Mike Weyers

TRIANGULATION IN SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH: THE THEORY AND EXAMPLES OF ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The social work researcher is often faced with the daunting task of having to analyse complex phenomena and systems or relationships without the luxury of an abundant supply of resources, time and standardised measuring instruments. A typical response has been attempts to follow either the qualitative or quantitative research routes stringently, only to find that the final result did not meet scientific requirements. This has necessitated a rethink of the predominant way in which social work research is conducted in South Africa and to find a route that would meet both the demands of science and accommodate the constraints of research practice. One such route is the use of triangulation

The habits of highly effective community development practitioners

This paper is the result of a study aimed at answering the question: ‘What makes effective community development practitioners effective?’ In it, all the articles published over a 10-year period in the Community Development Journal, International Social Work, Journal of Community Practice and Social Work (South Africa) were subjected to a secondary analysis. This made it possible to identify eight ‘habits of effectiveness’. This set of habits can form a credo to guide a practitioners service delivery. It also provides a list of criteria to help identify ineffective habits and confirm effective ones.

STRENGTHS-FOCUSED INTERVENTION: THE NEW APPROACH OF THE SOCIAL WORK SERVICE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE (SAPS)

In 1996 social work in the newly constituted South African Police Service (SAPS) was at a crossroad. The era of the South African Police (SAP) had ended with the promulgation of the South African Police Service Act (Act 68/1995) on 4 October 1995. The South African Police Service (SAPS) was in the process of implementing a new policy that emphasised the empowerment of personnel in the interests of effective service delivery within a transforming organisation and society. At the same time however, SAPS was facing an increase in the incidence of social problems among its 120 000 members. A choice had to be made. It was either to stick to the therapy-centred approach that had become the norm in the SAP, or try to conceptualise an alternative service-delivery paradigm. The choice fell on the latter. The result was the operationalised version of social work’s strengths approach that now forms the basis of occupational social work in the SAPS

THE EIGHT HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORKERS: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Much has changed in the 10 years since the publication of the White Paper for Social Welfare in February 1997. The boundaries of knowledge and expertise on the delivery of developmental social work services have been expanded and the general field of social development has been subjected to intense analysis and continual reconceptualisation. Perhaps the time has come for the social work fraternity to start asking what has been learnt in the past decade. It is especially pertinent to know which factors determine success and failure in developmental social work in general and community work in particular and what makes some community social workers so effective while others fail. The latter half of this question prompted a research project in which Stephen R. Covey’s (1989) basic approach in determining “The 7 habits of highly effective people” was used to ascertain the equivalent habits of highly effective community social workers. The procedure that was followed and the results that were achieved will be covered in this article

Personnel Capacity-Building Programs

Abstract The transformation of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the post-apartheid era brought new pressures to bear on the organizations social workers. They had to change their curative approach to service delivery and prove the new services effectiveness. This led to the development of seven so-called personnel capacity-building programs and a comprehensive study on their effect. This study involved 11 researchers, 3,437 members of experimental groups and 720 comparison group participants. The measurements and triangulation showed that the new programs had a practical significant effect on personnels knowledge, attitudes and behavior, and empowered them on both a professional and personal level. These findings have implications that go far beyond the narrower ambit of South African social work. It shows that such interventions could be an effective addition to the curative services that are commonplace in EAP and occupational social work settings.

DIE GEMEENSKAPSWERKDIENSTE VAN DIE PRIVATE WELSYNSEKTOR: ’N PROFIEL MET IMPLIKASIES

The practical implications of the significant changes in social and welfare policy that occurred from 1994 to 1999, are as yet unknown. This is mainly due to the lack of empirical research data on this issue. This deficiency was partly addressed in a study on the nature of the private welfare sector’s community work services in the North West Province during 2000. The aim of the study was to compile a profile of the Province’s community work services and to utilise this profile in the formulation of guidelines for improved future service delivery. In the study, both community work theory and the South African social and welfare policies were used in the development of a classification framework for community work services. This framework formed the basis of a questionnaire that was sent to all private welfare organisations in the Province. The collected data was analysed and, together with policy dictates, used for the development of guidelines. It was firstly found that there was a discernable move towards targeting policy designated client systems. However, the services did still not fully comply with policy requirements or South Africa’s considerable development needs. Certain deficiencies in the service delivery process were also identified. Therefore, guidelines for addressing both these imbalances and deficiencies were formulated. It was thirdly found that the new classification framework could be constructively used in both further research and in practice.

PROACTIVE STRESS MANAGEMENT: THE NATURE, EFFECT AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE’S “MANAGING STRESS EFFECTIVELY” PROGRAMME

The need for a stress-management programme can generally be attributed to the fact that police work is often extremely stressful and that police officials tend to suffer from a variety of stressinduced physiological, psychological and behavioural disorders. McCraty, Atkinson and Tompson (1999:1-3) argue that particular attention should be given to occupational stress in policing as its potentially negative consequences affect society in more direct and critical ways than for most other organisations. It was, therefore, crucial that a stress-management programme should be developed for the South African Police Service (SAPS).

TEACHING EMPLOYEES MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND SHOWING A PROFIT IN THE PROCESS: LESSONS FROM A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE

Although deficient financial management skills have often been perceived as an “affliction of the poor”, resent studies have shown it to be a problem that pervades all levels of South African society (Engelbrecht, 2008:3-15; FinMark Trust, 2009). There is also strong evidence that the financial problems that stem from mismanagement are one of the causal factors of the high levels of pilfering, bribery, corruption and theft in the country’s public and private sectors (ACRC, 2009). In spite of this, very little is being done to address this deficiency. There is especially a dire need that employers should empower their workforce with appropriate financial management skills. One employer that has taken up this challenge is the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Assessing mental health services in a rural setting: service providers’ perspective

ABSTRACT Addressing the inadequate and poor provision of mental health services in rural areas is a world-wide challenge. Most people with mental illness in these areas do not have access to mental health services. Using eight attributes of good mental health service as criteria, the purpose of this study was to assess mental health services at Mashashane, a rural area in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. A survey was conducted with a purposively selected sample of health care professionals from four health establishments serving Mashashane. Data was collected using a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were used. The results show that out of eight attributes assessed only comprehensiveness was positively perceived. This is an indication of the inadequacy of mental health services, hence their inability to improve the well-being of people with mental illness and their families. Lack of resources was identified as the major hindrance to the delivery of appropriate mental health services. The findings highlighted aspects that contributed to the development of a framework for a community-based program to improve the well-being of people with mental illness and their families in a rural setting.

Stakeholders’ Views Regarding Their Role as Support System for People with Mental Illness and Their Families in Rural South Africa

The diverse needs associated with mental illness warrant for the provision of mental health care by various sources. The South African government recognises the involvement of stakeholders as a potential means of narrowing the gaps in mental health service delivery. This study explored the views of different stakeholders about their roles as support systems for people with mental illness and their families at Mashashane, a rural setting in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Seven focus group discussions were conducted with various stakeholders. This qualitative study employed content analysis to allow for comparison of stakeholders’ views. Stakeholders understanding of mental illness was based on reaction towards people with mental illness, causes of mental illness and the behaviour displayed by the ill individual. The identified formal and informal systems were seen as ineffective with regards to provision of support. Collaboration was recommended as a mechanism to improve mental health services. The findings contributed in the formulation of guidelines to improve support.