Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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IN THE BALANCE. THE CASE FOR A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BEYOND
Full text linkHein Marais (2022). In the balance. The case for a universal basic income in South Africaand beyond. ISBN 978-1-77614-772-4. Pages 299. Social work practitioners are at the coalface of casework documenting individuals, households and communities whose livelihoods and security have been ravaged by South Africa’s worsening poverty, unemployment and inequality trends, and they know well that state social security assistance brings considerable amelioration. Socioeconomic rights to social security indicated in Section 27 (1) (c) of the Constitution stir debates about the architecture of social security and appropriate social assistance, as well as the legislation directing the use of resources towards progressively realising those rights
THE PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISEES ON THE QUALITY OF SUPERVISION IN THE GIYANI REGION OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
Full text linkThis article reports on a qualitative research study which was intended to explore the perspectives of social work supervisees on the quality of supervision in the Giyani region of Limpopo, South Africa. It was important to determine the quality of supervision rendered because social work supervision is intended to capacitate social workers with knowledge and skills and to support them, yet such supervision is fraught with challenges for decades. Purposive sampling was thus used to select study participants from whom data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The study findings revealed that the majority of the participants (10 of the 13) were not offered quality supervision by their supervisors. The participants attributed the poor supervision to the fact that their supervisors were delegated not appointed to supervise. The study thus recommends that all delegated social work supervisors in the Giyani region should be permanently appointed to their supervision positions
STRENGTHENING FAMILY CONNECTEDNESS IN FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS: KEY EXPERTS’ AND PRACTITIONERS’ EXPERIENCES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARENTING PROGRAMMES
Full text linkParenting enhancement contributes to the development of positive child behaviour and strengthening of family connectedness. This qualitative study explores the experiences of 10 experts (social workers, child and youth care workers, and researchers) in the field of parenting through semi-structured interviews to strengthen family connectedness in families with children with behavioural problems (FCBPs). Using Tesch’s qualitative analysis, three main themes emerged: (a) barriers to family connectedness, (b) parenting styles, and (c) parenting programmes in strengthening family connectedness. The findings of the study highlight the barriers experienced by experts and the lack of evidence-based parenting programmes in the strengthening of family connectedness in FCBPs in rural areas in South Africa. The study therefore recommends that practitioners in the field of parenting should receive specialised parenting training on how to strengthen family connectedness in FCBPs
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS EXPERIENCED BY YOUTHS LEAVING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN TSHWANE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, GAUTENG PROVINCE
Full text linkIn the Republic of South Africa care-leavers are faced with numerous challenges after being discharged in terms of the provisions of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, Section 175 (Republic of South Africa [RSA], 2006). The aim of this study was to explore the challenges and barriers experienced by youths leaving the foster care system in South Africa. The researcher adopted a qualitative research approach to achieve the aim of this study. The findings revealed that youths leaving the foster care system are faced with social challenges, including a lack of communication with their foster parents or caregivers, little cooperation from parents or caregivers, few re-unification services, a lack of housing, and disconnection from other foster children. In addition, youths leaving care experience financial challenges such as unemployment and the abuse of the foster child grant by their foster parents. They also experience educational challenges, with many dropping out of school. Furthermore, youths leaving care face sexual challenges, including sexual abuse, prostitution and teenage pregnancy. For these reasons it is crucial for policymakers, social workers and all social service practitioners to work together to deliver a more expansive safety net for youths leaving care, and to address the fundamental challenges they face
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
Full text linkIntroduction to Social Work (2nd Edition) is a valuable resource for students, educators and practitioners in the field of social work. The editors' extensive expertise and diverse research interests make the book both informative and engaging, offering users a well-rounded view of the theory and practice of social work. Whether the user is new to the field or seeking to deepen their knowledge, this book provides essential insights into the complexities and benefits of the profession
