Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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THE LIFE ESIDIMENI CRISIS: WHY A NEOLIBERAL AGENDA LEAVES NO ROOM FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
Get PDFThe Life Esidimeni crisis in South Africa is a shocking tragedy in which an estimated 141 mental health patients died after being transferred to some unlicensed non-government organisations (NGOs), as a result of the termination of a government-subsidised contract. The subsequent public arbitration hearings cast blame upon certain individuals, but left the deinstitutionalisation process untouched. Though these individuals must be held to account, we argue that the greater overarching process of deinstitutionalisation needs to be questioned. While the concept of deinstitutionalisation holds merit, it has been co-opted by a neoliberal agenda. Underlying the Life Esidimeni crisis are neoliberal tenets of economic prioritisation, self-responsibility and the removal of the state from service deliver
CHALLENGES FACED BY PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MULTI-SECTORIAL FORUMS: A CASE OF THE VICTIM-FRIENDLY SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE
Get PDFThis article discusses the challenges faced by role players who work with survivors of child sexual abuse within the Victim-Friendly System. The Victim Friendly System represents a confluence of multi-sectorial professional interventions targeting child sexual abuse survivors in Zimbabwe. Professionals involved in the Victim-Friendly System include social workers, medical doctors, nurses, police, as well as role players within the justice system such as magistrates and prosecutors, counsellors, educationists and psychologists. The findings of this qualitative study show that professionals work within the context of a shrinking economy that has given rise to a plethora of challenges that include, among other things, staff and skills shortages, lack of financial and material resources, poor access to proper infrastructure and other logistical constrains. The authors end the paper by discussing recommendations that have policy, administrative and professional implication
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF RESILIENCE THEORY AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR SOCIAL WORK
Get PDFAs resilience theory gains traction as a theoretical framework for research in social work, it is important to engage with it critically. This article provides a critical review of resilience theory, drawing on an array of key authors, dating back fifty years. The review addresses three aspects of resilience theory: its definition, the construction of adversity and outcomes, and the nature and scope of resilience processes. The relevance of resilience theory for social work in South Africa is evaluated according to three criteria: the research questions it generates, its contribution to indigenous knowledge and decolonisation, and its contribution to social developmen
REFRAMING THE DEATH OF THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH: A PROGRAMME FOR FACILITATING POST-DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT
Get PDFDivorce, symbolically speaking, may be viewed as the “death” of a marital relationship. During post-divorce guidance the counsellor should, amongst other things, allow the divorcee to mourn this relationship loss, facilitate a process where the dissolution of marriage is reframed to unearth opportunities for constructive and personal growth, and to support the divorcee in terms of healthy post-divorce adjustment. This paper proposes a programme for facilitating post-divorce adjustment. Schlossberg’s Transition Process Model (1981) is adopted, amongst others, as foundational framework informing the subject matter of the post-divorce guidance programme with the foci of this programme being informed by and based on the post-divorce recovery groups facilitated by the autho
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES USED BY SOCIAL WORKERS IN EMERGENCY CHILD PROTECTION
Get PDFThis research provides insight into the current intervention strategies used by social workers in emergency child protection, whereby children are removed from their caregivers as a result of abuse and are placed at child and youth care centres. The research findings suggested that because of the lack of a practice model to guide professionals, as well as the significant challenges experienced by such professionals (high caseloads, staff turnover, lack of resources), the current intervention strategies in child protection are rushed, bureaucratic (paperwork focused) and emotionally disconnected from the child and family
PROMOTING SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS BEYOND INSTITUTIONAL CARE: A PROGRAMME-BASED SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL LINKED TO A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Get PDFThis paper reports on findings from an evaluation study of two institutions providing transition programmes to adolescent girls transitioning from institutional care in Zimbabwe. The study sought to understand how institutions A (government-based) and B (NGO-based) were delivering services to prepare adolescents for life outside care and whether these services complied with Standard Six of the National Residential Child Care Standards in Zimbabwe. Findings show gaps between the actual services being delivered and the expected performance standards, and how this affects the achievement of sustainable livelihoods. These gaps can be overcome by the development of a programme-based transition model and case management system
DIE PSIGOSOSIALE BEHOEFTES VAN MAATSKAPLIKE WERKERS TYDENS ONDERSOEKE NA SEKSUELE MISBRUIK VAN KINDERS
Get PDFSocial workers are designated by the Children’s Act No.38 of 2005 to investigate alleged cases of sexual abuse of children. During investigations social workers experience intense feelings that could have an emotional impact on them and their role functioning. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach with the interpretive descriptive research design to explore the psychosocial needs of social workers during investigations into child sexual abuse. Eleven participants participated in the study and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. It was found that social workers experience unique psychosocial needs which, if not addressed, can lead to negative role functioning
SHARING OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REMAINS A FALLACY”: REINVIGORATION OF THE DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL WORK DOCTORAL RESEARCH FINDINGS
Get PDFResearch is the backbone of social work knowledge and practice. A qualitative study conducted to explore and describe the dissemination of research findings and implementation of practice recommendations among 31 doctoral graduates revealed that these processes seemed to be a mere afterthought. Sixteen graduates published articles from their theses, ten conducted workshops, another ten applied practice recommendations, while four published the findings and applied their recommendations. An indaba is suggested to develop a framework for the dissemination and use of recommendations through networks
THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY CONFLICT ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS AND EXTERNALISING BEHAVIOUR OF PREADOLESCENTS
Get PDFFamilies play an important role in the development of individuals. The experiences that occur in the family can either promote or hinder the development of its members. This study aimed to determine the effects of family conflict on preadolescents’ basic psychological needs and externalising behaviour using the Family Environment Scale (FES), Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS), Youth Self-Report (YSR) and Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design was employed. The sample consisted of 128 preadolescents (MeanAge = 11.15). The findings indicated a significant positive relationship between family conflict, psychological needs and the externalising behaviour of preadolescents
EXPLORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SEASONALLY UNEMPLOYED PARENTS IN THE GOUDA AREA
Get PDFThe aim of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of seasonally unemployed parents in the Gouda area of the Western Province. Positive psychology provided the theoretical framework. A qualitative descriptive research design was used and seven adult parents were selected purposefully. Thematic data analysis focused on the inductive coding of collected data. Findings indicate that seasonally unemployed parents experience periods of employment and unemployment as distinctly different. Yet their experiences during periods of being employed or not are described as a series of challenges varying in degrees of difficulty for parents and their children.