Masters Degrees (Social Work)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/671

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Social Work) by browse.metadata.advisor "Engelbrecht, Lambert K."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Opvoedingsrolle van versorgers van adolessente met fetale-alkoholsindroom
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Cloete, Marise Louise; Engelbrecht, Lambert K.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition which occurs when women drink alcohol during pregnancy. The use of alcohol during pregnancy has permanent and serious consquences which manifests in developmental delays and causes harmful effects to the central nervous system. FAS is seen as completely preventable and irreversable which lasts into adulthood. The prevalence rate of FAS in the Western Cape is the highest in the world. FAS is not just a health problem but also a social welfare problem, since the care for adolescents with FAS brings about exceptional demands for the carer. For this reason it became vital to explore the educational roles of the carers of adolescents with FAS. This research study firstly describes the characteristics of FAS within the physical, cognitive and social development of the adolescents with FAS. Secondly, the study describes and explores the educational roles of the carers of adolescents with FAS. The study combines both quantitative and qualitative research. The exploratory and descriptive research designs were used and a purposive sampling method was used. The participants were interviewed individually with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings of the empirical investigation show that the carers of FAS adolescents according to their perceptions and experiences know what is expected of them within their respective educational roles and they do make an effort to fulfil this role to the best of their ability. Further findings show that due to aspects like poverty and illiteracy of the participants, the carers need the support of the social worker in order for them to fulfil their educational roles. Recommendations resulting from the empirical investigation indicated that social workers need to support the carers of adolescents with FAS in parenting programmes which is simple and practical for the carers to understand and to implement. Further recommendations focus on awareness programmes and actions where the carers also take part in educating the community in terms of FAS. Through these actions the carers of adolescents with FAS can build a support system for themselves whithin the community. Therefore the community can be utilized by the carers of adolescents with FAS as a valuable resource in the fulfilment of their educational roles.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The potential scope of social work practice at a Higher Education Institution in South Africa: views of key informants at Stellenbosch University
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12 ) Mdaka, Qaqamba; Engelbrecht, Lambert K.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Based on the global definition of social work, according to the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), generalist social work may be defined as a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people, with principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities. Within the higher education space, social work is considered to be a specialised area of practice. This is because social work is part of a multidisciplinary team of specialists attached to the education system in order to address and treat problems that interfere with teaching and learning. The White Paper for Post-School Education and Training (2013) recognises services for students as a crucial endeavour in promoting their holistic development, and in providing effective aid for them to meet the demands of tertiary life. As far as this is concerned, higher education institutions have responded to the call to provide student support services. However, there is an overwhelming gap in research that comprehensively studies the scope of social work practice in higher education institutions and the scope in which social work practice could continue as a response to providing services to students. In light of this, the researcher’s study aimed to gain an understanding of the potential scope of social work practice at Stellenbosch University as a higher education institution in South Africa. This research followed a qualitative approach with a combination of an exploratory and descriptive design. Key informant sampling was combined with quota sampling to sample and recruit research participants. This led to 18 participants being interviewed for this study with the researcher utilising a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams to ensure health and safety precautions. The researcher utilised a thematic content analysis approach when analysing the data that was collected during the interviews. The primary recommendations deduced by the researcher from the findings are that the role of social workers at Stellenbosch University needs to be expanded. This expansion should encompass diverse student needs, including both preventative efforts in mental health support and interventions that consider the broader familial context. Additionally, there is a pressing need for the establishment of a well-defined policy framework outlining the roles and responsibilities of social workers within the university setting. Finally, advocacy for enhanced funding and resources is crucial to facilitate the integration of social work services across different university departments and initiatives.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Reflections of newly qualified social workers on the execution of their management tasks in non-government organisations
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Mtombeni, Tirelo Esther; Engelbrecht, Lambert K.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social welfare organisations, both nationally and internationally are faced with the challenging task of adapting and converging to a socio-economic policy agenda as a result of global neoliberal reform. Due to socio-economic policy changes and expectations resulting from neoliberalism, social welfare organisations are shifting away from their traditional philanthropic ideology towards operating from business principles of cost-efficiency and management. The influence of neoliberalism within the social welfare context has been documented by various scholars. However, while research has identified the impact of neoliberal managerialism on social work practice, there has been little to no effort in exploring this from the perspective of newly qualified social workers (NQSWs), who are being increasingly expected to demonstrate management knowledge, skills, and capabilities in order to meet organisational targets. This study attempts to identify and explore the execution of various management tasks from the perspective of NQSWs in order to gain an understanding of what management tasks are expected, and how these tasks are executed by NQSWs. The study was particularly interested in the execution of time management, workload management, human resource management, financial management, risk management, change management and programme management as key tasks for the NQSW. The study approach was qualitative and interpretivist, adopting an exploratory and descriptive research design. Through a combined purposive and snowball sampling approach, fifteen NQSW participants from various non-governmental welfare organisations in the country participated in the data collection process by means of a semi-structured interview; due to COVID-19 restrictions, these interviews were conducted telephonically. Data was analysed thematic analysis and pattern matching was used for verification. The key findings indicate that NQSWs execute several important management tasks despite not necessarily being occupants of specific levels of management. The findings further indicate that NQSWs execute these management tasks over and above their frontline intervention responsibility. It is often in the process of rendering services that NQSWs find themselves executing specific management tasks. Participants identified several challenges in this informal management role The recommendations with respect to the findings is that, regardless of one’s position on neoliberal management influence within the welfare context, this is a reality for up-and-coming social workers; training institutions would benefit from integrating management training into the curriculum, adopting a combined bureaucratic and empowerment management approach, that enables social workers to function in a neoliberal environment while retaining the values of the profession. Training institutions and NGOs needs to synchronise the preparation process with the expectations of practice within the work environment in order to ensure optimal performance of these tasks by NQSWs which is equally not at the expense of rendering effective services to the client system.