Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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PERCEIVED CHALLENGES SOCIAL WORKERS EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING DEINSTITUTIONALISED SERVICES TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE USERS
Full text linkMental, physical and social health are vital, interdependent strands of life for all individuals. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world mental health and mental disorders are not regarded with the same importance as physical health, and are consequently largely ignored or neglected. This article aims to understand the challenges encountered by social workers in mental health care. The phenomenological design, supported by the exploratory, descriptive, contextual and case study designs, was utilised to answer the research question. Ten purposely selected social workers were interviewed by using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis following Tesch’s model was applied. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured. Ethical principles were adhered to. The findings of this study indicated that most social workers in mental healthcare are not adequately trained and, similarly, social workers bear the burden of educating mental health care users, their families and the community at large on mental health. Authorities and policymakers need to craft customised, effective and efficient care for mental health care users
THE CONTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV: TOWARDS COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SERVICES
Full text linkThis article discusses the importance of involving community volunteers to contribute towards meeting the needs of children in foster care living with HIV. This discussion is anchored in Abraham Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of human needs. The findings presented in this article emanated from a broader study that was conducted in the City of Johannesburg with social workers and community volunteers. This article discusses qualitative results which were derived from the semi-structured interviews conducted with community volunteers consisting of eight social auxiliary workers and twelve community caregivers. The participants were selected from drop-in centres using a purposive sampling strategy. The data collected were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that community volunteers offered services such as food/nutrition services, home visits, psychosocial support, homework assistance, HIV support groups, HIV adherence programmes and linking children living with HIV to care. However, very few children who were in foster care placements benefited from these services. It is concluded that the programmes rendered by community volunteers were unable to attract children in foster care, despite the children needing these services. Therefore, the study recommends a collaboration between foster care social workers and community volunteers for children in foster care to benefit from these services
ACHIEVEMENT OF WELLBEING AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL WORKERS: CONSTRAINTS AND ENABLERS
Full text linkThe achievement of wellbeing among social workers or their ability to flourish, has a bearing on their capacity to contribute towards sustainable social, economic and human development. Enhancing wellbeing among social workers is therefore important in ensuring successful client interventions. Understanding what constitutes and constrains social workers’ wellbeing is important in enhancing it. Using the capabilities approach as a theoretical lens, this qualitative study examines the various conversion factors limiting or enabling wellbeing achievement among social workers. It uses a cross-sectional design. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used to recruit and select 18 participants consisting of practising social workers and final-year social work students from a South African university. Semi-structured interviews were used as data-collection instruments. The main findings suggest that professional wellbeing is multifaceted. Social workers define professional wellbeing in terms of effective helping and professional growth, among other functionings. Various structural, organisational and personal factors can detrimentally affect the way that social workers can achieve and sustain these professional functions. These include persistent poverty and inequality, extreme resource constraints, and lack of supportive supervision and experience, amongst other factors
EMOTIONAL POVERTY OF OLDER PERSONS IN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES IN THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
Full text linkOlder persons are often referred to as a forgotten generation even as the population is rapidly ageing worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that by 2030 one in every eight people will be over 65. A number of older persons regularly move to residential facilities owing to unforeseen circumstances such as deteriorating health. This study was conducted to explore the concept of the emotional poverty of older persons in residential facilities in the Western Cape province of South Africa. A qualitative approach was followed which was descriptive and explorative in nature. Purposive sampling was used to recruit and involve participants. Interviews were conducted with 20 older persons and 10 social workers. Data were verified by ensuring the credibility, authenticity, dependability and transferability of the study. The data were analysed and sorted into themes and sub-themes, with relevant narratives underpinning the themes and sub-themes. Findings of the study indicated that older persons in residential facilities often experience loneliness, depression and limited contact with the outside world, resulting in emotional poverty. Recommendations of the study include improved service rendering to reduce the emotional poverty of older persons
REVISITING THE LEGACY OF ERIKA THERON FOR CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL WORK: SONDER HOED OF HANDSKOEN (“WITHOUT HAT OR GLOVES”)
Full text linkSixty years have passed since the first issue of Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk was published, with Erika Theron serving as the founding editor. As the journal marks this significant milestone, it is appropriate to reflect on Theron’s legacy. Many scholars from varying ideological perspectives (cf. Barnard, 2000; Collins, 2007; Esterhuyse, 2007; Terreblanche, 1999) have described her as a pioneer of social work in South Africa. A review of past journal issues and literature on Theron’s contributions (cf. Tayler, 2010) reveals that her advocacy for marginalised communities, particularly through her research, offers valuable lessons for contemporary practice in South Africa and beyond