LESSONS FROM A PILOT STUDY OF A ‘CASH PLUS’ FAMILY INTERVENTION FOR CHILD SUPPORT GRANT RECIPIENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Full text linkCash transfers combined with strengthening interventions are widely advocated to respond to the multi-dimensional needs of children and their families. However, few local evidence-based programmes have been developed and tested. This article reports on the lessons learnt from a pilot study of a cash plus intervention, the Sihleng’imizi programme, delivered to child support grant (CSG) beneficiaries and their families in Soweto, South Africa. A qualitative design was employed. Ten CSG beneficiary families received a twelve-week psycho-educational intervention. Positive changes were observed in caregiver knowledge and skills, engagement of caregivers in children’s schooling, increased financial knowledge and access to social support. The programme was found to be feasible to implement. The study illustrates the application of developmental social work principles in practice and emphasises the importance of training and supervision of social workers to deliver cash plus programmes. However, structural barriers remain, such as socioeconomic challenges facing poor and disadvantaged families
THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUTHS WHO LEFT CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRES OF THE EKURHULENI METRO MUNICIPALITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Full text linkLeaving a familiar environment can be daunting. Although previous studies investigated the experiences of youths who left care centres, few considered those who left during the Covid-19 pandemic. For this exploratory qualitative research study, we purposively recruited 12 African youths aged between 18 and 23, with least two years’ experience of life in the care centres of Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality to investigate their experiences when they left suchcentres during the Covid-19 pandemic. The data were collected through individual semistructured interviews, analysed according to Akinyonde and Khan’s thematic analysis method, and verified using Guba and Lincoln’s strategies. The findings revealed experiences that were clustered into three themes: preparing to leave, reflecting on life at the centre, and transiting from care during Covid-19. The recommendations proposed include the need to facilitate exitstrategies for these youths, clear follow-up plans to support them, and collaboration of practitioners in the field of child and youth care
THE EFFECT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME ON THE RESILIENCE OF FEMALE ADOLESCENT RECIPIENTS IN JOHANNESBURG
Full text linkThe Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust (RFJM Trust) provides scholarships to deserving female secondary school learners in Johannesburg and offers a pilot multidisciplinary psychosocial support programme (MPSP) developed by a social worker to enhance their resilience and to facilitate the achievement of their potential. South African female adolescents are challenged daily by their social, economic, cultural, political and historical environments, which in combination threaten their development and functioning. Therefore, female adolescents require high levels of resilience to thrive. Through the pre-test/post-test measurement of the individual, relational and contextual protective resources of Grade 8 recipients of the RFJM Trust, a paired-samples t–test and correlation analysis determined that two aspects of the MPSP have moderate to large correlations with resilience. This quantitative, quasi-experimental, evaluative study will assist in improving the MPSP and contribute towards evidence-based practice in school social work
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND LEGISLATION: IS DEINSTITUTIONALISATION A PREDICAMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND FAMILIES?
Full text linkGlobally, policy and legislation on mental health have shifted towards deinstitutionalisation. South African policy and legislation were adapted to adhere to international policy directives, resulting in a strong emphasis on reintegrating people with mental illness into their families and communities. The practical implementation of this shift depends on the existence of community-based organisations to support families and persons with mental illness. However, no research is available on the view of social workers on the implementation of mental health policy and legislation and the possible challenges experienced with deinstitutionalisation. To investigate if deinstitutionalisation presented a predicament for social workers and families, a qualitative approach – with exploratory and descriptive research designs – was employed with social workers and their supervisors working at selected psychiatric hospitals. These participants were approached specifically because they are often at the frontline of implementing mental health policy and legislation. It was concluded that existing legislation was superficial, unknown and patient-driven, and that deinstitutionalisation was viewed as an ineffective reintegration strategy. Recommendations are that policymakers must reassess the implications of this legislation and address community-based resources to support the proper deinstitutionalisation of and care for people with mental illness and their families
INFIDELITY AMONGST YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES: SUGGESTIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION
Full text linkInfidelity is a common phenomenon in modern society and a major factor in marital dissolution across the globe. A qualitative research approach was used in this study to develop an in-depth understanding of the experiences and impact of infidelity amongst young married couples. The participants were purposively selected from a population of young married couples who had experienced infidelity in their marriage and lived within the municipal borders of Lepelle-Nkumpi, in Limpopo province, using the snowball technique. Tesch’s eight steps were used to analyse the data. To ensure the trustworthiness of the findings, the researchers assessed the qualitative data for credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability. The findings highlight that young married couples experiencing marital infidelity require direction from social workers to understand the process of recovery from any type of infidelity to bring about improvement and change in their marriage