by Wong Yuk Ming. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 97-101. / Library's copy: Author's copy (c.2) has different pagination: vii, 98 p.

In the discourses of the outreach youth workers, it seemed to reveal a discourse and practice gap in their work with 'youth-at-disadvantage'. At the discourse level, many workers had quite high consciousness to the impacts of the broader social, contextual and familial related changes to the behaviours of young people though they did not deny young people's individual responsibility for their behaviours. However, in their actual practice, many workers felt inadequate and were not confident enough both in working with family and intervening into the social and contextual factors including their clients' participation to advocate for their needs. Moreover, in the complex relation of power with the policy demands on the work focus and output standards of the service and the service directions of their agencies, workers' discourses on the situations of young people were usually subjugated. As a result, what workers could do still remained at the person and remedial level handling young people's problem behaviours and their relationship with peers. Indeed, when so many workers had such high consciousness to the social impacts to the problem behaviours of young people and did not prefer to be strict social control agents, they could be a force for social change. However, when what they could do were still person and remedial oriented without the vision to facilitate necessary social or structural changes, what they did was still a kind of confessional control regulating young people's behaviours to conform to norms of society only. / This study is a discourse analysis on the construction of 'youth-at-disadvantage' in the context of outreaching social work service in Hong Kong across the turn of the new millennium. Instead of taking 'youth-at-disadvantage' pre-existingly as problematic and destructive in nature, Foucault's discourse analytic approach was used as a framework of conceptualization and a method of data analysis (1) to unmask its constitutive nature and (2) to reveal the discourses and complex relations of power at work in the process of its constitution. In the study, fifteen pairs of 'youth-at-disadvantage' and outreach youth workers with different lengths of service and positions were widely recruited from ten out of the sixteen District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams in Hong Kong. Each youth interviewee and the workers were interviewed twice successfully. / Though a discourse of individual deficits is usually constructed in society to talk about the problem behaviours of young people, in the revelation of this study, both the youth interviewees and the workers considered their problem behaviours as natural and common at their adolescent phase of life. In talking about their problem situations, obvious gender differences were revealed in the language uses of the male and female youth interviewees. While peer companionship and harsh control from parents were drawn upon by the female youth interviewees as the key reasons leading to their problem behaviours, the males attributed it to their poor performance and low interest in study, their employment situations and use of pocket money. Though family influence was not the key reason initiating them begin to play or associate with peers, eventually when their relationship with parents was further affected, it became the key reason leading to the continuation of their problem behaviours. In the service, many youth interviewees revealed that they could debate with their workers with alternative discourses. However, in the face of the adult society, what they could do was either to rebel or escape with their bodies. They hoped that the adult society could assure their abilities and respect what they were thinking and doing. / To a certain extent, the discourses revealed in this study are not only reflexive and worth to be heard for the adult society, but also critical and worth to be reviewed in the actual practice of the workers. Based on the discourses rehabilitated in the study, recommendations are made in five areas: social work practice and research on 'youth-at-disadvantage', social work training, related policy changes and the general public's understanding to the situations of young people. Though this type of social research is not so common in social work, it is hoped that this study can begin the debate and more similar researches with rich empirical data support can be done to disrupt the apparently taken for granted problematic discourses on young people and the possible regulatory effect of social work practice. / Tam, Hau Lin. / "March 2008." / Adviser: Ngan Pun Ngai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: A, page: 1035. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 526-553). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Based on the research findings, the researcher suggested ideas for the betterment of social work profession, social work education and also direction for future research. The researcher hoped that the suggestions would facilitate further development of social work knowledge and social work profession. / The findings of this study revealed that all participants affirmed the importance of social workers' use of self However, most of them felt quite perplexed in the positive use of self in their helping process. Even though they did not consciously utilize self, all of them showed that they were deeply involved in this helping profession. The ways they used their self were very diversified which included self-awareness, self acceptance, self-disclosure and self-presentation. Their use of self ranged from the cognitive level to the affective level. They were pragmatic in using the self Some clang to use self as an instrument, taking it as a technique in direct social work practice. Others opened up themselves and fully involved in the helping process. / The narratives of the participants showed that their lived experiences, especially at their early years, had important influences on their use of self At the same time, their professional learning and direct practice experiences were also crucial factors in affecting their re-construction of self and the use of self. Besides the above, Chinese culture and the strong emphasis of management and accountability in the profession were also important environmental factors. For some participants, they struggled in their self assurance and felt confused in their self-evaluation in an atmosphere of managerialism in their work setting, and they found it difficult in exercising their self On the one hand, they assured themselves of their proper attitude in their helping profession; while on the other, they experienced a sense of failure and self-doubt in their helping career and have difficulties in integrating themselves. / This research was a narrative analysis of Taiwan clinical social workers' use of self in their helping process. The purposes of this research were to understand clinical social workers' subjective experiences and their interpretation of self and their use of self in the helping process, to explore how the self was shaped in their personal and professional life, and to find out how Chinese culture influenced the development of self and the use of self in their professional practice. Fifteen clinical social workers in Taiwan participated in this study. Each of them was invited to attend two or three in-depth interviews with the duration of two hours each. / 鄭佩芬. / Adviser: Mong Chow Lam. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: A, page: 1031. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 290-308). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Zheng Peifen.