Social workers' perspectives on supporting parents of adolescents recovering from substance use disorder
Full text linkSubstance use disorder (SUD) is a widespread issue that has made it difficult for families to maintain their wellbeing, especially for the parents of adolescents who are recovering from SUD. SUD is characterised by the inability to stop using a harmful substance and loss of inhibitory control of the desire to continue the substance abuse. Social workers are vital in supporting these parents with knowledge and skills. The goal of this study was to understand the challenges faced by parents of adolescents recovering from SUD in treatment centres in the Tshwane region, Gauteng province, South Africa. The research study adopted a qualitative research approach and the Intervention Design and Development (IDD) model with purposive sampling to select participants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were adhered to. Findings highlight that holistic support is needed for parents to cope with adolescents recovering from SUD and to support the recovery of their adolescents
Narratives of survival and growth of rape survivors in the Northern Cape
Full text linkSouth Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape globally, highlighting the urgent need for social work research in addressing this critical issue. In this article the authors present the narratives of survival and growth of rape survivors in the Northern Cape, supplemented by narratives of significant people who provided support. Employing a strengths perspective and bioecological approach, the study enables social workers to focus on the inherent strengths and post-traumatic growth of rape survivors as well as on their contexts. Utilising a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with rape survivors and their indicated significant others, complemented by visual data-collection strategies, timeline mapping and a visual metaphor. Thematic analysis of the data indicated post-rape challenges, adjustment and growth. Key findings included non-constructive coping, such as substance abuse and on-going challenges with the justice and police systems. Conversely, findings also underscored constructive coping, post-traumatic growth, and the value of spirituality, religion and social support
Predicting psychological abuse in intimate relationships: Insights from perceptions, victimisation, and perpetration histories in South Africa
Full text linkThis study examines the factors contributing to the likelihood of psychological abuse in intimate relationships in South Africa. Using data from 454 adults aged 20–51, the study explores how perceptions, past victimisation and previous perpetration shape the propensity to engage in psychological abuse: verbal aggression, isolation/control, neglect/ignoring, and economic/financial abuse. Participants were recruited through social media platforms, and data collection utilised a validated scale developed for the South African context. The findings identified isolating, controlling, ignoring and neglecting behaviours as the most common forms of psychological abuse. Past victimisation and perpetration of psychological abuse strongly predict future abuse, with past abusive behaviours significantly influencing the likelihood of future tendencies. Younger participants were more likely to engage in economic abuse, highlighting an age-related pattern. Additionally, while perceptions of abuse influenced behaviours differently across relationship statuses, the link between past experiences and future abuse remained consistent. These results emphasise the need for social workers to focus on preventing abuse, implementing trauma-informed interventions to support victims and rehabilitate perpetrators, enhancing recovery efforts, and developing educational programmes and policy interventions to break the cycle of violence. Future research should consider longitudinal designs to better understand the dynamics of abuse over time in South Africa
Linking themes relating to rural and environmental social work: Towards integrated knowledge development
Full text linkThe social work literature attests the profession’s transformative role in advancing environmental sustainability by shaping human interaction with the natural world and empowering individuals and communities to enact meaningful change to promote sustainable development. It does this through its attention to related issues concerning environmental justice, poverty, racism, sustainability, sustainable development and vulnerable populations. By highlighting problems in social work knowledge development around issues relating to the environment and examining recent reviews of related literature, this paper aims to show that a clearer picture on social work’s environmental engagement would emerge from consideration of linking themes integrating disparate strands of social work research and scholarship, especially those concerning environmentally-related issues and rural populations. It suggests linking themes to achieve more integrated knowledge development on environmental and rural social work
Handbook on social protection and social development in the Global South
Full text linkThis detailed yet useful volume fills a crucial gap in the scientific body of knowledge on social protection and social development, taking into consideration that many developing countries have recently been migrating from a residual approach to a development approach in addressing social problems and needs in society. The book situates social protection in a broader system of social welfare and development policies and programmes in the developing countries – the global South in particular. Each author in the book focused on a specific facet that is relevant to social protection and social development in the global South. This a very good and readable text that is well aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), for instance, SDG goal 1 on poverty reduction, which is integral to the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as it intersects with the other SDGs such as achieving zero hunger (SDG 2) and good health and well-being (SDG 3)