In, Sinking or Swimming, Treading Water, and Riding the Waves. In Testing the Waters, critical issues of finding a job, negotiating a salary and licensure are salient. In Jumping In, new graduates experience orientation, examine preparedness from school and encounter the real world of work as opposed to their expectations. In Sinking or Swimming, new graduates negotiate not knowing, supervision, dealing with emotions and difficult work situations. In Treading Water, new graduates explore finding a balance between self-care and compassion fatigue and articulate job and compassion satisfaction. In the last stage, Riding the Waves, new graduates are more stable, gain confidence, find their voice and discuss what is ahead for them. Implications for social work students, educators, and employers are discussed including better preparing students for the transition, improving orientation and supervision, and providing the support that these new professionals require and deserve.

The importance of supervision and the influence of this relationship on the process of supervision, is often underrated. In order for this process to be implementede success-fully knowledge of the different functions including the administrative- educational- and supportive functions is of the utmost importance. It is also becoming increasingly impor-tant that note should be taken of the impact that cultural differences has on supervisor-relationships, the supervisional process and the effectivity of rendering of service as so-cial service organisations increasingly consists of diverse staff members rendering service to a diverse clientelle. This descriptive study has as goal to describe the impact of cultural differences on the practice focussing on the function of supervision and the establishment of diverse organisations and problems arising in this connection. Carefull attention will be paid as to how respondents experience cultural differences in the working environment, their problems and their opinions of how to solve these problems effectively. Conclusions and recomendations were made, which focussed on problems arising as result of cultural differences. The compilation of tentative guidelines which could be usefull in establishing supervision services with greater cultural sensitivity were given. / 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))

The purpose of this study is to describe trauma in the lives of social work students studying at Unisa South Africa. It explores how they describe trauma, what traumatic experiences they have gone through, the effect these experiences had on them, what they did to cope and how these experiences impacted their work as aspiring social workers. A case study was conducted with fourth-level students at Unisa South Africa. The theoretical framework adopted for the research was the person-centred approach. The research involved both focus group interviews and a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were generated. Descriptive statistics were used to create a profile of the participants. Qualitative data were analysed using a hermeneutic method. The perceptions of the participants were re-told by the researcher in the form of specific themes that emerged from the data. These themes were discussed and compared with the literature. Implications for the students’ work as social workers were discussed. The study accessed unique aspects of trauma that are grounded in the South African context. The description of trauma that emerged from the research created a new definition of the meaning of trauma. The research discusses the effects of trauma on the emerging professional self of the social work student. Recommendations are made that could be valuable to social work educators wishing to further the personal and professional growth of social work students. The research is also of value to those working with traumatised people. / Social Work / D .Litt. et Phil. (Social Work)