Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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MEASURING THE NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISION AMONGST CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORKERS: AN EXPLORATION
Get PDFSupervision is a potentially effective tool for empowering social workers to perform their duties to their optimal abilities. There are, however, indications from research and practice that this potential has not always been fully realised in South Africa. This especially applies to educational supervision. The aim of the study on which this article is based was to help address this deficiency by profiling the educational supervision needs of a group of child protection social workers of a provincial department of social development. Its results could be used to address deficiencies not only in that province, but also further afield
SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND MARGINALISATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE: A CLARION SOCIAL WORK CALL FOR THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU TO REIGN
Get PDFSocial work is committed to the advancement of human rights and social justice. One strategy for promoting social justice is to inculcate a human rights-based approach to social work practice. Using ubuntu as a theorical framework, this article initially explores social exclusion and the accompanying stigma that homeless people experience; it then examines how social workers could apply the principles of ubuntu to re-inscribe homeless people’s human rights.A qualitative study was undertaken with 14 participants who were purposively selected and also identified through snowball sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Principles of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability were judiciously adhered to in the research process. The findings indicate that homeless people are the most marginalised population of the community and they are exploited in a variety of ways
ECONOMIC STRESSORS AND COPING STRATEGIES OF SINGLE MOTHERS LIVING IN POVERTY IN ZIMBABWE
Get PDFThe economic experiences of single mothers working in the informal economy receives little attention in public policy debates and social development transformative interventions. This study qualitatively explored the economic experiences of eight single mothers who worked in the informal economy in Zimbabwe. Drawing on African feminism, the authors present the biographical profiles of these mothers and discuss three key themes: financial hardships, social discrimination and safety nets. The article concludes with some considerations for harnessing the valuable contributions made by single mothers to the informal economy
ENHANCING THE WELLBEING OF DIVORCED PERSONS THROUGH SOCIAL WORK SERVICES: SERVICE-USERS’ EXPERIENCES AND SUGGESTIONS
Get PDFDivorce is one of the most stressful life events a person can face and it often has adverse consequences. Social work services are of critical importance in enhancing the wellbeing of divorced persons and improving their relationships with their significant others. A qualitative research study was conducted to develop an in-depth understanding of the nature of social work services to divorced persons and the divorced persons’ suggestions regarding social work services. This paper reports the findings, conclusions and recommendations based on interviews conducted with divorced South African men and women from different ethnic groups with the purpose of enhancing the wellbeing of divorced persons through social work services. 
THE EXPERIENCES OF ABUSED OLDER PERSONS IN RESOURCE-POOR SETTINGS
Get PDFElder abuse is a worldwide problem, aggravated by the global increase in the older population. This paper reports on a qualitative descriptive study done within the broad framework of intervention research. It explores the experiences of abused older persons in resource-poor settings in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Data were collected during individual semi-structured interviews and intervention sessions. The honest accounts of participants revealed the raw pain and distress of their experiences of abuse. In the light of the serious multidimensional reactions to elder abuse described in this article, consistent and coordinated social work services offered to older person who are abused is recommended
SOCIAL WORK 4.0? THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
Get PDFThe First and Second Industrial Revolutions created significant disruptions in the social life and economic activities of human societies globally. Traditionally, social work practice has had a strong “face-to-face” foundation. Emerging technologies in the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolutions such as computers, mobile technologies, big data, internet of things, artificial intelligence and virtual reality are now creating a potential disruption in the traditional practice of social work. The emergence of e-social work and social work informatics broadens the scope of practice of social work in the 21st century. This article will examine the implications for social work education
PRECARIOUS, MORE PRECARIOUS, MOST PRECARIOUS? THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WASTE PICKERS IN THE KAROO
Get PDFTowns in the Karoo region currently offer few income‑generating opportunities, resulting in people seeking informal waste‑picking opportunities on the streets and landfills. This article aims to investigate the level of precariousness of waste pickers in the context of the Karoo towns in comparison with the rest of South Africa using Sen’s capability approach. A cross‑sectional research design was used, interviewing 75 informal landfill waste pickers and 23 street waste pickers in nine Karoo towns. The results indicated that, in some respects, the situation of the Karoo waste pickers is more precarious than those in other areas of South Afric
CASH TRANSFERS AND CAREGIVERS: WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE VULNERABILITY AND HIV RISK AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFIn South Africa adolescent girls have the highest HIV incidence of any sex or age cohort. Scalable HIV-prevention interventions targeting this group are critical for epidemic control. Reaching 12.2 million children, the Child Support Grant mitigates the socio-structural drivers of HIV risk. This qualitative study of eight adolescents and their caregivers in Westbury, Johannesburg, explored how caregiving increases protective potential. ‘Caregiving’ enhanced the HIV risk-reduction benefits of ‘cash’ when characterised by substantial positive caregiver-adolescent involvement and adequate levels of control and consistency. Results underpin the value of social protection as an HIV-prevention modality and endorse investment in caregiver support programmes
CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES TO ADULT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SELECT SHELTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFHuman trafficking is a global multi-million dollar industry which capitalises on the trade in human beings. It inflicts degrading experiences on its victims, hence its characterisation as modern-day slavery. This research aimed to investigate social service provision to adult victims of human trafficking in South Africa. A qualitative approach was used; data were collected using individual interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that social workers faced challenges such as delays in court cases, complicated trauma, security issues and mistrust – all impacting on service delivery