The challenges confronting social workers in meeting the objectives of permanency planning at children's homes in the magisterial district of Durban.
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Date
2006
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Abstract
The main aim of this study was to understand the challenges of social workers in
meeting the obligations of permanency planning when rendering services at
Children's Homes in the Magisterial District of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. Permanency planning is guided by policy and prescribed in practice but the
challenges have not been studied. The descriptive study was qualitative (focus groups)
with elements of a quantitative nature (checklist) that targeted the population.
Respondents included participants from 15 children's homes, 5 Child and Family
Welfare Societies and 2 State District Offices. The checklist of 25 items was
completed by 12 principals of children's homes. Results confirmed that permanency
planning was not practiced according to policy even though social workers had a good
understanding of what was required of them. Children's homes, although recognized
as temporary accommodation for children, were sometimes used as an option for
permanency planning. Creative efforts towards permanency planning, despite their
challenges of limited resources and institutional barriers were evident. However,
programmes and activities towards promoting permanency planning needed in-depth
evaluation. If used inappropriately, for example leave of absence and the host
programme could increase insecurity, instability and unpredictability rather than
promoting permanency planning. Recommendations were for social workers to make
a significant difference by addressing their negative perceptions, values, attitudes and
.beliefs towards parents, to apply solutions found in this study and to play an advocacy
role especially with regard to policy and resources. It became apparent that unless the
challenges of the social workers were addressed, they would not be able to meet the
objectives of permanency planning, even though it is a statutory requirement.
Although social workers hold the primary responsibility and accountability for
permanency planning, in practice its implementation and effectiveness depended on
the interconnection and co-operation of various systemic influences.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006
Keywords
Theses--Social work.