Hong, Liu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-244). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter One: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Self-help as a social phenomenon in Western and Chinese societies --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Impacts of self-help groups --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- An issue demanding attention: maintenance and development of self-help groups --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research objectives --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Initial guiding questions --- p.10 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- Sketching a Conceptual Framework --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- Literature Review --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Group maintenance and development --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Dynamics of self-help groups --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- External forces influencing self-help groups --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Theory-use in current study --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3 --- Refining the research questions --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4 --- Definitions of key terms in the research question --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Self-help groups --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Maintenance and development --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Social workers --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter Three: --- Research Design and Implementation --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research design --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Philosophical consideration --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Methodological justification --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2 --- Case study design --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Overall design: embedded contrasting multiple-case (two cases) study --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- "Unit of analysis, subunit of analysis and context of case" --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Case selection --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4 --- Implementation --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- General process of implementation --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Data collection --- p.58 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Data analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Quality of study --- p.65 / Chapter 3.5 --- Ethical consideration --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter Four: --- Case A: Within-Case Data Display and Analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 4.1 --- Chronicle of Case A --- p.70 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Pre-formalized stage: before SCMC Parents Group --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Formalized stage: SCMC Parents Group --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2 --- Difficulties encountered by the group on the factors contributing to the maintenance and development in Case A --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Leadership --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Membership --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Practical difficulties: logistics and finance --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Professional Involvement --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Affiliation --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Legitimacy --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3 --- Responding to research question 1: what are the difficulties? --- p.124 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Difficulty on leadership: indistinct leadership structure --- p.124 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Difficulty on membership: shortage of new core members --- p.125 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Difficulty on practical issue: tight finance --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Difficulty on affiliation: reserved support from the hospital --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Difficulty on legitimacy: unachieved out-hospital legitimacy --- p.127 / Chapter 4.4 --- "Responding to research question 2 & 3: how are the difficulties mutually linked, and linked with the maintenance and development of the groups?" --- p.129 / Chapter 4.5 --- Role of social work profession --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Social work practice in SCMC --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Involvement of social workers in the parents group --- p.136 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Expectations from the medical staff --- p.138 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Social workers or administrators? --- p.139 / Chapter Chapter Five: --- Case B: Within-Case Data Display and Analysis --- p.142 / Chapter 5.1 --- Chronicle of case B --- p.142 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Before establishment --- p.143 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- After ICCCPO Shanghai conference --- p.144 / Chapter 5.2 --- Difficulties encountered by the group on the factors contributing to the maintenance and development in Case B --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Leadership --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Membership --- p.159 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Practical issues: logistics and finance --- p.165 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Professional involvement --- p.172 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Affiliation --- p.174 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Legitimacy --- p.179 / Chapter 5.3 --- Responding to research question 1: what are the difficulties? --- p.187 / Chapter 5.4 --- "Responding to research question 2 & 3: how are the difficulties mutually linked, and linked with the maintenance and development of the groups?" --- p.191 / Chapter Chapter Six: --- Case Synthesis --- p.196 / Chapter 6.1 --- Comparing the two cases --- p.196 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Commonalities --- p.196 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Differences --- p.198 / Chapter 6.2 --- Controlled comparison --- p.198 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Controlling the factors --- p.198 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Making comparison --- p.199 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Results of comparison --- p.203 / Chapter 6.3 --- Uncontrolled comparisons --- p.204 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- "Affiliation, host organizations, and Finance" --- p.205 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Affiliation and Out-hospital Legitimacy --- p.209 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Out-hospital Legitimacy and Finance --- p.210 / Chapter Chapter Seven: --- "Conclusions, Discussions，Implications，and Limitations" --- p.211 / Chapter 7.1 --- Conclusions --- p.211 / Chapter 7.2 --- Discussions --- p.213 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Members and leader in the self-help groups: “free-riders´ح and “bum-out´ح --- p.213 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Group legitimacy and affiliation in the Chinese context --- p.216 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Professional involvement: medical staff and social workers --- p.219 / Chapter 7.3 --- Implications --- p.223 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Implications for social work practice --- p.223 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Implications for social work education --- p.225 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Implications for social policy --- p.226 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- Implications for future research --- p.229 / Chapter 7.4 --- Limitations --- p.230 / Reference --- p.232

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) --University of Limpopo, 2017 / Refer to the document

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.

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.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-247).

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences