Parenting plans are a new concept for professionals in South Africa working in the field of divorce. Emphasis has been placed on the development of parenting plans by including the concept of parenting plans in section 33 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. Professionals are now confronted with formulating adequate parenting plans which are focussed on the best interest standard of the child(ren) and that will assist the family with its functioning post–divorce. The aim of this research was to develop substantive guidelines that can assist the professional in drafting parenting plans. To achieve this aim, the following objectives guided the study: * To provide the legal context of parenting plans in South Africa. A legal context of parenting plans in South Africa is discussed by way of a literature study through an intensive analysis and critical discussion on a number of legal instruments pertaining to children, such as the Children’s Act 38 of 2005; the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). * To ascertain the views of mental health professionals (social workers and psychologists) and legal professionals (attorneys and family advocates) with regard to the divorcing family and parenting plans. The views of mental health professionals and legal professionals with regard to the divorcing family in respect of parenting plans were established. Professionals completed an electronic questionnaire that consisted of open questions to establish their views. Further telephonic interviews with the professionals were facilitated to gain further insight into the professional view points on the issue of divorcing families and parenting plans. * To ascertain the needs of the divorcing family (parents and child(ren)) and to present these needs in the structuring of a parenting plan. The needs of the divorcing family (parents and child(ren)) were established through an explorative approach by means of a document study and electronic questionnaires that were completed by the family members. Through this exploration the researcher obtained an understanding of the needs of the divorcing family related to parenting plans. * To provide professionals with comprehensive and clear guidelines on the basic structure and general content of a parenting plan. Comprehensive and clear guidelines on the basic structure and general content of a parenting plan were constructed for professionals working in this area, based on findings of articles 1, 2 and 3 of this research. The researcher also relied on her background and training as a qualified social worker to construct these guidelines. It was concluded that professionals are not necessarily well equipped to structure high quality parenting plans. Guidelines ought to assist the professionals to structure plans that are well organised, practical, child–centred, developmentally appropriate, and representative of the divorcing family needs. The researcher believes that as parenting plans are obligatory for parents that divorce, there is a need for South African research on this subject matter. This study is a contribution in the research field as to assist the professionals with the task of compiling parenting plans for the divorcing family. In addition this study adds value to the forensic field by setting guidelines on the structuring of parenting plans that empower the professional to work in this challenging field. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Kundige bestuur is n hedendaagse begrip wat beskou word as die rede waarom sommige organisasies net funksioneer en ander uitstekend presteer. Die eise wat aan bestuurders van besighede en Nie–Winsgewende Organisasies (NWOs) se bestuursmilieu gestel word, is uiters hoog en vereis vaardigheid, kennis en ondervinding. Die bestuur van NWOs behoort goed ingelig te wees ten opsigte van die bestuursvaardighede waaroor hul eweknieë in die sakesektor beskik. Opleiding in maatskaplike werk in Suid–Afrika is goed ontwikkel en het in die afgelope 20 jaar in verskeie spesialisvelde binne die vakgebied ontvou. Maatskaplikewerk–dienslewering fasiliteer die groei en ontwikkeling van maatskaplike werkers, wat daartoe aanleiding gee dat hulle in so n mate vorder dat hulle hul kort voor lank in bestuursposisies bevind. n Wyer kennisbasis rakende bestuursdinamiek word vereis om die oorgang van maatskaplike werker na bestuurder te kan maak en sodoende doeltreffend as bestuurder te kan funksioneer. Bestuursopleiding deur maatskaplikewerk–opleidingsinstansies in Suid–Afrika bied nie tans spesifieke bestuursopleiding in die NWO–konteks aan nie. Ondersoek is deur hierdie studie ingestel om n model te ontwikkel om bogenoemde aan te spreek. Hoofstuk 1 fokus op die formulering van die navorsingsonderwerp en gee die sentrale strategiese agument en doel met doelwitte. Hoofstuk 2 beskryf die navorsingsmetodologie wat gebruik is in die studie. Hoofstuk 3 vervat n literatuurstudie wat handel oor die huidige funksionering van NWOs in Suid–Afrika. Daar word gefokus op die bestuursprosesse en rolspelers binne n NWO, die sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese faktore wat die funksionering van NWOs beïnvloed, bestuursmodelle en –teorieë, leierskap en die oorgang van maatskaplike werker na NWO–maatskaplikewerkbestuurder. Hierdie inligting bied die agtergrond waarteen die funksionering van NWO–bestuurders in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Vrystaat en Noord–Kaap gekontekstualiseer kan word. In Hoofstuk 4 word die data wat vanuit die situasie analise met die NWO–bestuurders in Mpumalanga terugontvang is, verwerk en gerapporteer. n Profiel word verskaf ten opsigte van die NWOs in Mpumalanga asook die bestuursrolspelers en –prosesse wat geïmplementeer is. Daarna word die profiel van NWO–bestuurders in Mpumalanga voorgehou met spesifieke fokus op bestuurskennis en –vaardighede van NWO–bestuurders in Mpumalanga. Die opleidingsbehoeftes van NWO–bestuurders word opgesom en geprioritiseer. Die beskikbaarheid van bestuursopleidingsprogrammes in Suid–Afrikaanse maatskaplikewerk–opleidingsinstansies word daarna weergegee. Hoofstuk 5 gee n oorsig van die heersende situasie in Suid–Afrikaanse NWOs vanuit data wat verkry is uit fokusgroepbesprekings met maatskaplike werkers wat as NWO–bestuurders in Gauteng, Vrystaat en die Noord–Kaap werk. Klem word gelê op die fokusgroeplede se persoonlike ervarings van hul oorgang van maatskaplike werker na NWO–bestuurder binne die huidige funksionering van NWOs. Die spesifieke bestuursprosesse en rolspelers in NWOs betrokke by die fasilitering van die oorgang, soos deur NWO–bestuurders geïdentifiseer, word uitgelig. In hoofstuk 6 word n model vir die fasilitering van die oorgangsproses vir bestuurders voorgestel en met die geïdentifiseerde opleidingsbehoeftes geïntegreer. Hoofstuk 7 bestaan uit die gevolgtrekkings en samevattings wat gemaak is uit die studie. Ten slotte word aanbevelings rakende die fasilitering van die oorgangsproses van maatskaplike werkers na bestuurders van NWOs gemaak. