published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study examines how the unprecedented placement of blame on social workers in B.C., following the Report of the Gove Commission into Child Protection in 1995, has affected those workers, by exploring the phenomenon from the point of view of the social workers themselves. By using structural social work theory, with a feminist perspective, the conceptual context is explored in terms of how risk and blame have been constructed and how the relationship between clients and workers, and the treatment of social workers by management have been impacted by that construction. Purposeful criterion sampling was used, applying a snowball approach of recruitment. Ten social workers participated who are or have been recently employed by the Ministry for Children & Families. Data collection occurred through one focus group session as well as individual interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were made from audiotapes. Categorical and holistic content analysis led to identification of participant themes. Findings confirmed fear of blame as a significant contributor to high stress levels but, surprisingly, social workers expressed their belief that a similar fear was frequently behind management decisions. This research provides unique insight into the factors which motivate individuals to do the difficult work of child protection. It also offers an explanation for the ongoing difficulty which government experiences in recruiting and retaining skilled, trained staff, which, if unaddressed, is a serious impediment to the effective delivery of child welfare services in B.C.

Afrikaans text / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die voorkoms en hantering van stressors en stres by welsynsorganisasies in die Boland streek te ondersoek ten einde aanbevelings aan die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies te maak met die oog op voorkoming en vermindering van stres in die werksplek. Vyftien (15) welsynsorganisasies en agtien (18) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek is by die ondersoek betrek. Slegs veertien (14) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsinginligting is met behulp van literatuurstudie en ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat Maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek werkstres ervaar en dat die meeste privaat-; en staatswelsynsorganisasies nie oor programme vir die voorkoming van stres beskik nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies die verantwoordelikheid moet neem om stres in die werksplek te bestuur deur die daarstelling van stres voorkomingstrategieë. / The purpose of this research study was to investigate the occurrence of stressors and stress in the private-; as well as government welfare organisation in the Boland region and to make recommendations to the Management of welfare organisations regarding the prevention and decrease of stress in the workplace. Fifteen (15) welfare organisations with eighteen (18) social work managers were approached, but only fourteen (14) participated in the investigation. The research process was directed by quantitative research and research information being obtained through literature study and a structured questionnaire. With reference to the empirical study, it was established that social workers in the Boland region experience stress in the workplace and most of the welfare organisations do not have stress prevention programmes available for social work personnel. It is recommended that the Management of welfare organisations institute stress management programmes with the focus on management of stress through stress prevention strategies. / Social Work / M.A. (SS)

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)

This study examines how the unprecedented placement of blame on social workers in B.C., following the Report of the Gove Commission into Child Protection in 1995, has affected those workers, by exploring the phenomenon from the point of view of the social workers themselves. By using structural social work theory, with a feminist perspective, the conceptual context is explored in terms of how risk and blame have been constructed and how the relationship between clients and workers, and the treatment of social workers by management have been impacted by that construction. Purposeful criterion sampling was used, applying a snowball approach of recruitment. Ten social workers participated who are or have been recently employed by the Ministry for Children & Families. Data collection occurred through one focus group session as well as individual interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were made from audiotapes. Categorical and holistic content analysis led to identification of participant themes. Findings confirmed fear of blame as a significant contributor to high stress levels but, surprisingly, social workers expressed their belief that a similar fear was frequently behind management decisions. This research provides unique insight into the factors which motivate individuals to do the difficult work of child protection. It also offers an explanation for the ongoing difficulty which government experiences in recruiting and retaining skilled, trained staff, which, if unaddressed, is a serious impediment to the effective delivery of child welfare services in B.C. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study examined the practices that are currently being utilized by San Bernardino County for Social Work Practitioners in Child Protective Services (CPS) concerning retention of social workers.

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.

This work examined social workers at the Riverside County Child Protective Services and their need for cross-cultural training specifically when working with ethnic minority families.

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.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Die rol van die maatskaplike werker verbonde aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens Hoofkantoor en sy afdelings is die onderwerp van hierdie studie. Hierdie rol is aan die hand van die take wat deur middel van die studie geTdentifiseer is, bepaal. Personeelmaatskaplikewerk het die teoretiese agtergrond vir hierdie studie gevorm. Maatskaplike werk in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens is fundamenteel in terme van sy ontstaan en ontwikkeling, missie en doelstellings beskryf.Die empiriese opname het volgens die nominale groepstegniek en 'n gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule plaasgevind. Maatskaplike werkers, kapelane, sielkundiges en bestuurders/bevelvoerders verbonde aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens Hoofkantoor en sy afdelings was as respondente gebruik. Die navorser het die kennis wat deur hierdie studie opgedoen is, gebruik om spesifieke aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van Maatskaplikewerkdienste in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens, Hoofkantoor-afdelings. / The role of the social worker attached to the South African Police Service, Head Office and its divisions is the subject of this study. This role has been prescribed by tasks which were dictated by the study. Industrial social work formed the theoretical background for this study. Social work in the South African Police Service is described in foundation in terms of its origin and development, mission and objectives. The empirical survey was carried out according to the nominal group technique and a structured interview schedule. Social workers, chaplains, psychologists and managers/ officers commanding on the staff of the South African Police Service, Head Office and its divisions, were used as respondents. The researcher has used the information gained by this study to make specific recommendations regarding Social Work Services, Head Office Divisions, in the South African Police. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Work)