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Child sexual abuse is a major problem in Africa. There are a large number of child sexual abuse cases which are opened on a monthly basis. Child sexual abuse is a very sensitive issue and therefore trained professionals are needed in order to deal with the issue. Proper investigations need to be conducted. Due to the sensitive nature of child sexual abuse cases, finalising such cases successfully becomes a major problem. Numerous departments play a role in the investigation of these cases such as the National Prosecuting Authority, the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health, non–governmental organisations (NGOs), etcetera. The community does not have an understanding of how these cases are dealt with and, as a result, they blame the police for not doing their work properly and being useless. The role players also blame one another for the unsuccessful prosecution of perpetrators in cases of child sexual abuse. For example, prosecutors may blame the police for poor investigations and the police may, in turn, blame prosecutors for releasing suspects from custody unreasonably and removing cases off the roll for no apparent reasons. Social workers may also be blamed for not doing their work properly and taking too long to submit the assessment reports. Doctors may also be blamed for failing to attend court hearings and for filing incomplete reports. Although the role players have their inadequacies in investigating these cases, the truth is that each of them has their own unique protocol for handling cases of child sexual abuse. Therefore, a need emerged to explore the circumstances that affect the finalisation of child sexual abuse. In response to this, a qualitative study based in Tembisa was conducted. The aim of the study was to identify the circumstances that contribute to the finalisation of child sexual abuse cases in Tembisa. From the survey it was clear that there are several contributing factors, such as the delay of DNA results, inadequate training of the role players, and service points that are understaffed. The researcher came to the conclusion that the successful prosecution of child sexual abuse cases lies with all the role players in the investigation of child sexual abuse. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document Please cite as follows: Opperman JA, 2002, Die emosionele belewenis van 'n beenmurgoorplanting : 'n Maatskaplike Werk perspektief, MA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd- 07252005-110248/ > / Dissertation (MA (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Social Work and Criminology / MA (Social Work) / unrestricted

In the service of child protection organisations, where services are focused on the protection of children within the preservation of families, social workers are exposed to the adverse conditions of children and families forming part of their caseload. Social workers must remain objective and make thoughtful decisions in the best interest of children and families, while they themselves might be traumatised by the circumstances of these children and families. Various studies have been done about occupational stress, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and the role of supervision in this regard. Less is however known about support as a function of supervision for social workers employed by child protection organisations and the social workers’ experience(s) of this support. The aim of this study was to investigate and to descripe, by means of a descriptive qualitative design, social workers employed by child protection organizations' experience of support as function of supervision. For the purpose of this study, the researcher used a purposeful non-probability sampling. Ten social workers from seven child protection organisations within the specific field of child protection were selected according to their willingness to participate. Unstructured, in-depth, one-on-one interviews, with one question to initiate the interview, were conducted with social workers to investigate their experience of the support as function of supervision. During interviews with the individual social workers the researcher made use of observations and field notes as tools for data collection tools. A focus group with eight social workers was also utilised to verify initial findings and to allow for any additional data that would emerge. The first theme deals with participants’ view of support as a function of supervision, which includes receiving guidance and emotional support. Theme two is about participants’ experience of support as a function of supervision in terms of task-oriented as well as emotional support. The third theme that came up was alternative sources of emotional support, including colleagues, external counselors, family members and selfcare. These themes were divided into sub-themes and categories and discussed according to relevant quotations from interviews and literature reviews. Conclusions and recommendations were made according to these results. One of the most important recommendations arising from the findings of the study, is that the support function of supervision should be used more effectively. Social workers and supervisors must develop a greater awareness of the importance to discuss emotions and the dangers of suppressing emotions. Social workers that receive the opportunity to reflect on their emotions, develop a sense of self-worth, appreciation and experience job satisfaction and motivation, which leads to an increase in service quality. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The closure of a mine is an inevitable event in the lifecycle of a mining operation and one that can have massive environmental, social and economic consequences for mining communities in particular. The ultimate goal of mine closure should be sustainable development and, while adequate planning, risk assessment and goal setting influence the mine closure process, the relationships between stakeholders, especially those between mining companies and communities, lie at the heart of implementing sustainable closure. Mining communities are affected by nearby mining operations and, although they can enjoy the economic benefits of the industry, they also bear the brunt of the negative social and environmental impacts. The focus on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in addition to the increased power of communities in recent years has forced mining companies to consider the interests of this stakeholder group. The community‟s perceptions and expectations of sustainable development can, however, differ from those of the mining company and have an influence on the stakeholder engagement process. The current study investigates the mining community of Kagiso‟s perceptions of sustainable development and the implications of these perceptions for the implementation of Mintails Mogale Gold Mine‟s approach to mine closure. Stakeholder engagement issues are brought to the fore and recommendations for improving the engagement between the mine and the community are proposed. / M (Development and Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In this study I explored depictions of diversity in the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course at North-West University in South Africa. South Africa was and is still is facing the challenge of inequalities such as getting access to higher education institutions that were previously dominated by a white Christian Afrikaans-speaking group. The first democratic election in South Africa in 1994 brought about structural changes in society. These structural changes included the merging of tertiary education institutions such as colleges of education, technikons and universities. In view of South Africa’s history of divisions and injustices such as patriarchy, mono-religiosity and mono-ethnicism, it therefore seemed valuable to explore how diversity is depicted in higher education institutions. In 2012 a task team was set up by the dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University. This team investigated how diversity was expressed in selected study guides of the undergraduate BEd degree programme offered at the Potchefstroom Campus to contact mode students. This study identified the need to explore how diversity is depicted at a postgraduate degree level. The primary purpose of my research was to explore empirically the extent to which diversity nuances of gender, religion and ethnicity are depicted in the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course. This involved exploring the depictions of diversity in study guides of the modules presented in the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course. In addition, I also looked into the depictions of diversity by lecturers presenting modules and students enrolled for the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course. The study was situated in a critical theory paradigm and utilised a qualitative research design with a critical ethnographic methodology. Three sets of data generation methods were employed: document research, semi-structured one-on-one interviews and focus group interviews. The two campuses of North-West University offering this programme were purposefully selected as my research environments. I employed purposeful sampling, and study guides utilised by lecturers and students in the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course formed the sample. Lecturers presenting modules and students enrolled for the Curriculum Studies programme of the BEdHons degree course were participants. Critical discourse analysis, underpinned by Fairclough’s (1992) three-dimensional conception of discourse, was the method of analysis. The conclusions were derived predominantly from the diversity nuances acculturation and rationality. Some of the conclusions were also derived from diversity as a nuance but to a limited extent. The conclusions vary from depictions on the chosen discourse of diversity, depictions relating to curricula and the multifaceted aspect of diversity. With regard to the depictions on the chosen discourses of diversity, it was evident that some lecturer participants were only fostering the aspects gender, religion and ethnicity of certain cultural groups, which caused some groups to be invisible. Student participants’ depictions were ideologically embedded as they preferred not to engage with diversity to eliminate certain issues. Lecturer participants also tended to include disadvantaged minority/majority groups to such a limited extent that they were almost non-existent. Furthermore, it appeared that lecturer participants excluded diversity to foster inclusion. Separation was also emphasised by student participants in that they were being forced to engage with diversity rather than wanting to or having a choice to engage with diversity or not. Reflecting on the conclusions arising from my study, I put forward a theoretical stance focusing on curriculum-making for social justice. / MEd (Curriculum Development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

South Africa is faced with a high rate of substance use and sexual abuse among both sexes of adolescents from a wide range of social backgrounds. So many cases have been reported in the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes in Port St Johns. This article shows that the patterns of alcohol use among South African adolescents is cause for concern. The use of substance by adolescents is associated with a range of negative consequences, including the risk of being sexual abused. Many adolescents from the areas surrounding Port St Johns use substances, and as a result they end up engaging in risky sexual activities. Older people take advantage of them, so that many of these adolescents become victims of sexual abuse. Some of them become school drop-outs. As a result, the following effects can develop in these adolescents. * Isolation * Self-blame * Embarrassment The aim of the study was to do case analysis in order to identify adolescents who were sexually abused while being intoxicated so that the social workers can construct empowering programmes to prevent the abuse of substances and also the sexual abuse of these adolescents. Data collection took place by means of case analysis of 15 adolescents. Documents of the adolescents from the case loads of social workers in the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes were used to gain a detailed picture of the themes emerging from adolescents who were sexually abused after the abuse of substances. The results indicated that many adolescents from the areas surrounding Port St Johns use substances and as a result they end up engaging in risky sexual activities. Older people take advantage of them while they are under the influence of a substance, and these adolescents become victims of sexual abuse. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Until recently, the health professions have largely followed a medical model, which seeks to treat patients by focusing on medicine and surgery, and gives less importance to beliefs and to the faith in healing, in the physician, and in the doctor-patient relationship. This reductionist view of patients being only material body is no longer satisfactory. Patients and healthcare professionals have begun to value the role of elements such as faith, spirituality, hope and compassion in the healing process. The effect of such spiritual elements in health and quality of life has led to research in this field in an attempt to move towards a more holistic view, which included the non-material dimension. The goal of this study was to explore the understanding of spirituality among healthcare professionals and patients at the CHBAH. The primary research question, which this study attempted to answer, was: What is the understanding of spirituality among the healthcare professionals and patients at CHBAH? In view of this primary research question, the following secondary research questions were formulated: * What does a literature review produce regarding spirituality in healthcare and what are the current practices related to spirituality in healthcare. * What are the views of healthcare professionals and patients concerning the relevance of spirituality in their day-to-day lives and healthcare interventions? * What are the spiritual needs of patients and to what extent does spirituality contribute towards their coping with health-related issues? * Which practical and scientific recommendations can be offered to healthcare professionals regarding including/incorporating spirituality in healthcare services in CHBAH? In view of the aim, the researcher identified the following specific objectives for this study: * To explore spirituality in healthcare by means of a literature review; * To explore and describe the views of medical social workers and other healthcare professionals about the relevance of spirituality in a healthcare setting; * To explore and describe the understanding of spirituality among healthcare professionals and patients in CHBAH; * To propose a protocol as an organizational framework on the incorporation of spirituality in healthcare at CHBAH. This protocol should be implemented during social workers‟ and other healthcare professionals‟ interactions with patients. Chapter 1 provides an introduction, problem formulation, goal, research question and the objectives of this study and a brief overview of the methodology. Chapter 2 focuses on the description of research methodology that was utilised in this study. Chapter 3 is composed of a literature study on spirituality and the religions identified and explored in CHBAH, as well as existing practices related to spirituality in health care. In Chapter 4, the data generated through narratives from focus-group discussions and healthcare professionals‟ spiritual journey is processed and reported. In Chapter 5 a proposed protocol for inclusion of spirituality in healthcare services in CHBAH is presented and discussed in detail Chapter 6 consists of the conclusions and summary of this study. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In the service of child protection organisations, where services are focused on the protection of children within the preservation of families, social workers are exposed to the adverse conditions of children and families forming part of their caseload. Social workers must remain objective and make thoughtful decisions in the best interest of children and families, while they themselves might be traumatised by the circumstances of these children and families. Various studies have been done about occupational stress, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and the role of supervision in this regard. Less is however known about support as a function of supervision for social workers employed by child protection organisations and the social workers’ experience(s) of this support. The aim of this study was to investigate and to descripe, by means of a descriptive qualitative design, social workers employed by child protection organizations' experience of support as function of supervision. For the purpose of this study, the researcher used a purposeful non-probability sampling. Ten social workers from seven child protection organisations within the specific field of child protection were selected according to their willingness to participate. Unstructured, in-depth, one-on-one interviews, with one question to initiate the interview, were conducted with social workers to investigate their experience of the support as function of supervision. During interviews with the individual social workers the researcher made use of observations and field notes as tools for data collection tools. A focus group with eight social workers was also utilised to verify initial findings and to allow for any additional data that would emerge. The first theme deals with participants’ view of support as a function of supervision, which includes receiving guidance and emotional support. Theme two is about participants’ experience of support as a function of supervision in terms of task-oriented as well as emotional support. The third theme that came up was alternative sources of emotional support, including colleagues, external counselors, family members and selfcare. These themes were divided into sub-themes and categories and discussed according to relevant quotations from interviews and literature reviews. Conclusions and recommendations were made according to these results. One of the most important recommendations arising from the findings of the study, is that the support function of supervision should be used more effectively. Social workers and supervisors must develop a greater awareness of the importance to discuss emotions and the dangers of suppressing emotions. Social workers that receive the opportunity to reflect on their emotions, develop a sense of self-worth, appreciation and experience job satisfaction and motivation, which leads to an increase in service quality. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014